Video Project!
American Money Video Guide Track
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!
We’ll be doing shots of us upper torso and head, black hoods, camera moving around us. Have the person moving the camera go clockwise. We’re aiming for creepy. Send me five 10 second clips where the camera starts against your hood, pans out and spins for 10 seconds, and then goes back into your hood. Let’s aim for a different background in each clip. Ruby, your clips need to time align with the claps in the beginning so your lips line up with the music. That’s it! Have fun!
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 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 songs once a day
American Money Structure:: Verse 10x, Prechorus 2x, Chorus 4x, Verse 8x, Prechorus 2x, Chorus 4x, Bridge A 2x, Bridge B 2x, Solo (prechorus) 2x, Chorus 4x
Samantha: 4/17 Pass! Nice work. You had the pulse that time. Doesn’t that make the chorus feel more important when you come in on beat two? The timing of notes to each other matters zero. It’s all about how they relate to the overall pulse. That’s what an audience feels. You should learn Take Me Out from the Vitoria band page. I think you would enjoy that baseline. Solid!
Alex: 5/28 This is sounding really good Alex! Your time is far more steady than the last video. Your cameraman however is way less steady. Fire him immediately. I missed the end, the video ended, but feel free to send me a video of the end. Nice work!
Charlotte: 5/20 Pass!
Ruby: 5/27 Pass! SIIIIIICK! Transitions are perfect now. Well done.
Sofia: 5/20 Pass! nice work Sofia! You’re playing very well this quarantine. Also your sister looks like a lot of fun. Tell her I said Hi back! Now just keep practicing all three old songs until the others pass. Get ready to make fun of those who haven’t passed on zoom later. Solid!
Current songs edited to match our key and arrangement:
Threadbare Arrangement Make You Mine
Threadbare Arrangement American Money
Videos:
Charlotte American Money Video