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I usually record song ideas with Voice Memos on my phone. Just audio, no video. That's a good system and it creates small files. Great.
But sometimes I want to video record a performance or demonstrate how I play a certain part.
I use my phone for that too.
But all the videos show my dull, often cluttered room in the background. That seems distracting. I would prefer a neutral background to that.
And such are readily available online.
I do NOT want a large green screen. (I have an autistic stepson who takes over my room when he visits and I need something I can easily put away in advance of that.)
I like the idea of a screen that attaches to the back of a chair.
Many are available.
It's important that my chair (a Wegner Nota: no arms, no headrest, with a narrow back) is not a gaming chair or an office chair.
Anyone have good suggestions for this circumstance?
Thanks!
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07-12-2024 10:29 AM
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Have you considered using Zoom's virtual background feature? When I was counseling patients via Zoom, I could choose just about any photo for my background, including short video loops (breezy beach, rainy forest, migrating wildebeest
). Here's some more info: Using the Virtual Backgrounds App
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I know you're using a laptop (although attached to a large monitor). You could move your webcam to different angles or locations... maybe that's too much of a hassle though for frequent videos. You could get a separate webcam with a long usb cable to give some camera angle flexibility, it could be permanently set at the best angle. Some guitars in the background is a common style.
How about your wife in the background making weird arm movements?
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Movable green screen curtain:
Attach a wire rope under the ceiling.
This:
Just a moment...
Two of these ...
Just a moment...
... and two of these ...
Just a moment...
Use those hooks ...
Just a moment...
... for a green piece of molton fabric ...
Stairville Curtain 160g/m2 Greenbox – Musikhaus Thomann
... that you can pull away to the wall if not needed.
Disadvantage: You have permanently a rope at your ceiling and a green curtain at the wall at one side of the rope.
Advantage: cheap solution.
EDIT: Use this software to create spaced-out animated backgrounds:
https://www.mandelbulb.com/
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I just tried the virtual background. It's fun. But, not working well enough on my first try.
Originally Posted by jazzshrink
Have you considered using Zoom's virtual background feature? When I was counseling patients via Zoom, I could choose just about any photo for my background, including short video loops (breezy beach, rainy forest, migrating wildebeest). Here's some more info: Using the Virtual Backgrounds App
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I am not sure but I think something is missing. Originally Posted by fep
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I have something similar but with a 8' curtain rod to keep it real straight. Originally Posted by Bop Head
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With German concrete walls and these ... Originally Posted by fep
Just a moment...
... it is possible to get the wire rope real tight.
I think in the States there are a lot of plaster drywalls which might be damaged by the tension of a tightened wire rope.
EDIT: I forgot to mention these ...
Just a moment...
... which you need to attach the wire rope to the tightener.
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Another idea:
Get something like this wide enough to cover your background ...
SONGMICS Clothes Rack with Wheels | SONGMICS HOME
... put it behind your chair and throw a nice colored and patterned blanket over it. Roll the thing away before your son comes visiting.
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I use some inexpensive black fabric clipped onto a rail, it's a bit flappy, but easily removed.
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No, I think it actually missed something that should have been removed Originally Posted by Bop Head
I am not sure but I think something is missing.
How about something like this, if you don't already have one from back when you shot slides or 8mm home movies? The reverse will probably be some dull kind of gray, if the white/reflective front side doesn't do it for you.
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Mark Kleinhaut is the master of the background. Maybe he'll drop by.
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Mark's background is probably the same as GuyBoden's (see above). But he has some nice lighting. Originally Posted by sgosnell
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I never thought I'd plug a Microsloth product, but MS Teams has a zillion built in backgrounds and you can also upload your own photo to use as a background. Basic plan is $4.00/month.
Teams pricing plans
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I do use Zoom for meetings with Frank (fep) because he lives in San Diego and I live in South Florida, but I don't use Zoom to record myself: I use my iPhone. (My laptop is not handy for me----it's several feet away: I use a large monitor and a separate mouse and keyboard for use with the laptop.) Originally Posted by jazzshrink
Have you considered using Zoom's virtual background feature? When I was counseling patients via Zoom, I could choose just about any photo for my background, including short video loops (breezy beach, rainy forest, migrating wildebeest). Here's some more info: Using the Virtual Backgrounds App
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That's a great idea! Thanks. Originally Posted by Bop Head
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That's a definite possibility. Thanks! Originally Posted by RJVB
No, I think it actually missed something that should have been removed
How about something like this, if you don't already have one from back when you shot slides or 8mm home movies? The reverse will probably be some dull kind of gray, if the white/reflective front side doesn't do it for you.
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That's just the sort of thing that would fascinate Nathan (-my stepson) and he would be bound to mess with it. ;o) He thinks of my guitar chair as a toy. (He only sits in my 'office chair' and will have two iPads, my PC, and his smartphone going at the same time: he's in his own world.) Originally Posted by fep
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Zoom for iOS might have the same virtual background feature, but it would seem to me that using your phone makes you mobile enough to record anywhere you want in your room. Position yourself with the window (which I hope your room has) behind you and draw the curtain or screen or shutters if the backlight is too strong. Originally Posted by MarkRhodes
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I just recently transitioned from green screen to just using black fabric clipped to that curtain rod I showed earlier. It's so much easier for me not having to deal with all the headaches of using green screen such as getting the wrinkles out, getting the lighting right, tweaking the editing software. With a black screen I don't do any of that. This recent tune I did with Mark Rhodes has the green screen at the beginning for the intro bass and the guitar but after that it was all black screen. Greenscreen, never again. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
I think the black screen is sharper. I shoot a light up towards the ceiling from behind the screen that reflects off the white ceiling, that helps make the edges look crisp.
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