Recording a good audition video — British Youth Opera

This year we’re taking our first round auditions online, which means to apply you’ll need to submit three video recordings of you singing three different arias. You might have access to recording facilities at a university or college, or have a friend who can help you. Or you might have existing recordings from recitals that you’re happy with. But what if you don’t? Here are a few tips.

Remember, this is not a competition for the best recording quality. The aim is to make a recording that will give the audition panel a good impression of the sound of your voice.
An iPhone or other smart phone is a good basic recording device.
Use the main (rear) camera and record in landscape rather than portrait.
It is important to find the best distance between you and the microphone. Aim for around 3 metres, however the optimum distance will vary depending on the acoustic in which you are singing - a church will be very different from your living room. If the microphone is too close that can result in a harshness in the sound, but if it is too far away the sound can become echoey with a loss of definition. Listen back to the recording to confirm that it give a good representation of your voice through its range. Try three different recording positions before committing.
If you have an external microphone that you can plug into your phone, or a Zoom recorder, this gives you more control over the sound. The opportunity to set levels means you can place the microphone as close as 1 metre. Again, try different recording positions to find the best.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could combine an audio recording from a Zoom recorder with video from a phone using a video editor. If you do this, clapping your hands at the start will help with getting this in sync.