white balance question

[Cees Mutsaers]

I have to record a theater performance. The light conditions (colours) will change often during the performance . What is the best way to "white balance" :

1. white balance on average lighting conditions on a white card before the performanc start.
2. use ATW
3. just use 5600 K

Any suggestion are more than welcome.

 

[digitalgecko]

Most theatre lighting is 3200 K. I just use the preset 3200.

 

[Paul Hudson]

Never use ATW! Check with the lighting designer for the show to discover the base lighting scheme. And do confirm instruments are tungsten or discharge. Balance or set to baselight without gel. That wat you will record what the designer intended the look to be?

 

[Cees Mutsaers]

Thanks for the information. So never use ATW but white balance on the base lighting scheme before the show starts.
During the show you do not change the white balance even if the lighting completely changes ?

 

[ceejay7777]

4. Just use 3200K

 

[Kolor-Pikker]

I concur on the use of 3200K.

As far as digital WB goes, erring on the cool side is always preferable because it may result in less noise, as the blue chip is always the least light-sensitive and red is the most sensitive. When you change WB on a 3-chip camera you're changing the gain of the chips. So if the image is recorded too warm, the blue chip may be severely under-exposing the image.

 

[Roberto Tafuro]

I agree! 3200K is the right choice according to me. I always use it during theatre performances. Just my two cents!

 

[Cees Mutsaers]

thanks again, I feel good now because you all agree on 3200K

Any thought on the gamma setting ?

 

[digitalgecko]

I just use HD standard. If the show is using colored lighting, the picture is going to get pretty saturated anyway.

 

[Kolor-Pikker]

Stage lighting is often very harsh, so while you could use a standard gamma, you may also want to set the Knee low to avoid blowing bright tones caused by spotlights and such.

I agree about the saturation, once colored lighting kicks in, the vector scope's gonna be all over the place, but it depends on the nature of the show.

 

[THoff]

You shouldn't even try to get a neutral WB. The lighting designer will use gels and other techniques to create a mood, and recording with a neutral WB will destroy that. That's the same as removing the warm glow of a sunset.

 

[digitalgecko]

Stage lighting is often very harsh, so while you could use a standard gamma, you may also want to set the Knee low to avoid blowing bright tones caused by spotlights and such.

I agree about the saturation, once colored lighting kicks in, the vector scope's gonna be all over the place, but it depends on the nature of the show.

Good advice about the low knee. I'll have to check that on my setting the next time I do a show.

 

[rpmnava]

And make sure you turn off AWT !!!