Video Project!
Don’t Start Now Guide Track for Video
Actual Music Video Instructions:
In this video there is no reason to use headphones when you play the guide track, just play it on something nice and loud. We will not be using any audio from this video. Feel free to talk while you’re making it. If you’re playing you should attempt to play the actual song so it looks a little like it’s lining up with the music but it’s not super important. If you’re singing you should actually sing so your lips line up with the music. If you can do the claps in the beginning without messing up your video please do them! KEEP THAT CAMERA SIDEWAYS!
In our video we’ll be opening drawers, fridges, cabinets, whatever, with the camera inside then starting to play, or dance, or drink a milkshake in one shot, whatever. Everyone should do at least 4 15 second clips. Instruments will look fine even if you’re not playing the right part so just do it with any part of the song. Bridget you should maybe do one for each verse and chorus so your lips line up with the music, open right before it starts and close when it’s over. Have fun!
Careful Video Instructions:
The first video we’ll be making is the “careful” video. For this one the goal is to carefully play the song so we have a good audio track for the final video. I’ll also be using the video from this round to make our “studio” video. To make this video grab some headphones and play along with the video guide track that’s above. In the intro you’ll hear my count, then a clap, another clap and then one more count. After you hear the first count you should clap along with both claps and after the second count start playing the song. The claps are important, if you don’t quite get it right start again. These claps will sync up your video and audio with the rest of the band so if they’re early or late you’ll be out of time in the video. You should play the song as well as you can, maybe do a few takes. DON’T STRESS about perfection though! I can fix a few mistakes in post production so if you crush the whole song but miss a note at the end you’re done. Below are the guidelines for each instrument that will help you get good audio and video so please make sure you read yours before you start. Have fun!
Guidelines for Everyone:
Hold your camera sideways (landscape/horizontal format). No vertical video!
Use headphones to listen to the guide track.
Record in a quiet room. Every sound in your video will end up in the final videos.
Rooms with less echo are better to record in, you’ll sound better. Rooms with furniture, carpet and curtains work well.
Keep your camera steady. If possible, put it on something instead of holding it.
If possible have a solid color for a background, like a painted wall.
You should have plenty of light on you but make sure it’s NOT coming from behind you.
No need to look at the camera, pretend it’s not there.
Phones almost always have better cameras than laptops so if possible use your phone.
Don’t trim the video’s beginning or end. I’ll handle that.
Vocal Video Guidelines:
Keep the camera close. Aim for a head and upper body shot from the side like THIS.
Sing loud, don’t hold back!
Drums Video Guidelines:
A real challenge for recording drums is getting the cymbals to not drown out the other drums.
Play the cymbals lightly and other drums loud. Kick and Snare are most important!
If you have time try a few different camera positions and see which one has the quietest cymbals. Holding the camera close to the floor can help. Try somewhere around the kick drum looking up at the drummer’s face like THIS.
Guitar and Bass Video Guidelines:
Tune right before you make the video! I can help tune on zoom if you don’t have a tuner, just email or text me to set up a time.
Use your amp and turn it up! As long as you can hear the music in the headphones you’re not too loud.
Aim for a video that has your head and most of your instrument like THIS.
If you don’t have an amp it’s VERY important that the room is quiet. I’ll be boosting the signal a lot so any background noise will get boosted too. Play loud but don’t beat on it. Holding the camera like THIS will help.
Keys Video Guidelines:
If you’re playing a piano try holding the camera like THIS. Play normally.
If you are playing a keyboard THIS is a good angle. Keep the volume high.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3:30 The Refractionists 2:30
Radio Fire 3:30
Five More Minutes 2:00
Livewire 8:00
Louisa/Nina/Sunny/Maya/Sybil 4:30 The Osmos 3:30
The Daylights 3:30 Melophobia 4:30
The Vowels
3:00
Marin/Isla/Becca/Jessie/Lucille 9:00
Title Wave 5:30
Hebron Lames 4:30
Ballpit 4:30
Death Destroyer 5:30
The Nevers 4:00
Night Mares 10:00
Decades 5:30
Avani/Fiona/Layla/Nico Band 5:30
Kilonova 5:30
Unicorn Fury 6:30
The Hazards 5:00
The Bloodhunters 11:00
Empire Scorn 7:30
TTADA 6:30
The Favorites 7:30
The Irrelevants 6:00
Ship to Saturn 7:30
Imperfect Strangers
Current Assignment:
Everyone: Play along with the old song once a day
Chloe: 5/10 Sounds awesome Chloe! I knew you were closer to passing than you were letting on in the zoom sessions! The ending, especially the 3rd and 4th times you played it sound mint. That’s the hardest part. If you remember the bridge and make the ending sound that good from the first time through I’m passing you on this. Nice!
Bridget: 5/25 Yo Bridget! The version singing along with the original recording is so good! You sound really strong on all of it. It may just be the song but if you’re working on anything different right now take a minute to realize what it is because you want to do it all the time! The version with just guitar is going really well too! Watch this video (the one you sent me with only guitar) at 1:50. You’re a beat or so late on the line “Oh cause I keep digging myself…” At 2:13 you’re slightly early on “I know when you go”. That sets you up to be early for the rest of the song. Overall you’re pitch is really good! Be careful on the louder parts, you tend to sing higher (wrong) notes when you get loud. That’s another thing you could listen for in your own video. As soon you you can hear these kinds of things your brain starts working on fixing them. Nice!
Rowan: 5/11 Nice Rowan! All those parts are perfect now. I believe you that you know there’s 5 verses and that was hilarious. Thank you. All you need to do is KNOW where the solo and ending are and it’s done. Pass it right now!
Neve: 6/1 Great start Neve! For the verse all your notes are right but it’s actually slower than you think. Check my video at 1:50 for the timing and some practice playing along. Send me a video of just the verse played at the right speed next time, don’t sweat the rest.
Don’t start now Structure: 3/4 Chorus riff. Verse 3x, Chorus2x , Verse 2x, Verse 3x, Chorus 2x, Verse 2x, Verse 2x (this is Rowan Solo), Bridge, Ending 4x
Graveyard Structure: Verse 7x, Prechorus, Chorus 4x, Verse 6x, Prechorus, Chorus 4x, Verse 1x guitar only, 4 beat break, Chorus 4x
Current songs edited to match our key and arrangement:
Rowan- Chloe-Bridget-Neve Arrangement Summertime Sadness
Rowan- Chloe-Bridget-Neve Arrangement Don’t Start Now
Rowan- Chloe-Bridget-Neve Arrangement Graveyard
Videos:
Rowan Don’t Start Now Solo and Ending
Bridget Summertime Sadness Transition Practice