A Virtual Choir How-to
Recording for the virtual choir is easier than you think! Try it out!
Here’s what you need:
You will get an email with a sound file to sing with and the sheet music. Read the email carefully, print out your sheet music, and listen to the sound file a few times to get a feel for the dynamics.
This is really important because there are often many ways to sing the same hymn, and sometimes a turn of phrase may catch us off guard if we don’t practice. Practice. Get it in your bones before you even worry about setting up your recording devices.
When you are ready to record, dress for church – whatever that means to you, and pull your stuff together.
Here’s what you need:
You need two devices: one with a camera to video record you, and one with a head phone jack to listen to the recording.
First, set up your listening device. I am going old school today, and I am plugging in my headphones to my desktop so that I can listen to the mp3 sound file. Instead of a desktop you could just as easily use a laptop or a tablet. Make sure that when you plug your headphones into the device and play the file, you are only hearing the music through the headphones. We only want to record your voice.
Then, set up your music. There are a couple ways to do this. I am opening the sheet music on my desktop screen, but you may set up your sheet music print out somewhere in front of you. If you are able to set up your sheet music in a spot that is about level with your recording device, you will get a good shot of yourself.
Okay, now set up your recording device. I am using my iphone and I have a nifty little tripod, but a stack of books can work just as well. If you are using your phone, set it horizontally instead of vertically. Set the camera to face you, and make sure you have a good shot of yourself and that you have a sense of the boundaries of the frame. We love to move when we sing at St. James’ – but you want to be careful not to move all the way out of the camera’s frame. Sit or stand a bit away from the recording device so you are not all up in it. We should see your head and shoulders. If you are using a computer or tablet to record yourself, it can be tricky to do this but you still want the camera to be approximately at eye level. So, hopefully you have a good stack of books available.
To record: Start your video first, and get ready. Don’t worry, we can edit any fidgets at the start of your video. Then turn on your audio. Don’t do it the opposite way. We need to get everyone from the beginning of the piece.
Again, check to make sure that what you’re listening to comes to your ear buds or headphones- you shouldn’t hear the soundtrack running in the room. All we want to hear is your voice.
Sing, sing, sing.
A couple more tips:
When you are singing, be sure that you are quiet when you are not singing. That means no
humming on the intro. Sometimes we will record virtual choirs where you are only singing the refrain, so be sure to follow the directions. But even though you are being quiet, remember that we can still see you! So, no yawning or looking bored. Do that thing that jazz musicians do when they are appreciatively listening to someone else’s solo.
Remember that we want to see you worshipping! So listen to the words and allow your face to be expressive.
Also, try to record in a spot where there is not a lot of ambient noise. I live right down the street from the fire station, so I often have to re-record things if I am using my living room because of street noise.
Let the video run until song is entirely finished. Turn off your audio and then your video.
If you are like me, you will probably end up doing more than one take.
When you are done:
Text or email your file to Martha Pulkingham. Her info will be included in the email with the sheet music and mp3.
