Tips for stabilizing a tripod when filming a live band?

Ferret Lady

Ferret Lady

Well-known member
hi guys. i'm filming a band tomorrow at a small nightclub and i'm hoping someone has some advice on how to stop a tripod/camera from vibrating from the bass vibrations?

the last show i had i didnt expect this and ended up having to balance the tripod on my foot the whole time.

i've been doing some research and so far the best i can come up with is putting a rubber mat under the tripod and weighing it down with a sand bag or something.

anyone else got any better ideas? would be much appreciated, as tomorrow is my first paying gig!
 
the rubber mat is a good idea, as is weighing down the tripod with sandbags. Try to see if the nightclub has an elevated platform in the back that is at least slightly seperated from the main floor taking most of the beating. I've seen a few nightclubs with these kinds of fixtures towards the rear or side which should cut down on vibration if you were to film on them.
 
Bass frequencies carry a lot of force. They usually reasonate down in the 15hz (sub bass) to 60hz range. That means that there are between 15 to 60 wave pulses passing by a point per second. To carry the amplitude or energy per wave pulse and sound loud there is a lot of force per wave that is transmitted to any surface in the target area. Sound is a mechanical wave and pulsates in the direction of the wave travel.

Depending on the material in the target area, these waves will set up a reasonant vibration that will cause surfaces to vibrate. This can ruin your shot if the camera and tripod vibrate.

You have to make your tripod resilient enough to counter the bass wave force. The previous post is great. I would go a bit further. I would get 3-4 cheap closed cell foam sleeping pads from a backpacking store. Or, alternatively, get three of those foam 'swimming noodles' you see kids with at lakes. Attach each leg of your tripod with closed cell foam tightly and gaffer-tape them down. Put the camera and tripod also on one of the flat pads. Hang the sandbags so they encounter the center of the tripod leg on the outside surface and tape them so they don't move. Your tripod legs will vibrate at the center of the leg more than the ends, kind of like a guitar string has the greatest vibration distance in the center of the string. The ends are nodes and will not experience large amplitudinal vibrations. You will be putting a 'finger in the center of the guitar string' deadening the vibration. The foam will kill a lot of vibration, and the sand bag will get the rest.

Finally, take your camera out of the firing line of the greatest force of the bass. Bass cabinets are meant to throw the bass energy directionally. The 'gun' is usually a cone centered directly in front of the speakers. Constructive interference between the stereo sides of the PA columns may have a node of multiplied amplitude or force centered at some point in the middle of the room. Listen to the practice of the band by ear and notice these loud areas. Don't set up there.

I hope you do well tonight and that you have this as just the start of your making money filming music vids. Best to you. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
ok, the show was last night, and basically went off great!!! i got really lucky because the best spot to film from was actually on carpet. so i didnt have any vibrations! i held onto my tripod to sort of hold it down, just in case, but basically it was FINE.

thanks the tips, much appreciate, i'm sure it will come in handy next time around when i'm not so lucky!
 
scratchpatchfilms said:
ok, the show was last night, and basically went off great!!! i got really lucky because the best spot to film from was actually on carpet. so i didnt have any vibrations! i held onto my tripod to sort of hold it down, just in case, but basically it was FINE.

thanks the tips, much appreciate, i'm sure it will come in handy next time around when i'm not so lucky!
Click to expand...

That's great! Now you have the fun part...Editing! :evil:
 
indeed.. editing was always my favourite part :)

do they not SELL stuff you can use to protect tripods from vibrations? seems like something that should exist....
 
scratchpatchfilms said:
indeed.. editing was always my favourite part :)

do they not SELL stuff you can use to protect tripods from vibrations? seems like something that should exist....
Click to expand...

Lol, yeah... its called sandbags, closed cell foam and gaffer's tape. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

Seriously, the sound levels and wide vibrational frequencies you experience in a live show nowadays are beyond the design limits of a lot of hardware. Heck, even the military and law enforcement are experimenting with sound weapons that can sicken and make a body ill. Think of how hardened the CCD has to be in a camera to NOT vibrate in those bass frequencies. Wow. :beer:
 
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