Online Music Lessons Virtual Performance Preparation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Why is it important to disable system notifications (like Slack or email pop-ups) before starting a virtual performance?
- They consume too much CPU, causing video lag
- Notification sounds can be picked up by your microphone and interrupt the performance (Correct answer)
- They automatically pause streaming software
- They interfere with MIDI signal routing
Correct answer: Notification sounds can be picked up by your microphone and interrupt the performance
Notification sounds and pop-up chimes are easily captured by an open microphone, creating unwanted interruptions that the audience will hear during a live stream.
Question 2: A violinist notices significant finger buzz noise being picked up during a virtual lesson recording. What is the best first step to reduce this?
- Increase the microphone gain to 100%
- Apply a high-pass filter to remove low-frequency rumble
- Reposition the microphone further from the instrument (Correct answer)
- Switch from 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz sample rate
Correct answer: Reposition the microphone further from the instrument
Moving the microphone slightly farther from the violin reduces the pickup of mechanical finger and bow-on-string noise while still capturing the full instrument tone.
Question 3: What is 'frame rate' in video streaming, and which value is generally considered the minimum for smooth virtual musical performance video?
- The number of audio samples per second; minimum 44,100 Hz
- The number of video frames displayed per second; minimum 24 fps (Correct answer)
- The number of MIDI events processed per second; minimum 1,000
- The number of color channels per pixel; minimum 3
Correct answer: The number of video frames displayed per second; minimum 24 fps
Frame rate is the number of still images displayed per second in video; 24 fps is the cinematic minimum, though 30 fps is standard for smooth live-stream performance video.
Question 4: During a virtual recital, the performer's audio sounds hollow and echo-heavy to online viewers. What room treatment would most effectively reduce this?
- Adding a bass trap in the corner behind the camera
- Hanging acoustic foam panels or heavy curtains behind and beside the performer (Correct answer)
- Placing a subwoofer under the chair to absorb low frequencies
- Using a dynamic microphone instead of a condenser microphone
Correct answer: Hanging acoustic foam panels or heavy curtains behind and beside the performer
Soft, absorptive materials like acoustic foam or heavy curtains behind and beside the performer reduce mid-to-high frequency reflections that cause a hollow or reverberant sound.
Question 5: What does 'gain staging' mean in the context of preparing audio for a virtual performance?
- Adjusting the volume of each performer at different stages of the rehearsal
- Setting appropriate signal levels at each point in the audio chain to avoid distortion and noise (Correct answer)
- Increasing microphone gain just before going live to boost confidence
- Automating volume changes during a performance using software
Correct answer: Setting appropriate signal levels at each point in the audio chain to avoid distortion and noise
Gain staging means setting the signal level correctly at each step—microphone preamp, interface input, DAW channel—to maximize signal-to-noise ratio while preventing clipping.
Question 6: Which type of internet connection is most reliable for a high-quality virtual musical performance stream?
- 5G cellular with unlimited data
- Wired Ethernet connection directly to the router (Correct answer)
- Wi-Fi on the 5 GHz band as close to the router as possible
- Satellite internet with a clear sky view
Correct answer: Wired Ethernet connection directly to the router
A wired Ethernet connection eliminates wireless interference and packet loss, providing the most stable and consistent upload speed required for uninterrupted live streaming.
Question 7: A singer-songwriter is performing live online and wants to add a soft reverb to their voice for ambiance. At what stage should this effect be applied to avoid issues?
- Directly on the microphone hardware before the audio interface
- As a real-time software insert in the streaming or DAW software (Correct answer)
- By recording dry and asking the audience to add reverb on their end
- By performing in a large tiled bathroom for natural reverb
Correct answer: As a real-time software insert in the streaming or DAW software
Applying reverb as a real-time software insert in your DAW or streaming software gives you control, monitoring, and the ability to adjust or bypass the effect without changing your physical recording chain.
Online Music Lessons Virtual Performance Preparation 3
Why is it important to disable system notifications (like Slack or email pop-ups) before starting a virtual performance?