T2i My first gig - a small concert: Need advice from you guys!

Stang68

Stang68

Member
Hi everyone,

I come to you all in need of advice. I own a T2i and love it. Haven't had much time to play around with the video settings on it but I understand what each of them does (for the most part) since I'm coming from a DVX and experience with an HMC (Love that thing).

I was recently asked to shoot a music gig for a friend. It is supposedly some woman who plays guitar in churches, etc. I only have the T2i, no accessories like a matte box or an LCD monitor. I have a short boom mic from my DVX and a tripod.

What am I going to need to buy and know to successfully shoot this small concert for my friend? I am being paid for this and do not want to look unprepared!

Please, let loose in this thread. Tell me how you would do it, what you would buy (nothing absurdly expensive, just graduated college :p), and what settings you suggest! I am all ears, guys.

Thank you!
 
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You're entering a completely different world from your DVX/HMC experience.

You can only shoot 4GB at a time, which in full 1080p/30 is about 12 minutes. That's a challenge for covering something like a concert, where uninterrupted shooting is preferable. That's even more challenging with a single camera.

Learn how the white balance works, and remember that certain setup features for video mode have to be done on a computer with the camera connected to USB.

Also, you'll need to record sound to a second system. Camera audio on the T2i is lousy. Get an external recorder, and monitor it while you shoot.

I would highly recommend that you go out and shoot - a lot - between now and then and get used to video on the T2i. Great results are possible, but it takes learning from mistakes. Go shoot some experimental shorts. Just spend as much time as you can with your camera in video mode and get to know what you can and cannot do with it. That way, you will be prepared for your gig.

Honestly, with one camera, the best you might be able to hope for would be two or three complete songs worth of edited material. Shoot a couple of songs for their content with the performer, then use other pieces in the set to shoot for cutaways. Unless, of course, they are asking for the entire performance. Then, you're down to very careful moves on a tripod. But be warned: zooming, depending on your lens, will cause shifts in the aperture (unless you have a constant aperture lens). plus, manual zoom on these lenses is not smooth.
 
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Great, thanks for that.

Apparently, I am going to be able to tap into the sound board they are using for the concert or, according to my friend who's company is sponsoring the gig, be able to just edit the video in post and splice in the actual show audio. That would obviously be the preferable way.

I don't plan on moving around much during this shoot. I am most likely going to just be on sticks and may do some slight zooming, though that may not work out great considering the focusing smoothness and zoom smoothness.

If I have to do my own sound, do you suggest getting a mixer like this? :http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=kitInfo&Q=&sku=674344&is=REG

As far as mics go, do you think a standard shotgun mic will do the job? 9If I can't tap into their soundboard audio).

As far as the shooting time-limit, I think I will be fine with having to stop every 2 or three songs. Coverage is a good idea since I will be editing this in post.

Any suggestions for equipment? I am obviously buying another battery, but what about things like a follow-focus?
 
The Beachtek boxes are great... but you're still recording to the T2i, which is sketchy. I'd honestly suggest renting a decent sound setup for the gig. A small mixer and a portable recorder won't cost much to rent. Even something basic like a Sound Devices MixPre feeding tape out to a handheld recorder will do. Or a Fostex FR2-LE by itself. With the MixPre, you only get mic-level in, so a feed from the board will need to be attenuated from line-level to mic-level. There are -50dB inline attenuators (barrel adapters) that will do that.

A board feed is probably going to suck. A shotgun mic is probably going to suck. Mixed together, the two can actually give passable results. If you have a board feed, set your shotgun mic up for the room and record them to separate channels. Mix to taste in post.

Be sure to work with the house sound engineer ahead of time to get your feed set up. Never, ever, ever presume that you can plug in when and where you like.

Follow-focus can help, as long as it has little/no backlash. However, I have been able to train myself to shoot manual focus with no external gear. It's tricky, but doable. Just stay away from autofocus while you shoot video.
 
in addition to any other audio you record, get an h4n and use the on-board stereo mics (monitor with cans to make sure you have no distortion...).
 
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