CAROLING cycle 2020 virtual choir submission page
Hello virtual carolers!
Welcome to YPCC’s final large virtual choir project of 2020! This one is a bit easier than the previous pieces, given that the tune is shorter, you probably already know it, and there is no conducting video that you will need to follow (just a singalong and click track in your ear). All of the resources you will need for this project are found below. Questions about what to sing, recording recommendations, not going to get it submitted in time, etc…? Reach out! Deadline to submit is 11:59PM on Sunday, November 29!
VIRTUAL CHOIR RECORDING RESOURCES:
Use the sheet music and singalong tracks below when recording your video. Make sure you ‘CLAP’ in frame on the video when you hear the sound of the clap in the singalong track. Please film horizontally.
Submit your recordings by end of day on Sunday, November 29. Be sure to name the file as "VoicePart_LastName_FirstName.ext" (ex: Tenor1_Doe_John.mp4).
STAY CONNECTED…
Make sure you are a member of the Singers Only Facebook Page, where we regularly communicate info and welcome questions on the process!
HOW-TO-RECORD videos:
These recording guideline videos were made with a conducting video to follow in mind. In most cases, this process should be much easier than demonstrated since you just need to have the audio playing in your ear while you video record.
SELF-RECORDING PROTOCOL
THE INTRO - After you push record, take a couple seconds to give a holiday “Cheers to YPCC” on camera (or something similar). Drink in hand is encouraged. We hope to edit these short clips of you ‘cheers’ing and waving at the camera into a Holiday Cheers montage during the virtual happy hour event.
THE FRAME - Film horizontally (landscape mode) and position the camera at eye level, approximately 4-6 feet away from your face. This helps our video editor IMMENSELY and will make sure your face is in frame when it sails by during the video.
THE CLAP - There is a clap at the beginning of each track (after a count-in). Mimic this on your own recording be sure that your hands are in the camera shot when you do.
THE FADE OUT - Leave a few seconds of dead time after the final cut-off for to achieve a solid fade out.
CHECK YOUR WORK - Listen back to your recording. Is there fuzz or audio peaking? Any major background noise like doors slamming, trucks driving by, etc…? Can you hear the click track coming through in your recording? If the answer to any of these is Yes, you might want to re-record (or run the risk of having your audio “edited out” of the final mix).
THE FILE NAME - Use the following format to label the file for upload: “VoicePart_LastName_FirstName” (ex: Tenor1_Appleseed_Johnny).
RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES
With that said, if you’re looking for some guidance to shoot the perfect self-recording, here are some basic recommendations (less important than what’s above, but still good to know)…
USE AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE. If possible, use an external microphone, like a USB or XLR microphone. No external microphone? Test out the internal microphone on your camera/computer versus the microphone on a set of headphones and see which has better sound quality. Once you know what microphone sounds the best, find a quiet place in your home with limited background noise. Here are some recommended setups (in order of preference):
A dedicated external mic on 1 device that you video record with while playing the audio track through headphones on another device.
Using a built in mic on 1 device that you video record while playing the audio track through headphones on another device.
CHECK YOUR BACKGROUND, LIGHTING, and CAMERA ANGLE. Not everyone has a professional in-home studio to use, but there are some easy tricks to help make your video look good. This is a quick read if you’re interested in some examples. The basics are:
Raise your camera to your eyeline (or slightly above) so you are looking straight into the shot.
Position the camera approximately 4-6 feet away, and frame the shot with a little “headroom” between the top of your head and the top of the frame.
Be mindful of the light sources in the room, and try to position them in front of you (on the opposite side of the camera), instead behind you or overhead.
Festive backgrounds are encouraged for this one!
SING OUT with CONFIDENCE. Project your voice with confidence and good tone. It may feel weird singing by yourself and into your computer or phone camera, but confidence will pay off in the end product. Look directly into the camera. It might take a second to figure out and some experimentation, but set your devices up in a way to capture a solid performance. The audio of the project will be professionally mixed once it is compiled, so the stronger voices we have to work with, the better!
LOOK THE PART. Festive attire is encouraged, of course!!