I’m now a two-timing Logitech webcam user with a long range panoramic capability and a close-up keyboard view that’s a mouse tap away. For trill and ornament demonstrations, I highlight the second LOGITECH option listed on my Preferences window and can easily switch back to the longer range image with another click. (first view) The FULL SCREEN option is recommended.
To add a second web cam to the mix, I downloaded the Manycam program to my iMac. (It’s FREE)
For Panorama: C910HD1080 (Place cam on end block of piano, high treble side)
Close-up below: C615HD1080 (clipped to a music stand to the left of me)
My Close-up cam sits on a music stand by specific marked placement. (You can see it in the first photo where I’ve activated the whole piano view)
I chose not to tripod the C615, even though it has a convenient mount because I needed the perfect height for my close-up angle and stacking books on a nearby wooden stool with a tripod atop was shaky. (The C615 has a flexible head that can rotate 360 degrees and comes with an adapter and 3 foot cable extension. I added another 72″ for more reach/flexibility)
The Overhead Keyboard View (I use a plastic photo frame to mount C615)
Here’s what the student sees, but with FULL SCREEN option:
For a pedal close-up, I activated the C615HD1080. It afforded an opportunity to graphically demonstrate legato pedaling. (You can see the student’s upright piano, and my pedal shown in the lower left box.) She had the full screen view of my foot on the pedal. We are working on “In the Church” by Tchaikovsky which requires sensitive, clear pedaling.
For sound clarity, the Yeti mic is my preference over the Mac’s internal mic, and it’s an option on SKYPE and FACETIME.
Here’s an adult student’s keyboard view beamed in from UK. She has the single panoramic perspective:
Having the two-cam option improves the quality of web-transmitted lessons, benefiting both student and teacher.
Ron