I’m trying to improve my singing and playing at the same time, so picked a song that I love but has a simple chord progression all the way through (with some embellishments). My new microphone helps project my quiet singing, and i used OBS to record for the first time (I think i need to work on the levels as it’s quite quiet).
Colin
Your recording isn’t playing properly: there’s no sound. neither guitar not voice.
Brian
As soon as I saw the title I had to come see. A great song from a great album.
Bravo on a compelling performance, just the right approach on guitar - sparse mixed with some slight embellishments.
I’m no singer so can’t help in terms of volume / projection etc.
Kudos for trying some new tech too.
Lovely performance, Colin. You worked the filler licks in with the strumming so well and enjoyed the gentle speaking-singing vocal.
You are right, the recording is soft. From an upload perspective, you can see on Stats For Nerds in the video that you are at -28dB. That refers to how much head-room you have to the YT normal loudness level, above which they limit and drop you which is to be avoided. I suggest aiming for an uploaded level in the -3 to -6db range. No need to get it under -1dB though some make that their target.
From a recording perspective, first step is to check your meter on your interface. You can safely turn those up till you see flassing green and orange. On mine I have LEDs on others it is halos round the gain knob, perhaps other options.
Then in OBS you can view the levels. I always turn on the Audio Monitor which you will find on the Docks drop down menu. When recording it is safe to peak into the red area but would suggest not higher than -5dB.
Your dain adjustment on OBS is probably at 0dB given this is your first time and the slider likely at the top. To add gain you can access Advanced Audio settings (right click on the Audio Mixer to see that option) and dial in a positive number.
You can also add a Filer on the Audio Source (hover and right click on each audio source to see that). There is a Gain filter you can add there plus a Limiter which can be useful to catch a passing spike.
After that a matter of a little trial and error, making short sound check recordings, which you can quickly upload to YT to check the level there. I used to do that until I had a good idea of what my levels in OBS should be for my target loudness.
Hope that helps, and feel free to ask for clarifications if things don’t make sense.
Once again, thoroughly enjoyed your take on a great song from (as Richard says) another of their great albums . . . what a band they were!!
Thanks for listening @Richard_close2u
Thank for all the advice @DavidP - it’s very much appreciated. I’ll spend some time getting to know all the settings.
Hi Colin, and a very belated welcome from me 
I just had a quick flick through your other posts/recordings and am sending you a big 
This is a good performance of a good song! 
The low-hanging fruit in my view is the guitar-vocal imbalance.
Is the mic feed the only input into your OBS?
If so, that’s your problem. Your mouth is right up next to the mic, so even though your’re singing softly, it’s picking it up well, but not the guitar, coming presumably from your Katana 50? 
The obvious solution for me would be to crank up the vol on your amp (to hell with the neighbours 
). Give it a try, while adjusting the mic level on your main OBS screen, so it’s mainly in the green-yellow zone. The more you record yourself the easier this becomes
Thanks @brianlarsen. The Katana and mic are both plugged into my audio interface (Volt 2). I’ll play about with gain/input settings and hopefully improve the outcome. Thanks for listening!!
You’re well ahead of me on the tech front then, Bro!
I shall retreat with my tail between my legs…
I can’t be too far ahead @brianlarsen - I still feel like im wandering about in the darkness
Hi Collin,
You picked up the wright song for this 
As for the technical part…uh, I’m very good with a vacuum cleaner and dishwasher 
Greetings
Thanks for listening @roger_holland!
Sorry to say that I could barely hear either guitar or vocal. I’ll try again later.
Lstened on my phone and it was much better. very nice performance Colin. The singing is coming along niceley.
Thanks for listening @Willsie
I enjoyed your performance Colin, both the guitar play and the vocal.
Well done.
Thanks @sairfingers - much appreciated.
this is such an under appreciated REM song. nice choice, well played. “I need this, I need this”
danny
Cheers @docdanguitarman - I absolutely love the song (when played by REM!)
Hi Colin,
Possibly my fave REM song.
The vocal is a little tentative, and for no reason. 
Let it out
Nice playing and performance.
Never noticed before but those intro chords remind me of Children of the Damned by Iron Maiden. That’s never going to go out of my head now. Lol.
Digger
Haven’t listened to that Maiden song in ages - I’ll have to give it another go!
Cheers for the feedback @Digger72 !