live lessons over web-cam - anyone try this?

[Orbit]

Hi all,

I'm getting ready to move and have already developed a great rapport with my current teacher. We were talking about the possibility of doing live web-cam based lessons. Anyone try this or even think this is possible?


Some questions that came to mind:

What kind of setup would I need?

Any reccomendations on web-cam?

Conferencing Software? Would MSN video chat work?

What about audio? Would I need a mic other than what comes in the webcam?

Where would I position the camera - it would be nice if the teacher could see both me and my hands...

Would I need more than one camera?

It would be nice to get by with just one, so that would make the setup simple on both ends.


I don't mind paying $100-200 for equipment, as I could use the setup for a video phone to friends. However, I'd rather not shell out big bucks for a telecom studio since this is just a hobby.



if anyone has experience with this, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

thanks!

[dancaputi]

Fantastic idea.

But before anyone suggests software, here's a shameless plug for the company I work for:
HearMe.com (http://www.hearme.com/)

which is a spin-off project of this major video chat company:
Paltalk.com (http://www.paltalk.com)

We're currently in the beta phase on HearMe and I believe you can still sign up for a free trial. If it works out, the product will be priced very affordable (I'm told they'll be the cheapest web conferencing with video out there).

As far as equipment, any USB web-cam will do but I can surely ask my co-workers for some specific recommendations if you'd like. I think the one I use is a Plantronics. I'll have to double check that when I'm in the office but it's excellent. It has a great built-in microphone and it would be all you'd need.

Now for a tiny little reality check: I'm not sure that the audio and video will be fast enough and in perfect synch to do a piano lesson. Maybe beginning lessons but I dunno. Of course, I would never try to talk you out of trying this but I think the technology may be a little pre-mature. None-the-less, we're going to be making some major improvements over the next couple of months so I'll be sure to keep you posted.

- Dan C.

[Midi Magic]

Hi Dan

Glad you are back to the "real" world. It is better than skype?

[Orbit]

Thanks Dan,

Encouraging news. Best Buy had a sale on Logitech cams this week, so I picked one one up for $60. I figure I can't go to wrong to play around with it. I tried it recently with some friends across town - works well enough for simple chat, but I agree probably not ideal for real time a/v lesson.

I will probably be getting a flat-rate plan on my long distance carrier anyway, so I might be able to just use a speaker phone for audio. Not great, but probably good enough to hear wrong notes and off timing.

As far as video, not fast enough to see every note, but at least you get a sense of being there.

The other remaining problem is camera placement. I can't seem to find the right position to see me and the keyboard with clarity. If I position it too much to the side, the sense of perspective is off. If I put it on the music stand or lapop in the center of the piano, I don't have a wide enough field of view to see the entire keyboard and you can only see my hands. (which is probably all that is needed anyway)

will keep tinkering - should be good enough to stay in touch with family, but will likely end up having to find a new teacher.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the Clavinova 609 has built in satelite cam.

[dancaputi]

Originally posted by Midi Magic ... It is better than skype? Funny you say that. Skype is our benchmark. We're striving to do better in many ways! The big difference is that we support hundreds (thousands?) of simultaneous participants. I don't think skype has a conferencing mode (yet?)

- Dan C.

[Midi Magic]

Dan

You can have an Audio conference on skype but not video, as yet.