Loish
patreon
TIP // my filming setup
🕑 Added 2020-12-16 10:03:57 +0000 UTCSomeone asked for more info about my filming setup for tutorials, so I took some quick snapshots during the filming of my last tutorial and added some notes! I started filming and making video content about a year ago, in preparation for my patreon launch. It’s been quite an adventure! I was honestly so scared to start making videos, but through a long process of trial and error I got better at it. It’s really worth it, because it allows me to explain things to you guys in a more natural way. I know a lot of artists are looking into making more video content, and it’s a really great way to connect with people and show them more about your process. I recommend dipping your toes in if you’re interested - you don’t have to go all out and invest in expensive stuff, you can start with just getting a cheap phone clamp and filming your process with your phone to see how it goes. Here’s the tools that I use for my filming process:
• A phone to film: I got the iPhone 11 pro purely for this purpose, it has a really great camera (I was an android user before!). I prefer filming with a phone because it just feels easier and more intuitive. I’ve filmed with a normal camera before but really struggled with the right settings and getting a good preview of what I was filming. The phone feels a lot easier!
• Light: I use a ring light to create a bright daylight effect. Normal light is usually too dark for filming, especially in the winter. In the setup that I photographed, I have it pointed upwards so that the light doesn’t create a bright, glaring reflection on the iPad. I also have a second light source which is just my desk lamp. Having two light sources prevents really sharp shadows from appearing. With light, it’s good to just test different setups out until you like what you see!
• Phone clamp: This is basically just a flexible tube with two clamps: one to clamp it onto a table or, in my case, a wall plank, and then on the other side there’s a clamp to hold the phone. I like these flexible clamps because you can just bend them around until it’s in the right position!
• Microphone: As you guys know from my previous descriptions, I struggled a lot with getting a good setup for the mic! I’ve learned that for good audio, I need to have it really close to my face, and also somehow not on the table, because otherwise it will record deep bumping sounds from my drawing process. The solution for that was a boom arm and mount. Those are expensive, though, so only invest in this if you think you’ll generate some income from your videos! I’ve used phone audio in the past as well, which also works fine, but it will record a lot of surrounding sound also, so make sure you’re in a quiet space.
• Premiere & Audition: this is the software I use to edit the video and optimize the sound. There’s free editing software out there too, but I’m just a faithful adobe user :)
General tips for filming a process video or tutorial:
• Do lots of tests: the only way to know if something works is to just try it! I ran into so many weird issues that I could not have predicted. Once, the light that I was using had a frequency that caused intense flickering on my phone. Another time, the clamp slowly moved during filming. So just test stuff out a lot and figure out what the potential issues are, so you can fix them! Check in with your video throughout the filming process too. Trial and error is part of any filming process.
• Make sure you can be comfortable: don’t let the setup cause you to feel restricted, because that will affect the art you make! You want to be able to draw naturally and comfortably while filming.
Hopefully this is useful for some of you guys! Let me know if you have any questions!
Comments
Loish
i could definitley make a new one about how i record my tutorials! i use OBS but there are some tips and tricks I can share for sure.
Mildred
Loish, lol is this all you use to record your paintings? and Vimeo? You have to do a video showing us how you achieve recordings. But I think I get the hang of things. Using mundane things to an extraordinary like my iphone camera to record anything like drawing and playing an instrument. Alright!
Yana Adamovic
Great tips! Thank you for sharing!
Loish
thank you! I downloaded an app that allows me to change the shutter speed. it's called ProMovie but I'm sure there are other options out there too!
Hey Loish! It's so interesting to read your notes and your setup! I'd also wanna ask, how did you fix the phone flickering issue? I'd love to share my speedpaints taken by phone one day, but I have a really big problem with the disturbing screen flickering on my Ipad.
Loish
it's an SE electronics pop screen!
What Pop filter did you buy? Yours is nice and thin and most seem thick!
Loish
Thank you for the support!! my normal desk chair is slightly out of the shot here - the stool just happened to be there, I mainly use it as a footstool haha! I think I'd have to make a different post about my drawing setup. I do lean over the screen while drawing, but I take a lot of breaks and exercise regularly which keeps back/shoulder problems at bay!
Jehan Khonat
Hey Loish :) Firstly, thank you for always giving such valuable content! I'm slightly off topic - but I noticed your seat doesn't have a back? And I'm assuming you'd lean over the screen while drawing - do you ever get back pain?
Loish
i have a falcon eyes flc-40!
Hello there Loish! A little late to this - but I wanted to ask which ring light you are using? I'm trying to find one for myself but there's SO many options, it's so hard to decide!
Daniel Campos
awesome thanks
Loish
I put it on the top right area of the cintiq! you can see the keyboard in the second photos. it's held in place with velcro :')
Loish
that's definitely the way to go! small steps.
Loish
thanks for the tip liam! a boom & mount is a great investment, not only for better sound quality but also positioning the mic in a drawing setup.
Loish
i'm so glad you're finding it helpful!! i feel like the digital art world comes with a lot of pressure to try out all the techniques, but you learn more if you just use it in your own way! if you come from drawing traditionally, try using the ipad as a traditional drawing tool - just pick a nice brush and draw away. you'll slowly discover the other tools when you are ready for them!
MissChibiArtist
I'm so glad you shared this! I'm just now in the middle of figuring out how to film studio vlogs and my Procreate process. I'm excited to implement these tips! Thank you!
Hi Loish - I just wanted to stop by and say thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with all of us online. I felt pretty stuck creatively towards the end of last year and have been trying to expand my storytelling skills. I got an ipad back in January and had been struggling to navigate sketching digitally. Coming from drawing with pen and paper to grasping layers, brushes and when to use them vs fill color, masks and hue/brightness shifts...it's all been a lot to take in. But your tutorials have really helped me connect the dots. I no longer feel intimidated or overwhelmed. :) So - thank you!!
Fester's Lampshade
Thanks for sharing! Note to others: There are relatively good mic setups (with boom and mount) that are not super expensive (example not endorsement: Fifine 780A). They won't be as good as this yeti setup but at much lower price. Sound can make a big difference in the overall impression people have of stream/video. It doesn't have to be great, just not bad/distracting.
Devotionart
Thank you so much for sharing this! I really want to create video content but is a little intimidating 😅💖 definitely will start little by little 🙌🏻
Yes, but none of these items will stop me from holding my mouth funny when I record. Haha. Thank you for sharing. I love seeing other people's work space.
Daniel Campos
Loish where do you put your keyboard, whenever you use the cintiq? or you use the remote?
