- Using more than one camera when you're recording a video
can really help level up your production
and improve your workflow in a lot of ways.
But when should you use more than one camera?
When should there be a second one?
When should there be a main one?
When should you look at the second one
or not look at the second one?
It can kind of be a little confusing.
So that's what we're going to talk about today.
Speaking of which, do you know what kind
of bird likes to use multiple cameras?
That would be a twocam. (like the Froot Loops guy– Twocam Sam)
introbeats.mp3
It's been a couple of years now
that I've been using a two camera set up
when I record most of my videos.
And the funny thing about it is that some people love it,
some people hate it, and a lot of people don't notice it all.
But it makes a huge difference for me,
and so that's what I wanted to share with you
because I think it might be something worth considering
that could make a big difference for you too.
So the reason that I use multiple cameras personally
is actually pretty practical and it has to do with editing.
Typically when I'm recording a video
I have my main camera right here
and then sometimes I will crop in
during the editing to emphasize a point or break things up.
So really what that does is it gives this one camera
two angles, even though I'm just recording one file.
There's nothing wrong with using jump cuts
especially on YouTube, but for whatever reason
maybe about a year and a half ago
I decided that I was going to try to cover up
as many of my jump cuts as possible.
And so that way, when they do show up
it's usually for a specific purpose
or to emphasize a point, or make a joke or do
a cheesy effect or something like that.
And so by adding in a second camera
what that did is it now gives me a second angle
(shocking, I know) and with two angles coming
from here and a third one over there
it makes the editing process really easy where I can cut
between these different angles and kind of cover up
jump cuts to make the videos look a little more smooth
and a little more natural.
So that means as soon as I'm done recording a video
I've already got three camera angles ready to go.
And then on top of that, if I add in B-roll footage
or an overhead camera or something like a screen recording,
those are a lot of different elements that I can incorporate
into a video to help it become more visually interesting.
Sometimes there's a practical point
to using a second camera as well.
Typically this is a 24 millimeter lens which is pretty wide.
And usually this is a 50 millimeter lens
which is not quite as wide, but it does show a process here.
So if I'm doing like a tutorial on the computer
sometimes I like to be able to cut
to this angle where you sort of see me working
on the computer and then jump to the screen recording.
And it's kind of a way to transition into that.
I can also put a wider lens on here.
Sometimes if I have a bunch of equipment
or something that I'm talking about or reviewing
and then you can kind of get a bigger, different view
of all the stuff that I'm using in that specific video.
And you might notice, I'm not talking about specific cameras
in this video, because a lot of the stuff you can do
with any two cameras, it doesn't really matter.
I am using the Sony FX3 and a Sony a7SIII.
Those are two very nice cameras, but this can be done
with any two cameras, two phones, a GoPro and a phone
a cinema camera and a GoPro and old camcorder, whatever.
The basic principles can be the same
no matter what two cameras you have set up together.
Now it can be sometimes tricky if you're really picky
and you want to make the footage match and balance.
One of the reasons I use these two cameras specifically
together is because they have the same image sensor
which makes it very easy to get the same image quality
and the same colors and all that stuff out of them.
So it's easier to match the footage.
Sometimes it can be a little distracting
if one camera looks one way
and then you cut to the other angle
and it's like totally different white balance
or something like that.
But most of us aren't Hollywood level colorists
so the added visual interest of a second camera
kind of outweighs mismatched colors sometimes I think.
And I originally got this idea
because I like it when there are documentaries
where they have their main interview and then they do cut
to a side angle where you kind of see some of the setup.
Maybe you see the lights or the camera or something
the lights camera, and the action behind the scenes.
I just thought that looked really neat.
And so I wanted to try it in my YouTube videos.
Also, I won't lie, it's fun to use cameras.
And so setting up different cameras
and different lenses is just fun to me at least.
And being able to use a second camera
lets me play with cameras more.
Now, ideally each camera should serve a purpose.
In my case, it's mainly for editing and to help
cover up cuts and make the video seem a little smoother.
You don't want to just sort of have random camera
angles that you cut to.
I usually try to think of what makes sense
for a given thing that I'm saying.
Should I be speaking directly into this camera?
Should this be cropped in?
Or should it be from an angle over here?
Or should I be facing over here?
Those are all different options to kind of keep in mind
while you're filming to help make the edit better.
Now, like I said earlier, there are a lot
of people who don't like two camera angles
and it really just comes down to personal preference.
I happen to love it, so I use it, and I'm going to keep using it.
But there's also a debate about
whether or not you should look into your second camera.
It's very important to remember
that when you're looking into a camera
you are connecting with the viewer in a very specific way.
It's like you're looking into their eyes,
gazing into their beautiful eyes.
And so when you have an angle where you're not
looking at them, it definitely puts them
into the seat of being an observer.
And I've heard from people that don't like that
because it sort of takes them out of the environment.
Whereas if you cut to another camera
and you're looking into that camera,
it keeps that eye connection going.
For me personally the reason I don't do that too often
is because that actually breaks the effect for me
because then I become aware
that the person is aware of the multiple cameras
and that almost breaks down the effect for me. (I know they know I know they know)
But the more practical reason I don't do that too often
is when you're doing that while you're filming,
you're keeping the edit in mind,
so that means, I know I'm going to deliver this line
to this camera and this line to that camera.
But in my workflow, the purpose
of the second camera is to help cover up some of the edits.
So by doing this, that makes that the main camera
and I'm less able to use it to cover up things
where I need to make the video feel smoother.
And this angle from the side is just weird,
would cutting here and then cutting to that,
it doesn't make any sense.
So unless I have a really specific reason or something
I've definitely planned out
that I want to be edited that way.
I usually don't look into this camera
and I just keep the side view as I'm talking
into this camera, but I can't emphasize enough
that there is no right or wrong.
If you want to look directly
into the lens of both your cameras,
that's great.
If you don't– I guess you should probably be looking
into the lens of at least one of them,
that's great too.
It's just whatever you like
and whatever you think works best for your specific videos
and know you will never make everybody happy.
Where you position your cameras is pretty important.
I definitely recommend experimenting a bit,
like put your camera
in different places and see what looks good.
Do you have a room where different angles just
look better than other angles?
In my case
I keep both cameras pretty much at the same height.
They're pretty much just a little bit below eye level.
And that way they cut together
in a way that kind of makes sense to me.
So much of your camera positioning really just
does depend on your specific environment.
So definitely try putting your camera in different places.
I've seen people have cameras behind them.
I've seen people have cameras overhead.
Whatever works for you that you think is interesting
and not super distracting, that's the way to go.
And of course you can go beyond two cameras.
You can have as many cameras as you want.
Personally, when I'm recording
I just record internally to both cameras.
And then I sync up the footage in Final Cut Pro
and I just cut between them.
You can use multicam edits in most editing software
like Final Cut and Premiere, if you want to.
And having a second camera can also be a great option.
If you want backup audio. I'm not doing it today,
although maybe I should.
Sometimes I will run a second microphone
into my second camera, just in case something
happens to my main mic,
I know that I have backup audio that I can count on.
It's always a good idea too
to be able to monitor your second camera.
My a7SIII does have a flip out screen
but it's pretty far away from me.
It's at least like two meters away
about six feet away, maybe more.
And I honestly can't like see the screen
to check the audio levels or anything
from here because as I get older, that's harder to do.
So I have a little monitor mounted here, just
out of frame where I can see that the camera is recording.
I can see that the focus is on my eye and then
I know everything looks good
and is working the whole time I'm recording.
If you've never used two cameras in your workflow
whether it's for a personal video like something for YouTube
or even a client project where you're doing interviews,
I strongly encourage you to experiment with it
and try it out of it because that new angle
can add a whole new angle to your creativity.
And really the only concrete warning I can give
is to make sure that you are sitting
with each camera angle long enough when you cut to it,
really put yourself in the viewer's shoes and think
about how they're going to feel when they watch the video.
Every once in a while, I'll come across a video
where someone has two camera angles
and when they cut to the second one, it's very quick.
It's like, I can't even tell what's happening,
and we've already cut back
and that can be really distracting.
And going back to what I said at the beginning of the video
this is fun for me setting up multiple camera.
I enjoy that because I like working
with equipment and cameras and stuff.
If you hate working with equipment and setting up stuff
is not fun for you, this could be a nightmare.
So don't force yourself to do something like this
if you absolutely hate it.
And it's no fun at all.
But if you do like experimenting
with this stuff and trying things out,
you can have a whole lot of fun with it.
And that's really the point,
have fun when you make videos because it should be fun.
It should be something that you enjoy.
And then hopefully you make something really cool
that helps other people out too.
Speaking of helping people out, thank you
to everyone who helps support my channel
through Patreon and YouTube Channel Memberships.
And if you want some more tips and tricks
for leveling up your audio video production workflow,
check out these videos right here.
(outrobeatz.mp3)