Creating Professional A/V on a Budget

At Noteworthy Philadelphia, we’ve spent years refining how we record high-quality audio and video—without massive budgets or a professional studio, and without sacrificing artistic integrity.

We’ve worked through every recording challenge imaginable—from mic placement mishaps to poor syncing in video edits, from bad background noise to phone limitations when playing and recording simultaneously. Now, we’re sharing what we’ve learned so that any musician, vocal group, or indie artist can create engaging, high-quality music videos without a massive production budget.

Why We Record This Way

A cappella, especially studio-style a cappella recordings, doesn’t work the same way as a live performance recording. It’s not about capturing a one-shot live take—it’s about layering vocals, refining sound, and building an experience through musical storytelling.

That’s why we:

Record audio separately from video to ensure the best sound quality
Mix and master tracks before filming so performances look and sound polished
Tell stories in our videos—not just standing and singing, but create compelling narratives
Work efficiently with remote audio engineers and student videographers to keep costs down

Thinking about trying to do the same? Here’s how.

How to Record Great Audio

1. Set Yourself Up for a Clean Recording

Use headphones when recording audio. Do not play the track out loud—it will bleed into your recording.
Find a quiet space. No fans, AC hums, pets, or roommates talking in the background.
If reading sheet music or lyrics on a screen, scroll carefully. Click once and hold your mouse down while scrolling to prevent extra clicks in the audio..
However, if you’ve got paper resources in hand, be sure to flip your pages quietly.

2. Use the Right Tools (Even If They’re Free)

Audacity is an excellent free, open-source recording tool that’s easy to use.

A USB mic is ideal
If using your phone, place it on a steady surface—don’t hold it.
Avoid recording through headphones whenever possible unless you know your headphone mic is the best quality you have.
You need headphones to hear the your music track; however, use only one earbud or position your headphones over just one ear so you can hear yourself naturally—this helps with pitch accuracy.

3. Different Ways We Sync and Record

Sometimes we play our sheet music arrangements in Sibelius or other composition software and record vocals on a separate device.
If we just need guide vocals, we play our part MIDI MP3s exports while recording, making sure sound stays in our ears, not creeping over into the mic.
Always test record and listen back before doing a full take—small noises like page turns or mouse clicks can sneak in.

4. Label Your Files Correctly (So Your Editor Doesn’t Hate You)

✅ Good File Names:

Jamie - Unholy - Baritone.mp3
Jamie - Unholy - Baritone - Best Take.mp3
Jamie - Unholy - Baritone - Sections C-D.mp3

❌ Bad File Names:

audio1.mp3 (Who is this? What song? What part?)
finalfinalfinal.mp3 (We know it’s not the final take.)
IMG_203948.MP3 (Looks like a phone default—impossible to sort.)

5. Review Before Submitting

Before uploading, sending, or submitting your audio, ask:

Can I hear only my voice with no background noise? ✅
Did I follow the arrangement with no rhythm mistakes? ✅
Does my file name make sense to someone who isn’t me? ✅

If yes, you’re good to go.

How to Film Engaging Music Videos (Without a Live Performance Setup)

Music videos don’t have to be live recordings to be compelling. Instead of focusing on capturing a perfect one-shot performance, we use narrative and storytelling to create visually engaging content.

1. Play Your Mixed & Mastered Audio While Filming

Your video should sync with the final, polished audio.
Unlike when recording audio, play the fully edited track out loud when recording a video while lip-syncing for perfect timing.

2. Use Two Devices

Issue: Most phones won’t let you play audio while recording video.
Solution: Use one device to play the track and a separate device to record video.

3. Frame Yourself Correctly

If it fits the style of your video, be centered in the shot. No awkward half-cropped heads.
Follow the portrait or landscape orientation requested (default: landscape unless you’re considering this just for Reels or TikTok).
Use a plain background unless the concept calls for something more dynamic. You don’t want busyness distracting people from you and your talent.

4. Light Yourself Well (Use Common Sense!)

Face the light—don’t stand with a window behind you.
If your face is in shadow, reposition your light source or move.
No need for fancy gear—a desk lamp or natural daylight works fine.

5. Keep Your Camera Steady

Tripod, phone stand, or flat surface. No shaky hands.
If filming handheld, rest your elbows on a table or stable surface.

Why This Works for Us & Where We’re Headed

We’ve learned how to balance budget-friendly methods with professional-level results.

Our videographer has been with us for years and understands how to bring out the best in our performances.
Our remote audio engineer gives us professional-quality sound while keeping our costs low.
By handling recording and filming in-house, we keep things efficient until we’re ready for bigger projects.

And that next big step? An EP.

We’re looking at recording an album, maybe even including original music.

If you’re a Philly-based songwriter who wants to collaborate—we’d love to hear from you. Noteworthy Philadelphia is a creative team that can help arrange, record, and bring your songs to life with a strong support system if you’re looking to join a vocal music organization.

Final Takeaways: Best Practices for DIY Audio & Video

Audio Recording Tips

✔️ Use Audacity (it’s free and powerful).
✔️ Headphones on, but keep one ear open for natural pitch control.
✔️ Test record before committing. Background noise ruins takes.
✔️ Scroll through digital sheet music carefully. Mouse clicks get picked up.
✔️ Label files correctly.

Video Recording Tips

✔️ Play your final mixed audio out loud while filming.
✔️ Use two devices (one for music playback, one for recording).
✔️ Frame yourself well. Keep the shot stable and well-lit.
✔️ No filters, no effects. Submit raw footage.

Budget-Friendly Music Production Tips

✔️ Maximize free resources (Audacity, composition software).
✔️ Work with an experienced team—even remotely.
✔️ Invest in sound quality first. Great audio matters more than flashy visuals.
✔️ Tell a story. You don’t need a live performance to make a great video.

Want to Create With Us?

Noteworthy Philadelphia is more than just a performance group. We’re a close community of artists who believe in making music accessible, collaborative, and professional-quality—even on a budget.

We’re actively looking for new members in or around Philly-particularly songwriters- who want to join a group that can provide arranging, recording, and performance support long-term to bring their original music to life.

Sound like you? Let’s make something great together.

Contact Noteworthy Philadelphia | Check Out Our Work