Set up your PC

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Here are some details on the equipment and software you need to get started. The specific recommendations are only provided for guidance and are based on personal experience and user ratings on Amazon.com.  

• Personal Computer (PC) – minimum specifications: Pentium 4, 1 Ghz CPU, 500 Mb RAM. High resolution webcams will benefit from faster CPU and more RAM to process the video
  
• Broadband Internet connection - 512 Mb or higher (i.e., DSL, Cablemodem, FIOS)
  
• PC speakers (good quality) or headset. The JBL Duet (picture on right)
  are portable, reasonably priced, and compact for laptops, but there are many others based on your budget.
  
   
• Webcam, minimum 640 x 480 (VGA) video resolution, preferably 1.3 MP or higher. For instrumental lessons, webcam should support VGA resolution at 30 fps (frames per second) to avoid blurred motion. Do not confuse video with photo resolution - photo resolution will be much higher.
• We recommend the following webcams, based on your budget.
  • Best - Logitech Orbit AF - 2MP, ultra wide-angle lens, 9" stand & motorized tracking
  • Better - Logitech C600 - 2 MP, glass lens (picture on right)
  • Good - Logitech C500 - 1.3 MP, glass lens
    
• Microphone* – usually integrated into webcam, or integrated with headset (vocal students only)
  
• Skype software and account, available at www.skype.com/download

      *Direct USB-wired headsets and microphones seem to work better than wireless or Bluetooth models. However, you are free to experiment if you desire.