Getting started

So you have downloaded the app onto your device, and want to start making music!

There isn't any help within the app, but do not fear. I seem to have figured out the basics. You will be producing your first video in no time.

When you open the app you are presented with a screen like this:

There are two tabs at the top of the screen, and it starts off in the 'Select Layout' tab ready to create a new video. The other tab is called 'Video List' which shows all the videos you have made so far. As you are just beginning, that screen will be empty at present.

Since you have probably started off with the free version, your screen will look slightly different to mine, as many of the possible layouts are not available to you in this version. I think the ones you cannot use are greyed out. You can select any of the others, a grid of up to four tiles. Choose the one that matches how you want your video to be presented.

When you touch your chosen design the first thing it wants to know is how long your recording will be. You need to choose a time a little bit longer than you actually need, as it will stop recording when the time is reached. In the free version you can only choose times up to one minute, but if you have the full version the options look like this:

Choose your time, then you will see the 'Make Video' screen containing the grid pattern you selected earlier, like this:

Now you are nearly ready to start recording your first video, but first there is a decision to be made. As soon as you click on one of the tiles it will ask you this:

Since you are a beginner, we will stick to the easiest way to get a good quality recording on your first attempt, so select 'Yes' at this point. (To be honest I haven't yet fully explored what happens when you select 'No' except that it gave me problems the one time I tried it, so I need to do further investigation and report back in a more advanced tutorial!)

So assuming you have listened to my advice, and selected 'Yes', you will next see this screen:

Once again, I'm a relative novice myself (have been using this app for just a week!) but the only option I have used at this point is the second one. I think they are fairly self explanatory anyway.

Let me explain a little bit what we are actually trying to achieve here. When you record your videos, the most important thing is to get the timing right, so that when the sound from the different video tiles is mixed, it will be synchronised correctly. The best way to achieve this is to have a 'listening track', playing in your headphones when you record each of the videos, that will guide you on the tempo (speed), pitch of the notes,  and most importantly when to start singing (or playing).

 I have found that an easy and effective way of creating a listening track, is to count yourself in, then start singing the main melody. This (counting followed by singing the whole melody) is what you record now, after selecting 'Record an audio file now'. Remember this one is not a video, (so it doesn't matter how you look!), you are just laying down your listening track to help you with pitch and timing.

Once you have recorded your 'listening track', get your headphones ready, and you can start recording your videos!

Coming up next Recording your videos