What do you guys use to record and where do you record to get good sound quality?
We used a Sony HDR-MV1 at home. We looked for a camcorder rated for good microphones and a wide angle lens. It was for acoustic bass, so there were no amplifiers involved. For accompaniment, S made tracks using some common software package, and those sounds were played on a nearby amp.
We just rented a small performance space with decent acoustics recommended by our music teacher. I have a decent little canon camera that we had recommended to us by a small film producer. I have a cheap tripod. I do think I am going to get a new mic with a lengthy cord. Actually the film producer works for a place that rents equipment also, so that can be an option. All our prescreens need to be videos. We are hiring a pianist.
I’d check in your music teacher first for local suggestions.
We have a Q2 HD Zoom and a Canon Vixia HD. Do you think those are ok? Or do we need to have an external mic? We used the Q2 for his arts supplement back when he applied to colleges as a freshman, but now that he’s actually applying as a cello performance major, I wonder if these are good enough. My eldest son has recording equipment, but only audio.
We’ve asked his regular teacher, and he’s just been accepted to work with a teacher who teaches at one of the schools he would really like to attend, so we can ask him, as well.
Those recorders should be just fine. The Zoom mic is a good one; unless the acoustics are funky where you’re recording an external mic wouldn’t be necessary.
Your Zoom and a Canon Vixia HD set up is just fine. We used Tascam and Canon camcorder. When audition required just audio, we just used Tascam. When it required video, then we used Tascam and camcorder separately and then synched later. We always recorded inside the house where we encountered the least audio bouncing issues.
I suppose we can try it in our house. My son didn’t think that would be good. I’m not at all tech-savvy, so I don’t know how to use more than one piece of equipment at a time. I might have to bring my eldest son to town to help us, ha-ha.
One of my son’s friends/bandmates has an entire recording studio in his house and is an excellent pianist. I guess that takes care of the recording and the accompaniment for his one video audition. Otherwise we have . . . camera phones.
No matter what methods you all use, one thing to avoid: built-in microphone of any kind, i.e., built-in camera, camcorder, cell phone microphone, etc. Worst audio you can have.
@eh1234, my eldest son has a recording studio in his apartment, as well, but he’s set up for audio recording only apparently. He also lives 5 1/2 hours away. We were trying to figure out how/if he could help by bringing some equipment over.
So @TiggerDad, you’re opposed to things like the Zoom or Cannon then? We got the Zoom because of the high-quality audio; the video quality is meh.
We are working on this now for son’s voice prescreen. Planning to use a Canon dSLR and a Zoom or Tascam digital audio recorder (I can’t remember which—we borrowed it from the auditorium manager at his high school last time). That combo worked well to record son on cello last year for solo and ensemble submission. We plugged the recorder into the camera. It recorded a separate audio track as well as providing the audio for the video recording. I’m paranoid so I’ll probably also make a backup recording on my iPad.
Last time we used the choir room at his high school for the cello recording. It’s not beautiful but it sounded fine. This time it looks like we can use the stage in the high school auditorium which is a bit better. There is also a local piano store that rents out recital space at a reasonable price, but we are trying to avoid that extra expense. If we didn’t have the school facility and a cooperative teacher, we’d probably do the recording at home or at a friends house with a good piano and that would have to do.
@sbjdorlo – Zoom or Tascam is a dedicated recorder and either is fine for audio recording. What I meant is not to rely on a built-in recorder on your DSLR or camcorder or iPhone for audio recording due to poor quality.
My daughter had only three prescreens (SF Conservatory, UCLA and Fullerton). Passed them all. She also used the video for admission to one program and received scholarships at two non audition schools based on the prescreen videos. She used a Cannon DSLR with integrated mic. She did the process entirely on her own and we were forbidden from helping. You can even see her pressing a button to start the pre-recorded piano accompanist. She then sent all three vides to her voice teacher for critiques. She was given some great advice and re-did all three of them. Again, on her own and to her own satisfaction.
She kept the camera view from about waist up. Nothing fancy. Nothing distracting. Her voice cracked in one of her songs. I asked if she was going to re-do it. She shrugged and informed me that it was a hard part for her to sing and she was happy with it. So be it.
I will add that my daughter has a good esthetic and eye for design. Her presentation was lovely; albeit, homemade.
At this point, he only has two pre-screens, Vanderbilt and CCM, and I don’t know if he’ll do these schools for sure. He will have some video auditions of schools that conflict with live auditions, so the video will be important. Someone else will need to film him; as a cellist, I think that would be best for sure.
Just a warning to check ALL the small print regarding cameras and microphones, especially if you are hoping to also use your videos for competitions, etc.: in voice (at least), several programs outlaw the use of an add-on microphone ( @TiggerDad ) …meaning you’ve got to use the mic on the video camera you are using. We rented a suitable camera from a local photo/video company, along with a tripod (important), which worked very well for us.
Again, especially for voice, one of the most important things you can do is make sure the accompanist is using a well (and recently) tuned piano! You can ask about this when researching venues.
Also, spend a bit of time searching online about the best aspect for the visual part of the recording (this probably varies by instrument). For example, for vocalists (again, so sorry, this is what I know) it’s important to see most of the body, and the accompanist should be in the shot, etc. Vocalists may use a portion of the stage during the performance, so it’s important that they are always well placed in the fixed camera position (no moving the camera around!).
(Again, many of the above comments are likely specific to vocalists, where the panel is listening for vocal size and qualities that suggest a certain potential in the field (hence the outlawing of “better” mics, etc.), and where acting/dramatics are part of the package).
That’s very interesting that at least in voice the use of an add-on microphone (use of Tascam or Zoom, by the way, is not an “add-on” but “external”) is outlawed and that they require the use of built-in microphone that provides poor quality audio. I’ve done so many auditions over the years, yet have never heard of a such requirement. Do you happen to have a source of such requirement? Of course, regardless, one has to read the submission requirements very carefully so as not to get disqualified.