Multi-camera Event Taping (page 2)

After you set up your table, it's time to cable your cameras to your video mixer. Most mixers come with four inputs. It's wise to match the position of your cameras with inputs 1, 2 and 3, from left to right, with your wide shot in input 2. This makes it easy to quickly identify each camera with its button on the mixer. You should wire your mixer the same way every time you set it up, so that you, and your helpers, won't have to re-learn the switcher each time.

Connect a video cable into the output of your video mixer and connect it to the input on your primary record deck. Take another video cable and put it into the output of your primary record deck and connect it to the input of your output monitor (Figure 3). If you're using a back up deck, simply connect your secondary deck to an additional output from your video mixer (most have two outputs). It's important that you monitor the signal from your record deck, not from the mixer, to insure you're getting a clear signal on the tape.

Next, take a video cable and connect it to preview output on your video mixer. Run the other end into your preview monitor. If you want to (or need to) use a preview monitor for each camera, your configuration will change slightly.

Matching your camcorders is not always easy. Start by white balancing every camera (manually of course) on the same card, in the same position. Next, light balance using your output monitor as your guide. A light balance is done by having all your cameras set on an object or person prior to the event under full lighting and matching each camera by adjusting the iris so you're not too hot or too dark. Select two of your cameras and perform a half-wife in the mixer so you can compare them on the screen. Adjust your exposure settings until the cameras match as closely as possible, then use the half-wipe to match the third camera to one of the other two.

Don't forget to put tapes in your record deck(s). It's a good idea to also roll tape in each camcorder. The extra footage can be edited in later if it is necessary to cover an accidental bobble.

If it's possible, get a feed from the house mixer and run it directly to your record deck. In a perfect world you can count on the house sound 100% of the time, but the multi-cam event world ain't perfect. If you have a good record deck you will have a VU or audio level to monitor levels. Always use a good set of headphones to monitor the audio from your record deck (not from the audio mixer). If your record deck doesn't have a headphone jack, you can use your output monitor to check your sound.

In some circumstances, you'll be better off bringing your own mikes and audio mixer. Hooking up the audio isn't any harder that hooking up video. Run the stereo output signal from your audio mixer (most are 1/4 inch to RCA but each may differ) to the input of your primary record deck. If you're using a secondary record deck, simply route the output of your primary into the input of your secondary. Run the output of the record deck to the input of the output monitor so you can hear what's being recorded.

• Digg This!
• del.icio.us
• Technorati
• StumbleUpon
• Reddit