Using Rec Options

[Ben Higgins]

Hi Guys

As an instructor it's really cool to see members using the REC function. For those of you who have recently joined GMC and are not sure of its function.. REC is a feature which is there for members to upload their versions of GMC lessons. For example, if I was learning this (one of my favourites, btw !) then I could go to REC, start a post and upload my video of me playing that lesson and get feedback and a grade from the instructors.

The whole point of REC is to encourage members to share their progress and get some constructive feedback that should help them focus on areas of technique that they may not have been aware of, so that it inspires an ongoing process of improvement and study.

A REC take doesn't have to be perfect.. and you don't have to wait until you've 100 % nailed a lesson before uploading either. Even if you don't 'pass' the grading poll, the feedback and constructive criticism is the valuable part of the process and it is that aspect that will be the most useful to you in your journey or improving on the guitar.... so I hope you guys will feel more inclined to just jump in and go for it !

Anyway, that's my perspective but it will be interesting to know what your thoughts are behind using REC .. do you feel like you have to pass the grade with a perfect take or is the process of submitting the take and getting constructive feedback the most important aspect ?

This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Jul 15 2011, 11:22 AM

[zen]

I used to like it. I'd only upload a take if I have a feeling that it will atleast 'pass'. If I have no clue, then I'd submit it.

Also, For me, It takes a LONG time to nail a lesson. And by that time, sadly, I'm so over the tune/melody that I move onto something else. This is mostly why I haven't been active in it. Other than that, the REC program encourages exact imitation, which I'm personally not a fan of. One should be allowed to put his/her own spin n feel on pieces (while maintaining the integrity of the tune and notes). Also, Good sound/tone seems to be a judging criteria but it doesn't apply to everyone. In the past, I have heard takes with horrible sounds get a perfect 10. I haven't followed that section in a while, so things may have changed now.

But i definitely recommend everyone to just participate. It can only benefit your playing.

[Daniel Realpe]

well, for me definitely the feedback is the most value you can get out of it.

You could even upload areas in which you have the most problems, that could even be more helpful in the end.

[Ben Higgins]

I used to like it. I'd only upload a take if I have a feeling that it will atleast 'pass'. If I have no clue, then I'd submit it.

Also, For me, It takes a LONG time to nail a lesson. And by that time, sadly, I'm so over the tune/melody that I move onto something else. This is mostly why I haven't been active in it. Other than that, the REC program encourages exact imitation, which I'm personally not a fan of. One should be allowed to put his/her own spin n feel on pieces (while maintaining the integrity of the tune and notes). Also, Good sound/tone seems to be a judging criteria but it doesn't apply to everyone. In the past, I have heard takes with horrible sounds get a perfect 10. I haven't followed that section in a while, so things may have changed now.

But i definitely recommend everyone to just participate. It can only benefit your playing.

I understand your view of not wanting to imitate and I think it's a view all us musicians share but for the purposes of learning techniques, it's a good way of being able to guage whether you've got the grasp of a technique or a particular way of phrasing or bending. If we view learning lessons as a way of honing and sharpening our tools that we need to have to express ourselves on the instrument then it goes beyond copying and it's more like being shown the way to our own path.

But yes, as you say, it can only benefit your progress

well, for me definitely the feedback is the most value you can get out of it.

You could even upload areas in which you have the most problems, that could even be more helpful in the end.

Yes, I agree... getting a 100% pass is a good ego boost but sometimes the take that doesn't pass is the most useful because that's the one we can learn from. So for that reason alone, it would be good to see the less confident members getting involved in REC too

[zen]

I understand your view of not wanting to imitate and I think it's a view all us musicians share but for the purposes of learning techniques, it's a good way of being able to guage whether you've got the grasp of a technique or a particular way of phrasing or bending. If we view learning lessons as a way of honing and sharpening our tools that we need to have to express ourselves on the instrument then it goes beyond copying and it's more like being shown the way to our own path.

But yes, as you say, it can only benefit your progress

I agree. One can get some good help on the technique.
I should probably start uploading some takes that i know are boderline pass/. .. i have a few of em.

[Ben Higgins]

I should probably start uploading some takes that i know are boderline pass/. .. i have a few of em.

Extreme Neoclassic is is then ?

[zen]

Extreme Neoclassic is is then ?

I nail that sucker in my dreams

[Ivan Milenkovic]

This is great topic, and zen made some good points from his point of view, I respect that. I think members can be helped a lot as far as their technique goes through the lessons. Yes, people learn the lessons, but they learn to play along the way. By letting someone know that he needs to work on vibrato or tone is a great way to point him in the right direction.

For author material or personal recordings/covers, there is upload section, which functions on the same principle (although there aren't any grades and site titules).

[thefireball]

I have to admit that I always go into it thinking about nailing it as much as possible. I have to agree with zen that I don't feel as though I can insert my own style into it - I feel obligated to imitate it as much as possible or I may not get a 10. However, I did one time get a 10 on a lesson. It's really kinda strange. Some lessons I cover I know have some imperfections in them - like missing harmonics - have gotten a 10, but other lessons that I thought were much closer only received an 8 or 9. Or perhaps I just don't know any better. I realize though that it's kind of a relative grading process. And of course, this is all my opinion. I still enjoy the REC program. It helps me know what I need to work on.

Timing, tightness, bending, and phrasing are among my techniques to work on.

[Shuma13]

Rec is one of the reasons I decided to join.

Although I have been playing for a while I have never taken a real lesson. Therefore I have many techniques issues. The Rec postings have been great for getting technique feedback, and highlighting (bends and vibrato, bends and vibrato, bends and vibrato ) what I need to work on. I am trying to do at least one a week.

I always want to nail the lesson, but I find that if I focus too much on that I waste a lot of takes. I am more interested in the overall feedback than a perfect grade at this point.

I can see how better players could get bored with the imitation factor of it, but I am a long ways away from there now.

[Gitarrero]

I like using rec and I will use it more often in the next weeks again.
I nailed 19 lessons so far, but I'm pretty sure I submitted just as many takes that didn't pass. It's always a huge disappointment when you don't pass, but the feedback I got for the failed takes was really important for me to do better next time.
So Ben, be prepared for some new videos you can grade

[skennington]

I think that fact of just recording yourself and having a place to go and see your previous recordings inspires and encourages growth as a player. When you look back on old lessons/recordings you can determine which way your going whether it forward or reverse in some cases.

The feedback from all of our awesome Instructors is a great bonus!

[GregH]

If I felt that I had the lesson down, then I would be tempted to send it in. But with some lessons I feel that I don’t need to be judged as much as perhaps, asking the instructor who wrote it to tell me what I am doing wrong. That would be worth more to me then something like “Nice try, work on your bending and vibrato, 5”. But perhaps that’s just me.
I have not submitted anything yet, and it feels like a big learning curve, trying to get the sound and video together on the computer and get the sound right. I would rather spend more time practicing then learning the intricacies of Audacity. On the other hand it is benefiting me just watching the videos that I have made, even if I say “that was bad” and promptly delete them.

[Shuma13]

If I felt that I had the lesson down, then I would be tempted to send it in. But with some lessons I feel that I don’t need to be judged as much as perhaps, asking the instructor who wrote it to tell me what I am doing wrong. That would be worth more to me then something like “Nice try, work on your bending and vibrato, 5”. But perhaps that’s just me.
I have not submitted anything yet, and it feels like a big learning curve, trying to get the sound and video together on the computer and get the sound right. I would rather spend more time practicing then learning the intricacies of Audacity. On the other hand it is benefiting me just watching the videos that I have made, even if I say “that was bad” and promptly delete them.

I was afraid of the whole recording, synching with video, etc, etc. Turns out it was really pretty easy, really less than an hour to complete my first one.

As was said above, just the process of recording yourself is eye-opening. I have had lots of things that sound one way to me while playing, but much different when recorded.

[moleman]

I like the rec system because I find it really good for my motivation. It is easier to practice a certain piece if I know I can get it checked and get feedback on my playing.
There are 2 lessons I'm slowly working on, but I will only upload them when I really think I will pass. It seems like I would be wasting people's time if I didn't upload my best.

When making a rec, does everyone record the track, then record themselves playing and join the 2 together?
In other words, are the video and audio actually separate recordings?

[Michael AC]

I watch a lot of the videos in there and read the comments instructors make. I think those are very valuable. Doing my first collab with Gabriel and his comments helped a lot. So I am working on getting my camera and video software so I can participate more in collab and now in rec.

The score is not important to me as the feedback as I know it is all constructive!

[zen]

When making a rec, does everyone record the track, then record themselves playing and join the 2 together?
In other words, are the video and audio actually separate recordings?

Not separate. They are the same take.

[Ben Higgins]

When making a rec, does everyone record the track, then record themselves playing and join the 2 together?
In other words, are the video and audio actually separate recordings?

There's 2 ways that it's usually done (on the videos I've seen).

1) is to use the camera's inbuilt mic to capture you playing along with the backing track at the same time as filming.

2) Capture the audio into audio software like Cubase, Reaper etc but still playing at the same time as filming. Then mix the audio and video together so you have the correct video image but with better audio.

Either way, you do play the take and film at the same time as Zen said

[zen]

Good luck to everyone .. I still struggle with the red button syndrome. I'm playin 100 times better till i press that dreadful record button..

[Fran]

Good luck to everyone .. I still struggle with the red button syndrome. I'm playin 100 times better till i press that dreadful record button..

100% agreed