Virtual multicam - seems to work, am I right?

O

Ozpeter

Well-known member
Scenario - using the GH1 to video a chamber music concert, which involves various combinations and permutations of musicians. In other words, the first work might be flute and piano, the second work might be flute, harp, and cello. Etc etc.

GH1 is set up to get a general view of the performance area - so that all parts of the performance will fall within the picture. It has to run unattended, totally static (boring!) shot. No second camera available.

This is going to end up on standard def DVD.

So what seems to work is to use FHD in the camera (PAL FWIW) and then in the NLE, put the long clip four (say) times into the timeline on separate tracks one above the other. Have the lowest track with the whole scene. Have each of the other three zoomed in to a different part of the scene (eg one centred on the harp area, another on the piano area, etc). Use Opacity key frames to show one of the "virtual cameras" at a time according to what is happening on stage.

Now as the DVD resolution is 25% of the FHD resolution (right?) there's no actual loss of effective resolution when using the "virtual cameras" zoomed in up to normal DVD pixel dimensions (right?). Nobody would know that there weren't four actual cameras in use (admittedly at the same position!).

Seems to work in practice, or am I kidding myself? Is my theory correct?
 
Actual resolution is far from FullHD.
So, it won't look cool.
Are you allowed to walk during perfomance?
I'll prever small steadicam (like Balvanz one, small moves and place it on stand or knees), and dedicated audio recorder.
So, you got few ready positions and use some prerecorded things to cut unvanted small transitions.
Another option is to be smart and shoot at various zoom levels and slightly changing position, again you must cut some parts(so you must understand then it is possible to make transitions) and replace them by preshoot footage (leaving soundtrack).
 
I have shot in 1080 with the same purpose of using the standard HD res for zoomed shots in standard 720. It worked quite well in my applications. It is when you start zooming above the 100% res that it gets iffy. It may not work well in your scenario because you are already shooting wide and I don't think the actual HD res will give you enough zoom to make it effective.

tester's suggestion is an interesting solution.

ever considered getting your hands on a full HD camcorder be it a friend or rent it for the static shot and roam with the gh1?
 
Thanks for your observations - sadly I have to work alone on this, and my key task is the (separate) audio recording which is for FM radio broadcast. Nor can I move around during the performance. And the only other FHD camcorder I have (a humble Panasonic SD5) would be useless in the kind of low light conditions that classical concerts seem to happen in (and no, I can't put up more lights). I guess it's really an attempt to make the best of very slender resources.

I'll try some bookcase shots at home tomorrow in good daylight and see what further experimentation reveals as to the real world results. (Bookcases full of books make handy resolution tests - can you read the titles? Is there any blending of the colours of the spines? Any pincushion distortion revealed by the abundant verticals and horizontals? - etc).

A few times I've tried to do single camera video of classical concerts where I have been able to operate the camera during the performance. Wow, it's hard to make a good job of that, avoiding any jerkiness in panning or zooming, and you have to know the music well - you can bet that as soon as you zoom right in to the flute player, she'll get 50 bars rest! The advantage of re-framing the picture in post production is that you have the benefit of hindsight...
 
May be you could rent camera just for this event?
Having two cameras - one for wide shot and other for more risky zooms can allow you to be relatively free and safe.

You can also buy ultracheap HD cam :
Like http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-HR10-AVCH...rofessional_Video_Cameras&hash=item1e5a51fea5
or DX1
http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-HDC-D...rofessional_Video_Cameras&hash=item4aa0f53a65

HR10 and DX1 are generally much better than SD5.
Yeah, DVDs are bad, but normally you have ability to switch formatted disks each 15 minutes. I have DX1 as second cam and tested HR10, both are quite good at moderate light. HR10 have slightly sharper picture (same as famous HV20, HV30) and DX1 is build like a gem ($1450 price initially). Plus it have three 1/4" CCDs, and I prefer its picture to recent MOS cams.
SD based alternatives cost about $400 now.
 
Thanks for the further suggestions!

I do have a Sony VX9000 in the cupboard still, but I think when last I tested it against the GH1 it was clear that it's sadly out-dated now. And 4:3 only.
 
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