Technical Support Guide for online instrumental lessons

Transcription

1 Technica Support Guide for onine instrumenta essons

2 This is a technica guide for Music Education Hubs, Schoos and other organisations participating in onine music essons. The guidance is based on the technica setup used during the Connect: Resound project. The guide has been deveoped to hep you to set up and use a package of equipment (hardware and software) which was triaed on the Connect: Resound project. It is a step by step guide to setting up, connecting and using the equipment in order to deiver and participate in onine music essons. This guide can be read in conjunction with a short instructiona video created as part of Connect: Resound: The video taks you through a of the equipment and how to set it up. It is spit into six sections and takes you a the way through from connecting the equipment to an exampe setup. Pease aso refer to the Guides for Onine Learning for Music Education Hubs and Schoos, on the Connect: Resound website. 1 An introduction to the equipment 2 Step by step guide to setting up the equipment 1 An introduction to the equipment The Connect: Resound action research project used a standard technica set-up to deiver the onine teaching, in conjunction with the video streaming software, Skype. The setup comprised: Roand VR-3EX video/audio mixer and streamer 3 video cameras, 3 externa microphones Internet enabed PC, using a wired broadband connection The research team identified the foowing options as the most effective technica setups Internet enabed PC pus webcam (at the schoo) to Internet enabed PC pus Roand VR-3EX + 3 cameras + 3 mics (at the Music Hub); Internet enabed PC pus Roand VR-3EX + 3 cameras + 3 mics (schoo) to Internet enabed PC pus Roand VR-3EX + 3 cameras + 3 mics (Music Hub) This technica guide assumes that you wi be using the fu equipment set-up, incuding the VR-3EX, 3 cameras and 3 microphones. 3 FAQs and Troubeshooting 4 Further information on the technoogy 5 Fu kit ist and prices (indicative) 2 Technica Guide Technica Guide 3

3 2 Setting up the equipment Room set-up It is worth taking some time to decide on where the Connect: Resound project is best deivered. Smaer rooms are often a ot better than the main schoo ha. This is due to the acoustics of a arger room, and the possibiity of echo and high noise eves. You may find that using a space/ room with soft furnishings and carpets is a simpe way of reducing sound bouncing around was. Larger rooms may require soutions such as acoustic boards or foam ties. Connecting the Equipment Pease watch Part 2 of the video: for a fu demonstration of how to connect a the equipment together. A summary of the key points is provided beow. Step One: Connecting the Roand VR-3EX Centra Contro Desk A the equipment is pugged into this audio/video mixer and streamer. It is caed a VR-3EX and made by Roand. Things you need to have and to consider: A computer/aptop capabe of running Skype. The system requirements aren t high. In practica terms just about any computer made in the ast five years wi be more than adequate; A cassroom to run the esson from; Audio features Video features A good power suppy; Good Internet connectivity: 1 Mbps (both upstream and downstream) is sufficient, but faster is better, especiay if other users are sharing the same connection. You can check the speed of your Internet connection at Speakers/headphones inked to the computer to enhance the sound quaity. Top Tip: Try not to run essons in the schoo ha or a pace with a big echo. This may hep the student sound fantastic to start off with, but it won t hep deveop their individua tone. Aim for a room with a dry acoustic. The basic set up is that the three cameras and the three microphones a connect into the centra contro desk (the Roand VR-3EX), which is then connected to the computer. The program used to broadcast everything is caed Skype. By using mutipe cameras, the teacher and student have a better view of an instrumentaist technique, such as posture, finger positions and embouchure. The mutipe microphones hep provide a good eve of sound to enabe such things as intonation and tone to be heard and discussed. What is the VR-3EX? The VR-3EX is an a-in-one audio and video mixing desk with a buit-in USB port for web streaming and recording, and is about the size of a teephone directory. The VR-3EX is an HDMI quaity portabe unit and idea for streaming/broadcasting and recording music essons. You can use up to four video channes, controed by a touch screen, and a fu 6-channe digita audio mixer (with optiona effects). Switching it on 1 Connect the mains ead to a mains suppy. 2 Pug in the USB cabe from the top of the VR-3EX into your computer. Step Two: Connecting the Video Cameras There are three cameras as part of the kit, a Heneec 30Z700 DSP 300 x Coour Zoom cameras with automatic digita zoom. The cameras a focus automaticay and can be adjusted very easiy to suit the payer and instrument/voice. 1 To connect the cameras to the VR-3EX there are three eads that need to be connected. The video wi- show you where to pug these in: The composite ead pugs into the camera The red end of the ead pugs into the mains adapter (which then pugs into the mains board) The other, yeow, ead goes into one of the four video connecters. 4 Technica Guide Technica Guide 5

4 2 The computer wi automaticay see the VR-3EX as a USB camera and audio source without the need for any additiona drivers being instaed. 3 The cameras can then be set up and positioned using the tripod stands that come with the package. The cameras have a variety of different settings and there is a separate camera set-up guide at the end of this guide. Top Tip: Think about sticking numbered masking tape crosses on the foor for aways getting the cameras positioned where you want them. Step Three: Connecting the Audio We used three microphones in the Connect: Resound project. The two main microphones are Rode NT5 s, and the ape microphone is a Rode Smart LAV+. The two Rode NT5 microphones shoud be used on microphone stands. 1 Position the two Rode NT5 microphones. These microphones are used to capture the ambient instrumenta sound in the room. These are overhead microphones and wi need to be paced on the provided microphone stands. They shoud be positioned a short distance apart with the microphones pointing towards the student/ teacher and their instrument. 2 Attach the Rode NT5 microphones Using two XLR cabes, the NT5 microphones shoud then be connected into two of the four audio connectors on the VR-3EX. 3 Attach the Rode Smart LAV+ microphone (music teachers ony. Schoos, pease go to point 4) The Rode Smart LAV+ is a sma but broadcast-quaity ape microphone, which can be attached to your cothing. The quaity of sound captured and streamed is entirey dependent on the microphones and the acoustic within the room. The Rode microphones are very suitabe for this project and are high quaity at a very reasonabe price. The microphone comes with an extension ead together with a coupe of adapters to convert the mini-jack into an XLR (microphone) input, suitabe for the VR-3EX. You can watch how to connect these together in the VR- 3EX Tech Guide Video. Make sure you wear the microphone pointing downwards, i.e. away from your mouth. This wi avoid getting those popping sounds from consonants such as p s when you speak! The sma Rode Smart LAV+ microphone needs to be connected first to a converter, and then into an XLR ead. This then pugs straight into the side of the VR-3EX, into one of the four audio connectors. Top Tip: These Rode Smart LAV mics are tiny! Make sure that you ook at the wiring and cip to ensure that it is kept protected whist you wear it on your shirt, bouse or jacket. 4 Switch on the Phantom Power switch On the same side of the VR-3EX as the audio connectors is a Phantom Power switch. This needs to be turned on to make the microphones work. This is very important! Step Four - Configuring Skype Pease watch Part 3 of the video: 1 Open a Skype account at Once a the cameras and microphones are connected to the VR-3EX, it s time to connect the computer as we. Both the teacher and the schoo or pupi wi need to open a Skype account if they don t aready have one. Skype is a free computer program that aows video chat and cas from computers, tabets and mobie phones via the Internet to other simiar devices. Skype accounts are free to use and simpe to set up with just a user name and password. 2 Get the VR-3EX taking to the computer by connecting the USB ead (as instructed in Step 1 of Connecting the equipment). 3 Open Skype and set it up to recognise the VR-3EX. This is done by seecting Preferences in the Skype menu. This wi show you the microphone and camera feeds. In the microphone menu, you need to seect the VR3EX option. This wi then show the signa coming from the VR-3EX microphones. Then seect the camera menu, and seect VR3EX as we. This wi now show the output from one of the cameras that is connected to the VR-3EX. 4 To initiate a teaching session, the teacher needs to video ca the schoo, using Skype. Top Tip: Aways make sure you ve got the phantom power button switched on otherwise the microphones won t work. 6 Technica Guide Technica Guide 7

5 Step Five - Using the VR-3EX Pease watch Part 4 of the video: The VR-3EX is now a set up ready to go, but there are a coupe of main functions you need to know about. The right hand side of the VR-3EX is a about the cameras, and the eft hand side is the Audio Mixer and a about sound. Right hand side (video) There are currenty three cameras connected to the VR-3EX, and the three different images shoud a show on the VR-3EX screen. The image that the student wi see is the image with a red box around it. This image can easiy be changed by either using the touch screen, or by using one of the main four contro buttons beneath the screen. Left hand side (audio) The three microphones are connected into the side of the VR-3EX into one of the four Audio Input sockets (the teacher s ape microphone and the two NT5 instrument microphones). The VR-3EX is very simiar to an audio mixer. Each channe setting works the same, so: For microphone one, pugged into the number one Audio Input, you first need to set the gain knob. This shoud be positioned up to around the 2 o cock position. Then the corresponding sider needs to be moved up to just over haf way. At this point, a green ight shoud be fashing on the microphone one setting that shows you re getting a signa through the microphone. This wi aso show on the very bottom of the VR-3EX video screen to indicates it s working propery. You need to set the gain and the mixer sider for each microphone. To get a three microphones going through to Skype, you need to set the master sider up to just over haf way. This wi trigger a strip of peak fashing ights (green, amber and red). Position the sider so that it is mosty fashing in the amber. If it is fashing red, the sound quaity wi distort, which you don t want. To rectify this, pu the microphone siders down unti you see amber ights instead. This audio sound wi now aso be going through to Skype. Exampe Setup Pease watch Part 5 of the video: The research team from the University of Hu, found that the best configuration for getting good resuts were: The compete Connect: Resound package (VR-3EX, 3 cameras, 3 microphones) at the teacher s end and the same at the students ocation; or The compete Connect: Resound package at the teacher s end and just a webcam and microphone at the students ocation. The positioning of the microphones and cameras wi vary according to the instrument or voice being taught. The basic set-up woud be to position the two NT5 microphones on their microphone stands at a distance apart, eft and right of the instrumentaist(s). They wi pick up the ambient sound of the music made in the room. The teacher wi be wearing the ape microphone which wi hep to give cear, easy-to-hear directions. The cameras can be positioned to show both a fu image of the student, and cose ups. A the cameras can be mounted on tripods to ensure you have the image you want. Top Tip: You might want to consider having one of the cameras anged onto the sheet music that is being payed. This woud hep on giving directions within the music on which passages are being worked on. We woud recommend that the computer is ocated next to the VR-3EX for fu contro of a aspects of the teaching. Pease be aware of heath and safety, ensuring that no one wi trip over any of the cabes or eads. You can aways tape the eads down with a strip of gaffer tape. You may aso wish to use headphones with your teaching as they are a good way of isoating sounds and sometimes aid concentration from students. They aso hep to prevent feedback through any onine communication. They are easy to use and pug straight into the Roand VR-3EX. We woud recommend any good quaity high-definition ightweight headphones. Top Tip: Think about using some cabe ties to keep a the eads tidy and neat. 8 Technica Guide Technica Guide 9

6 Deivering a esson using the VR-3EX Lesson times need to be adhered to so that both the teacher and student are in position ready to receive the Skype ca. To start the esson, we recommend that it is the teacher who rings up the student using Skype. The student then answers and the esson begins. Aways start the esson making sure that everyone can hear each other on their computers. Pease refer to the detaied guidance for schoos and Hubs in the Connect: Resound tookit for more advice. 3 FAQs and troubeshooting Q: The microphones aren t working? A: Check you have the phantom power switch on, this switch is found on the eft hand side of the VR-3EX. Q: I m ony getting the computer s webcam image on the screen? A: Check you have got the VR-3EX cicked in the Skype preferences menu. Q: I am getting distortion on the audio? A: Move the microphone siders down unti the fashing peak ights are green. Q: I keep osing my Skype connection? A: There may be a few reasons for this, but start with checking your internet connection. It is aso worth bearing in mind that if more students are using the internet at the same time as you are using it to deiver your music esson, that this may affect your connectivity speed. Genera hep and technica support If you experience any probems, need any hep or woud ike some information about the costs and purchase of the Connect: Resound equipment, pease get in touch with Jonathan at UCan Pay. jonathan@ucanpay.org.uk 4 Further information on the technoogy More information about Internet strength Obviousy both the teacher and the pupi wi need a computer/aptop with a good connection and strong signa. We use Skype as the main program that students og into for essons, and hep can be provided in checking that connections are stabe enough to avoid any issues such as the signa being ost mid-esson. We woud suggest that you test your internet connection speed. This may best be carried out by your IT staff because there are various browser checkers that can be used. A schoo s internet connection shoud be adequate, but this doesn t take into account other concurrent usage. If other peope in a schoo are using the internet at the same time, it is worth bearing in mind that the avaiabe bandwidth wi be reduced. If you find situations where connection speed is an issue, you may ike to try to minimise other internet usage, as this may hep. More information about audio eves Ensuring the input eves are set up correcty is essentia for the best quaity sound. As mentioned earier in the Using the VR-3EX sections, for each input you are using, turn the gain knob down to its minimum and move the channe sider to the bod ine position (about ¾ of maximum). Then, whie paying incoming audio, turn up the gain knob unti the PEAK indicator briefy turns red when the input audio is at its oudest. At this point turn the gain knob back down a itte to ensure that the PEAK indicator does not enter the red (which woud mean the audio is distorting). A noise gate and compressor are avaiabe on each channe to give you further contro over the sound input eves if needed. These effects are accessed via the channe setup menu by pressing the setup button above each fader, then navigating using the touch screen and the VALUE knob at the top-right corner of the unit. The gate effect suppresses quiet background noise by siencing the sound if the input fas beow a certain voume. The threshod parameter determines the eve beow which the input wi be muted - typica vaues for this setting are between -36 db and -24 db. You coud use this to cut out any background noise or hum (e.g. from fuorescent ighting) that you did not want to send to your teacher/student via Skype Technica Guide Technica Guide 11

7 The compressor effect normaises the voume of the sound by automaticay decreasing the voume if the input signa exceeds a certain eve. For exampe, if you are paying a sound with a wide dynamic range between its oudest and quietest eves (e.g. a trumpet), you can turn up the voume using the fader to ensure the quietest parts are audibe and the compressor wi automaticay adjust the voume during the oudest parts to prevent distortion. The threshod parameter determines the eve above which the input is decreased. So if the threshod is set to -12 db, any sound above -12 db wi be reduced in voume and any sound beow -12 db wi be unaffected. More information about the VR-3EX At the back of the camera is a set of 5 buttons. TELE and WIDE zoom in and out respectivey, FAR and NEAR contro the aperture - which effectivey adjusts the focus (for the most part the camera s auto focus wi do its job, but for very cose-up subjects you might need to make some manua adjustments with the FAR and NEAR buttons). The MENU button accesses the camera s various settings. When in the setup menu, TELE and WIDE buttons scro through the menu, whie the FAR and NEAR buttons change a seected option. Pressing the MENU button accesses sub-menus - for exampe in the image beow, with LENS highighted, pressing MENU wi open the LENS sub-menu. Pease be aware that there may be a sight time ag between teacher and pupi. This can be adjusted and improved on the VR-3EX, but pease be aware that counting aongside a pupi or paying at the same time in perfect sync with video is simpy not possibe with current technoogies. To make sure Skype is using the VR-3EX and not the computer s buit in microphone or webcam, first seect Toos->Options from the main menu within Skype. In the options window seect Audio settings and choose VR3EX in the Microphone drop-down. Next seect Video settings and find the VR3EX in the Seect webcam dropdown. In some cases it might be isted as just USB Video Device. Normay you won t need to change any of these settings in day-to-day use; however our recommended settings are shown beow for reference: Pease be aware that each Skype connection may have different atency issues. This means that ips and sounds might not initiay synch up. There is a way of adjusting this within the VR3-EX using what is known as the USB deay. This setting is avaiabe within the setup page for each audio input. Pease see page 38 of the Roand VR-3EX manua for more information about this. Through changing the vaue of this setting very sighty you can aign the video image and the associated audio precisey. In tests so far, a setting of 300ms has been favourabe. Further camera setup information We used cameras from the CCTV market for this project. Why? They are perfect for streaming a video output for Internet use. They do not record anything themseves (ike a commercia or domestic camcorder woud on a SD-card or simiar). However, because they are CCTV cameras they can be a itte fiddy to set up. Fortunatey, you ony need to do this once as they have an interna battery that saves the settings. If you need to adjust the camera image (e.g. the zoom or focus of the camera), the main information that you need is beow: LENS sub-menu SHUTTER/AGC sub-menu PICT ADJUST sub-menu DAY/NIGHT sub-menu 12 Technica Guide Technica Guide 13

8 After making any changes, be sure to highight SAVE ALL then press MENU so you changes are preserved when the camera is switched off: 5 Kit List This is the compete Connect: Resound project kit ist with costs (subject to change): Item Number Vaue ( ) Video camera Video camera power unit 3 30 Video camera power ead 3 15 Fu size tripod 1 20 Desk tripod 2 15 Rode Smart Lav + microphone 1 45 Rode Smart Lav + TRRS to TRS adapter 1 3 Rode Smart Lav + extension ead 1 12 Rode Smart Lav + mini-jack to XLR converter 1 3 Rode NT5 matched pair microphones + case XLR microphone ead (3m) 2 16 Microphone stands socket pug board 1 7 Roand VR-3EX 1 1,600 Tota 3, Technica Guide