Amateur Video Taping Live Shows

Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19298
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Aug 29 2010 03:20 PM

Inspired by morphball's Flip camera videos of the Space Cossacks, I decided to get a new video recording device for the SG101 convention.

I ended up deciding on a Kodak zi8.

The reasons I chose it were because it had an SD card slot, external mic jack, tripod mount, removable battery, external mic level adjustment, and because it was pretty cheap (remember, I want to stay an amateur videographer -- for now). It also has digital image stabilization, but I turned it off because it does suck extra battery life.

It takes videos in the following formats: 1080p, 720p (@ 60 fps), 720p (@ 30 fps), WVGA. It can also take still photos. The 720p w/30 fps is the recommended format for YouTube videos, and is what I shot all mine in.

I took it on my California convention trip and shot a bunch of video. This was before I got an external mic. I took some pretty good videos with it (or so I thought), but I wasn't totally happy with the built-in mic. Here are some videos:

Space Rangers - Mr. Lou
Slacktone - Bells of St. Kahuna

I just got an external mic and a bracket for it. I ended up getting:

Audo-Technica PRO24CM Stereo Microphone with Camera Mount

Sima SLB-M Video Bracket

Some photos of it all put together:

It's easy to tear down fast and isn't too bulky. The bracket makes it much easier to hold and steady the damn thing too.

Now I just need another surf show to go to and try it out!

Here's the damage:

Kodak zi8 - about $130
32 Gigabyte SD card - about $65
Mic - $60
Bracket - $13

Oh and I got the 32 Gig SD card, the biggest one it handles. You really do need to get an SD card because the stock built-in memory is very small and you can't do anything realistic with it. Smaller sized SD cards are much cheaper.

It turns out the limiting factor on recording videos for me is not the SD card but the battery life. I might also get a spare battery and charger down the road.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

Top

crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Aug 29 2010 06:14 PM

Wow! excellent looking youtube video Brian, if you thought the sound was poor then i can't wait to hear it with the external mic.
I think, maybe the convention hall hasn't been the best for lighting and these little compact cams work hard, sometimes dropping frames or losing quality in poorly lit venues.
The Kodak just seems to punch it out, it really is hard to fault the picture quality. Nice setup, i want one too!

Top

Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19298
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Aug 29 2010 06:28 PM

Those two videos I posted were from the next day at Suzy's which was much more well lit. That show had the best lighting of them all.

Here is one from the convention:
Red Sunrise - Space Cossacks

And it was really dark the night before in San Diego:

The Martyr - The Secret Samurai

However when they finally turned up the lights it wasn't so bad:

Teke Teke Teke - Frankie & The Pool Boys

I'd be interested in seeing what other gear people are using and your results.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

Top

LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Aug 29 2010 07:13 PM

Badass!

—

SSIV

Top

morphball

Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
United States

Posted on Aug 29 2010 08:15 PM

That's a really clever setup; I didn't think the audio was too bad with just the zi8, but you just can't beat a real microphone, that's gonna sound great. Now someone do a show so Brian can try out his new rig!

—

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

Top

mom_surfing

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 5306
the outer banks of north carolina
1 Calendar Pin

Posted on Aug 29 2010 09:25 PM

morphball
That's a really clever setup; I didn't think the audio was too bad with just the zi8, but you just can't beat a real microphone, that's gonna sound great. Now someone do a show so Brian can try out his new rig!

i agree

—

www.surfintheeye.com

Top

hlieboff59

Joined: Jun 27, 2008
Posts: 576
Marlboro, New Jersey
5 Download Pins

Posted on Aug 29 2010 10:23 PM

I agree also Brian. Preferably record a slacktone or the pyronauts or.....any surf band.
I have a sony mic I bought a while ago, which is battery operated which costs $100 at that time and use to record some shows with it and the sound is excellent.

Top

bamboozer

Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
1 Security Pin

Posted on Aug 30 2010 09:45 AM

Excellent video and sound! Not expensive at all considering. I'm impressed!

Top

Joelman

Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1493
Redlands, CA
United States

Posted on Aug 30 2010 11:20 PM

Brian I think you did a great job with the video too!
The sound was clear on my speakers.

If you concerned about the shaking you might want to try one of these.
Steady stick------>>http://www.dvcreators.net/steady-stick/
They are not very expensive if you are going to do a lot of videos.

Top

crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Aug 31 2010 05:33 AM

Joelman
If you concerned about the shaking you might want to try one of these.

Or.. http://vimeo.com/2737174 This is a great little movie, it's hard not to watch 'till the end.

Top

midwestsurfguy

Joined: Mar 19, 2006
Posts: 958
Oxford, Ohio
1 News Pin

Posted on Aug 31 2010 08:31 AM

Great videos Brian! I may have to get another camera!
Thanks
Guy

Top

bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25582
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Aug 31 2010 05:32 PM

Brian,
come back out for Billy Blast off's B-day Sat. the 11th.
plenty of bands to record then.

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Top

Icetech

Joined: Dec 16, 2006
Posts: 892
Macomb Mich

Posted on Aug 31 2010 08:51 PM

I am shocked that the camera only costs 130... and does 1080.. I was expecting something much bulkier and MUCH more expensive when i saw the first videos... thats just amazing.

And thanks for filming/posting shows.. for those of us that can't goto them.. love the teke teke teke video

—

I wanna play just like him when i grow up...

Top

surfin_bird

Joined: Jun 09, 2009
Posts: 267
Amstelveen [The Netherlands]

Posted on Sep 01 2010 02:56 AM

If you want a cheap option against shaken footage try this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Em5ag6xIU
for $30 you can't beat making you own, and it's based an a professional stabilizer which I have used a lot for my work.

—

Member of the league of banana yamaha's !

Top

Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19298 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Aug 29 2010 03:20 PM Inspired by morphball's Flip camera videos of the Space Cossacks, I decided to get a new video recording device for the SG101 convention. I ended up deciding on a Kodak zi8. The reasons I chose it were because it had an SD card slot, external mic jack, tripod mount, removable battery, external mic level adjustment, and because it was pretty cheap (remember, I want to stay an amateur videographer -- for now). It also has digital image stabilization, but I turned it off because it does suck extra battery life. It takes videos in the following formats: 1080p, 720p (@ 60 fps), 720p (@ 30 fps), WVGA. It can also take still photos. The 720p w/30 fps is the recommended format for YouTube videos, and is what I shot all mine in. I took it on my California convention trip and shot a bunch of video. This was before I got an external mic. I took some pretty good videos with it (or so I thought), but I wasn't totally happy with the built-in mic. Here are some videos: Space Rangers - Mr. Lou Slacktone - Bells of St. Kahuna I just got an external mic and a bracket for it. I ended up getting: Audo-Technica PRO24CM Stereo Microphone with Camera Mount Sima SLB-M Video Bracket Some photos of it all put together: It's easy to tear down fast and isn't too bulky. The bracket makes it much easier to hold and steady the damn thing too. Now I just need another surf show to go to and try it out! Here's the damage: Kodak zi8 - about $130 32 Gigabyte SD card - about $65 Mic - $60 Bracket - $13 Oh and I got the 32 Gig SD card, the biggest one it handles. You really do need to get an SD card because the stock built-in memory is very small and you can't do anything realistic with it. Smaller sized SD cards are much cheaper. It turns out the limiting factor on recording videos for me is not the SD card but the battery life. I might also get a spare battery and charger down the road. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Aug 29 2010 06:14 PM Wow! excellent looking youtube video Brian, if you thought the sound was poor then i can't wait to hear it with the external mic. I think, maybe the convention hall hasn't been the best for lighting and these little compact cams work hard, sometimes dropping frames or losing quality in poorly lit venues. The Kodak just seems to punch it out, it really is hard to fault the picture quality. Nice setup, i want one too! Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19298 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Aug 29 2010 06:28 PM Those two videos I posted were from the next day at Suzy's which was much more well lit. That show had the best lighting of them all. Here is one from the convention: Red Sunrise - Space Cossacks And it was really dark the night before in San Diego: The Martyr - The Secret Samurai However when they finally turned up the lights it wasn't so bad: Teke Teke Teke - Frankie & The Pool Boys I'd be interested in seeing what other gear people are using and your results. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Aug 29 2010 07:13 PM Badass! — SSIV Top
morphball Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 3324 Pittsboro, NC	Posted on Aug 29 2010 08:15 PM That's a really clever setup; I didn't think the audio was too bad with just the zi8, but you just can't beat a real microphone, that's gonna sound great. Now someone do a show so Brian can try out his new rig! — Mike http://www.youtube.com/morphballio Top
mom_surfing Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 5306 the outer banks of north carolina	Posted on Aug 29 2010 09:25 PM morphball That's a really clever setup; I didn't think the audio was too bad with just the zi8, but you just can't beat a real microphone, that's gonna sound great. Now someone do a show so Brian can try out his new rig! i agree — www.surfintheeye.com Top
hlieboff59 Joined: Jun 27, 2008 Posts: 576 Marlboro, New Jersey	Posted on Aug 29 2010 10:23 PM I agree also Brian. Preferably record a slacktone or the pyronauts or.....any surf band. I have a sony mic I bought a while ago, which is battery operated which costs $100 at that time and use to record some shows with it and the sound is excellent. Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Aug 30 2010 09:45 AM Excellent video and sound! Not expensive at all considering. I'm impressed! Top
Joelman Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1493 Redlands, CA	Posted on Aug 30 2010 11:20 PM Brian I think you did a great job with the video too! The sound was clear on my speakers. If you concerned about the shaking you might want to try one of these. Steady stick------>>http://www.dvcreators.net/steady-stick/ They are not very expensive if you are going to do a lot of videos. Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Aug 31 2010 05:33 AM Joelman If you concerned about the shaking you might want to try one of these. Or.. http://vimeo.com/2737174 This is a great little movie, it's hard not to watch 'till the end. Top
midwestsurfguy Joined: Mar 19, 2006 Posts: 958 Oxford, Ohio	Posted on Aug 31 2010 08:31 AM Great videos Brian! I may have to get another camera! Thanks Guy Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25582 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Aug 31 2010 05:32 PM Brian, come back out for Billy Blast off's B-day Sat. the 11th. plenty of bands to record then. — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
Icetech Joined: Dec 16, 2006 Posts: 892 Macomb Mich	Posted on Aug 31 2010 08:51 PM I am shocked that the camera only costs 130... and does 1080.. I was expecting something much bulkier and MUCH more expensive when i saw the first videos... thats just amazing. And thanks for filming/posting shows.. for those of us that can't goto them.. love the teke teke teke video — I wanna play just like him when i grow up... Top
surfin_bird Joined: Jun 09, 2009 Posts: 267 Amstelveen [The Netherlands]	Posted on Sep 01 2010 02:56 AM If you want a cheap option against shaken footage try this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Em5ag6xIU for $30 you can't beat making you own, and it's based an a professional stabilizer which I have used a lot for my work. — Member of the league of banana yamaha's ! Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Videos »

Amateur Video Taping Live Shows