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Making a you tube video....

PGeorge61

PGeorge61

Apr 14, 2012
15
4
Liberty, Mo.
#1
Hello all,

I am new here, and have a question that may be answered here before. However, when I did a search, I found some bits and pieces of an answer, but not completely.

I want to start recording some vids on YT as bass covers. Unfortunately, I have been out of the loop for quite a while and plead a bit of ignorance in this arena. My band days stopped when I was 30. Started a family and raising kids...yadda, yadda, yadda. Now it seems a great way to expose yourself is through You Tube. So......

I am under the impression that it isn't brain surgery. But I don't want to look like an idiot also. Can you give me some advise on equipment needed to produce good (great maybe) vids. I just bought a Canon Vixia HF R20 8 GB Camcorder for the video part. Can I just mic the amp, or do I need to run it through my laptop?

Also, as rookie as this may sound, is there a source on the Internet where I can upload songs without a bass track? I have heard some cover on YT with a person turning up hs stereo, and adjusting the volume on the amp, and try to get his amp just a bit louder than the song playing in the background. Needless to say, that sounds pretty bad.

I would appreciate any and all help, and criticism. Thanks!!
Paul
 
#2
I have searched for songs to download without the bass parts, but i havent found any. (Although you can search for a songs name on google and add the words ''multi track'' after it to see if you are lucky and you can download the song with all parts recorded separately, if it is a song that appears on videogames like rockband, guitar hero, etc... you might very probably find it)
I have uploaded a couple videos, but non that have good enough audio quality. I have tried to record directly through the cameras microphone but it didnt sound good to me, although some people do it and it sounds ok (listen to this guy he records directly YYZ Bass Cover - YouTube)
What i would do is connect my amp to my computer and then record the bass, then add it to the original song using some audio software, I use adobe soundbooth sc4 and you can do both thing with it, record the bass and add the original song. But im sure there are other simpler programs you can use for that =)

Hope this helps good luck =)
 
#3
I have the Canon HFS30 and paid the extra $ for the canon built-in mic. I don't know whether or not this matches up with yours but it should be close. Do a test video on youtube send it to a friend and yourself, this way you'll hear and see the quality. I listened to your YouTube Test and to me it sounded fine !! OK , you are playing your music track in the backround and that does get in the way a little.. Having gone from original webcam to this camcorder the upgrade in quality is amazing. There shouldn't be any reason for you to have any issues with this camcorder. Best of luck :)
 
#4
Ingratil said:
I have searched for songs to download without the bass parts, but i havent found any. (Although you can search for a songs name on google and add the words ''multi track'' after it to see if you are lucky and you can download the song with all parts recorded separately, if it is a song that appears on videogames like rockband, guitar hero, etc... you might very probably find it)
I have uploaded a couple videos, but non that have good enough audio quality. I have tried to record directly through the cameras microphone but it didnt sound good to me, although some people do it and it sounds ok (listen to this guy he records directly YYZ Bass Cover - YouTube)
What i would do is connect my amp to my computer and then record the bass, then add it to the original song using some audio software, I use adobe soundbooth sc4 and you can do both thing with it, record the bass and add the original song. But im sure there are other simpler programs you can use for that =)

Hope this helps good luck =)
Click to expand...

Wow!!! :eek: Ingratil, that is incredible!!! That gentleman is one of my inspirations to start doing videos on YT. He's a great guy, and talented. And for reason I have not asked him what he uses. This is embarrassing a bit. I have commented a few times on his covers, and it was just a week or two ago that he told me I should start posting myself. He is the catylist that has got me going on this. But for polite type resons I also didn't want to overdo it. So I didn't really think of asking him about the epuipment he uses. Maybe I should!!

But I would still like to hear some inputon what some others use. But I am still shaking my head that you pasted a video by him as an example. Sweet. Thanks for the input Ungratil !!
 
#5
PGeorge61 said:
Hello all,

I am new here, and have a question that may be answered here before. However, when I did a search, I found some bits and pieces of an answer, but not completely.

I want to start recording some vids on YT as bass covers. Unfortunately, I have been out of the loop for quite a while and plead a bit of ignorance in this arena. My band days stopped when I was 30. Started a family and raising kids...yadda, yadda, yadda. Now it seems a great way to expose yourself is through You Tube. So......

I am under the impression that it isn't brain surgery. But I don't want to look like an idiot also. Can you give me some advise on equipment needed to produce good (great maybe) vids. I just bought a Canon Vixia HF R20 8 GB Camcorder for the video part. Can I just mic the amp, or do I need to run it through my laptop?

Also, as rookie as this may sound, is there a source on the Internet where I can upload songs without a bass track? I have heard some cover on YT with a person turning up hs stereo, and adjusting the volume on the amp, and try to get his amp just a bit louder than the song playing in the background. Needless to say, that sounds pretty bad.

I would appreciate any and all help, and criticism. Thanks!!
Paul
Click to expand...

Please, for the sake of the people watching your videos...
  • Make your bass LOUDER than the backing track. So many people have the volume of their bass either equal to the track or sometimes even quieter, this irritates me to no end. If I can't hear the bass over the backing tracks, you might as well have just uploaded an mp3 without doing a cover at all.
  • Practice the songs until you have them down pat. You don't need to play them perfectly or even note for not. People often prefer it if you "make the song your own", but if you make a bunch of mistakes it just looks bad.
  • Getting good quality recorded tone for bass is NOT difficult OR expensive. Well, depending on what you mean by expensive.
The absolute worst thing you can do is use your camera's mic to pick up the amplified bass tone. This sounds terrible most of the time. Setting an SM57 in front of the cab will sound better, by a long shot.

Me, I record my bass into an audio interface. If you can afford to do that, I highly recommend it. Especially because you can record a direct signal and a signal from the cab mic and blend the two. If you can't afford a nice interface, you can get a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to plug your bass directly into the line-in on your computer (assuming you have a line-in).

Good luck on your quest. I hope to start uploading my own bass covers soon, once I have time.
 
#6
KingRazor said:
Please, for the sake of the people watching your videos...
  • Make your bass LOUDER than the backing track. So many people have the volume of their bass either equal to the track or sometimes even quieter, this irritates me to no end. If I can't hear the bass over the backing tracks, you might as well have just uploaded an mp3 without doing a cover at all.
  • Practice the songs until you have them down pat. You don't need to play them perfectly or even note for not. People often prefer it if you "make the song your own", but if you make a bunch of mistakes it just looks bad.
  • Getting good quality recorded tone for bass is NOT difficult OR expensive. Well, depending on what you mean by expensive.
The absolute worst thing you can do is use your camera's mic to pick up the amplified bass tone. This sounds terrible most of the time. Setting an SM57 in front of the cab will sound better, by a long shot.

Me, I record my bass into an audio interface. If you can afford to do that, I highly recommend it. Especially because you can record a direct signal and a signal from the cab mic and blend the two. If you can't afford a nice interface, you can get a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to plug your bass directly into the line-in on your computer (assuming you have a line-in).

Good luck on your quest. I hope to start uploading my own bass covers soon, once I have time.
Click to expand...

That's good advise. Waiting for a few things to be delivered, then will start. Thanks for the info!
PF
 
#7
Hi PGeorge61, I just made my first youtube video.
Scarlett 2i2 interface, Reaper to edit sound, for video I used my Canon Vixia and Adobe elements for video edition. It was very easy. I opened reaper software added a track with the mp3 , plug in my bass with the 2i2 and added it as another track, record the video, in adobe elements I add the vide and the recorded sound track from , mute the camera sound t and loaded directly from adobe to youtube :) .
 
#9
DON'T buy a microphone. Even if you got yourself a fancy mic, it would only sound as good as your built in sound card, which will be crap unless you have a very expensive computer. So then you would need an audio interface (external soundcard to process it)... and it would sound as good as you audio interface with the tone of your amp. Instead, just buy the audio interface and get a natural sound out of the bass.
 
#10
Hey PGeorge61, have you put a video up yet? There are some "minus one" tracks for sale at Invalid Link Removed that may be worth checking out.
We have that Canon Vixia as well, but I usually just use whatever camera has a charged battery. I guess it depends on what the "goal" of your channel is as to how much you should invest in it. We just wanted to have a video resume for our daughter to have when she's ready to apply to college in a few years. In the past year and a half, it has turned out to be a really great experience. She's "e-met" so many incredible people all over the world--even some in person and to confirm your point, there has indeed been some great exposure/kind support via bass websites/blogs.

She just keeps it simple (we tried a DAW once, but syncing w/ the video was difficult) and now that it's mostly live performances - it is what it is. She does get some people who offer recommendations about better lighting, background, sound, what to play etc....she just wants to be a better musician, so the technical comments and suggestions for who to listen to are more useful for improvement, but it's fun to get all sorts of feedback and you can always learn/try something different with the next video. It's very cool that people take the time to say something.
I think the important thing is to be yourself and have fun with it :)
Good Luck!!
 
#11
Wow... outstanding replies! Thanks all :) I decided to go onto ebay last week and got a few good deals. I bought a New (new...old stock) Guitar Rig 2, with Rig control panel, and a new Focusrite Saffire 6. I got the Canon HF R20 from ebay as well. I received the canon from a cat in Cali. But he shorted me the charger and the usb cord. So I had to order those (battery in the camera was dead....of course). I am getting a longer usb, and an extra batt as well, so that will be all set.

So, I'm thinking as soon as I can charge the camera, I'll be all set.........right? Man, I hate coming off as an idiot, but me and electronics are not the exactly bff's. But, I am assuming that with the Saffire as my interface, and the guitar rig as an extra plugin for effects, and my laptop, I should be good to go. I bought the guitar rig as a enhancement unit, but it also can act as an interface I believe.

**BassMom88:: Thanks for the backing tracks!! You are awesome! Good to find good folk on here so quick. I wish your daughter all the best. I hope to have as much fun and exposure as she has had. Thanks again!
**Tupac:: thanks for the tip. I will try it without a mic. I understand the "different strokes.........." analogy. But I am a retired Paramedic. And one of the first things you learn in training is the KISS principle. "Keep It Simple Stupid." Thanks again for the tip!
**Ingratil:: Man, I love this site! I am subscribed to many kinds of forums (I'm also a Gun nut as one of my other, more intense hobbies). And you guys are great. I know asking such a question is risky. But I just like to hear new comments, instead of looking up searches (which I did do, BTW) that are a few years old, etc. But I will check out the backing tracks, thanks man!
**KingRazor:: Very good advice. I just hate those vids where the the guy (or girl....of course) is turning up his stereo, and then his amp, in hopes they sound good together. I guess it is possible to get a good production that way. Again, I am an FNG to this. But going through an interface and then a nice software mixer to clean up the feed is the best way to go. I may be proven wrong as I go....I don't know. But I wll use your advise, Thanks!
**Pedroims:: Good stuff! I will take that into consideration!

I should be able to get things going this coming week. I thanks you all once again! Very helpful! \m/ :bassist:
 
#16
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.;12565201 said:
I know that audio recording technology has evolved a lot since I bought my Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum sound card, but it's so comfortable to work with it, that I resist getting rid of it.
Click to expand...

Well, I pretty much have all my equipment I ordered. I now have a Focusrite Saffire 6, and a Guitar Rig 2. I plan on using my windows Live Movie Maker. I got a really great deal on the Saffire 6 and practically stole the GR-2.

I'm wondering if the Movie Maker is a decent choice. I looked around and saw a plethera of software. And when I checked out the Live Movie Maker already on my laptop, I thought (and a had a few folks tell me) that software would be fine for my level of recording. Any advise on that??

I bought some decent gear for an audio interface, and the GR-2 might add some nice sounds to my rig. But I am curious if there is any software out there that might be better with the Saffire?
Paul
 
#18
KingRazor said:
I have scoured the internet and cannot find a better free video editing program than Windows Movie Maker. It's not terrible, it'll get the job done.
Click to expand...

Ahhhh, that is music to my ears KingRazor! Now all I have to do is figure out how to get it all put together. Being a child of the 60's and 70's, I am not so much a wizard on the computer. But I figure if i get stuck, I can have my 10y/o boy help me. Kid knows way too much about these things at that age. Hell, I read those old colored reading books hoping to get to the next color as my goal. They have computer labs!!! Oh well, thanks for the info King!!
Paul
 
#19
I have been using a cheap camera with a stereo mic input and a cheap stereo mic to record bands and other events. Here is one I took of my band. I imported the video into Presonus Studio One, extracted the audio, and put a couple of multiband EQ's and compressors and a limiter (all Presonus), then put the audio back onto the video and uploaded it to YouTube. Feedback welcome.
 

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