Adventures with Cameras

(originally published in the Winter 2022 APTA News & Views)

I got schooled by one of my students earlier this year: “What cameras do you use for Practice Time and Trip Up the Teacher?” she asked.

“The Logitech camera overhead and my laptop camera, recording through StreamYard” I replied.

“Bruh, no. Laptop cameras suck. The video is so grainy. I can’t look at it. And don’t use StreamYard unless you’re livestreaming. Go old school. Do. It. The. Old. Fashioned. Way.”

Using Multiple Cameras for Teaching

Zoom and other web conferencing platforms make it extremely easy to connect multiple cameras and devices to the same meeting. If you have not yet experimented with using multiple cameras, plug them into your computer or connect via Bluetooth.

Next, head to the Video settings to find the list of cameras. From there, you can switch back and forth. If you use two devices when teaching online, you can display two camera views simultaneously.

Where to switch cameras in Zoom.

I currently use three cameras connected to my desktop computer when teaching online. My Logitech C-920 HD Pro Webcam hangs overhead the keys. It has a hole in the back to screw onto a camera tripod. I use a mic stand to camera adapter, which you can get from Amazon or Long & McQuade. This enables me to connect the webcam to a microphone stand with a boom arm.

I use its older sibling, the Logitech C-910 HD Pro Webcam as my front/side camera. Finally, I use its older cousin, the Logitech C-270 HD Webcam as my pedal cam. I toggle between cameras as needed to give my online students the best view.

My current online teaching setup.

The current model is the Logitech C-930. There are other brand names however, Logitech consistently dominates the “best webcam” lists with both old and new models. The C-900 Pro Webcam series remains a favourite among my fellow StreamYard users. Reasonably priced as well (all under $200).

Adventures in Video Recording

I recently completed my recording project of all the RCM technical requirements for the Studio’s YouTube channel. The videos chronicle my journey in content creation. Early videos were recorded with my phone. Then, I used my C-910 with the Logitech camera software. It worked all right for where I was at. Let’s just say the latter doesn’t handle fast passages or scales very well, especially when you plug in an external microphone.

Later videos were recorded via StreamYard, using either my C-910 or C-920 webcams. I sacrificed quality for convenience in StreamYard, as my current subscription only allows me to record in 720p. This did not impress my student (“too grainy”).

The Level 10 requirements video showcases the next level of my evolution: the Logitech C-920 Webcam and my new Lewitt LCT-140 AIR stereo pair “pencil” microphones plugged into my Mackie 6 channel mixer board. I recorded the videos using OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software), a popular program among content creators worldwide.

Back to my student. She declared that my Canon Rebel SLR camera should be my primary front/side camera for recording. Then, it was a tie between my HD Logitech webcams and my phone. Going back to “the old fashioned way” means to record with a good camera to the computer and then upload.

The big takeaway for webcams and video recording is this: don’t cheap out. Get the best camera you can afford. Get an HD 1080p camera or better. Many smartphones and tablets already fit that bill, just make sure to adjust your recording settings to HD. Unfortunately, most laptop cameras, as my student pointed out, “suck.”

My C-270 and C-910 are dinosaurs now, but they’re still going strong. On the other hand, my old Microsoft LifeCam, which I purchased around the same time as the C-270 has been collecting dust in a “To Discard/Recycle” pile.

Let’s Talk About Lighting

While reviewing the raw files for the Level 10 requirements, I noticed that the keys were less distinct, almost distorted at the bottom register. As you can see in this screenshot, the keys are also indistinct in the high register.

Distinctly indistinct.

I did some experimenting during lessons and discovered that the culprit is my ceiling light. Afterwards, I played around with my ring light and my softbox light. The winning setup for this recording configuration was the softbox light.

All clear now

For livestreaming, I have learned that both the softbox light and ring light are my allies. Here’s a screenshot from a supplemental video I recorded for some of my students. It’s hard to believe that I recorded this at 11 PM. The lighting is pretty bright without making me look washed out.

Recording Day

The first takeaway is that if you’re doing any video recording, you need to have good lighting. It’s much easier to record a video performance or tutorial with good lighting than trying to adjust the lighting in an editing program. Believe me, I first tried the editing route with the Level 10 files but quickly realized that it would be quicker to just re-record.

The second point is this: don’t cheap out on the lighting either. Get the best lighting you can afford. I bought a $39 ring light from Amazon early on in the pandemic. It was so flimsy that it broke after one fall onto carpet. I’m extremely happy with my $60 Ergopixel ring light. The construction is solid, from the tripod to the phone clamp. I can also switch from warm to cool lighting and adjust the intensity.

I recently received a softbox light as a gift. I think I’ll buy a softbox lighting set so I can control the light from different angles.

It’s been fun playing around with my new setup. I still have to do some troubleshooting with my Canon Rebel and figure out how I want to use my new green screen. I’m sure my students will have a few ideas on the latter.

Improving Your Audio Quality in your Teaching Studio

(Originally published in APTA News & Views)

Shortly after our October online piano party, one student asked, “Bruh, how come you sounded so clear when the rest of us sounded just okay?”

To which, I replied: “It’s because I didn’t use the device mic.”

“You should write about that. How to improve your sound.”

So here I am.

Simple Sound Hacks

Many students and teachers use phones and tablets for online lessons and recording. Technology has come a long way, but I’m sure you have noticed that Zoom and some of the other video conferencing platforms fail to capture the subtle nuances in upper intermediate and advanced repertoire. Choosing “Enable Original Sound” and “High-fidelity Music Mode” only goes so far.

One simple microphone hack you can experiment with is the microphone’s distance from the piano. I’m no physicist or sound engineer, but I have worked enough symphony and jazz concerts at Arts Commons to take note of where the audience and microphones are positioned in relation to the stage. I have used that as my starting point to experiment with.

If you or your student are hearing a lot of sound distortion, chances are, the microphones are too close to the instrument. My students and I have learned that depending upon the piece, the sweet spot for the microphone in a phone, tablet or laptop is anywhere between two to four feet away from the piano and approximately at someone’s ear height when sitting.

The louder the piece, the farther the microphone needs to be. Alternatively, I adjust my students’ microphone volume when we’re livestreaming.

The louder the piece, the farther away the laptop is.

Using earbuds or headphones will help reduce audio echoes when in Zoom, StreamYard, Discord or any online platform. You may need to get a stereo audio extension cable now that your device is farther away. They retail for less than $10.

If a student insists on positioning their device at the edge of the keyboard, you are going to hear a significant amount of sound distortion. One easy hack is to have them place an eraser or something rubbery like a hockey puck beneath their phone or tablet. One of my university professors placed her upright piano on four hockey pucks to dampen the sound transfer from her townhouse unit to her neighbour’s unit below. It worked extremely well.

If there are lot of hard surfaces in your studio or your students’ practice areas, you can experiment with sound baffling to help minimize reverberation. Although there are sound baffle panels and blankets out there, you can easily achieve results by adding more soft materials to the room, such as pillows, blankets and towels, which will absorb the sound.

Levelling Up Your Sound

One thing I learned from livestreaming and producing content for my YouTube Channels is that if you really want better sound, you need to invest in better microphones designed for high-fidelity sound.

I started by using my Zoom H2N surround sound recorder (approx. $230) as a USB microphone, connected to my computer. It has five built-in microphones and four recording modes. You can get recording studio quality with it. There are several newer models that come with many bells and whistles. Perhaps too many, so do check the specifications to see what best fits your needs and your computer’s specifications.

There are five microphones that consistently pop up in “best microphones for music podcasting” searches that are worth checking out. They are the Blue Yeti ($125 and up), the Rode NT USB ($219), the Rode Procaster ($300 and up), the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ ($219 and up), and Shure MV7 ($229 and up).

The second thing I learned is that if you are doing any piano combo work, be it piano and voice or piano and guitar, each instrument needs its own dedicated microphone. Otherwise, the piano will just drown out everyone else.

The only exception is when I fiddle with the microphone settings. When I teach online, I sometimes use my Razer Blackhawk Gaming Headset (approximately $100). The microphone is on the headset, so my voice is louder than the piano. When using the H2N unit, I adjust the recording mode to 90 degrees X/Y stereo and zero gain (no signal amplification) and position the microphone in front of me (and then just plug in earbuds into my stereo. These adjustments allow the microphone to catch more of my voice than the piano.

If you decide to take the plunge and buy one of these microphones, hop onto YouTube to get more tips and tricks. Check out Bea Chu, Todd Audio, and Christian Henson Music on YouTube.

Earlier this year, I invested in a stereo pair of Lewitt LCT 140 Air:

I was planning on doing an unboxing and review video. This screenshot is from the unboxing. I pretty much started using them as soon as I plugged them in. Hopefully, I’ll get around to completing the unboxing/review, but in the meantime, you can hear what they sound like in these two videos:

Recorded with Sound set to Flat, Filter OFF and Pad set to O. No additional sound FX.

Recorded with same microphone settings, with the addition of Small Stage FX setting on the Mackie.

These days, I use my Shure PG4 Wireless Headset System, AT4040 Condenser Microphone and Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones plugged into a Mackie ProFXv3 Mixer Board for content creation and livestreaming. When recording piano only, then I break out the Lewitts That way, I can really adjust the sound for multiple instruments and add sound effects to make it sound like I’m inside a concert hall or recording studio.

Using Video Tutorials in Your Studio, Starring Your Students

In my entry, Piano Pedagogy & Technology Musings, I unveiled my grand plan to create an online audio/visual library for my students to use to assist with their at-home practicing. So far, my students have enjoyed laughing at my How to Sit at the Piano video, in which I use one of Maestro's giant stuffed dogs to demonstrate. Likewise with my Troubleshooting video, which showed that even teachers need to drill trouble spots repeatedly to iron them out. A few of them actually ask, "Can we make a video clip of that?" so they can watch us working on one of their pieces at a later time.

I initially set out to make 12 videos but it looks like there will be at least 15 in all as I or my students get ideas of what else to shoot. However, I am sure that my students don't want to watch just me for all 15, so I've gone recruiting.

If this is something that you're thinking of trying your studio, I highly recommend having your students star in some of your video tutorials. Six students have eagerly stepped up to the plate to date with several more waiting for their turn. One student demonstrated how he practices his memory stations, one shared how she started learning a song in lead sheet form, while four shared stories they made up to go with their pieces. They're finding the whole experience a blast, while I am getting my share of laughs of smiles.

All you need is your digital camera (if it takes video) or a video recorder. Make sure you have at least 4 GB on your SD card (I have 8 GB). As far as movie editing software goes, I've just been using Windows Movie Maker, which has lots of tutorials and help menus. A tripod is a bonus.

As an alternative to posting them on your website, you could burn your videos onto a DVD-R or DVD/RW or share them with your students via memory stick or ftp. Mind you, if you and your students are on Facebook, all you'd have to do is create a group for your studio and post your videos to the group. Of course, there are sites like Youtube and Vimeo.

Next on the horizon are the videos on Outstanding Openings and Fabulous Photo Finishes. I think I'll go recruiting again to get students to demonstrate each of these.

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