Video Project!
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!
Careful Music 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 Five More Minutes 2:30
Untz/Unce 3:30
Julia Band 2:00
Livewire 8:00
Press Play 4:30 The Osmos 3:30
The Refractionists 3:30
The Daylights 4:30
The Vowels
3:00
Coral Flames 9:00
Title Wave 5:30
I am, You are 4:30
Ballpit 4:30
Death Destroyer 5:30
The Nevers 4:00
Night Mares 10:00
Decades 6:30
Alisha Band 5:30
The Rebellion 5:30
Unicorn Fury 6:30
Joyride 5:00
The Bloodhunters 11:00
Empire Scorn 7:30
Pith 6:30
The Way It Ends 6:30
Starheater 7:30
The Irrelevants 6:00
Ship to Saturn 7:30
Big Red Button
Current Assignment:
Play along with each of the old songs once a day. Estelle I can hear you shouting you don’t have a drum kit from here. Knee drum. I can hear you shouting knee drumming doesn’t work. This is fun. I could do it all day. Good talk.
Check out the videos below to learn riptide. It’s the whole song, don’t stress if you can’t do it all at once. Play what you know of it along with the track I posted.
Sophie: 5/9 Yo Sophie! This sounds great! You seem worried about a few mistakes but what I’m thinking about is how your rhythm is perfect, all the notes are right and almost all of the lyrics are there! Make sure you stay excited about what you get right, not worried about what you get wrong or you won’t have fun singing! Remember next time you practice, I’m pumped about how good all that stuff sounds. Here’s the few things to fix to pass. Listen to the real recording and see how he times the words “Magician’s assistant”. Your way is fine, but his is weird in a really cool way and I want you to get it. Check over the second verse, you missed a few words. You need to count how many of those little guitar parts there are before the bridge. Once you know that you’ll never miss it again. Michelle Pfeifer is pronounced kind of like “Fifer”. You can get that from the original recording too. You’re going to pass if you can fix these little things! Go Sophie!
Eloise: 5/1 Pass! Nice work Eloise! You’re a champ. I can tell you’re listening to the music because you always know to adjust when you’re a little off. Your only mistake was forgetting to play the 3rd fret on the A string twice on the second last chord progression and that’s why you ended slightly early. Nice work! Until we pick a new one just play all three songs once a day.
Structure: Verse 8x, Chorus 4x, Verse 6x, Chorus 4x, Fancy Guitar, Bridge 2x, Verse Hits 2x, Verse 4x, Chorus 9x
Estelle: 4/24 Got your video! You couldn’t get Sophie to be quiet. I can’t either, don’t feel bad. The verse beat seems like it’s going well. Don’t forget to hit your legs with your hands and keep the camera back far enough so I can see what your feet are doing. The chorus beat I really couldn’t tell, but once you fix the hitting and the camera I can weigh in. Keep them coming!
Current songs edited to match our key and arrangement:
The Crashing Arrangement Freaks
The Crashing Arrangement Teeth
The Crashing Arrangement Riptide
Videos: