The context is doing something for my own amusement that
may get shared so ideally slightly higher quality than just propping the phone up. However, being under no illusions about my talent, time, or wealth, I also don't want to throw heaps of cash at the problem.
In the first instance probably just looking at recording stuff webcam stylee for upload to a private YouTube channel at most.
Immediately available kit:
- Surface Pro 4 laptop with built-in camera/mics (+ dock, + 2 x 24" 1920x1200 monitors)
- old MS LifeCam 3000 webcam with integrated mic
- Alesis iO2 audio interface (2 channel)
- Zoom H6
- couple of Samson Q7 mics
- Reaper
- any bundled video editing apps with Win 10
Obviously guitars, amps, pedals etc. as well.
I've had a quick go with just the LifeCam for audio and video, and the audio is very muted - I was just playing acoustic and singing, no amplifiication.
I've used the interfaces and Reaper for doing audio-only stuff in the past, but obviously for video don't necessarily want mic stands stuck front and centre.
I'm beginning to suspect that the correct answer is, after all, just to prop the phone up somewhere and use that (Samsung S9) but somehow that feels ultra low-rent, rather than just skinflint bodge, which is more my normal level.
I have absolutely no intention of going out and buying an old Canon 5D body or similar (although do have an ancient 30D but that doesn't do video, IIRC).
Just stick with the phone, or can a genuinely modest outlay up the result somewhat?
Comments
a good camera so experimenting with lighting will be the best way to make the most of the video quality. If you have a bright room, use that and then bodge up some other lights with LED torches/other phone torches and sheets of white paper in front to diffuse them.
Depending on the content of the video, mic stands could add some artistic production value?!
The Alesis interface with Reaper will be absolutely fine. Since you are recording video with your phone, you could use the audio tracks to add some 'room' feel to the audio tracks with a bit of EQ and moderate compression.
Have a play around!
The Alesis iO2 is of high enough quality that your audio will be good enough.
You may find that the video editing software will be a limiting factor. If so, then is the time to find something more capable.
The webcam is not high quality (it's 720HD) but that will be good enough until you have got used to editing multi-track videos and are ready to up the video quality. In other words, I suspect that lack of ability and experience will be your first to upgrade, so get playing and then upgrade other bits of kit as you need. It is amazing what a capable person can do with poor wuality kit compared with an inexperienced person using top notch kit.
Feedback
https://www.studiowear.co.uk/ -
https://twitter.com/spark240
Facebook - m.me/studiowear.co.uk
Reddit r/newmusicreview
Indeed.....the right camera angles and lighting can be more time consuming than actually recording the stuff !
https://www.studiowear.co.uk/ -
https://twitter.com/spark240
Facebook - m.me/studiowear.co.uk
Reddit r/newmusicreview
Ebay mark7777_1