In September, I will start taking online piano lessons.
Here on the forum, this solution had been strongly discouraged, and I am perfectly aware of the limitations of such a form of teaching.
However, I prefer to at least try because the alternative - classical lessons - is not feasible due to covid (given my personality, I wouldn't be able to spend an hour next to a stranger). And so, rather than being stuck for who knows how many months, I have taken action to find a good teacher who can teach me a little something through a PC monitor. I am evaluating a couple of alternatives.
In both cases, I have been told that the lessons will be via Skype.
Regarding video, I have solved it with a medium-quality webcam. I do not consider professional quality indispensable (perhaps spending 250 euros on a Logitech Brio), also because there is the bottleneck of the internet connection anyway.
Alternatively, I could use my smartphone (Note 8), the GoPro Hero 8, or my DSLR (a Nikon D7000) as a webcam. But it's complicated: an acquisition card is needed and compatibility must be verified (for example, with the Elgato Cam Link 4K, my DSLR would not work).
And then, maybe, in the end, it turns out that due to the connection, the video call quality is the same as that obtained with a simple webcam.
Instead, browsing the web, I learned that there are software programs to transmit the stream from two or more webcams over Skype. Therefore, a second webcam (for a different angle) could be useful if the teacher requests it.
As for audio, the goal is to transmit my voice and the sound of my digital piano. The integrated microphone in the notebook is completely inadequate for a piano lesson. But I also cannot think of purchasing a professional microphone. Also because, I repeat, there is the uncertainty of the connection which could render everything useless. I live in the countryside and still have a 7 Mbps connection...
I have informed myself about the various types of microphones (dynamic and condenser), but it is not clear to me what might be an acceptable solution, also considering the frequency range of the piano, sound directionality... etc.
Some entry-level microphones (Chinese):
USB Mic 1
USB Mic 2
Omnidirectional desktop mic
FIFINE mic
TONOR mic
I would like to have an opinion to understand if they might suffice for my needs or if it is worth going for higher-performance solutions:
Zoom H2N
RODE NT-USB mini
IK MULTIMEDIA iRig Mic Studio Black
Audio Technica AT 2020 usb+
Elgato Wave 3
RODE NT USB
Blue Yeti usb
The latter, in particular, is a condenser microphone that allows setting various patterns.
Obviously, semi-professional solutions exist. Microphones with XLR connections. But those would require an audio interface (or a mixer, I don't know...).
I wouldn't want to invest a large sum, but I am willing to spend what is necessary.
However, I think that if I have to spend perhaps 180 euros to buy a Rode NT USB, I would perhaps prefer to make an effort now and get the NT 1-A (...maybe in a few years I will buy a coda [sic - likely meant 'condenser' or similar] and won't have to spend again to obtain good recording sound).
Ultimately, I would like to have a general idea of the necessary target to provide the teacher with decent audio.
Thank you
