White Balance two XH-A1 for Dance or Theatre?
 

In the past I have had bad luck matching the two XH-A1's.
I use manual white balance on both. One is 40+ feet from stage the other is 10 feet from stage.
Should I white balance both cameras from 10 feet with stage lights on?

Yes. Take them both to the same position and white balance with lights on. Or you could probably use the 3200K preset, since most theaters use 3200K as their white light.

I agree, use the preset, if you try to set a white balance you can get into all sorts of trouble especially if they are using colours in their set up which they usually are.
Mick

Yes, use the 3200K preset.

What would we do without DV Info?
 

Thank goodness we have guys like Mick, Bill and Jack on DV Info to provide sound advice. Gentleman in my case your suggestions gave me the best white balance I have ever had with a stage performance. Cudos.

Possibly worth noting the kind of lighting equipment they have. Generic typical theatre equipment with tungsten lamps are 3200K, as mentioned - but watch for venues that have quantities of moving heads. The wash lights are very popular in venues because they can be coloured and focused from the ground, but they have colour temperatures much higher - 8500K is common and this is VERY blue. If I work in venues with plenty of this kit, I tend to use the 5600K preset. This way, tungsten white is a little red, and discharge white is a little blue - but the half-way balance is acceptable. As for the smaller venues that are using cheap LED colour mixing equipment? The white is horrible, and no colour temperature really matches.

Wow Paul this is helpful
 

I have a Stage Show and Graduation to video and they both use the cheap LED lights. Sadly they are so impressed that they can change the colour from the floor they don't care about video quality. Yet?
I will take your suggestion and try the 5600K when I am under these LED lighting conditions.
Life was so simple with Quartz Halogen lights.