Odd Socks films live DJ performances as multi-camera productions using Blackmagic PYXIS 6K and other cameras, finishing with Resolve Studio’s colour science and camera-to-post workflow
Odd Socks Productions in New Zealand produces live DJ performances in some of the country’s most beautiful, distinctive locations, combining professional cinematography with the vibrant energy of live music.
Founded by cinematographer Daryl Habraken and producer Yvie Harvie-Salter, Odd Socks Productions specialises in creating music and cultural content and distributing it through its REDLINING YouTube channel. Daryl, with a background in feature film production, aims to elevate the representation of New Zealand’s electronic music scene by producing these immersive, cinematic DJ performances filmed in spectacular outdoor settings.
Live Inspiration
“We were inspired by watching international YouTube channels showing live DJ sets recorded against incredible backdrops, and we realised there was no one representing New Zealand in that way. With our gorgeous landscapes and rich pool of talent, it made perfect sense to start something similar here,” Daryl said.
Odd Socks’ most recent productions were filmed on Waiheke Island, incorporating a four-camera setup that features the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K digital film camera, the new PYXIS 6K and an original Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. With two stationary cameras, one roaming and an aerial drone, the team captured dynamic angles and sweeping shots of all the performers and the surrounding environment.
Anamorphic Capture
To push the visuals even further, Odd Socks Productions used anamorphic lenses on some of the cameras, achieving a widescreen cinematic look that accentuated the beauty of the locations. “One of the standout features of the Blackmagic cameras is how easily they handle anamorphic shooting,” said Daryl. “The ability to dial in lens settings and see the corrected desqueezed image in-camera made all the difference when composing shots on location.”
The entire post production workflow was completed in DaVinci Resolve Studio, where the team was able to take advantage of very effective grading and multi camera editing capabilities. “We shot everything in Blackmagic RAW codec because it would afford us complete control over exposure and colour in post,” Daryl noted. “Even when filming in changeable natural light, the flexibility of DaVinci Resolve meant we could balance everything across complete sequences.”
The DaVinci Resolve Studio tool for multi-camera editing was particularly valuable for the project. “Being able to sync and edit multiple camera angles in one timeline made a huge difference,” he said. “We could switch between shots in real time and make adjustments instantly, allowing us to focus on the performance rather than devoting time and attention to technical limitations.”
Multicam Editing
The edit page features a full multicam interface with tools for managing projects involving 16 or more cameras, including a multicam viewer that displays all cameras playing back simultaneously. Keyboard and mouse controls are added for fast cutting and switching with separate audio or video-only options. Syncing is kept accurate via audio waveform, timecode or in/out points. Once a project is edited, editors can continue refining trim points and change clip angles in the timeline, or work on any of the multicam clips to trim and colour correct angles independently.
For non real time multi-cam editing, the cut page has a sync bin. Users can select a point in the timeline and use the sync bin to find all clips that sync to that point, before displaying them all in a multiview. You can then scroll up and down the timeline to see all the relevant clips, select the preferred view and adjust the in and out points.
Beyond the Shoot
Beyond filming, Odd Socks Productions has grown to appreciate Blackmagic cameras for their ease of use and colour science. “I’ve been using Blackmagic cameras since the very first Cinema Camera,” Daryl remarked. “The colour science is excellent, the menu system is straightforward and the integration with DaVinci Resolve makes it a comprehensive system for production.”
Looking ahead, Odd Socks Productions plans to continue expanding its music content, collaborating with international DJs and tourism partners to present both the artists and New Zealand’s diverse landscapes. “We’re excited aout exploring what is possible with live music filming, and Blackmagic cameras will be at the heart of that journey.” www.blackmagicdesign.com
