If You Were Me...

[ZenG]

and you were doing the following, what would you use?

There are songs and tracks on YouTube and other sites so..

(a) have computer on so can get sound of tracks, music etc.

(b) Plug bass into mixer

(c) plug audio source from computer into mixer

(d) feed both back into computer(using mic input...and I believe on this computer it's mono input)

(e) use something like Logitech webcam and take a movie of self playing bass to audio source.

Tried external micing the computer tracks from small studio (although good) speakers....sucked in mix.
Tried external micing the bass and amp.......sucked.
Mics were fairly good quality.

Tried running direct (no amps) through a Behringer Xenyx 802.

Monitoring the sound from headphones on the 802 it sounds awesome.

But when using the the "Quick" movie function in Logitech it all goes to crap (and yes...I selected "front mic" option, NOT the webcam mic).

Half the time no sound...or it's barely audible....or I get bass but not tracks...

 

[DigitalMan]

Sounds like you need to start with a DAW program. I would take your audio source and import it as a file first. Play along with it while recording bass to a new track. Record video on an iphone or similar external device. Import video file to DAW. Align video file to audio. Set levels. Bounce to an output file.

Any DAW that supports at least one video file should work. Reaper, Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, etc.

Divide and conquer is better than doing everything at once.

 

[EastCoastThump]

Yes, I'd also use a DAW and an audio interface. I'd save the Youtube (or whatever.com) tracks to audio-only, in a format compatible with whatever DAW you're using. (Apps are available for this, w/ specifics depending on your OS.) Import the Youtube audio tracks into one stereo track of your DAW. Then play/record bass into your DAW using the audio interface. Bass and source Youtube audio stay on their separate tracks—allowing you to edit, process, & mix as desired.

If you were on a Mac, Garageband would be the obvious first choice, since you'd probably already have it. Although I'm gathering that you're not using a Mac, the principles are the same.

 

[ZenG]

Yes...looks like that's the route to go...

I tried running the mix (bass and YouTube tracks) into "Line in" on the back of the comp instead instead of "Mic in" on the front.(From the Xenyx 802).

Was quite a bit better..but still can't get any decent playback volume from the Logitech video using the computer volume button. (Although I can using the "control" button on the 802 when playing back......but that doesn't do me much good when I'm viewing the vid solo).

(Recording at fairly high levels).

A/C transformer power source is about 3 inches away from the mixer. Don't know if that makes any difference. Seems like I get the "record" level to a certain point and then all hell breaks loose in the way
of some kind of horrible distortion/noise.

Maybe the whole thing is an impedance issue.

Looks like there may be a Focusrite in my immediate future.....How's "Reaper" for a software choice?

 

[DigitalMan]

Yes...looks like that's the route to go...

I tried running the mix (bass and YouTube tracks) into "Line in" on the back of the comp instead instead of "Mic in" on the front.(From the Xenyx 802).

Was quite a bit better..but still can't get any decent playback volume from the Logitech video using the computer volume button. (Although I can using the "control" button on the 802 when playing back......but that doesn't do me much good when I'm viewing the vid solo).

(Recording at fairly high levels).

A/C transformer power source is about 3 inches away from the mixer. Don't know if that makes any difference. Seems like I get the "record" level to a certain point and then all hell breaks loose in the way
of some kind of horrible distortion/noise.

Maybe the whole thing is an impedance issue.

Looks like there may be a Focusrite in my immediate future.....How's "Reaper" for a software choice?

Reaper gets a lot of love around here. I don't personally use it but I haven't heard an unkind word spoken about it. You can't beat the price.

For what you are looking to accomplish I think any DAW will do, or even the light version of a commercial product. Give reaper a try, and/or whatever freeware gets thrown in with the audio interface you choose. Most audio interfaces have a light version of a DAW bundled.

BTW - I am also a Focusrite fan. I would recommend something like a 2nd gen 2i2 as a good quality price/value for tracking bass in a home/casual setting.

 

[Ulf_Hansson]

Reaper or, my favourite, Tracktion. But whatever SW you chose you still need to have some basic know how of the levels expected at different points of signal chain (what those in the know call gain staging). A proper recording interface helps by providing better headroom and pads/gain controls at the right places. But there's still a lot that may go wrong...

 

[whatizitman]

You are trying to record and/or film yourself playing along with music from the internet, right? First and foremost, don't route the output from the computer soundcard (or whatever device you are using) back into computer to play and/ore record. That's a recipe for bad badness. That, and don't use the webcam. There are FAR better options (see below).

There are ways to do this using software, without rerouting the signal. You should either save the song to your computer, and import it to your DAW as a track, or have your DAW "record" the file as it streams, and you playing along with it. Audacity can do either no problem, even video sound. There is also video "capture" software that you can use to record whatever is happening on your screen, such as youtube and whatever is happening in your daw, including your mouse clicks. Audacity or Reaper can't do that. But there are video editing software suites that can.

The easiest and cheapest way IMO would be to either, as another said, film yourself with a camera/phone/ipad as you play along with the recording mix set up previously. Then import both the video and sound recording into a basic video editing software. I did that for my song in my sig.

If you want to record and play along to youtube, then use the screen capturing option while filming yourself with a separate camera. Then import everything into a video editing suite. All of this can be done cheaply (as in free), and may just depend on the processing power and RAM of your PC. Most modern computers can handle it IMO.

EDIT: Wait. You don't need to use screen capture if you just want to record the sound. Just use your DAW. If you want to capture what's happening on your screen, then use the capturing software. It's what youtubers use for all those "let's play" videos.

 

[ZenG]

You are trying to record and/or film yourself playing along with music from the internet, right? First and foremost, don't route the output from the computer soundcard (or whatever device you are using) back into computer to play and/ore record. That's a recipe for bad badness. That, and don't use the webcam. There are FAR better options (see below).

There are ways to do this using software, without rerouting the signal. You should either save the song to your computer, and import it to your DAW as a track, or have your DAW "record" the file as it streams, and you playing along with it. Audacity can do either no problem, even video sound. There is also video "capture" software that you can use to record whatever is happening on your screen, such as youtube and whatever is happening in your daw, including your mouse clicks. Audacity or Reaper can't do that. But there are video editing software suites that can.

The easiest and cheapest way IMO would be to either, as another said, film yourself with a camera/phone/ipad as you play along with the recording mix set up previously. Then import both the video and sound recording into a basic video editing software. I did that for my song in my sig.

If you want to record and play along to youtube, then use the screen capturing option while filming yourself with a separate camera. Then import everything into a video editing suite. All of this can be done cheaply (as in free), and may just depend on the processing power and RAM of your PC. Most modern computers can handle it IMO.

EDIT: Wait. You don't need to use screen capture if you just want to record the sound. Just use your DAW. If you want to capture what's happening on your screen, then use the capturing software. It's what youtubers use for all those "let's play" videos.

Thanks for that reply..
Just curious...what kind of "bad badness" would that be?

I've given up on the webcam/reroute audio thing.....basically a waste of time.

Looking at DAW etc.. as suggested....

 

[Khronic]

I'm using Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 usb interface. It comes with Ableton Live and Pro Tools. Steep learning curve but I enjoy learning new stuff so it's been a lot of fun. You'll find directions to sync Audio/Video in the manual.

 

[whatizitman]

Thanks for that reply..
Just curious...what kind of "bad badness" would that be?

I've given up on the webcam/reroute audio thing.....basically a waste of time.

Looking at DAW etc.. as suggested....

Lots of feedback and noise, probably. And not the good kind. The super nasty digital kind. Plus, once your signal is in the digital domain, you want to keep it there as long as you need to do any editing or processing. Routing the output back into the PC would cause several conversions between digital and analog. And given most home PC and budge recording equipment does not have pro audio quality converters... Well, you get my drift. There's just no need for it. Almost all the routing you listed can, and should, be done via software.

 

[DirkP]

I do it this way (a little compromise included):
I have two iPads and an iPhone. I use the CameraPro-app for < 10,- 'cause it shows the incoming audio level.
First the compromise: I have Spotify running on one iPad or the iPhone and use the analog out and connect it to my Audio-Interface. I connect my bass to the Audio-Interface. I connect the usb port of my audio-interface with a Camera-Connection-kit to the other recording iPad. The iPad detects that a digital audio source is connected to the iPad and uses this for recording in the camera-app. Press record on the camera-app. Ready. No need to synchronise the audio and video later.
I've sometimes used an app that came with my Zoom camera or Logic to export the audio and normalize it.
I just record for myself, but to give you a short impression of the quality and me still not getting that little fill/lick on "Thinking Of You" back then. If this would be for publishing I would care more about the light and perspective and to really get that little fill-in at the end:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[ZenG]

I do it this way (a little compromise included):
I have two iPads and an iPhone. I use the CameraPro-app for < 10,- 'cause it shows the incoming audio level.
First the compromise: I have Spotify running on one iPad or the iPhone and use the analog out and connect it to my Audio-Interface. I connect my bass to the Audio-Interface. I connect the usb port of my audio-interface with a Camera-Connection-kit to the other recording iPad. The iPad detects that a digital audio source is connected to the iPad and uses this for recording in the camera-app. Press record on the camera-app. Ready. No need to synchronise the audio and video later.
I've sometimes used an app that came with my Zoom camera or Logic to export the audio and normalize it.
I just record for myself, but to give you a short impression of the quality and me still not getting that little fill/lick on "Thinking Of You" back then. If this would be for publishing I would care more about the light and perspective and to really get that little fill-in at the end:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The clip only ran for 12 seconds......but you were dang good!

Well.....I don't own a cellphone except for a little cheapo Nokia emergency phone that won't do anything like you describe.

Yes...I know....Mr.Luddite, that's me...

My wife didn't want a cellphone either for a long time.....but now she's starting to pine for one.

So I may get a couple soon....

 

[DirkP]

The clip only ran for 12 seconds......but you were dang good!

Well.....I don't own a cellphone except for a little cheapo Nokia emergency phone that won't do anything like you describe.

Yes...I know....Mr.Luddite, that's me...

My wife didn't want a cellphone either for a long time.....but now she's starting to pine for one.

So I may get a couple soon....

Thank you! I just choose the first 12 seconds I could find.