As someone who has been professionally recording concerts for over ten years, I’ve learned that preparation is key. Proper prior planning ensures that everything runs smoothly when the concert starts. There’s nothing worse than dealing with a last-minute technical issue, and that’s why I dedicate time before every concert to clean, charge, and organize my gear.

Tonight, I’m recording the Genesee Wind Symphony, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to take you behind the scenes and show you exactly how I prep my equipment before a concert recording. I’ll walk you through the cameras I use, the roles they play, and the steps I take to make sure everything is ready for showtime.

Camera Setup: The Right Tool for the Job

Over the years, my gear has evolved, and I’ve upgraded my cameras to get the best quality recordings possible. Each camera in my setup serves a specific purpose, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the concert. Here’s what I’ll be using tonight:

1. Panasonic HC-VX1 – Percussion Cam

This small, palm-sized camcorder used to be my go-to for side angle shots. I previously had two of these, but since upgrading, I now only use one, primarily for percussion coverage. It’s compact, easy to set up, and reliable—perfect for a “set it and forget it” scenario.

2. Panasonic GH5 (x2) – Side Angle Coverage

My side angle shots are now covered by two GH5 cameras. These mirrorless cameras provide excellent image quality and versatility, making them ideal for ensuring that no section of the band is left out of the frame. With their interchangeable lenses and strong low-light performance, they give me the flexibility to get high-quality shots from different angles.

3. Panasonic GH5 (With Cage) – B-Roll & Close-Ups

This GH5 is my go-to when capturing B-roll footage. If you've seen my videos where I get up close to band members during rehearsals, this is the camera I use. It’s typically paired with a 25mm lens to create that beautiful, shallow depth-of-field look that adds a cinematic touch to my videos.

4. Panasonic GH5S (x2) – Wide Shot & Burtch Cam

The GH5S cameras are slightly different from the standard GH5 models—they have better low-light performance. One of these is dedicated to the wide shot, ensuring a full view of the entire ensemble. The other is used for the Burtch cam, which captures close-up conductor shots.

5. Panasonic HC-X1500 (For Sale!)

For years, my main camera was the Panasonic HC-X1500, a fantastic workhorse camcorder with 24x optical zoom—great for getting close-up shots of performances. It has served me well, but since I upgraded, I’m currently in the process of selling it. If you’re looking for a reliable, versatile camera, I’m offering it at a very reasonable $1,100!

6. Panasonic X2 – My New Main Camera

The Panasonic X2 is now my primary camera. It’s part of Panasonic’s newest camcorder line, and I managed to snag it on eBay for an incredible deal—almost half off! If it weren’t for that discount, I wouldn’t have been able to justify the upgrade, but I’m glad I did. Compared to the HC-X1500, it has a better sensor, improved low-light performance, and 10-bit color depth, making color grading much easier and the final product even more professional.

Audio Setup: Capturing Clean, Clear Sound

While video quality is crucial, audio can make or break a concert recording. My go-to audio recorder is the Tascam Portacapture X8. This recorder is always charged up, equipped with an SD card, and set to my standard concert settings. I never change the audio settings because they have been dialed in perfectly over years of recording, ensuring a consistent, high-quality sound for every performance.

Cleaning & Prepping Lenses

After ensuring all my cameras are charged and formatted, the final step before packing everything up is cleaning all my lenses. Even a tiny smudge or speck of dust can affect image quality, so I take the time to wipe down both the front and back elements of each lens. My process is simple:

Use pre-moistened lens wipes to clean the glass.
Use a blower to remove any dust and help dry the alcohol from the wipe.
Double-check the lens under light to ensure it’s spotless.

Since I often change lenses in the field, I make sure they are pristine before they go into my bag. That way, even if I accidentally smudge one while setting up, I know it was clean when it was packed.

Final Thoughts

By taking the time to charge, format, clean, and organize everything before heading to the venue, I ensure that once I’m on-site, my focus is on capturing the best possible performance, not troubleshooting gear issues. Proper preparation eliminates stress and allows me to record seamlessly, knowing that all my equipment is in peak condition.

Tonight’s recording of the Genesee Wind Symphony is shaping up to be a fantastic performance, and I can’t wait to capture it. I hope this behind-the-scenes look at my pre-concert prep routine gives you a better understanding of the work that goes into professional concert recording.

If you have any questions about my setup or are interested in purchasing the Panasonic HC-X1500, feel free to reach out. Thanks for following along, and I’ll check back in soon with updates from tonight’s recording!

Prepping My Gear for a Concert Recording: A Behind-the-Scenes Look