I'm not sure If I'm posting in the right place... but I need some advice.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Elyst
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Elyst

New member
(not sure this is where this belongs, basically I need recording audio and image tips)

Hey everyone,

I... probably like everyone else in this forum want to record a videosong.
by this I mean a music with a video. The general idea is that I play an instrument and record both sound and image as best as I can and then show many pictures of me (or whoever's playing) playing the several instruments that compose the song.

my issue is... :facepalm: I'm not even sure where to begin...
in fact I don't know... I blame the recording process but I think that's only part of the issue. :facepalm:

I've found out the best way to record music and video not having problems syncing things would be to record them at the same time ("thank you Cptain Obvious!"). As easy as it may seem I can't record audio or image directly from either my camera or interface into Sony Vegas. So I set my camera on one end, cubase linked to the interface and my instrument to the other one and I record both at the same time. I try to be careful cutting and editing the things on Vegas after I'm done recording.

I know you'll all think "OMG what does this NOOB think he's doing" or even worse things when I mention what camera I'm using... but I'm using a Lumix DMC ZX1 :facepalm: (in my defence I can only say I'm on a really tight budget here!). Sometimes it does happen (since I can't see what I'm recording while I'm recording) that I press the button and the camera was on iddle and then woke up but didn't start recording while I think it did and I only notice when some video footage is missing when I'm putting things together later on with Vegas.

I can't also hear one finished track (like a bass line or such that makes it harder to think of new things to add or even keep up with the tempo, sometimes the metronome isn't enough)
With the recording method I'm currently using in order to hear one of the previously recorded tracks I need to connect my camera to the computer and export the single recorded audio file to then merge the 2 things on Sony Vegas. I don't dare edit audio directly in cubase, if I do I'll loose track of sizes and tempos and then I can't make the image and sound sync. And I can't keep both Vegas and Cubase open (because only one can be using the interface).

Please take a look at these two videos (hopefully it won't be too much painful) and let me know what I should do to actually be able to compose a full song... or at least something with a beginning, a middle and an end.
the videos:
marimba.mp4 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage
Untitled.mp4 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

:facepalm:
I know they suck really REALLY bad... that's exactly why I'm asking you pros for some help.

I'd appreciate some suggestion on how to improve my method of recording, then I could start making more complicated things with a proper start, middle and ending.

Thank you very much
Have a good one

PS: it would be awesome if you said that I can connect the camera and my interface directly into Vegas and record things there being able to immediately edit them after both sound and image are recorded and then hearing them as playback while I record another instrument... and even awesome 'er if I could do that without buying anything too expensive.
 
You've not chosen the easiest method of doing this, but I applaud your desire to get everything recorded live.

An alternative you might like to try is:

1 Record the whole song first; all the parts separately then mix them down onto a single stereo track. You can do this in Vegas, but I think there is a track limit in Vegas, and it is not the best application for this sort of work. However, you can download and do it in Reaper, which has a similar way of doing things to Vegas (so the learning curve will be less steep). ALternatively, just use Cubase if you are happy with it. Make sure you set up a click track or a drum loop so that you can keep everything in time and together.

2 Play the mixed track through media player (or similar), and use your camera to record you playing various instruments at various times along with the mixed track

3 Import your stereo track into Vegas.

4 Export the assorted clips from your camera, then load them into Vegas.

5 Line up the clips with the 'master' stereo track, using their own audio to synch with.
 
hey,

thanks for the reply.

I would actually like to record audio and manage it with Sony Vegas because of it's auto snap, he manages to make cutting and looping a lot easier. Though I miss not having cubase's time stretch.
One of the things that annoys me on cubase is how hard it is to loop, my cut is never perfect and the loops always manage to get off beat. even if I keep the metronome and click track in place.

I'll try to follow your advice, and I'll give Reaper a try, I hear so much good stuff about it : )
I time I stop fearing the Ripper xD
 
Elyst said:
I would actually like to record audio and manage it with Sony Vegas because of it's auto snap, he manages to make cutting and looping a lot easier. Though I miss not having cubase's time stretch.
Click to expand...

Reaper does autosnap and also a very easy time stretch.
 
actually I was going to do some recording tests on reaper. let's see how it goes.
 
wow its amazing, Reaper is really good, and it didn't take such a learning curve, it grabs the principles, short cuts and so on from both Vegas and Cubase. I recorded 3 guitar tracks pretty easily using the metronome's help.

After that I exported the .wav (I'm gonna download the lame encoder so I can export as mp3) and used that as a guide to record the video part of it.

The only set backs and problems I found are more complicated though... for the time being I suppose I will have to live with them.
I wanted to use a green screen and have myself copied 3 times playing each of the guitars. Problem is the room I recorded that didn't have enough light and the camera's not the best so I didn't record that in the best condition. For a green screen I have a green peace of cloth I just need to figure how to hang it (I don't want to poke holes on the walls for this).
I should have recorded the solo as I was recording it, because I improvised a little with it and then I couldn't exactly replay it for the camera.

but except the lights and the solo out of sync that was definitely a win : )

4 Questions:

1- Is there a way I can use the guitar rig VST in Reaper?

2- Any advice on cool effects for keyboard, guitar and voice? I wanted a vocoder but I don't where to find a working one and how to set it up : (

3- Where do you guys set your green screens, how and with what lights?

4- Any advice on how to get some cheap lights for better illumination of the green screen?
 
I could use some general lessons, tips and tricks for recordings and editing.

Any help is welcome, be it web pages, videos or newsletters : )
 
Just google Green Screen and click on the videos link. There's tons of info on green screening and lighting. Check out VIDEOMAKER, they have lots of tutorials, plus they are a print magazine and I think worth reading.

One tip is to ensure you have even color on your green screen. This means uniform lighting and making it tight so there are no wrinkles. I haven't done any green screen stuff, but plan to as soon as I'm home long enough. Working on building good light panels first. (Everything is on the drawing board for now. :( )
 
home depot: metal clamp lights + 100/150 or 200 watt bulbs make decent lighting. (check the wattage rating on the clamp light so you dont end up videoing a big fire :eek: )

You can buy the white umbrella diffusers fairly cheap, but you can also make them from the drop ceiling 2x4' light diffuser panels (again home depot) the umbrellas give you better control
 
thanks, I appreciate the tips.

I'm a near future I'm going to be rather busy so for the time being I won't be buying or making any new experiments.
I am, though, going to try and make some simple slow recording (nothing that burns too much time) and keeping things at a minimum and simultaneously I'll be reading some stuff and learn what I can from websites and ebooks about video editing, like that website Chili recommended.

Thanks, once again for the tips and all the help, if you know any interesting websites worth checking out just let me know (be them about video or music recording/editing)
C ya
 
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