Help with Youtube/recording please

[FishDub]

As you all see regularly, people on youtube post videos playing to a certain song, be it a cover or just sound samples. They always have their headphones on and the song that is played to sounds crystal clear through youtube...and so does their bass. My question is how do you all accomplish this? I would like to try but I am completely clueless on how to start. The only equipment I have are my basses and my GK combo, which has aux in/headphone jacks. Currently I play through my headphones with an Ipad/IPhone/ but have a laptop as well. I would like to keep cost low since it would be something I am trying at first. If someone could take the time to assist on this I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks

 

[azfatboy]

A lot of those guys will actually describe their setup in the notes below the video. But chances are they are just using a decent audio interface to get the sound directly into the computer via USB. Focusrite and Presonus are two of the most popular. I have the Behringer UMC404HD and get excellent results.

The audio interface has XLR and/or 1/4" (or combo) jacks that you just plug your instrument or mic or whatever into. The interface is connected to the laptop via USB, and software running on the laptop (DAW software like Tracktion, Garage Band, Studio One, Reaper) is used to record the incoming signal.

 

[bholder]

A lot of those guys will actually describe their setup in the notes below the video. But chances are they are just using a decent audio interface to get the sound directly into the computer via USB. Focusrite and Presonus are two of the most popular. I have the Behringer UMC404HD and get excellent results.

The audio interface has XLR and/or 1/4" (or combo) jacks that you just plug your instrument or mic or whatever into. The interface is connected to the laptop via USB, and software running on the laptop (DAW software like Tracktion, Garage Band, Studio One, Reaper) is used to record the incoming signal.

That's what I was wondering about - good recording mics into my Focusrite, record audio straight into the laptop, but then run the audio outs from the Scarlett back to the camera so there's at least some sound on the video. Must be a way to synch up afterwards?

 

[azfatboy]

That's a whole 'nother issue. Video editing is beyond the scope of my response...

But I would *not* feed it back to your camera. I would record the video normally, and the audio track separate, then import both the video and audio into your video editor, and replace the audio from the camera with the audio track from your interface. Sync the new audio track to the video and bob's yer uncle.

 

[Bassbeater]

Reaper handles basic video.
i think you need a basic camera with audio inputs. Then a simple 2-4 channel mixer. You can mix your bass signal with the reference track patched into a stereo input on the mixer and record the stereo mixer out bus to the camera input. then you just import the resuliting video file to your computer with a data transfer cable.
The other option would be to use a DAW like reaper. import the reference track in a project file. Record a video of your playing at the same time you are recording the audio into reaper on a second track. Next import the video file to your computer and into reaper with a data cable and sync it up to the two existing tracks. Syncing won't be that tough if it's the same take as the audio recording, you just have to nudge the tracks to fit with the video.

 

[Nephilymbass]

As you all see regularly, people on youtube post videos playing to a certain song, be it a cover or just sound samples. They always have their headphones on and the song that is played to sounds crystal clear through youtube...and so does their bass. My question is how do you all accomplish this? I would like to try but I am completely clueless on how to start. The only equipment I have are my basses and my GK combo, which has aux in/headphone jacks. Currently I play through my headphones with an Ipad/IPhone/ but have a laptop as well. I would like to keep cost low since it would be something I am trying at first. If someone could take the time to assist on this I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks

Not an expert on the subject but from what I gather there’s a bunch of different ways to make them. Some people record bass direct through a usb interface into a computer. Some use recorders like the zoom h4n pro or the newer H6. Video can be done with a wide range of cameras but the general concensus seems to be it doesn’t have to be super high quality for YouTube and social media because they’ll limit the quality anyways and most cameras battery life is severely reduced when shooting at like 4K but you also want to avoid it looking so bad that every comment you get is people trolling with comments like “filmed with a potato”. Seems like the newer action cameras like the latest go pro 6 and less expensive dslr cameras are a good range for this. Audio and video can be combined in a DAW like Reaper or pro tools if you already have them or you can take the audio and video and combine them in video editing software like final cut for example.

Also I would recommend using audio of the song with the original bass removed as the backing track. That way you aren’t playing bass overtop of bass because any minor inconsistencies are much more obvious if the original bass is there. This is something I’ve seen be an issue on a bunch of them. You’ll also get a weird chorusing effect if the your basses tuning or intonation is even slightly off. You can find music online with the bass removed fairly easily. For example.

 

[Badwater]

One way to get the results you seek is to send a message to the people on YouTube. And ask for the specifics of their recording set up.

I don't post myself playing cover tunes on the YouTube. But, if I had to I would use a computer interface with DAW and record the play along to the cover tune or original while recording with 2 video cameras for 2 view angles. One track in the DAW would have the song, and the other recording my bass track. And, I would also use headphones to monitor the song while playing.

 

[Droopy_TX]

I would use a computer interface with DAW and record the play along to the cover tune or original while recording with 2 video cameras for 2 view angles. One track in the DAW would have the song, and the other recording my bass track. And, I would also use headphones to monitor the song while playing.

^^^This is what I do.

In the DAW, I have a mix-down the song on one track; then, I record my bass to a second track. For a "video audition" using cover audio, I usually run a high-pass filter on the audio track to roll off some of its bottom end so my bass merges better. Then I mix the two tracks to taste to a stereo mix-down.

I shoot the video using my iPhone. For an audition video, usually just one camera; but, if you have them, you could use multiple cameras. I DO shoot with audio ON in the room, so the cameras pick it up; even if I am using headphones to monitor.

To piece it together, I use Final Cut Pro (Mac only). It's not cheap ($300 USD), but it makes it a snap to do. All you do is import the 2-track mix, and the video(s) into FCP. Select them all and tell FCP to create a "synchronized clip"; or, a "multicam clip" if you have multiple cams. It uses the audio from each of the media files to create a synchronized compound clip. (This is why you DO want to capture the audio on the cameras.) Once that's created, you edit the components of synchronized clip to mute the audio on everything but the 2-track audio file.

At that point, it all simply standard video editing.

Here's an example video.


Note: This is a single cam shoot. The pan and zoom cuts in the video are just panning and zooming on areas of the original shot.

Also: Yes, YouTube did detect the copyrighted material. I asserted a fair use claim as it's only for auditioning purposes, and I highly doubt anyone is looking to profit from a copy of Chris Stapleton's music with my bass. Mercury Nashville let it stand with the stipulation that they reserve the right to monetize my video. Seems a fair exchange.