Here are suggestions about how to make a basic setup to video your conducting. There are many different products – video cameras, media and ways to link to computers. For example, DSLR cameras and Smart Phones and everything in between have video recording capability.

Technical setup

The links are just suggestions for product and a starting point for your research and selection.

1. Get hold of a video camera on a tripod. An impressive compact device is the Zoom Q3HD but I don’t have one. It is cost effective, compact, but not so good a lens. The JVC Everio Series is the next step up with a better quality lens, a zoom lens, hardrive memory and also SD Memory Card recording. There are many equivalents in other brands. Beyond this price it gets silly.
2. If the video camera records to a SD Memory Card that will make it easier to transfer the raw video to your computer and send to your conducting teacher. Other media require getting the right connectors and cable to link your video camera and computer (the ones that come with the camera are enough), the right software and drivers to upload the video. Recording direct to a DVD Recorder is an older but effective way but requires the outlay of hardware and again the correct connectors and cables. Getting the video camera is enough!
3. Check the camera’s setting for video quality, the amount of memory your have free to record and the duration of the session you wish to record. The camera’s instructions will give you a SD Table to help you determine the most efficient settings. For example you don’t need to record at Broadcast quality 1080p, not even 1080i considering your files could be one hour long.
4. Be sure that you have selected the correct setting in the video camera to record to your media. Do a test – record some video. be sure to connect AC power to the camera as some camera batteries don’t last longer that 10 minutes when recording.
5. Set the video camera so it points at you standing in the conducting position, above the heads of people between you and the camera.
6. Frame the picture to video the whole person standing in the conductor’s position in front of the group. I like the camera to pick up an arm’s length above and to the sides, down to at least the knees.
7. In rehearsal Record from the beginning to the end of the session.
8. In performance Record the whole concert. You don’t want to be fussing about pressing Record when you should be focussed on settling your players and getting into the music.