Lessons by Zoom - setup

1484 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by lesacks, Mar 31, 2020

CatDuet

Discussion Starter · Mar 21, 2020

I'm trying to figure out how to begin taking lessons from my teacher by Zoom during the COVID19 restrictions. I'm trying first to record a session across my own home onto another computer to see how it comes out. I really can't see how he'll be able to tell much about my playing. The volume seems to fluctuate when I didn't actually change it--apparently done by the Zoom program? And the articulations cannot be heard all that well. High notes don't register well, and low notes are fine though. If I back up and play farther from the mic, it sounds like an orchestral player, very clarinet-like.

Any tips for how to better arrange things?

Another point...I cannot seem to get it to "hear" both the jazz accompaniment I'm playing along with and my live improv. Makes me think we won't get to work on improv at all...

I'm using a focusrite USB box with a couple mics plugged in: Rode NT2a and Shure SM58. I've tried different volume levels and distances. Funny thing is, I get great results in my DAW Pro Tools. I just can't find a way to make it happen over the airwaves.

I hope you're all staying healthy and safe. Blessings!

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CatDuet

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 21, 2020

These are great! Thank you!

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CatDuet

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 22, 2020

lesacks said:
Guess work - does zoom have an option to switch off automatic gain control?

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https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115003279466-Preserve-Original-Sound?mobile_site=true

This helped a lot. Thanks!

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CatDuet

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 22, 2020

Dave Pollack said:
I use Zoom for all of the online lessons I teach, and it's about managing expectations.

For backing tracks, the best method for live stuff is playing them through speakers and playing along, letting the mic pick up both. I don't think you can have the track go direct (but maybe you can run the track to a bus in youe DAW then out to Zoom...if so I've never done that).

I have the students (and myself) turn to the side and not point directly at the mic, because it overloads the auto compressor/auto gain.

There's no crystal clear solution right now, but I'm sure there will be a better one coming soon - lots of people are finding out how limiting the current tech is, and see the potential for online lessons/rehearsals going forward!

Thanks for these ideas! It turned out that I actually needed to move my speaker around the partition that divides my studio from the computer and use my cell phone to operate the backing track to get it to fly. Pointing the sax to the side helps too. I messed around with it all day, but finally got good results. I think it will be worthwhile taking lessons online now.

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CatDuet

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 22, 2020

CatDuet said:
Thanks for these ideas! It turned out that I actually needed to move my speaker around the partition that divides my studio from the computer and use my cell phone to operate the backing track to get it to fly. Pointing the sax to the side helps too. I messed around with it all day, but finally got good results. I think it will be worthwhile taking lessons online now.

I should mention I used two separate mics. One to pick up the backing track from the speaker (large Truth speaker) and one for the sax.

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