Making over head (over hands) video

[Joe Burke]

Can anyone share their set up for doing videos looking down on the hands playing?
Basically iI want a video of my hands playing a lap steel. I’ll use an iPhone capturing the video.

I have a mic stand and a music stand that I could attach something to.

Thanks!

[Rick Campbell]

Anyway you can attach it will work. Anything from rubber bands to a professional mouning bracket (Amazon, Walmart, etc...) Something really handy is a bluetooth remote so you can start and stop the video recording without having to get up and go to the phone. Some video editing skills are good to be able to alter the length of the video. I used to use my phone to do videos, but lately I've been using a Webcam. I can start and stop with the mouse, (or a wireless remote mouse) and the video is stored on my computer that makes it easy to edit. It's not really hard to do once you do it a few times, and I find it really interesting. Hope you'll share some with us.

RC

[Joe Burke]

Thanks Rick!
I did a little research and think I’ll head to a video and camera shop. I’ll see what type of mounting brackets they have. I’ve done little bits of editing right on my iPhone, trimming the head and tail of a clip. I agree you, it’s fun annd interesting to do.

[Dale Rottacker]

What Rick said ... I've used computer/iPhone/Galaxy phone/webcams/digital camera... most of them, but for me webcam is the easiest. I use QuickTime in my iMac which captures video and stores it where I can edit it with Final Cut Pro X ... I mount the Webcam above and in front of me, but rather than keeping it in it's standard face on configuration I open the hinge fully and turn the camera upside down for the overhead POV view like in this video. I'm actually using 2 Webcams here, one for overhead and one for face on and then edit the two together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0YjLm51kQ

[Joe Burke]

Dale - what do you attach your webcam to, in order to get that overhead POV?

[Dale Rottacker]

Dale - what do you attach your webcam to, in order to get that overhead POV?

This can be achieved several different ways and I've tried most of them. From a boom mic stand over my shoulder, which I found cumbersome and in the way, to what I think is now the best for me and out of the way, and I don't bump my head into it when I get up from the guitar, so it stays there ALL the time. However does not need to be made this permanent.

[Rick Campbell]

Dale - what do you attach your webcam to, in order to get that overhead POV?

Joe,

Walmart has a kit with phone mount, tripod, light, etc… for cheap. Most of the timer get have them at the stores. I think Best Buy has them too.

RC