Skype Performance Recording & Rehearsals

I was walking on a nice warm summer's day when the idea just came to my mind because I was thinking I really want to find a way to perform my pieces and perhaps even perform other choral works that others have done and record them as cheaply as we can... (Because I am cheap and only a Student!)

So, what about a few Skype rehearsal sessions and then a performance- and then a few others could help by tweaking recording, working the tech department.

What do we get out of this? Experience and the chance to listen to other works and perhaps have the chance to shape your music during those Skype rehearsals.

I probably wont be able to cover all the pros and cons to this, but I'll be brief and leave you all to add reasons why and why not this could be a good idea-

One problem I see is finding a good time for every singer to do these rehearsals and then the performance. And potential connection problems.

Despite this however, if we're successful it could be incredible- probably not one of my pieces, but somebody else who's a complete genius and masterpiece maker!

I would suggest in order for it to work, we'll need one conductor/MD (obviously), perhaps 2-4 on each section (maybe more depending on how large-scale the piece is, chamber or full), a tech guy to record the skype call... Maybe even an accompanist?

Thoughts?
 

Sounds like you're aiming at a live version of Virtual Choir? Not sure if that could work out, what with the lagging and all. Unless, of course, someone wrote a piece to capitalize on that problem.

IMSLP had a similar approach a while back to Virtual Choir, where they recorded separate instrumental parts over a rendered harpsichord continuo, and then someone mixed all the audio together later. Audio is much easier to edit when not connected to video, and is a bit more accessible for recording purposes.

Chamber works would probably work best for this, as it seems 4 people could likely mesh together fairly well, but a larger ensemble may not stay together while recorded separately to a track. Obviously, blending nearly goes out the window.

I'd be up for trying something, though! Good to have music in the 21st Century.

Yeah, I've thought about this too, but I can't get past the delay factor.  And it's so hard to record against a click track and get anything musical.  But there are plenty of bands these days that manage to record high quality albums with people on different coasts and different continents.  How the heck do they manage it?

the idea just came to my mind 

I didn't know Eric Whitacre was a member on YC

I didn't know Eric Whitacre was a member on YC

I just thought it'd be a good idea to actually hear some of these choral pieces rather than just midi sounds, without having to pay fees to get them heard or have them sung by choirs which may not posses the 'correct' sound for them.

I tried something similar before, you'd need a crazy amount of time and equipment to edit everyone's audio together, unless you have a lot of money, a large tech team behind you, and lots of patience, it just won't work.