Surtaal Celebrates – Recording

Prerequisites

You will need:

• Laptop or desktop computer (the system won’t work on mobiles / tablets)
• Your PC will need to have a webcam and microphone (the built-in hardware on most laptops works well)
• You’ll also need Headphones or earbuds. *Please be sure to play the backing through headphones not speakers, as otherwise it will come through on your recording
• Be sure to use Chrome as your browser
• You’ll also need a Google account (to sign in). These are free to register

Tutorial

There’s a short tutorial on the system via the link below, or scroll down for step by step instructions

​Please note, all parts of the tutorial and process require you to be signed in to Google

To sign in, visit easyvirtualchoir.com and click “Google Sign In”

After you’ve done that, you can view the tutorial at https://blog.easyvirtualchoir.com/tutorials/quickstart/#adding-to-a-song or scroll down for step by step instructions

*N.B. You only need to progress to Step 7 on the above. There’s no need to “export the song”

To Record / Practise Your Part

• Click the link of your choice below
• When the link opens, click “Song Studio” in the top right corner
• When the next page opens, click “Add Track” in the top right corner
• When the next page opens and you’re ready, click “Start Recording” in the top right corner
• Your recording will end automatically when the track finishes. After this click “Play Preview” in the top right corner to listen back to your recording. Ensure your recording is in time and you’re happy with the end result – if the playback is “vibrating” you’re too close to your microphone when you recorded and should adjust your recording position accordingly
• Based on your thoughts, at the bottom of the screen then click either “Add to song!” in the bottom left corner, or “Discard and try again”
• After you click “Add to Song” you’re all done

*When recording, if you make a mistake at any point and want to abandon and re-record, just stop and click on “Discard and try again” at any time

Recording Considerations

• Please ensure you’re properly warmed up and in tune with the tracks before committing your final recordings
• Please consider the background in your videos also, and also ensure that you’re “well framed” in the shot when recording
• Feel free to adapt music for your instrument as you see fit
• Play as much or as little as you like
• Finally, for this particular piece, please hold last note for an extra beat than the written parts

Recording Demo Video

If you’re still unsure of how to use the recording system, a comprehensive demo video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=50VcDcUijUQ though, again, you only need the part for “Adding to a Song”

The launch video for Surtaal Celebrates, which you’ll be contributing to can be found at facebook.com/GrimethorpeBand

Individual Recordings

Links to submit recordings can be found at easyvirtualchoir.com/profile/101143

Separate links can be found there for brass players, percussionists, vocalists, keyboard players and more.

Group Recordings

If you would like to record your own group video, add your own easyvirtualchoir profile, or contact us for guidance at gcbdevelopment@gmail.com