Garageband, Quicktime, iMovie - making videos on Mac?

[simon_f3]

Hi All,

I'm after a bit of advice on recording videos using a Macbook Pro, please. Ideally I want to achieve the following:

1.) Play a backing track using Garageband or similar
2.) Whilst listening to the backing track, record the guitar via a USB interface (into Garageband, ideally, so the backing and guitar tracks are linked)
3.) Monitor backing track and guitar in headphones, whilst playing
4.) Whilst all that is going on, capture video (synched to the audio) using the built-in webcam in the Macbook.

Does anyone know if this is feasible / easy / hard / impossible please? I would like the option of tweaking relative volume levels between backing track and guitar track in an editor, before finalising the video.

Thanks for any advice you may be able to give,

Simon

[Alan Cook]

Hi Simon

I use logic x but garage band is the same thing, the backing track needs to be in your iTunes, in garage band open a new project and add an audio track. Select the track and go to file, import, audio file, select and the track and add, it should load into the selected garage band audio track.

Add another track and route a mic from your amp to the new track. Record the steel track. Mix and bounce the steel and backing track to an MP3 file and save it on your desktop. I don't think you can film it at the same time on the same device. But I'm no expert, I use a separate camera or iPhone.

Open I movie and start a new project import the MP3 track and film footage into the project add a title page and synch the film and track together, it's not that hard to synch you just keep nibbling bits off the film until the audio matches..

This may not be the best way of doing it but it's how I do it!! Hope this helps. Here is an example done in 3 sections:

https://youtu.be/euqK0lk5Qq0

Alan

[simon_f3]

Thanks Alan - that's a really good idea, to use a separate camera and then sync post-hoc. I think that's the way I will attempt my next offering My limitation is that I can't make a lot of noise in the evenings, but a small bit of noise from a speaker would be fine.
I'll let you know how I get on
Thanks again.

[Arcada]

Alan, please see YouTube Videos In Posts

Unfortunately 90% of posters don't do this. For most of the YouTube videos you see posted, I've manually edited the post to embed the video in the post rather than show a link.

I've always done this...I sometimes think people must assume it's automatic...it isn't! Maybe I'll stop...

[Alan Cook]

Thanks Arcada

I did do it on the last woodshed I posted but can't see the option when making a reply! Unless I'm missing something which is very likely!,

Alan.

[Arcada]

I did do it on the last woodshed I posted but can't see the option when making a reply! Unless I'm missing something which is very likely!

The method is the same. If using [quick reply] you won't get the toolbar, though, so you'd have to manually add the [youtube][/youtube] tags before and after the YT address.

Or, to get the full text editor toolbar, you need to use the "Post Reply" button at the bottom left.

[simon_f3]

Hi again Alan,

I think I've sussed it, at least to the point where I can make videos without needing to buy any new gear! If I route the guitar via USB interface into the computer, and set up Garageband to use the USB device for audio input and output, I can play the backing track whilst recording the guitar, and hear it all in my headphones.
Simultaneously, if I run Quicktime and make a new movie using the webcam as video input, and USB device as audio input, it records video and the guitar (although not the backing track).
So, based on that, it should be easy to sync the video to the audio, whilst also permitting some minor (or major!) editing of the audio track. And it leaves the possibility of adding some other instruments with corresponding video footage...

Thanks for your input with this - much appreciated!

Sid

[Alan Cook]

No worries Sid, look forward to seeing the results. Alan