Tech: Creating video for YouTube

Subject: Tech: Creating video for YouTube
From: .spiderman
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:52 AM

I have found youtube a very useful source for learning new songs and would like to give something back by posting my own videos. Does anyone have tips for recording singing/guitar playing on a (very tight) budget. I have a webcam (1.3 megapixel) - my laptop's built in microphone is rubbish, so I know I need to use an external microphone - do I need to add pickups to my acoustic guitar? How difficult would it be to mix the sound from two mikes (one for my voice)? Would a cheap mike off ebay (and stand?) be good enough? I want to keep the whole thing as simple as possible and I have never done anything like this before so any basic advice would be much appreciated.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creating video for YouTube
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:03 AM

You can record the sound and vision separately using modest equipment, dump them into your computer with appropriate software and then mix sound and vision together. I use a cheapish DVD camcorder for video, which I import into my Mac with iMovie HD (free with the OS). I use an external recorder for the sound, which I import into the Mac using Audacity (free software), tweak the sound file to create an mp3, and then synchronise sound and vision with iMovie. Sounds complicated but, after a bit, it's not. There are all sorts of varaiations possible, from cheap to expensive. There's some info about what I do myself on my
website - not for everybody, perhaps, but you might get some ideas.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creating video for YouTube
From: treewind
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:07 AM

I suspect most YouTube video is done using the mic built into the camera. As soon as you start recording sound separately you've a big investment in time and money getting the sound and video re-united.

If your webcam doesn't do sound, get a real digital camera that does video and has a USB connector (most do and have), a decent sized memory card for the camera, and experiment extensively for best camera position for good picture and sound.

On a tight budget, and with advantages of its own, get a friend with a suitable digital camera to do the shooting for you.

Interms of your own suggestions, you could get a cheap external mic that designed for use with computers. Again experiment carefully with mic placement.

Yes you can get two mics and a mixer, but frankly the money's wasted for YouTube quality.

Anahata

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Creating video for YouTube
From: treewind
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:10 AM

Alternatively ignore me and take Will's advice...

A.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creating video for YouTube
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:15 AM

"Alternatively ignore me and take Will's advice..."

...or not! I just think you get what you pay for and you have to determine what standard of video you want. There' no right or wrong here.