We're really missing gigging, and many of our 'extended family' of fans have been asking us to record performances and put them on YouTube.
So we're thinking about setting up, putting a stationary camera on a tripod, and recording some live performances.
The camera would be stationary as we have no one to run it, especially in COVID times, and if possible I'd like to take a balanced output of my PA and feed that into the camera directly. If not I suppose an external mic might be a good option unless the camera itself has a good mic.
Since we are unemployed, I don't want to break the bank on this, but want decent quality.
This is what I just bought. It would seem to meet many of your criteria. My wife is starting to use it for church; I'll ask her later how she likes it.
However I do not use the mics on the camera, I use my existing stage mics through a mixer to OBS.
Then just download free https://obsproject.com/download if you have not already. OBS gives you many format choices for your video and will also give you an opportunity to greenscreen. If you would like to see an example I can send you a link.
Also if you would like me to answer any questions DM me and I'll send a phone number.
I use my Canon Vixia digital camera for video, but that 920 that Danny suggested is VERY popular for it's compactness and it does a very good job on the video. I have 2 of the model below it, the 720 that are my left and right cameras.
Apple makes great stuff. There is a new player in the game, though, via a collaboration HP laptops and Bang and Olafsun audio apps -- worth looking into.
With newer Android and Apple phones providing excellent quality for photo/video, you can decide if your current phone is new enough to do what you need. Most phones newer than say 3 years old should be good enough to go. Most all of these newer phones will have accessories available to mount them to a camera stand.
I spent most of the day trying to figure out what the best answer is for you. Most of the answers given are decent so I wouldn’t argue with them. The new digital video capabilities of our phones and other devices is amazing. On the other hand, the last generation of video cameras is considered obsolete by professional and advanced amateur videographers so they can be had for a song on eBay. The miniDVs were and still are an amazing camera with a lot of Pro capabilities. When the Canon gl2 came out about 18 years ago, I bought one for our wedding/portrait business and the cost was painful. 5 years ago I went online and bought 4 more for less than half the price I had spent on the one when it was brand new. What do I need with 5 camcorders? How interesting is a video with just one perspective versus 5 perspectives synced together and edited in a good video program like Vegas? The only problem right now in working with the miniDVs is that it is getting harder and harder to find the old firewire cables and connectors needed to tie them together. At any rate, looking for a number of cheap older camcorders that you can set up a different locations, with different points of focus, and different zoom beats the hell out of an expensive camera just sitting there with no variation in the look.
There are two other things that are more important than the camera though. If you look at most of the bad videos on YouTube, they fall short on lighting and on audio. You can spend 20 grand on a video camera but if you don’t understand back lights, hair lights, fill lights etc, you end up with a flat dull looking video. Spend a little less on the camera and buy sufficient light to light yourself and create separation between the subject and the background and you will have a better product. Also, at this point, you probably have invested way more money in recording technology than you are ever going to invest in videography. Learn to sync a live recording with your video and leverage what you are already good at and invested in rather than rely on in camera audio.
I agree with Danny Campo. He has been streaming on Street Jelly for years and he knows what works best for a lot of people who play music online.
Here's the thing about streaming: if you broadcast too high quality video, a lot of people with slow connections will have trouble watching it. So prioritize the music, not the video. Get a cheap webcam that will send a low res video (720p to 1080p) that just about anybody will be able to watch without buffering issues, then use an audio interface (NOT the web cam mic) to capture the output from your mixer. That way the music will be great and the video will be "good enough"
The number one complaint on Streaming sites is video dropout. Most people don't seem to have a problem with the music.
my 2 cents, but there are lots of workable idea here. Pick one you like and run with it. Keep us posted, I'd like to watch your stream!
Yohan Kim obviously records with multiple camera angles, and at least one of them is clearly an iPhone, giving an excellent resolution quality.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Yohan Kim also has a cameraman panning around as he plays. We don't have that luxury. Besides as big as I am they wouldn't make it all the way around me before a song ended.....
I just used 3 cheap HD Cams left/right/center (you can set the left/right to close up) then mix the recorded audio from the mixing deck with the video after, just turn the volume down on the video tracks and leave the recorded mixing deck audio track up. Might be easy to record the mixer audio directly into Reaper then add the video tracks after. Here's Reaper-Multicam-Mix.mp4
Notes Most recent cameras should be adequate, but I recommend your idea of separate audio recording.
Myself and 3 friends started a similar project a couple of weeks ago, but, because we meet infrequently, it has taken until now to refine the process.
First attempt; I set up my Fuji X-T3, pressed the button, then we played a few songs. When I looked at the video later I discovered that the camera has a 30 minute maximum record time and that the room reverb, while not apparent at the time, becomes very noticeable when recorded. (to enable distancing we were in a badminton court)
Second attempt; We moved to a smaller room and recorded in sections of less than 30mins. The reverb was less but still intrusive and the built in camera mics had difficulty with some frequencies, emphasizing highs and poor bass.
Since I am an amateur stills photographer I know little about video, so I did some googling and found that if you include a "clapper board" type reference at the start, you can record audio separately, in line it up with the camera audio track, then delete the camera audio.
Third attempt: While filming,Run all audio through a mixing desk and monitors, pan vocals and instruments hard L&R and record via stereo out to a Tascam DP-008. We had no effects added on the mixer as I found that reverb is sent in stereo, so instruments bled into the vocals and vice versa. I added slight reverb in DAW at mixdown.
This is the stage we are at as of yesterday. The audio is 100% better, and this allows a degree of control between vocals and instruments before final mixdown. Now that the technicalities have been sorted, hopefully we ca go for a "take" at our next meeting.
Yohan Kim also has a cameraman panning around as he plays. We don't have that luxury. Besides as big as I am they wouldn't make it all the way around me before a song ended.....
Yes, you are exactly correct that there is an additional camera operator, but some of the angles in the video are from the iPhone, and that is the point I was alluding to. If you review my first screen capture, it shows the iPhone mounted on a stand, close to a wall, and the second screen capture is the vision exactly from that iPhone location, not from any separate camera operator. Check it out. Please let me know if my perception of the iPhone location and usage is incorrect.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Maybe one of the Canon rebel cameras? They're cheap enough, and you can then use Sparkocam for webcam. Canon sensor isn't too small so it shouldn't be that bad in dark environments and plus you can use magic lantern to bump up quality once warranty runs out and you're feeling adventurous.
I have limited knowledge on canons so double check this stuff, but I hope this helps.
Yes, you are exactly correct that there is an additional camera operator, but some of the angles in the video are from the iPhone, and that is the point I was alluding to. If you review my first screen capture, it shows the iPhone mounted on a stand, close to a wall, and the second screen capture is the vision exactly from that iPhone location, not from any separate camera operator. Check it out. Please let me know if my perception of the iPhone location and usage is incorrect.
To be honest I didn't even notice anything in the background. I was watching those lithe fingers work.
Yes, we can all be forgiven for being distracted by the outstanding talent - I'm also just as guilty
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Can't help with the camera question (though I would imagine that you want something that is pretty easy to set up, gives reasonable quality video and good audio on the finished video)
I am looking forward though to having a look and listen when you get it all down.
So do update us on the link when you have time to get around to it.
Being so far away and never seeing you both in concert it will be a real treat for me to have a listen.
Good luck with it all, and may the gigging return for you soon.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
Before you overcome yourself with multiple cameras and the miracle of digital time sync, be sure you are aware just how much power is in the modern editing program with respect to keyframes, pan, crop, and other features formerly considered high end and the territory of the film lab's optical printer. Keeping in mind the higher the original resolution, the better the result of any post crop or zoom. That includes color correction, which is huge in compositions. Adobe premiere or Sony are very good at all of this. Also, live and in studio are two different things. The higher end the camera, the better the onboard audio. If you can pick up a decent Sony or Canon pro-sumer camcorder cheap (under $1000 ?? New over $6k) on Ebay, I'd say go for it. But make the effort of go and see before you send money, with someone who knows the line. Better than take my advice, stop in your local TV station and ask the techs what they are using today.
Thank you all so much for your generous contributions.
There is a lot to digest here.
I don't want to deal with multiple cameras, and we plan to do these videos outdoors in our carport. Our house (cottage) is too small to get a good setup.
I just want to able to set the camera up, preferably on a tripod (I have SLR tripods) and go.
I also want an easy learning curve as I have a lot of other things on my plate right now.
Also, the carport is white, so we're thinking about buying some easy to hang curtains behind us. I suspect white would make our faces too dark. What is a good color for the cameras to react to? Neutral gray? Beige? Pink?
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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