Streamlining the recording process
iternabe If somehow you can figure out a way to leave it permanently in place
Unfortunately this probably isn't an option....
iternabe Are you open to the idea of recording directly to your laptop?
No, only because this would require even more of a set-up hassle. Every time, I'd have to get it out, bring in a little folding table or something, get the cord, get a usb mic, do the set up and take down each time etc....
My whole goal is to have the least amount of friction possible, so one key is to have the fewest number of items to get out and put away, since I can't leave it set up all the time.
ShiroKuro I do have the setup with the least amount of friction, and that's achieved by having everything permanent, including the computer. To me, the next least amount of friction setup is to make the computer (i.e. laptop) the only component that's temporary. Everything else can be left in place, preferable all connected to a docking station. Then all you need to do is to dock the laptop and be ready to go. The laptop/docking station can even be out of the view (as long as cables for camera and mic are long enough). Start/stop recording can easily be controlled by a remote device (wireless mouse/keyboard, iPhone app, or Stream Deck). Additional benefit is elimination of file transfer time and easier trimming/editing on the computer.
Maybe I can get something like that in the future, but for now, it's not an option. So based on what I'm hearing here and in another forum, I am guessing my best bet (least friction) is to get a better tripod or clip with gooseneck, not take it apart (I think I can store in a closet when not in use), so that all I have to do is get it out and put it in place.
I'll only get a bluetooth remote if I can find one that doesn't have reviews like @Animisha 's (e.g., unreliable connectivity).
We'll see how it goes!
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Shiro, I am in the same situation as yourself, I can't have a permanent setup either. So my solution is a standard camera tripod in combination with this clip that I purchased from Amazon:
All I have to do is place the tripod next to me and have it record straight to my phone. I know it's not an ideal angle, but it works... I don't need any 3rd party shutter device because the phone is right next to me within reach. I can even see what I'm recording if I lean over a bit. Then I use a free Dropbox account to sync my videos with my desktop computer automatically, so that I can edit and upload the video there.
@Sophia thanks for the pic! I wonder if your tripod, or the big part in the middle there? is more movable than mine, maybe that's part of my problem.... is that white thing a light?
iternabe This is where mic stand, c stand, and articulating arm with clamps are all better.
Ahhh, that's super helpful! I wasn't thinking about that issue!
Animisha You cannot get it there with Airdrop or Quick share?
Hmm, as I recall, airdrop doesn't work when going from an iPhone to a PC, and I'm not sure about Quick Share. But larger files are a hassle, and again, I'm wanting it to be as streamlined as possible, so I'd prefer not to change devices if possible.
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@ShiroKuro Yes, I forgot to mention it, this is the light I purchased. It attaches very easily to that mount I linked to earlier.
When the tripod is not in use, I just fold in the legs and store it next to the piano:
I read what @iternabe said about the legs getting in the way, but fortunately I haven't found that to be an issue in my case 
I line the tripod up next to the piano bench and so far, it has never interfered with my pedaling or anything else.
I must have got lucky with mine. It was very cheap (well under $10 Australian) and I have no problems with connectivity.
It is several years old, and still works perfectly, although I no longer use it, as I use a small utility which streams phone video (and audio, if required), wirelessly to the computer using OBS software for recording, and later editing. In use, the phone screen can be turned off, reducing heat, and increasing battery life. Once initially set up, it is extremely simple to use.
As my small studio is digital piano based, I don't mind having various tech on show, but can understand that those with acoustic instruments in beautiful settings, need to keep visible tech to a minimum.
ShiroKuro Hmm, as I recall, airdrop doesn't work when going from an iPhone to a PC, and I'm not sure about Quick Share. But larger files are a hassle, and again, I'm wanting it to be as streamlined as possible, so I'd prefer not to change devices if possible.
That is true! What about using an USB cable?
Using a USB Cable (Fast and Reliable)
Connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB cable.
On your iPhone, tap "Trust this Computer" if prompted.
Open File Explorer on your PC.
Go to This PC > [Your iPhone’s Name] > DCIM.
Here, you can access your photos and videos.
Copy and paste the files to your desired location on the PC.
Note: This method works well for photos/videos but not other files like documents.
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... feeling like the pianist on the Titanic ...
Animisha good point, I should probably get whatever the cable would be to go from iPhone to pc (lightning to usb, I think)
Once you get it onto your computer, what program do you use? Do you use a Mac/Apple or PC btw?
At my old job, I used to have access to a video editing software program (app) called Camtasia, but for whatever reason my new uni doesn’t include in its software collection. I am sure there are others, but that one was really easy to use. The one I know we have, Premier Pro, is too advanced IIRC…
ShiroKuro Once you get it onto your computer, what program do you use? Do you use a Mac/Apple or PC btw?
II have a Mac, so I use iMovie. A year ago, I switched from PC to Mac. I almost lost both my sanity and my marriage, but both survived and I am now very happy with this transition.
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... feeling like the pianist on the Titanic ...
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ShiroKuro Once you get it onto your computer, what program do you use?
If you only need to trim videos, I high recommend Shutter Encoder. I have searched far and wide, and this is IMO the best tool. It's compact. It's easy to use. And it's fast (no re-encoding needed)! It works on PC and Mac. And it's free.
For feature rich or professional video editing, the common options are: Adobe Premiere, Davinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro. I have experience with the first two. I strongly prefer DaVinci Resolve. It's both powerful and easy to use. It works on PC and Mac, and it's free, too. It is probably the most widely used video editor nowadays. I'd only use Premiere if my entire workflow spans the full Adobe eco system. Final Cut Pro introduced some really useful AI features in its latest release. But it's Mac only.
@ShiroKuro I have one more trick that will make later triming/editing easier. When you have a longer recording (e.g. 30 min or 1 hr), you need a way to find where is the good stuff to be cut and selected for upload. You don't want to waste time to watch a 3-5 minute playthrough only to realize that was the bad take. The method I found to make this quicker is noting down the time immediately after you realize the part you just played is worthy of saving.
Now, the trick is what time to write down. There are 2 ways to do this.
- Start a digital count up timer at the same time as you start the video recording. Then write down the time on the digital timer. When you edit video, this time will correspond to the timecode of the video playhead in the app.
- Include a digital clock in your video shot. Then write down the time on the clock. In the video editor, you just scrub the playhead and watch the clock on the video screen to find your spot.
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I use a Canon EOS M-200 camera. It does reasonable quality recordings except very low light. I normally prefer to make recordings during the day. The camera has an onscreen playback. There is a beginning & end trim button so I can trim the video (leaving a few seconds slack on both ends) before exporting the video to a phone or computer for uploading online.
During the recording I'd place the camera on a tripod. The camera has optical zoom so zooming in doesn't degrade quality. I'd try to avoid extreme wide-angle or tele-photo to give a natural perspective. If I'm recording with a phone, I'd avoid zooming in. Older model phones usually have digital zoom which is basically cropping the video and degrading the quality. I prefer putting the camera on the left or right side of the piano /keyboard and shoot at about 45 degrees showing both hands playing.
At home there is a cabinet in front of the keyboard. I'd put the tripd on it and shoot down at a high angle for a bird's-eye view.
The least preferred shooting angle is from the left or right side of the piano straight down like the piano pokes into your face. I've seen many people shoot this way.
My 2 tripods for many years both have the brand name Manfrotto. These are made in Italy or China. It's a high-end brand that is very sturdy.
From the beginning I realized that the sound always have some background noise. I'd import the audio portion into a sound program like Audacity and remove the background noise later. Recombine the audio with the video in a movie editor after audio noise is reduced.
My latest recording is the intro of "Harmonious Blacksmith" by Handel. It's a piece I worked on before the Christmas break and recorded a few days ago.
Quicktime is also a fast and easy way to trim videos. Just go <Edit><Trim> and it puts up a slider that you can use to trim the beginning and end of your video.
