I have been thinking about recording some of my solo pieces and posting on YouTube but really don't know how to get started. I don't really need professional level video but I don't want to have a poor presentation either. What do you guys use or know about that might help me. As always budget is an issue, if I could just get a good webcam that would do the trick for $100 that would be fine.

Some basic questions I have are:

Webcam vs camcorder, is a webcam good enough, it's certainly cheap.

I want to use my current audio recording setup, I do care about the quality of the audio more than the video. Is syncing audio and video all that much work. From searching around it sounds difficult and time consuming.

A cheap but reasonably flexible program is the Magix one, I've used it for several projects in preference to Adobe Premiere and Elements (I own them all.) I don't present Movie Edit Pro as a perfect program, but it worked best for me among those I listed, and it was really easy to edit audio, video, and transitions.

You still need a way to get the stuff into the computer (a camera) and I've got no suggestions for the cheapest way, just because I seldom buy the cheapest answer, as I find it to be wasted money when I outgrow it.... usually rather quickly. Software is one thing, and discarding cheap software doesn't break my heart. But cheap hardware sits around ande looks acusingly at you from boxes and shelves, plotting the day when it will rise and get its revenge....

...but I digress...

Thanks for the advice Bill. I am starting to lean away from the webcam idea as I don't even know if I could run my audio and video software on my computer at the same time. I imagine there would be conflicts, as the audio interface (Lexicon Omega) has me dicsonnect the soundcard when using.

I had planned on using just the windows movie maker. The only video editing I would do is crop the front and end of the video. I would have the audio already edited before I imported it into movie maker. The video would just be a static view of me sitting there playing the guitar, no jumping around or special effects.

After studying all morning I have been thinking of a modest video camcorder. I don't need really high resolution and wouldn't need anymore than ten minutes of recording memory. There is a Kodak Zi6 or something similar that may do the trick. I really don't want to have to spend alot of time learning programs or downloading conversion software. I just want a good sound with a passable video.

I don't know what you use for audio editing, but a lot of the popular choices have a video window allowing you to see the video as you edit that audio for the video.

The Magix video software has multiple 'tracks' (like in an audio editing program) into which you can drop audio, video, transitions, photos,titles, and probably other stuff. Grab them and move them around, click on them to change various parameters.

I have, but have never used, windows movie maker.

I use Cubase which came with the Lexicon. The Windows Movie Maker seems to have the ability to drag and drop an audio file. There may be some learning curve issues. I probably ought to sit back and think for a few days rather than just jumping in.

I guess I could give you a lot of tips how to film, cut and edit. Problem is, I am a Mac guy and I would assume, that wouldn't help you much. Generally, I have used the built in webcam for several clips. It's easy and convenient. An Apple computer comes with awesome free software for music editing, film editing etc (iMovie, Garage Band) - but I don't know the PC freeware. Sorry, I wish I could contribute more.
Holger

Well this may not be as hard as I thought. I went and bought a Sony "Webbie HD" pocket recorder, about $200 with 8GB memory. A little more than I wanted to pay but better to spend a bit too much than too little, following Bill's advice. It's too late to do any real serious recording tonight but hopefully if it's quiet tomorrow I can put something simple down.

I think its going to be relatively easy to substitute an .mp3 or .wave file for the audio recorded by the camcorder. Windows Movie Maker lets you mute the track and insert another sound file. I experimented with one of the sample files and it didn't seem to hard. I just hope everything syncs up, but from what I've been reading, modern equipment has solved most of these types of timing related issues.

Of course the hard part is going to be getting a good performance as with the camera rolling you can't really edit mistakes out, not with only one camera at least. In just recording audio I have always allowed for a few edits and splices, looks like I have to learn to play it right with no mistakes now. I've been thinking about getting some stuff on YouTube for a couple of years, I am looking forward to this project.

Well,, you do it from one camera angle, then another, then another... I mean, with a 3 minute pop song, there goes a whole 9 minutes of your life... then you cut the three performances into one, making it look as if you used three cameras on the shoot.

Ah, I always assumed people just used multiple cameras, I didn't think of just moving the same camera and editing it all together. Looks like I might have to learn a little more about all the video edits as well. But at first I'll try some easier pieces and try and get a good take. That's what I love about the internet and forums, things that would have taken years of experience to learn you can get from someone in a few quick posts. Feel free to share any other tips.

Well here is a link to my first video, it wasn't all that hard after all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2bUjgrmgmo

I had the usual bad takes from planes, cars, and neighbors, but it didn't take very many tries to get a clean pass as it's not that difficult a tune. Finding a free converter for going from .mpeg4 to .wmv was a pain, the first 2 I tried didn't work right or at all. Syncing up the wave file was easy as you could see the original audio file as a visual cue, I just listened to them till they matched and then muted the one from the video recorder. I wished the sound played on YouTube was better, it loses some even from the published .mp3 file, the original wave file was quite good comparatively.

Holy Crap man!!!!! WOW!... just WOW!

Nicely done!!!!!!

I don't want to be too spammy but I have recorded some more videos, here is a link to one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETKq8IrV8xA

Its hard deciding whether to do a million takes or just accept a decent one and move on, I decided to just get good enough rather than perfect.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice. You picked some good material, too.

Mezzmerisssssssing =) another fine selection!

great stuff.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/devices/5867&cl=us,en

Whoa..gruppi...GREAT JOB!!!
On the playing, video and sound!

Randy

Ok now he's being way to modest, check out this piece he composed, absolutly Beautiful!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X74BuMppQY4

Yeah..that's my favorite from him so far.
He's even got the plant tastfully blocking the view of the mixer.
Not to mention...the decor is impeccable.

Geez...I've never even done a vid.
I couldn't imagine my first vid coming out anywhere near that good.

Randy

Thanks for the comments guys. Anyway as I said, the video part wasn't anywhere near as difficult as I imagined it would be, just little common sense about where I sat in regards to the natural light. Windows Movie Maker made the editing so easy, crop the front and back, and visually place the wave file to line up with the audio track graph.

Hehe, the decor isn't much, but I spent a few minutes rearranging things just so it wouldn't look too tacky. I see lots of solo guitar players on YouTube where they are sitting on thier dorm room bed and you can see underwear on the floor in the background. All I did was throw a sheet over the shelves behind me and move a plant into the picture. I don't know anything about photography or video composition, I'm still experimenting with the shot to get the best angle. Now if I could only get a model to play air guitar for me

Gruupi- I really like "RainPM". Nice piece, and well played. After several listenings, I was imagining what and how I might add if I played along, without messing it up or getting in the way; a sure sign of a good piece of music, when it makes you want to play along!

What's behind the title?

Nice playing Gruppi. You got an excellent tone too. You make me want to buy one of those little digital recorders you bought.

What kind of mic are you using?

Mics are 2 cheap large diaphram condensers into a bluetube preamp. The mics are an AKG perception 200 and an MXL V63M, they are relatively inexpensive, in the $200 range. I just wish I had a good room. Every recording I have ever made has a kind of hollowish as if played in a big can sound (it's not the reverb). I have been reading up and it seems that low hard ceilings may be the culprit for this, I am considering hanging a blanket or some other diffuser to maybe help with this. Obviously in an apartment I can't really do too many radical alterations.

Great job Gruupi...all of the youtube's were nicely done and well worth listening to...

Setting up on a plush area rug can counteract the ceiling to an extent. Blankets hung just off camera can soak up a bit of room tone also, although you don't want to get too dead. You could maybe sneak the mics in a bit closer & still be out of frame.
Anyway, very nice playing. Love the original tune. Done very well & very watchable. Keep up the good work.

Scott Fraser

Some more video spam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BpCettFw4E

Well I tried hanging a knit blanket from the ceiling and that seemed to alleviate the worst of the hollow ringing sound I have gotten on just about all my recordings. I don't know if it will be all that noticable on YouTube but the sound isn't quite as annoying as before.

As YouTube videos go, your sound is great and your video is likewise...all clear...have watched and heard many vidos and you have no worries..but...I understand your wanting for perfection or at least some better quality...sometimes you just have to admit that a living room is not a studio...so...have it professionally done and skip the low budget concept...you are definately good enough and the power of YouTube will be your initial 1st impression exposure...so make it pro and make it powerful on future posts...who knows? you might get picked up to play with someone of the higer ilk, or you may be contacted to start your own classical guitar training tapes, etc....the point is, you may be discovered on Youtube so go beyond the norm...not saying that you're not already there...good luck to you, Larryz

Spamalot. Shameless self promotion.
A new piece I have written in memory of my aunt who passed away earlier this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_ggM6U_ZQ

Thanks for the kind words Larryz. As far as self recording verses professional studio, well its not as easy as it seems. I got into recording as a direct result from bad experiences in so called professional studios. Quite a few commercial studios aren't really that great, especially some of the lower cost ones that most amateur musicians would go too.

Studios may have great equipment and even a good room, but they aren't in the course of a few hours always going to be able to get the sound you are looking for. Plus there is always the performance anxiety issues involved when you are on the clock. Even though it is a big learning curve, time spent learning to record will help you in everything else you do musically. Your ear becomes more discerning when you go through this process.

So all I can say is that I am much happier with the results I have gotten since I started doing it myself compared to the earlier recordings in "real" studios. The main thing is unlimited time verses a few hours in getting a good performance and sound. It sure is nice that we at have access to equipment that is better than some of the best stuff from the 60's and 70's. For about a grand, you can get a pretty decent setup, maybe a bit more for mics and monitoring if you were recording a full band.

Gruupi - this last one is my favorite... I cried just a little...

Man... That last one takes the Cake!!!!!!!! Subtle, Sweet and just devine!

Thanks again for the kind remarks.

Well I am still having fun, and it's getting easier at least from a setup standpoint. This one went a lot quicker than the last one as it was relatively quiet today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxEhaTm3ifM

I am going to try to do one a week till I get bored, frustrated, or run out of tunes hehe.

Hey that sounds really nice. Great job on both the audio and video quality, and of course the playing is wonderful.

I am looking at doing what you did, record with a camera and record my guitar with my recording setup, then just sync them up in iMovie. Probably a much better result than trying to the video and audio via the camera.


Anton