Virtual Choir: The Lord Bless You and Keep You – Instructions
Please read all directions carefully. To record your video you will need two devices: one device to watch and listen to the conductor video and another device to record your performance. You can use any combination of a desktop or laptop computer, a tablet and/or a smartphone. You will need to wear headphones so that you can listen to the guide track while singing, but only your voice is recorded. You can used wired or wireless headphones. Make sure it’s just you in the video.
How to create your recording space
If possible, please record your video in front of plain wall or other plain background.
Please choose clothing without patterns or logos.
If you can, record in a quiet room with the door closed to reduce unnecessary noise. Turn off fans, heaters or anything that hums or is noisy.
Please make sure your face is brightly lit. Use whatever lamps or natural light you have available to achieve this.
If you have a tripod mount for your phone/camera please use it or secure your camera in some other way to minimize movement.
How to record your video
If you are using a smartphone, turn it to silent so your recording isn’t interrupted by a message or call.
Please record your video horizontally (side to side/landscape).
Connect your headphones to the device you’re using to watch and listen to the conductor video or guide track.
Using headphones is essential to the virtual choir process. If you don’t use headphones the audio from the recording you are listening to will “bleed over” into the recording you are making, potentially causing big problems with combining all the files later.
Set-up and secure your second device to record your video. An iPhone or iPod is an excellent choice for this. Again, make sure you record horizontally, and that your face is centered in the middle of the screen.
If possible, please set your device to create an MP4 in 720p. Most smartphones create MP4s automatically and you can amend the resolution in your settings.
IPHONE: Settings/General/Camera … Record Video 720p at 30fps. Go to Formats - check Most Compatible
Start recording on your device and then press play on the conductor video.
Please wait for approximately four counts (in your head!) after you finish singing before you stop recording.
Save your video.
Review your video and if you’re happy with your performance, upload your video to dropbox. Please see below and the e-mail to which this document was attached where you will find the needed link to send your file.
Uploading your video
Before you upload your video, please make sure that your video file is either an MP4 or MPEG4 (preferred), .MOV, .WMV or .AVI file. Try to make sure that your video is no larger than 200MB if possible. You can use a compression tool to reduce the size of your file in needed. If you don’t know how to compress your file or change the video format, go ahead and send it anyway. I should be able to make it work.