GoPro: Hero 3
We’ve all seen the commercials lately, but does the GoPro Series live up to the hype? So long as you know what you plan to film, GoPro offers various price points, giving you purchasing options. With all three models (White, Silver and Black) shooting at least 1080p/30fps onto standard micro SD cards, this is an easy way to start shooting that “tour footage” for your next music video. We recommend the black edition for any club shooting as it offers “Pro Low-Light Performance” and the ability of 60fps 1080p (great for slow motion). MSRP Black - $399.99 Silver - $299.99 White - $199.99
Zoom H6N
Recently shown at Musikmesse and Summer NAMM 2013, the ZOOM H6N is the Samson’s previous H4n—shown in MC’s 2012 Gifts Under A Grand—on steroids. Now offering interchangeable microphone options (XY comes standard but you can add mid-side, shotgun and XLR/TRS input), this puppy is a great field mic to hook up at the sound board to “capture your performance.” MSRP $399.99
PluralEyes by RedGiant
If you’ve ever shot a multi-camera scene, you’ll understand the importance of an assistant/intern. PluralEyes replaces the workload of your assistant editor by syncing up several video and audio clips together, giving you the ability to focus on bigger issues, like which angle is the singer’s “good side.” MSRP $199 / $99 Academic / $79 Upgrade
Beachtek DXA-SLR
It seems more videos are being shot on DSLRs than any other affordable “video” camera these days, and without great audio, nobody will think twice about what you have to offer. If you prefer recording audio directly to your video file, this is a great alternative to using a stand-alone audio recorder (such as the Zoom). Instantly spice up any DSLR production—like that live show at the Whisky that would have sounded great on YouTube had you not used the on-board mic that only recorded your drunk Mom shouting, “I love you guys!” MSRP $285
Hosa Female XLR to 1/8” TRS
If you’re just looking to turn around time-sensitive interviews at trade shows/conferences like NAMM or SXSW, this cable will allow you to plug an SM58 (or any other dynamic mic of your choice) directly into your DSLR for source audio. It’s not the flashiest approach, and you’ll have to correct some gain staging issues, but anyone with little time and a small budget won’t find themselves complaining. It also serves as a great backup, should any of your high-end products take a dive mid-interview. MSRP $13.50
For tips on creating your own music video, see http://www.musicconnection.com/do-it-yourself-videos
