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OK, I have read through quite a few of the threads trying to get an idea on how to get started, but I am confused. I have decided I would like to do some simple recording of myself playing and singing. Remember simple is the key. Anyway I see two options up front. Get a video camera with decent sound quality, with the one button YouTube upload or get a webcam and a decent microphone for my computer. The video camera seems the simplest, in that I don't think I need other programs such as Audacity. Does it matter which of these I choose? Will the quality be about the same? I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on which might be better for me starting out. Maybe after I get good at these then I can step up to the next level and make myself the newest singing sensation to hit the internet. ![]()
bensonpbieber
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Wish I was some help with the video question but I can not. However I do have a digital recorder that I got at Wal-Mart for less than $60.00 and it does a great job. They have a cheaper (probably same quality) one but you can't download to the computer from it. I take mine to our jam sessions and turn it on and practice when I get home. The little speaker doesn't sound like much but a port for an external speaker is present and when played back through a computer the results are surprising.
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"bensonpbieber"
Good one Pete!
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Pete a video cam will do in a pinch but the problem I have is the lyrics dont match with the chords its kind of delayed so I dont use one if you have a digital camera you could shoot a video and download a converter to change the format from MOV or AVI to WMV and then upload it WMV is the easiest and fewest megabytes a free program is anyvideoconverter it works great I have used it for over ten years it has a beg prompt but you dont need to upgrade so you can ignore it otherwise pickup a video cam and talk to someone who knows how to get the best vid out of it. good luck Russ ![]()
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Pete, if you can buy a camera with a youtube button, I'll bet the camera does all the converting for you and it sounds like the simplest way to go about doing things. I wonder what you get when you spend the money on a youtube button camera vs/ some other random camera. I'd be concerned you're paying extra money for that little button and losing a lot of quality in the end (for other camera applications). Is there a link for this camera, or name?
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I don't remember which camera did that, but I know I saw one somewhere. If I find it, I will share.
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Here is the idea and some cameras available with the YouTuve upload. I haven't checked any of them yet.
http://www.mediamentalism.com/2009/01/2 … superstar/
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Hey guys, it's been awhile since my last post and I thought I'd chime in here. Riddler and I have been using his dell webcam and the internal mic on his computer to record ideas when ideas hit us (sort of a quick way of getting it recorded before we forget it...lol)... I was quite surprised at the quality of the video and sound. Since your looking for a basic set-up to record, it might be worth purchasing one of those 20 or 30 dollar webcams (if you don't have one built-in) before you drop coin on a video camera.
Scott
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Thanks Fatstrings. That's kind of what I'm checking out this morning. Just found this Logitech Webcam with stereo mics. It looks like it might do the trick. And it also has the Youtube conversion upload sotware with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-1080p-We … B003M2YT96
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Hi pete,good luck on your recording,I have seen russell's and they are very good!
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Thanks dino. I have a ways to go to be as good as Russell. You got to start somewhere I suppose, so I will start very simple and step up a level later on if I like what I see.
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I use logitec equipment it is very reliable and that cam looks like a good deal for the coins ![]()
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Well, I ordered the Logitech this morning. It ought to give me a start, as I said before. I'll let you know how it goes. The review says the cam is great, but the audio is not the best of course.
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any thoughts on what songs you may be recording?
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That webcam looks like it'll do the trick and then some. Good find!
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I will probably start with some old simple country tunes. I have the most fun with Hank Williams. There are a lot of songs in my notebooks, so if the first one or two come out decent, then I'l go for many more. Some old Bee Gees tunes and maybe some Dion and the Belmonts and This Magic Moment by Jay and the Americans. I have a ton of them. LIke when I play for others, I start out slow, then I get so much into it, I try to play everything. I really don't want to build this up so much that people expect better than I can give. I'm just a simple strummer and singer.
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That's the same cam I have. You'll like the wide angle of view that it has especially if someone else is playing too.
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Pete it sound like you have alot of good performers chosen. I have a logitec video cam also but it is pretty old,still doing a decent job though.Someday I will learn how too get pictures and videos where I want them,like you I am learning. I use it for netzero video mail. I f you want too use thier video mail I can send it too you( or try) they do not charge anything.
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Well I got my Webcam hooked up. I played and sang a little just to test it. I really like te video portion, but the sound kind of sucks. It makes the guitar sound clunky. I know my guitars don't sound clunky and I play all my chords clean and crisp, but it sounds cheap. I am checking on a better mic for it, but I have read on some forums where people tried an external mic, but couldn't get it to work in conjunction with the webcam. I have some work to do, I guess. If anyone has any good ideas, please let me know.
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Pete I just went and recorded a couple of songs with my logitec camera,they did not sound good at first,I moved further away from the camera and it made a huge differance. Sounds good now.
Last edited by dino48 (2011-08-05 22:22:58)
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I've tried various distances to no avail. My voice sounds alright, but the guitar kind of sounds like a uke. I just ordered an external mic. We'll see if that helps. I think I will try it furher away
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do me up some blues pete when you get up and going, sweet
badeye ![]()
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Might check your computer's audio setting,,,I've got one on my pc that says "mic boost" and it sounds really crappy when it is selected.
Scott
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hi guys, just a quick pop in here.
the problem i find with web cams and camcorders come to that, is that the sound will never be what you want. if you get too close you'll get distortion. too far away and it'll sound like the addams family!
best results will be if you jack a mike and guitar into a mixer that can plug into the mic input on your computer, then you should (with a little experimentation) get the sound and picture quality you want.
phill
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OK, the big moment has arrived. A little explanation first. Iwas happy with the video portion of my new webcam, but the audio sounded terrible. As a matter of fact, I quit playing for 2-3 days after listening to myself. My singing sounded terrible and my guitar sounded like an aluminum uke. I thought have I been sorely better in my mind than I really was? What a let down. So I bought an external mic and here you go. It'll be awhile til I get good enough to go on American "Old Fart" Idol, but hey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY-EqmDxS9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUF4crrATpY
Last edited by bensonp (2011-08-18 19:55:58)
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