[0:00] In this tutorial series, we get into the essentials of how to make you and your orchestral instrument sound and look better. In this episode, we’ll take a closer look at the technical aspects of recording yourself visually. There are numerous ways to capture moving images, and we pick the most common and budget-friendly options for you. Let’s dive into how to record yourself using either a smartphone, a tablet, or a digital camera. 

[0:33] Did you ever try to find the right height or angle with your smartphone while lacking the proper tools, and then used music stands or chairs to get closer to your desired framing? A stable tripod and a smartphone holder will take you a long way and won’t even break the bank. Being able to position your smartphone vertically or horizontally will enable the viewer to see everything of importance. Although some of you are used to shooting videos for social media, there is still so much more to learn when it comes to recording your actual performance video. 

[1:05] Automatic corrections done by the phone, such as autofocus, auto exposure, and auto white balance, might help when things are moving quickly, but they can also be distracting or even ruin the picture. You can achieve better results using manual settings. Great apps for your smartphone that help you manage these issues are ProMovie and FiLMiC Pro. Here, you can dial in all the settings you need. We recommend setting manual exposure to avoid sudden changes in luminance and adjusting the focus yourself. 

[1:39] Frame rates for your video depend on your location. If you’re in Europe, use 25 frames per second. If you’re in the States, you can use either 24 or 30 frames per second. This ensures your video is in sync with light and other electronic equipment to avoid flickering. If you’re happy with the lighting of the scene, lock the white balance. If you’re using an external microphone, you can also select it in the app. 

[2:10] Digital cameras are a bit more complex and overwhelming depending on your expertise, but they allow you to refine your moving images and take greater control of the look of your scene, such as depth of field — meaning how much of your image is in focus and how blurry the foreground and background are. This can be achieved with the right lens choice and a more open or closed aperture. 

[2:47] Generally speaking, the longer the focal length of your lens, such as 50 millimeters or 85 millimeters, the more compressed your image will appear, creating more separation between you and your background. Shorter focal lengths, like 24 millimeters or 35 millimeters, will let you get more into the frame but reduce that separation. 

[3:10] When you record your video and audio separately, you will need some editing software to sync them. It doesn’t have to be professional — something like iMovie for Mac or Windows Video Editor will get the job done. To easily sync your audio and video after recording, it’s a good idea to establish an audiovisual marker right before your performance. In movie productions, they use clappers. In our case, a simple hand clap will do. In editing, you look for that marker in your video file and sync it with the audio from your external recorder. 

[3:27] When producing a video for a contest or institution, make sure you meet the guidelines for file size, video, and audio quality. Usually, the required video resolution is 1080p (Full HD) with an aspect ratio of 16:9. You can also shoot in 4K, but the file sizes will be much bigger. 

[3:55] (Music) 

Yes. With a tripod, proper framing, and manual camera settings, a smartphone can produce high-quality performance videos. 

In Europe, 25 fps is typically recommended. In the United States, 24 fps or 30 fps are common choices.

Create a sync marker before performing, such as a hand clap, and align it with the audio waveform during editing. 

Most organizations request 1080p (Full HD) video with a 16:9 aspect ratio, although requirements may vary.