Steadicam beginners guide part 1 (setup / balance / explanation of parts tutorial)

A beginners tutorial to setting up a steadicam rig.
Take a look at all of my gear
********* steadired.com/all-my-gear *********
Going through all the steps of setting up the rig including...
Understanding the parts
Preparing the camera
Picking a drop time and setting the gimble
Static balance
Dynamic balance
Picking up the rig
Fitting the vest
Setting the socket block
Tuning the arm
links mentioned in the video...
• Exovest Fitting Guide
Demonstrated with a steadicam M1, G--70x arm and Tiffen Exovest. perfect video for people interested in film making and movie production.
steadicam steadicam operator steadycam behind the scenes how its made how its done how they do it filmmaking moviemaking insta360 bts edits photography dp director of photography tiffen director camera camerawork movie production producer camera dept #filmset set life don juan gimble volt actors life actor bmpcc4k set glidecam flycam cametv steady cam
#steadicam
#filmmaking
#camera

[@JackReaperZX]

This will be very helpful to people who is interested in getting to know steadicam as there isn’t much videos like this on youtube. Good stuff. Thanks!

[@SteadiRed]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@jcubero86]

Thank you for this. Getting my rig soon and your videos make everything so much clearer.

[@wwjjss33]

Red, I really enjoy your content. Very comprehensive and the pacing is perfect.
A really good benchmark for CZcams tutorials. (also: love your sense of humor!)
Keep up the great work

[@SteadiRed]

Much appreciated!

[@MikeLAjustdoit]

Wow! This is an amazing professionally made state-of-the-art camera tech! Keep it up!

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you! Will do!

[@Roger__Wilco]

I can't foresee any situation where I'll ever use one of these things but it was enjoyable and impressive just to see the complexity of it demonstrated. Glad that I randomly thought I'd look up how this works for some reason!

[@SteadiRed]

hahaha, thanks for watching!

[@johntant5690]

same here! 🙂

[@iamakkkshay]

Same here too :)

[@TravisTerrell]

Same. I'm still in search of a steadicam demo that shows arrows and such drawn explaining the forces, though.

[@mbproductions5711]

Amazing explanation, it’s quite useful and informative. I support this channel!

[@SteadiRed]

Much appreciated!

[@PliskinHK]

this is clearly a grand theft auto created character

[@SteadiRed]

hahaha

[@terrywall4591]

This is an outstanding tutorial! I especially enjoy the kitty wandering around in the background! Nice job!

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@bakerrodney6332]

i know Im asking randomly but does anybody know a tool to get back into an instagram account..?
I somehow lost the password. I would love any tricks you can give me!

[@kenzomarkus4888]

@Baker Rodney instablaster =)

[@bakerrodney6332]

@Kenzo Markus I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@bakerrodney6332]

@Kenzo Markus It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thank you so much, you really help me out !

[@iRemainNameless]

Thanks for the tutorial. I don't believe I'll ever use one of these, or have a use to know this information, but I enjoy learning how tech works and really appreciate your knowledge in this gear. Thanks again!

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@bakerskates7]

Solid video man! Thank you for sharing. My workshop got pushed cause of everything going on and so it's nice to get reacquainted with the basics from another Operator. Hoping you keep the series going!

[@SteadiRed]

Glad I could help! Sorry about your workshop, your going to enjoy it a lot!

[@user-re5un2pn7m]

well Said 👍

[@mirkocalija]

Great tutorial. Especially description of arm setting. Great job man👏👏👏

[@SteadiRed]

thanks so much!!!

[@henryssurfshowcase]

That looks like a massive job!
Great video thanks for sharing..

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks for watching!

[@mattiasalegro]

Thank you for this. I just bought my first steadicam (though not the brand. A Came-TV Stabilizer) and there are a lack of videos for me to do research on this and get it right so I don't hurt anyone or myself. Great resource I hope it gets more views.

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks Mattias, it means a lot to me. Glad I could help!

[@veemediaarts5511]

I don’t have a steadi cam as yet. But I’m definitely applying this knowledge for when I do. I have a mini steadicam but the goal is to get to your level. You’re my teacher man! Thank a lot! Very informative video.

[@SteadiRed]

awesome man! keep at it and you can!

[@JonathanBradysouth-africa]

Holy hell.....I never thought about just how much goes into properly weighing a fully rigged professional setup.
Thank you for doing this man. It gives so much scope to those interested in pursuing film as a fulltime job
Keep doing what you're doing!

[@SteadiRed]

thanks man! i wish you luck!

[@JonathanBradysouth-africa]

@@SteadiRed Thank you brother....consistency will yield the end results. All that's needed is motivation and passion (which you seem to have). Again thank you for going through the Eazy cam. I seldom get to see how it's setup (nevermind rigged).

[@jakflasdick]

I’ve haven’t gotten a chance to use a steadicam yet but I’m super interested in learning how to operate one, this video was exactly what I was looking for

[@SteadiRed]

Awesome, glad I could help!

[@simbamoto976]

Thanks for video! Looking forward to more videos! Wish I had such gear for my short film.

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks for watching! I know, its awesome.

[@Paulinodiazlorenzo]

Muy interesante,gracias por compartir tan valiosas instrucciones, un saludo desde Tenerife

[@Mawarbunga345]

Keep the spirit for Ward and continue never retreat

[@sylvesterroark7920]

I really like the setup you have, looks really nice

[@SteadiRed]

thanks man!

[@SidinhoMonteiro]

Nice tips Bro.. Love your videos. 🙏🏽😊

[@ZiggyBoyz]

Very high-tech gear you got there 😳 Nice video bro! I might learn something from you. Keep it flowing 👊😎

[@DerranNL]

Great video! Nothing beats a real Steadicam. Thanks for sharing.

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks! 😀

[@dawidkowolik]

Wow! This background looks amazing!

[@SteadiRed]

thanks man!!!

[@hotiendat66]

It has alot of usefully information for beginner like me. Your channel have a support from me!

[@SteadiRed]

I appreciate that

[@JohnnyAlamillo]

freaking speechless. what a rig.

[@SteadiRed]

it is beautiful 😁

[@WillyBunao]

wow what a huge gimbal. thank you for this informative video

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks man!

[@thomasvandergronde1905]

This was extremely helpful, thank you so much!

[@SteadiRed]

😁😁😁

[@laurent_da]

Super Helpful! Thanks for the tips! I am looking forward to more videos :)

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks! I'm glad it helped. I"m working on another one now

[@BackpackingAbhi]

Thanks for the help! I usually struggle with the steadicam 😊

[@SteadiRed]

Happy to help!

[@WillyBunao]

even though i have a small camera unlike yours, i learned something from you. find the balance point. thank you

[@SteadiRed]

Awesome! I was hoping it would be useful for smaller rigs too.

[@victorlazaro6331]

If you want to practice with a smaller camera, you can also add a weight cage (aka practice cage) around your camera

[@diegomartino]

thanks red for your videos they are very good .. I think the big secret in this is the volt. I have a steadicam without the volt and the operation is much more erratic. Maybe you should clarify it because I happened to see your video and not understand why it did not achieve the same stability and it is a bit frustrating, until I saw that you had the volt ... anyway I recognize that your ability is magnificent. I saw all your videos and they are excellent. I loved the comments-reviews on the movies you make. Congratulations.

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks so much! The volt definitely helps a lot but it will still take a lot of practice 😁

[@ABPlanet]

Amazing Red...... looking amazing buddy

[@SteadiRed]

thanks so much!

[@ABPlanet]

@@SteadiRed welcome

[@JemsieTanzon]

I love all your video

[@SteadiRed]

thanks so much!!!

[@TheWaguilaS]

Red u are a life saver... keep it up dude

[@SteadiRed]

thanks man!!

[@redbassett]

Thank you for an approachable tutorial that is a good entry point for someone not yet ready to commit to the full expense of a rig or the workshops. One of the big questions coming from the outside is wether one can start on low-end rigs and learn from there, or if the workshops followed by purchasing at least $10,000 of gear is the only way, which the content found online from many seasoned operators would seem to suggest. I am definitely not "buy and M1 and take gold workshops" committed to learning yet, but with your guides, the book, and second hand mid-to-entry level stuff that can be found online, I am seriously considering giving steadicam a go!

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks so much! you can definitely start with something smaller and build your way up. the skills you learn on a small rig will transfer to a big rig so it is a smart plan especially if your not sue if you want to fully commit to it.

[@redbassett]

@@SteadiRed Six months later and I'm revisiting this video as I troubleshoot balancing my first rig…

[@chrisvisuals09]

wow thanks for sharing .you have a massive stabilizer.keep it up my friend!

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you, I will

[@ajaytodkar6987]

Your videos are really informative 🙌

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks so much!

[@iamchinma]

great video. thank you so much

[@humancollective6166]

Your rig is incredible! Subbed.

[@SteadiRed]

Awesome, thank you!

[@grandpunkvlog]

NICE VIDEO BRO.. I LEARNED A LOT FOR THIS VIDEO THANK YOU FOR SHARING KEEP SAFE

[@SteadiRed]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@organreeman4376]

I am pleasantly surprised to find a young operator who actually knows what he's talking about.
You know about static vs dynamic balance and you clearly demonstrate drop time. You make clearly visible adjustments.
Use of the docking bracket and your multi part video clearly illustrates proper technical methodology.
PS: Balance on the CP ENG rig took me anywhere from 30-45 minutes.

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you so much! i appreciate it!

[@streetfightingman8910]

Good job brother 👍

[@SheWolf_CelineElisa]

This looks really interesting :) thank you

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!!!

[@maxbloom6670]

You're awesome, thanks for these videos!

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks!! Glad you like them!

[@WiZardDrift]

This was soooo helpful thank you so much!

[@SteadiRed]

thanks man! you should check out my chanel, I get deeper into it😁

[@Belacofficial]

thanks for the info 👌🏽 cool video

[@TastyFlavors]

Wow really great, nice ! thank you so much for sharing...!

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@weedtrance612]

Nice Video.. Amazing 👏

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!!!

[@adeebvlog7435]

Great work Sir...

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you 😊

[@gindocstv7247]

This verry helpful, thanks for sharing !!!

[@SteadiRed]

Glad it was helpful!

[@NBTMEDIA]

great job

[@SteadiRed]

thanks man!

[@DominikKristen]

Great video! What a rig :)

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks! 👍

[@DominikKristen]

@@SteadiRed you're welcome

[@mohammedamir3183]

you have amazing setup bro

[@SteadiRed]

Appreciate it

[@RAOSAHABMANISH]

Very nice bro

[@ZVCKDAVID]

Thank you for this video

[@SteadiRed]

No worries! 😁

[@AdamOpie]

I would have killed for this video a few years ago. Great stuff!

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks! Thats why I made it, I really wanted one when I first started too.

[@AdamOpie]

@@SteadiRed There's been some really good online tutorials the last few years, I am what I like to call internet-taught haha 👍🏻

[@NishantKafle]

❤️love your videos Love from Nepal 🇳🇵

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!!

[@AntoFathir]

Great tutirial

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!

[@professorscom]

you are much experienced bro keep it up gud work

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!

[@beanbeandaga7355]

Wow...this is very pro!

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!

[@topwaterfilms]

Nice job Red! So let me get this right..... #1 Always look cool and #2 Twist and Slide (cuz she likes it) . Hehe! Loved the comedy bud! Again, great job on the video!

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks man! hahaha

[@omarcreatives]

Its really nice one

[@SteadiRed]

Glad you like it

[@kopiintim5441]

Wow..awesome..

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kopiintim5441]

Cheers..☕

[@KenyanGypsy]

Great information here. I watched this even though I don't have a stabilizer. Haha. I guess you never stop learning ey!

[@SteadiRed]

hahaha, thanks for watching.

[@crew1007]

nice work

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@xelax1982]

great tutorial!

[@SteadiRed]

thanks so much!

[@MastikiPaathshalaa]

Hey! thank you very much for your comment on my channel, here i am loving your work and also subbed you. thanks a ton for your appreciation.

[@SteadiRed]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@AshLordCurry]

So cool!

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks!!!

[@DelightLovesMovies]

I know you know who Garrett Brown is, but he never went into this kind of detail. I'll be watching this one a few times. Thanks for sharing SteadiRed.

[@SteadiRed]

thanks! glad you like it.

[@JoeVideo13]

Just bought a small Steadicam for my Sony Camcorder at work and after watching this and your second video, I learned so much. Thanks for doing this. What stand do you use for assembling the rod?

[@SteadiRed]

awesome! glad i could help. i use the american grip steadicam stand but it is overkill for most things. if your rig is small enough you can get a lighting stand

[@teomangonen]

thanks a lot I learn more than I know :)

[@SteadiRed]

Happy to help!

[@AmanGill-cu5xx]

Nice video

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks man!

[@IanAvsec]

Yooo bravow realy good videos

[@SteadiRed]

Appreciate it

[@putrakembarstudio7892]

Great

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!

[@dronesulawesi3489]

Wow..👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@SteadiRed]

Many many thanks

[@PrendyToniawan]

Filmset 😱😱 i like it.

[@SteadiRed]

😁

[@livedekho9184]

Thank you sir

[@SteadiRed]

All the best

[@gingerfilm_latin]

Thank you much for! Great video! ..I like your cat :-)

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks 😁

[@beatrizdlara6180]

I loved this video!! Thank you so much!! When you work as steadicam operator, is it possible to work as freelance? Do you always have to bring your own equipment or it depends on the production?

[@michaelbowyer5222]

Of course you work freelance. Film production work is inherently freelance. How it breaks down on set really depends. often in larger productions the Camera Op or B Camera Op is also going to act as a Steadicam Op. Just look at film credits. That said, for various reasons, some productions use a dedicated Steadicam Operator. If you gain a good enough reputation you become sought after like the top operators but that's the very top of the list. And oh-yeah, you are expected to have your own rig the majority of the time, so I hope you have great credit or 200,000.00 sitting around for the steadicam system, wireless follow focus, wireless video transmitters, batteries, cases, c stands, etc, if you want to do this at the professional level in film and TV.

[@SteadiRed]

Yes, I do work freelance. Although, technically they hire my company to provide a steadicam operator and I'm the only employee. I always bring my own gear but that is only the steadicam and the stuff I need to go with it. They provide the camera and everything else.

[@O13J1]

5:08 I’ll have to try that

[@SteadiRed]

hahaha

[@ShahSn]

Wow, ur gear is too professional for me🤣🤣nice content bro 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@SteadiRed]

hahaha, thanks!

[@dikaganieng8290]

Nice

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks

[@zdvideography9545]

Really Good :)

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks! 😄

[@666shoom]

Hello, Red. Awesome video and knowledge sharing for us (like all the time). I have 2 questions please. When you touch the sled or something else, then it seems to be very sensitive and if you look closer at the camera, we could see it get pendulum movements. So i know this setup is one of the best in the world, and i don't understand (if you haven't the electronic M1 Stab) how the horizon is always frozen ? dunno if i'm clear with this long question.... Last one (shorter) : how many springs have one arm only at the GX70 please ?

[@SteadiRed]

thanks for watching! im not really sure what you mean on the first one. i think when im messing around with it it wouldn't be very frozen haha. the g70 looks like one spring per segment but i believe there are 2 more springs inside of it. how that helps, i don't really know.😁

[@kza-novafilms5604]

WOW PERFECT

[@SteadiRed]

thanks!!!

[@TheBlissfulSpace]

set up looks pricey bruh👌

[@SteadiRed]

it is, haha

[@TheWaguilaS]

God all what i was wanting to learn.

[@SteadiRed]

awesome!!

[@constantinstaneala]

very interesting but I think it takes a lot of practice until you have such a steadicam under control. great stuff anyway!

[@SteadiRed]

it absolutely does

[@arshadhussain7398]

Oooo nice

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks

[@Rahulkalita]

Wow

[@SteadiRed]

😁

[@alexander.starbuck]

Hey man, I found your channel by accident and, boy am I glad I have! Great content and info 😉. Do you have any tips on setups (brands and models) for someone just getting into this? I'm interested in stabilizing a rigged out BMPCC 6K (cine lens, mattebox, Vmount battery, rail, follow focus). Thanks in advance!

[@SteadiRed]

thanks for watching. funny enough, Im making a video about that now. i like the tiffen stuff but it can be expensive. have you weighed the camera built?

[@alexander.starbuck]

@@SteadiRed How could I not watch?! You're giving us GOLD (and have great sense of humor). I haven't even bought the parts for the rig but I suppose ot will be about.... 5kg? Maybe even lower. Bmpcc 6k, + Rokinon cine lens, rails, ... those are all light parts. V mount will be a bit heavier but nothing too heavy.

[@VIPAH]

Great video sir! The M1 series is definitely more innovative than it's predessor like the Shadow/Archer2/Ultra. Have you tried out the M2 series with the G50x arm and built in top stage stabilizer? Would like to know your thoughts on this as they are both modular designs.

[@SteadiRed]

thanks man!! i have tried out the m2 its a really great system. i have not used the g50x, i would worry about it being limiting to what cameras you can use.

[@TheGallagherExperience]

Love this video! Dynamic balance has been an absolute pain to achieve for me however. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I get close and then all of sudden am right back to where I started. Do you have any advice for Dynamic balance?

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks! You might be making too big of adjustments and keep going too far back and forth. But my best advice would be not to worry about it too much. On a normal shot it's not going to be a big deal and in a rush I just skip it.

[@JitDawgBruhDang]

Looking at the m2 coming from a Aero 30. How much is one of those bad boys

[@bardomeister]

Dude, super interesting stuff! I saw your comment on my video so I had to check out your channel. You've got a sub +1 and keep up the great work!

[@SteadiRed]

Awesome, thank you!

[@lunaalien8343]

awesome, new sub)

[@SteadiRed]

Awesome thank you!

[@ADIndrawan]

Wooww my too,say Amazing and nice tutorial,we have steadycam M2 now,but very difficult to learn and practice this gimbal,what is different both M1 and M2,thx before Steady red

[@SteadiRed]

Awesome! I don't know all the differences but it is lighter and i know the carry weight is lower on the m2.

[@sealordfilmscanada9196]

Thumbs UP !

[@SteadiRed]

😁

[@moetarded7757]

Great info. An iPhone with Rode lav mic and sync to tenticale audio recorder. It will change your life. New sub.

[@SteadiRed]

Thanks! I was thinking about getting one. happy to have you 😁