setting up my video studio with the Sony A6400

1. Get out lights and set them up

• The lights should be high enough to project strongly onto the ceiling but not so high as to make a shape of light on the ceiling
• The lights should be positioned to the front left and right of the subject
• The lights should be angled up toward the ceiling at about a 25° angle vertically and forward at about a 45° angle horizontally toward the subject

2. Set up tripod

• Open tripod with legs fully extended
• Tighten the center
• Point the tripod with the camera adjustment handle pointing away from the subject
• Open tripod quick release and remove camera attachment

3. Get out camera

• Screw on the tripod quick release adapter
• Mount the camera to the tripod
• Close quick release

4. Set up big side table for microphone

• The microphone stand goes on top of the table to get the microphone above the frame of the video
• This allows the microphone to be close to the subject’s mouth without being visible

5. Get out the green microphone stand template

• This goes on top of the big side table to show the correct placement of the microphone stand
• The single end on the template points toward the subject. This allows that leg to be aligned with the boom to support its weight.
• The table should be placed such that the microphone is above and slightly in front of the subject

6. Get out the microphone stand

• Extend everything fully, including the legs
• Line up the legs with the template on the table
• Extend the boom over the subject at about a 75° angle from the vertical arm
• Twist the boom so that the tip of the microphone is pointed generally toward the subject’s mouth

7. Get out cables

• Power cables from light carrying cases
  • Connect to lights
  • Plug into power
• Microphone extension cable
  • Connect female end to microphone cable and male end to camera
• Camera power adapter
  • Remove battery from camera
  • Insert camera power adapter
  • Plug into power

8. Get out the white foamboard and the baffling boards

• Place the white board to reflect some light up onto subject’s chin
• Place baffling boards on any surface that might reflect sound into the microphone based on the microphone positioning and surrounding surfaces

9. Remove lens cap
10. Power on equipment

• Camera
• Microphone
• Studio lights
• Background accessories

11. Test the microphone

• Set the microphone gain level on the camera to 9 in Settings > Camera 2 > Audio Rec Level
• Have one person watch the audio monitor on the camera’s screen
• Have the other person make a sound into the microphone – tapping the microphone is good
• Make sure the monitor jumps with the sound

12. Connect the camera to the iPad app

• Turn off bluetooth on the iPad
• Open the Imaging Edge Mobile app
• Trying clicking “Start” next to the existing entry for the camera. This usually fails.
• Click “Connect with a new camera”
• From the “Network” menu on the camera, select “Ctrl w/ Smartphone”
• Scan the QR code displayed on the camera’s screen using the iPad’s camera

13. Check the framing

• Make sure the scene and subject are framed correctly
• Make sure the microphone and boom are out of frame
  • Have one person run their hands behind the microphone and boom while the other watches the viewfinder. This will make it easier to see if the microphone is in frame.