Video killed the Radio Stars...YouTube?

[Michelob]

As I keep on mentioning (stirring agitation amongst those who care to hear a beginner make a fool of himself) I am determined to record a few “things” this week.

I have a few questions which I would like to pose to my distinguished fellow members of this “Nylon.Nerds” club:

First set of Questions:

1. Should I (or anyone) record simply a home-made Video and post on YouTube, as I see many do [ eg Jim Opfer, whom I am very fond of, I believe he simply uses a camera];
2. Should I [is it how Todd does it any way] record a home-made video but have the audio go “through” some sound manipulating engineering?
3. “playback” a pre recorded piece solely to show my face on YouTube [Vicente Amigo?]
4. In any event, how do you control the volume of the postings? Many are so low resolution and low volume, it is a “via crucis” to try to listen to them.

Second set of Questions:

1. What key-words should one use to mark a recording so to appear in the radar of interested searchers?
2. How is the general public feedback… Offensive, stimulating… a mix of sentiments as on this Forum?
3. I see some musicians confidently showing the entirety of the scene, including their Face, but many seem to stay away from identifying traits, any anecdote which I should know and be scared about before I engage?
Thank you for the valuable tips some no doubt will share, and for the predictable teasing … we could always use a good laugh, so feel free to mock me and my dumb questions?

Affectionately,
Michelob

[Faya]

well....if you can afford and confidently do it the way Todd does that would be the most "PRO" sounding engineered way.
On the other hand if you are just interested in sharing and displaying a visual to your friends,(us!), .....then a standard recording would be fine by me!!.........(heck!.....i don't even have a video camera !!!).

as to how you want to show yourself.........i don't see why you can't show your whole sitting thing going on..........i kinda like the way GuitarSlim did his with the black back drop and all,(if i remember right???),.........looked kinda like those old instructional videos from the 80's............

On the other hand if you're like me and could care less about people seeing yer ugly mug<talkin' about myself now!),.......you could always do some kind of "Artsy" down the neck thing,<probably what i'd do!)......LOL!!
Where the hands are all you see.;)

but again.............i don't even own a video recorder!!

[Guitar Slim]

First, if you're going to post a video, I think it's best to see you play as well as hear you. Otherwise, what's the point of posting a video.

That said, I highly recommend that you not use the built-in mics on a video camera or web-cam. Maybe if you have a truly pro-quality camera with an excellent mic built in. But otherwise, don't do it if you can avoid it. The sound quality is usually pretty terrible.

There are (at least) two ways you can go about this. If you are streaming the video to the PC live and using a video capture program of some kind, most programs will allow you to select an alternate audio input. You CAN choose the audio from the cam, but usually you can also choose the input from your soundcard.

So, if you already have a PC set up to record using good mics, you can use that setup by selecting the audio input from your soundard (or USB interface or whatever), instead of from the cam. After recording, you should be able to import A/V media into most audio recording/editing software and add reverb, EQ etc. to the audio portion. Then you can export it again with the mixed/edited audio tracks.

Another way (more professional, I'm told) is to record the video to digital tape, while simultaneously recording the audio to your PC or hard-disc recorder. Then, you can mix and edit your audio separately and synch it up with the video as a later step. I'm told this is preferable because you get much better video quality recording to tape, which is definitely true. Plus, it doesn't take up massive amounts of space on your hard drive. But to sync the two files successfully, you have to actually know something about manipulating and editing video -- which I do not.

I don't know, maybe there are also cams out there that have auxillary microphone inputs? I don't know for sure.

Regarding your second set of questions. I don't know anything about search engines etc., so I can't help you there. Keywords in Youtube? How about "classical" "guitar" your name, your guitar maker's name, words descriptive of the style of music...I think you're allowed quite a few different keywords.

Feedback on Youtube? Well, I always enjoy the comments on Youtube -- as comic relief! Don't even worry about it. Positive or negative, most of it is going to be sheer idiocy and not worth taking seriously.

I'm really looking forward to hearing you play. Even if you can't or won't make a video, at least let us hear an MP3. Good luck!