Making a Virtual Guitar Ensemble

Creating a virtual ensemble is a great way to keep your guitar community together through these difficult times.  GuitarEnsembleMusic.com offers tips and services to make that happen more easily for you. 

  • To begin, you’ll need audio reference tracks for each part of a selected piece.  Players learn their parts and while listening to the audio reference, record themselves.
  • Next, you’ll need good audio software, or hire an audio editor (we can help!)
  • Finally, use video software (or hire a video editor) to put it all together.

Sample Audio Reference Track

Audio Reference Tracks 

These may be purchased separately for any piece in Guitar Ensemble Music catalog.  Each track is an .mp3 of the actual part, and includes a metronome “tic.”   The tempo will be that of the original audio sample on the product page, unless indicated to be faster or slower.  It’s important that each player listens to the tracks with headphones while recording, to maintain ensemble synchronization.

The cost of a complete set of audio reference parts (one per part) is $25,   Your tracks will be e-mailed withing 24 hours after receiving your order.

Order Tracks

Recording Tips

  • Microphone
    • Option #1–Use your smart phone for both audio and video.
    • Option #2–For better audio, use an external USB mic.  These are affordable and require no additional devices to connect directly to your computer.
    • Option #3–For best quality, use a condensor mic and audio interface with phantom power.
  • A basic audio recording app for your computer (e.g., GarageBand).  If you don’t have one, you can download free audio software, such as Audacity.
  • For video, you’ll need a camera or your smartphone.
  • Headphones or earbuds to listen to both yourself and the audio reference track during the recording.
  • If you’re using an external mic:
    • Close mic-ing is always best.  Aim the mic at the guitar’s bridge for a warmer sound, or the neck for a brighter sound.
    • Check to make sure that when you play, your signal does not “peak” (distort) on the input meter (keep it between -12 and -8db). For more info on setting recording levels.
  • Position your smartphone or camera horizontally and set up your picture so that it includes all of you (both hands) in the shot.
  • Make sure that the smartphone or camera is correctly oriented so the recording does not play upside down (notice in the picture, the correct orientation of the iphone).
     
    • IMPORTANT!: Tune your guitar!
    • Put on your headphones and be ready-to-play.
    • Record:
      1. Start the video recording.
      2. Start audio recording.
      3. Start the reference audio playback.
      4. Play, making sure that you’re synchronized with the “tic.”
    • When you’re finished, review your recording;  you might want to repeat the process, and choose the best “take” (any editing is optional).
    • If you recorded with just your smartphone, you’ll have 1 file (probably a .mov).   If you used an external mic, you’ll have:
      • An audio file saved in either .wav, or .mp3 formats.
      • A video file saved in either .mov or .mp4 formats.
    • Name your file(s) as: “your last name”—”name of the part”: e.g., Jones–guitar III.wav

Audio Services

After recording, you’ll need audio software to create a master track.  Even a short work with 15-20 players, requires hours of editing and takes a lot of know-how, to do it right. 

Guitar Ensemble Music can help!

We offer a professional editing service that includes (but not limited to), rhythmic alignment, noise reduction, mixing (EQ, compression, reverb, stereo Imaging) and mastering.  The cost of is $25 per hour.  Whether you have a large or small project, we can get it done professionally and to your satisfaction.

Master audio engineer, Joey Hirsh specializes in VGO projects.  He received his BM from Appalachian State University in Music Technology and currently works at Bndwth Studios in Atlanta and is the audio engineer for the Aaron Shearer Foundation.  Contact Joey for an estimate on your Virtual Guitar Ensemble project.

    Project samples by Joey Hirsh

    34 Guitarists, 5 different parts

    16 Guitarists, 5 Different Parts

    While She Sleeps, Billy McLaughlin