<p>I know there are lots of threads on this. And I've searched them all. But technology changes so rapidly, I thought it was worth asking again. And I don't feel I've found an answer.</p>
<p>My son is a jazz guitarist getting ready to do prescreens. Some want DVD, some only CD. His teacher, who has helped previous students apply to schools in the past (successfully), has seen them done mostly in a practice room with a home videocamera, the bare minimum backup musicians, and a good external mic. He doesn't think fancy studio productions are necessary, although some of his students have done those as well.</p>
<p>Our video camera, Sony, is at least 5 years old and takes tape. We don't have an external mic. We also don't have one of those Zoom H2/H4 thingies, although I'm thinking my son could use that anyway. </p>
<p>We are mac people. My son has a macbook.</p>
<p>What's the advice? How do we do this? Do we do the CD's separately (H2/H4 recorder?) from the ones that require video? If you use fancy recording equipment or a studio, how on earth do you sync the video?</p>
<p>Well…this may sound mighty simple…but set up the recording “venue” with both CD (video) and an audio recording device (Zoom H2 or H4, or such)…and just record both at the same time.</p>
<p>If you do a CD for video and something like zoom or Edirol for audio how do you “marry” the two into one? In other words, if I wanted to send a DVD, how can I get the audio track from my Edirol to match up with the video? Sounds to me like it would be hard to get the timing right. Also, since video cameras have sound, how to you get the sound from the camera out of the mix so that only the higher quality sound from the Edirol is present?</p>
<p>Imamiger, we did this using a Macbook and iMovie. You can minimize the DVD camera track and add the song to it. It takes a bit of time, but it was really quite easy to do. If you have a friend with Photoshop Elements, they can do it for you REALLY fast and easy. Jazz/shredderman, could you try to borrow a newer videocamera that has newer technology?</p>
<p>The most critical thing to do during the actual recording, in our experience, is to have a notebook and pen and keep track of the “takes” of each song, especially if you’re working with other musicians. This may sound simplistic/silly, bit if “take 3” is your favorite for a particular song, you want to make sure you’re using “take 3” of the video when you’re marrying them.</p>
<p>I have photoshop elements, though I have never done anything like this with it. If you have some “cookbook” steps to follow could you please pm me? Thanks!</p>
<p>A neighbor did this (used Elements) for us last year for some contest submissions. For the pre-screens, I did the iMovie versions, where video was required.</p>
<p>If you have a college, university,or conservatory near by—check the bulletin boards and you will locate students who do this all the time for a small fee. D got a spectacular DVD for grad screenings done at a students apartment for $200. The year before she had one done at a students studio for $250. This is the easy way out for those of us who a “technically challenged.”</p>
<p>SJTH, what do you mean by “minimize the DVD camera track and add the song to it”? Please send me the cookbook steps as well! Is this INSTEAD of recording simultaneously with an H2/H4 for just the CDs?</p>
<p>Also, how good of a camera do we need? A mini DV? Should it be hard drive? Would a four year old Sony do the trick? Does it need an external mic?</p>
<p>OK, because I am TRULY a pc novice and I can do this, lol, anyone can. We have a new-ish Sony Handycam that downloaded directly into the Mac, and I brought the movies into iMovie. I guess if your camera can download to a Mac, you can use it. Once you have the movie/video of a song downloaded into iMovie, you can use “help” to show you how to turn down the volume completely on that track. Then you load the song into iTunes. You can add music to the movie by identifying it in iTunes. Again, using “help” it will show you how to add the song at the beginning of the video. By clicking on the audio track line (which shows green under the video) you then sync them by moving the audio to the appropriate point, watching the video cues. If your musician counts down prior to beginning, for example, it can make things easier. It takes time, but it works well, and is free except for your time.</p>
<p>Oh, and we used an external mic, but if you’re syncing to a better recording, you wouldn’t need to, as you’re deleting that audio anyway. This is In ADDITION to doing a good quality audio recording, as you need those for the CDs. We had our recording done at a studio, so their CD was what we used with the video I recorded.</p>
<p>or Final Cut Pro is a great way to do this. Check with your local community college tv/video/film dept. to find a student or staff member to do it. My son who knows this stuff did it for us. He learned at his high school. You record the audio with a mic at the same time as you video (with sound). Then, they use the video track with the audio track synced up. Very easy to do with the software, but I think one needs some training/experience with it.</p>
<p>We used a “high end” recording studio for most of my son’s DVD audition because we wanted the most accurate sound possible and no possible intrusions from outside noises, etc. Many pro sound studios have discounted rates for college auditions - just ask! My son is a drummer/ percussionist. For his jazz audition he had a piano, electric bass, guitar as well as his drums. The piano was mic’d with two very expensive studio condensers. The guitar, and bass were direct input into the mix console and the drums had individual mics on all drums, plus two overhead condensers for cymbals. The sound was fantastic! For picture, we simply recorded the audition with a decent camcorder, which had the mixed audio sent to it. As far as I know, every university audition sent in as a tape or DVD must not have edits and should show the entire performance from one point of view. So use a “locked down camera”, framed to show your student close enough to see what their technique is. Our idea was to give schools a clear, but basic “static shot” of the performance - but with perfect sound quality (it’s all about music, isn’t it?)
Unfortunately, we could not use the professional recording studio for the concert percussion section and had to videotape at my son’s high school rehearsal hall (since we could not borrow or rent four tympani and full sized marimba.) It was very problematic! Numerous good takes were destroyed by loud noises outside. There was "background “hum” from the old fluorescent light fixtures and a noisy air conditioning fan. We had to bag one attempt because of a unscheduled musical theater rehearsal, upstairs. My son was stressed out by the constant intrusions and lost some of his “edge” as the session(s) dragged on. I ended up being a motivational “coach” as well as the producer/camera person. After a great deal of struggle we managed to get acceptable concert performances… but the recording studio sessions were so much easier (actually a great deal of fun)
Finally, I should add that we had a terrific response to his taped audition with many decent to excellent scholarship offers and would recommend that a DVD audition be sent to at least one “top choice” school as well as one “safety school” as a hedge against an illness (or an unexpected case of nervousness) cropping up during scheduled live auditions. The only really awful audition my son had was “live” at a mid-choice university were he played badly with a 102 degree fever, hacking cough and poorly tuned drum set. During that same week his DVD audition allowed him to be selected by his “first choice” school.
They didn’t even ask for a call back “live” audition before sending a letter of acceptance and generous scholarship offer.</p>
<p>Just an addition to this thread…the other night my son was performing at an open mike night, and one of the performers mentioned that the folks at zoom(makers of the H2 and H4 digital recorders) now has one that integrates video with the recorder, so it basically in one package can do both, which should allow for easy creation of a DVD. If the video recording is as good as the audio one is, and at a reasonable price, this might be a good alternative.</p>
<p>Jumping in here - my son is a jazz drummer applying for next fall. You mentioned sending a tape even in the event of a live audition. Did you send it before the live audition? It’s an interesting thought and I didn’t realize it was an option. It makes me wonder if all the travel to live auditions is worthwhile - if your recording is good. Any thoughts? Did you son apply to any west coast schools? We are in California. This list is great - I appreciate everyone sharing info.</p>
<p>Hi BarbB,
We are in Northern California. We sent the DVD auditions to all the out-of-state schools - Washington State, University of North Texas, Queens College (NY) and also, nearby, to UC Santa Cruz (for scholarship only, since he was already accepted there) He only auditioned “live” after the DVD at WSU, but he had already accepted and been offered a scholarship there… so it was kind of a formality. My son also wanted a one on one meeting and lesson with the primary professor who’d be working with him.
My son did his live auditions at San Jose State, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Northridge, Cal State East Bay and UCLA.<br>
Of the California Schools for a drum set concentration in Jazz Studies and secondary studies in concert percussion, Cal State Long Beach seemed the most organized. San Jose State is much improved since the new Chair for Jazz Studies, Aaron Lington, came on board a few years ago. Northridge was very good, too! Our son passed on USC, even though it’s exceptional, because of our family budget constraints.
Sadly, none of the schools in the UC system seem to have very good jazz programs - the UC Santa Cruz Jazz Ensemble wasn’t much better than the “high school honor ensemble” my son was playing with in his senior year and they only offered a jazz minor.
If I was asked to recommend a CA university jazz program, I’d say USC, Long Beach, Northridge and San Jose State, in that order - keeping in mind that without a very generous scholarship, USC is a much more expensive option.
Best of luck to your son.</p>
<p>Steven M. since you’re ranking the CA schools’ jazz programs, what about San Diego State? I ask because it’s at least not such a commuter school as the others and seems like it might at least have some college life. </p>
<p>Also, can you share your experience at UCLA? We live in LA, and while we’re very familiar with USC, we’d love to know more about the program and audition at UCLA. My split personality jazz/rock son is rather desperate to stay “home” due to the exciting things going on with his rock band. (My son’s a guitarist)</p>
<p>Since 2002, UCLA has their jazz studies within the Ethnomusicology Department and not in the Music Department, which to me is a little strange. My son was marginally interested in UCLA - more for their overall academic reputation rather than their strengths in jazz. His live audition at the school did not go well. He was ill, had no time to warm up and the drum set supplied by the audition committee was sub par.
He did not get accepted.
I don’t know much about San Diego States program except that it’s a small department with Bob Boss as guitar instructor. It might be a good fit and worth investigating, especially for the college life. Certainly, both Cal State Northridge and Long Beach would be excellent schools close to home and his band mates.
I should add that my son is attending his first choice school, at the University of North Texas. It’s far away from home, has a huge music (and jazz studies) department, top notch instructors, ensembles and lab bands. So far, he’s very happy with his school selection, and is doing well - but it is an intense and demanding program that’s not right for some young musicians.
Best wishes to you and your son…</p>
<p>Thanks, Steve M. Yes, I’m aware of the weird placement of UCLA’s dept., and thanks for your experience. </p>
<p>I’ve heard it’s wonderful, but unfortunately, my son will not consider UNT solely because it’s in Texas. What can I say? He is geographically biased, and the list is a bit long as it is. He will only give up the west coast for the east coast. But yes, we have San Diego and Northridge has “backups”, not that there really is such a thing.</p>
<p>jazz/shreddermom,
that’s funny… because my wife and I were initially trying to discourage our son from attending UNT because it’s in Texas! He said that it didn’t matter to him and frankly, the large, diverse music student population around Denton TX makes UNT much more appealing to a California kid. There are some amazing young guitar players at the school… maybe if your son went out to have a look?
We know of one local guitarist who selected to attend the New School’s jazz studies department.
I’ll try to find out how he feels about it after a couple of months.
Best of luck.</p>