Furthermore, viewing the resulting video will be both more entertaining and will provide you with an artistic advantage when you showcase your performance to potential professional and social contacts. Even filming with two cameras can significantly enhance the viewing experience by showing different perspectives that the limits of one camera could not possibly capture.

In post-production, the editor and/or the artist selects the best angles or takes from the multiple cameras. Then, the editor cuts them together into one seamless video. (The artist will receive all the uncut raw footage from every camera, in addition to the edited version.) While combining the recorded segments, the editor adds transitions and crossfade effects between the segments that match the pace of the music. In addition, the editor may create new sections with split screens simultaneously displaying shots taken from different angles.

A good way to learn about the benefits of filming your performance with multiple cameras is to look at the following two examples: filming a piano recital using two cameras, and filming an orchestral concert using three cameras.

Example 1: Two Cameras, Peter Orth Piano Recital, Town Hall, New York

In this example, the first camera was positioned at the back of the concert hall on the balcony. This allowed me to film a wide view of the stage and the pianist. The main camera was also used to zoom in on the pianist. The second camera was positioned on the stage to the left of the performer, and its purpose was to get a close-up shot of Mr. Orth's hands at a different angle from the first camera.

Click here to view the video clip of this example.

Camera 1: Main Camera

Camera 2: Close-up Camera

Example 2: Two Cameras, Paul Marinaro, Birdland, New York

Birdland Jazz Club is one of New York's most prestigious jazz venues, and by using two cameras I was able to capture the ambience of the location with regards to Mr. Marinaro's concert. The first camera was placed towards the right-hand side to constantly capture all the instruments in the band. My other camera, which I operated, was positioned slightly towards the left-hand side, where I was able to pan the room and zoom in on the talent, to capture the great music. In the editing process, I was able to cut between the two cameras seamlessly to create an effective video.

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Camera 1: Main Camera

Camera 2: Full Shot of the Band

Example 3: Three Cameras, Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, New York

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony was filmed with three cameras. When using three cameras to film a concert, generally two cameras take close-up shots of the leading performer(s), while the third, central camera covers the entire performance area. In this video, the challenge was to film the conductor, David Bernard, with the orchestra during the entire concert. Therefore, I placed the cameras in three different locations that helped me capture the orchestra and the conductor at the same time for the length of the recital.

Click here to view the video clip of this example.

Camera 1: Main Camera

Camera 2: Side Shot of
Orchestra and Conductor

Camera 3: Conductor Shot

Camera 3 (Zoomed In)

Example 4: Three Cameras, Kamau Adilifu Jazz Quartet, Symphony Space, New York

The three cameras used for the Kamau Adilifu Jazz Quartet faithfully capture the complexities of filming a jazz quartet. The goal was to position one main camera at the back of the hall for a wide shot, as well as having the ability to zoom in and get tighter shots later. Then, most importantly, I placed two different cameras at different locations to get the soloists when they played a solo.

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Camera 1: Main Camera

Camera 1 (Zoomed In)

Camera 2: Side Band Shot

Camera 3: Bassist and Piano Soloists

Example 5: Five Cameras, Lisa Yui Piano Recording Sessions, Borden Auditorium, Manhattan School of Music, New York

In this example, five cameras were used to film Lisa Yui's solo piano recording sessions. The main camera captured a wide shot of her playing from the balcony, including most of the piano in view. The main camera was also zoomed in for a closer shot. The main camera, and a second, static keyboard shot were also used to show different angles of the hands. Two face shots were used to catch Ms. Yui's facial expressions. A fifth camera angle was placed on the left-hand side of the stage pointing up for an alternate shot of the piano.

Click here to view the video clip of this example.

Camera 1: Main Camera

Camera 1 (Zoomed In)

Camera 2: Face Shot 1

Camera 3: Face Shot 2

Camera 4: Keyboard Shot

Camera 5: Upward Angle of Piano