I was asked by friends in a local arts organization for a camera / audio interface proposal for recording live events and workshops. I’ve done a lot of research in this area and I thought some of you might be interested as well (recording jams, festivals, or at home to stream / post video, etc. … with your beloved ukuleles of course).

Here is my currently recommended setup:

VIDEO & PHOTO
Sony A6600 with 18-105mm lens
I currently use the A6600, I chose it specifically for events as it has no record time-limit (most cameras have an artificial cap at 30 minutes … due to lower tariffs for cameras than camcorders), and it has an enormous battery that lasts for hours. Between these two things, it is ideal for ‘set and forget’ situations where you need to put the camera in place, press record and go about your business. The camera also has clean HDMI output, so is good for hooking up to a laptop in a single or multi-camera setup to record straight to the hard drive or stream to the web. The lens in this kit allows for a lot of leeway in where the camera is set up, from fairly close to mid-range.

In multi-camera video setups … If shooting video and then editing later, this is all that you would need for the video end of the production. However, if you want to live stream or capture a video switching between cameras on the fly, additional equipment is needed … A laptop with a dedicated USB port for each camera, HDMI to USB adaptors, and enough cable to put the cameras where you want them as well as gaff tape. The free OBS studio software is a great solution that I use frequently for managing recording/streaming multi camera video. This cuts down on editing time later on (for a lower editing cost) as you are mixing the video on the fly, but what you have at the end is what you get, you can’t remix it later.

AUDIO
Zoom F6 Field Recorder
I also currently own one of these and chose it specifically for its 32-bit float point recording which allows you to set your levels and walk away without having to monitor it constantly. One of the problems of classical/band/theater music and recording is the huge range in volume that can be had in a single song. In the past, you would have to watch your levels like a hawk to avoid digital clipping (which ruins recordings). 32-bit recording removes that problem by making TWO recordings at the same time, one at a lower level and one at a higher level and then mixing them together into one file … no more clipping, no more ruined audio. You can be as loud or soft as you want and it will still turn out great. You can then go in an edit everything later without worry that you didn’t get a good recording to work with. It has six mic inputs, which should be sufficient for most studio and live setups. Mics, stands and cable, of course, are separate.

I also have two Rode NT4 stereo mics that work well with this recorder. They have been a good and simple solution for a lot of applications. One would be enough for most live situations – hearing as an audience member would. Two or three mics for detailed, mixable recordings for Band/Orchestra/Choir etc..

Anyway, if you’re looking to record yourself, your group, your festival, etc. with something a little more pro-looking than a phone, this is a great setup. There is a learning curve to each of these devices, so be sure to budget the time you need to get to know them well before trying to capture a live event.

Post filed under All UkulelePlay! Blog Posts.