Instructions for Virtual Choir

What You Will Need:

• 1. A quiet place to sing without too much room echo.

  2. A digital audio playback device 

  3. Headphones and speakers

  4. A separate digital audio recording device

Possible combinations for audio players recorders:

Before choosing your recorder, think about how you intend to transfer the audio file to the choir for mixing.

Voice memo or other audio recordings can be sent:

• • Phone to phone as a text message attachment

  • As an Email attachment

  • Transferred via web browser from your computer to our Google Drive folder

  • (you must have a Gmail account to access it)

If you record with a smartphone, please use the voice memo recorder, not the video recorder.

Let's Record!

Rehearse and Prepare

1. Download the recording of your reference vocal part to your music player.

2. Arrange your "studio" space for recording

• •  Close doors and windows, remove pets, etc.

  •  Use standing or good sitting posture

  •  If recording with a phone, place it reasonably near to your voice,

  • and not to close to your music book.

  • Do not hold or move the phone while recording.

3. Rehearse with the recording until you are familiar with it.

Record your Performance

1. Capture the metronome beats

• •     Warm up your voice.

  •     Put your headphones on

  •     Start your recorder

  •     Start the playback of the reference recording through headphones only.

  •     (we should not be able to hear the piano on your new recording)

2. Record your part

• •     Follow along in your music while listening on the headphones.

  •     Begin singing when your part begins

  •     Leave a short pause of silence at the end, and then stop the recorder

Do not move your recorder or make extraneous noise during your performance.

3. Review your new recording for:

• • Movement of the microphone

  • Rustling of your music book

  • Dogs barking

  • Spouses calling

  • Throat clearing

  • etc.

Record as many takes as you like, but don't fret too much about the sound quality

A lot can be corrected in digital mixing, and we're all going to blend.

Submit Your Audio File

If you record using a smartphone you can:

1. If you can, send your file as an Email attachment. If not,

2. send the audio file directly to John's phone as a text message attachment

3. - Send each media file as a separate message

4. - Please include your name & vocal part in the message text

If you record on a tablet, desktop or laptop computer, you'll probably want to:

• 1. Email your audio file to John, or

1. Drag & drop your audio file to our Google Drive Folder  (Google sign-in required)

Note: Voice memo files often have unusual file extensions: GP, M4A, 3GA, etc.

Don't worry about it, John can convert them all to MP3.