Best Way to Record a Video Inexpensively, but with decent quality

[N. Kentucky Bass]

See this thread for detailed instructions, screen shots and video samples:

"How to Create a Budget-Minded Quality Music Video for YouTube"

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/how...nded-quality-music-video-for-youtube.1084853/

 

[FunkySpoo]

Making the assumption, and it's a big one, that you are all mic'ed up to a FOH system, the least expensive way I can think of is to simply send your tape outputs to a USB audio interface and in turn to a PC with audacity. About $30.00 for a Behringer U-Control interface, and maybe $10.00 for a pair of RCA / RCA dual male patch cables.

Again, this assumes you are already mic'ed up and everything is going through a FOH setup, and you have a laptop you can use...

Syncing the audio to the video tracks is far easier if there is something distinct in the audio track recorded, and the video you are shooting to key against. The specifics on how to sync them will vary on your video software, but assuming you know what you are doing with that it is pretty easy...

I hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in with a stupid question. Dave, I'm trying to find a way to make higher quality audio (no video) recordings of our rehearsals. I have the Zoom H4n but it still just sounds like a mic in the room. I can mic everything and go to our board. Out board doesn't have a way to go directly to my MacBook though. I'm getting from your post that if I put an audio interface between the board and the MacBook I should be able to record to Audacity, which I have. Am I thinking correctly?

Thanks

 

[Big Hoss]

I hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in with a stupid question. Dave, I'm trying to find a way to make higher quality audio (no video) recordings of our rehearsals. I have the Zoom H4n but it still just sounds like a mic in the room. I can mic everything and go to our board. Out board doesn't have a way to go directly to my MacBook though. I'm getting from your post that if I put an audio interface between the board and the MacBook I should be able to record to Audacity, which I have. Am I thinking correctly?

Thanks

Yeah, if you can go into a mixer, then go from the mixer to an audio interface into the Mac... Depends on the mixers available outputs, mine uses RCA in / out to tape, so I use the tape in out ports to my UControl interface. Some folks record directly by going RCA to 3.5mm mic in, and RCA to 3.5mm headphone out. Out put of mixer to input of computer or interface, input of mixer to output of computer or interface.

The majority of folks I read about going cable direct to mic / phones jacks are Mac users.

While the interface isn't required, at least on a PC, the recording quality is hugely improved. Most PC sound controllers aren't really well suited to recording. A Macintosh might be better outfitted. I can't really say since I am not a Mac guy...

No matter what you do, you are going to get either ambient effects from the surrounding environment. Too "live", too "dead". Polyphonic sound compounds the issue. Being careful with the amount of mic gain you use can limit that quite a bit, but again, might sound dead. Get it into the mixer, and play around with those knobs until the sound in your phones / monitors is what you want and you will be good...

Because of my livelihood, I have a larger amount of computer equipment than your typical household in my recording space / studio / home office. This creates lots of complex shaped hard reflective surfaces that create an overly bright and loud recording environment. I drape a couple of movers blankets over my LAN rack, and power off my printer. (That sucker hums LOUD). I have a foam block / pillow thing cut to size to fit the window that a friend of my wife's sewed a cover for, that I simply jam into the window opening, Thus silences all but the loudest noises from outside / neighbors. (Does NOT shut out lawn mower / remodeling sounds less than 20ft away, but other that that, I am good).

I don't use any other baffles / sound management in my space as I don't want it to be too dead. I am just trying to get rid of neighbor noises, and that "talking in an empty room" sound...

 

[FunkySpoo]

Yeah, if you can go into a mixer, then go from the mixer to an audio interface into the Mac... Depends on the mixers available outputs, mine uses RCA in / out to tape, so I use the tape in out ports to my UControl interface. Some folks record directly by going RCA to 3.5mm mic in, and RCA to 3.5mm headphone out. Out put of mixer to input of computer or interface, input of mixer to output of computer or interface.

The majority of folks I read about going cable direct to mic / phones jacks are Mac users.

While the interface isn't required, at least on a PC, the recording quality is hugely improved. Most PC sound controllers aren't really well suited to recording. A Macintosh might be better outfitted. I can't really say since I am not a Mac guy...

No matter what you do, you are going to get either ambient effects from the surrounding environment. Too "live", too "dead". Polyphonic sound compounds the issue. Being careful with the amount of mic gain you use can limit that quite a bit, but again, might sound dead. Get it into the mixer, and play around with those knobs until the sound in your phones / monitors is what you want and you will be good...

Because of my livelihood, I have a larger amount of computer equipment than your typical household in my recording space / studio / home office. This creates lots of complex shaped hard reflective surfaces that create an overly bright and loud recording environment. I drape a couple of movers blankets over my LAN rack, and power off my printer. (That sucker hums LOUD). I have a foam block / pillow thing cut to size to fit the window that a friend of my wife's sewed a cover for, that I simply jam into the window opening, Thus silences all but the loudest noises from outside / neighbors. (Does NOT shut out lawn mower / remodeling sounds less than 20ft away, but other that that, I am good).

I don't use any other baffles / sound management in my space as I don't want it to be too dead. I am just trying to get rid of neighbor noises, and that "talking in an empty room" sound...

That sounds like the way to go. I know I'll get bleed over from instrument to instrument, 9 piece R&B/Soul band, but I think the overall sound will be better. So just to make sure: mix everything so it sounds good in the headphones then send that mix to the Mac and record with Audacity or some other app. Suggestions on a good interface? I know you mentioned the Beringer but would there be a noticeable improvement with higher end interfaces? Focusrite, tascam, presonus?

Thanks again, you've been very helpful

 

[FunkySpoo]

BTW I went to high school with a Dave Hostetler. Gaithersburg, Maryland class of 79?

 

[Big Hoss]

Corvallis Oregon, Class of '87... However out east in Amish country my family name is like Smith elsewhere...

 

[Big Hoss]

That sounds like the way to go. I know I'll get bleed over from instrument to instrument, 9 piece R&B/Soul band, but I think the overall sound will be better. So just to make sure: mix everything so it sounds good in the headphones then send that mix to the Mac and record with Audacity or some other app. Suggestions on a good interface? I know you mentioned the Beringer but would there be a noticeable improvement with higher end interfaces? Focusrite, tascam, presonus?

Thanks again, you've been very helpful

The Behringer U-Control audio interfaces are a different beast from the Tascam, Presonus, etc... audio interfaces. The Behringer is taking a stereo analog line level signal via RCA left and right channel inputs from your mixer, and of course back from the interface TO the mixer... The Presonus, Tascam, M-Audio etc... are more direct input devices, Bypassing the mixer all together and giving you fewer port options... HOWEVER, for example, the Tascam US-1800 I think it is gives you something like 8 XLR inputs. Don't know about phantom power on that...

I do not, repeat do NOT recommend anything computer related from M-Audio. That company has been bought sold, bought sold bought sold so many times it's like it's turning tricks... And you are lucky if product support is there for 2 years. So unless you want to replace your recording interface in the next 2 years, bypass them...

I have no complaints with my Behringer U-Control interfaces with one notable exception. Aside from the color of the housing, and the model designation, there is really no functional difference between the UCA200, UCA202, and UCA222... I have a 200 and a 222. They use the same driver, same controls, sound quality is the same, chipset internally is the same... Simply looks like marketing upgrades...

The U-Control can really be thought of as a designed for recording USB external sound card. It has no features to add, or remove any coloration from the audio signal. What goes in is what comes out, for good, or bad...

 

[delta7fred]

I hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in with a stupid question. Dave, I'm trying to find a way to make higher quality audio (no video) recordings of our rehearsals. I have the Zoom H4n but it still just sounds like a mic in the room. I can mic everything and go to our board. Out board doesn't have a way to go directly to my MacBook though. I'm getting from your post that if I put an audio interface between the board and the MacBook I should be able to record to Audacity, which I have. Am I thinking correctly?

Thanks

I record all rehearsals with a hand held recorder (Tascam DR-40). Like you say it still sounds like a mic in a room mainly because the drums (snare in particular) transients are quite high (IMO, YMMV of course). This also limits what level you can use before the recorder clip light flashes. I don't worry about the occasional flash because the DR-40 does not digitally clip, it just limits the signal by chopping the top off. I try and place a sound absorbing barrier between the recorder and the drum kit. I stop and restart recording after 2 or 3 songs so that the audio loads faster in the editor.

On my PC I use Audacity to cut the songs out of the chatter and one at a time paste into a new window. I normalize the track (effects/normalize) if there is no clipping to get a consistent level then apply compression (effects/compression). I played about with the shape until I found something I liked. I save them as wav files then use Sound Converter (Linux) to mp3 them and load them onto Dropbox for the rest of the band to listen to.

You do of course have to have the relative levels set correctly, it takes a few goes to get everything right. I usually try and get the vocals quite prominent, the bass fairly well up in the mix and the guitar less than you think it should be (certainly less than the guitarist thinks it should be). A few of my recorded tracks have made it onto Youtube despite the band policy that rehearsals are not for public consumption.

 

[FunkySpoo]

I record all rehearsals with a hand held recorder (Tascam DR-40). Like you say it still sounds like a mic in a room mainly because the drums (snare in particular) transients are quite high (IMO, YMMV of course). This also limits what level you can use before the recorder clip light flashes. I don't worry about the occasional flash because the DR-40 does not digitally clip, it just limits the signal by chopping the top off. I try and place a sound absorbing barrier between the recorder and the drum kit. I stop and restart recording after 2 or 3 songs so that the audio loads faster in the editor.

On my PC I use Audacity to cut the songs out of the chatter and one at a time paste into a new window. I normalize the track (effects/normalize) if there is no clipping to get a consistent level then apply compression (effects/compression). I played about with the shape until I found something I liked. I save them as wav files then use Sound Converter (Linux) to mp3 them and load them onto Dropbox for the rest of the band to listen to.

You do of course have to have the relative levels set correctly, it takes a few goes to get everything right. I usually try and get the vocals quite prominent, the bass fairly well up in the mix and the guitar less than you think it should be (certainly less than the guitarist thinks it should be). A few of my recorded tracks have made it onto Youtube despite the band policy that rehearsals are not for public consumption.

That's pretty much what I've been doing except no baffling between drums and mic. I set my input levels on the H4n so there's no clipping and I just let it record the whole rehearsal as one long recording then use the selection tool for each song, add a little reverb and compression then save each song. I've never used NORMALIZE. I try that next time.
Thanks for all the help Dave and delta. Off to my local Guitar Center to get a U-Control.

 

[delta7fred]

That's pretty much what I've been doing except no baffling between drums and mic. I set my input levels on the H4n so there's no clipping and I just let it record the whole rehearsal as one long recording then use the selection tool for each song, add a little reverb and compression then save each song. I've never used NORMALIZE. I try that next time.
Thanks for all the help Dave and delta. Off to my local Guitar Center to get a U-Control.

I never thought about adding reverb, I must give it a try and see if they notice the difference.

 

[Big Hoss]

Here's a thought, you want inexpensive?

My camcorder is old. As in 2006 SD but at least it records to a hard drive instead of tapes old... As in my smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy S4, takes WAY better video and photos than my old upper mid range equipment...

I took to replacing my digital camera with the smart phone a while back as the photos are actually quite good. Not current model DSLR good, but a heck of a lot better than 8 year + old DSLR technology does!

First things first, I had to grab or fab up an adapter to hold my phone to the tripod for tripod work.

Yes it's a junk tripod, but it works a LOT better than you might expect, and I have a high end tripod standing ready. I just don't want to experiment with it...

Next, how to get good audio into the phone, because, well let's face it, I don't want my videos to sound like a speakerphone call...

A lavalier microphone is called for!

But I don't want to be tethered to the phone to get my audio into it. What is a guy with financial concerns going to do about that?

Let's face it, not too many manufacturers build wireless lavalier systems for smart phones. That TRRS connector seems to trip them up...

Well, some digging around the cheap son of a gun's howto emporium and I found guys were using a particular cheap wireless Lavalier mic with great success. A $12.00 Pyle PDWM96 wireless lavalier mic. It works well enough for my purposes which in this case is mostly podcasting. I'm not recording singing or instruments with a lavalier mic, although I could in theory use an adapted dynamic mic with it, but that is another story all together...

Problem is, the Pyle has a 1/4" phone plug, and my phone uses 3.5mm trrs plug. I need to adapt one to the other...

Some thinking, some reading on specs, and a trip to Amazon for supplies and about 30 minutes in the garage and I whipped up an adapter to beat all Rube Goldberg adapters!

I have tested it, and it works. record level is a bit high, but I can adjust it...

Total for the wireless lavalier system, and all the parts to fab up my stunningly not quite so beautiful adapter?
$20.00

I would happily swap out the project box for a smaller one if I could find one... And preferrably in black...

 

[PauFerro]

Now you guys have me interested in how to create my own video. I came up with my own solution, however. I found a professional videographer who is coming out to do it for me at a reasonable rate.

We will put eight microphones on the drums into a Mackie mixer, and then send a signal out to my own mixer. All other instruments will go into my mixer as well. Then, a direct line will go out from my mixer to the videographer's equipment. He will also be capturing ambient sound from the PA speakers as well.

He will have three cameras set up as well as a roving camera he calls the "action camera".

I am going to learn from this experience, and eventually, learn to do this myself.

We are all looking forward to it in the various groups I perform with.