This is a basic version of a great song. It is put together my way (I know its not how JG has taught it) as another basic campfire song to add to the repertoire and hopefully to improve on using different techniques as the guitar journey progresses.
Guitar - Via Katana 50 MkII into UMC202 (so I can use my preset fx)
Vocal - Shure SM58 to UMC202
UMC202 - Via Reaper for adding Fx as required and then o/p to OBS using ReaRoute.
Video - Iphone 8 Plus via USB to OBS using Droid Cam.
During working with Reaper on this I managed some backing vocals on the chorus that worked well. But trying to incorporate this along with its associated video and turn it into picture in picture within Reaper was above my Tech Grade currently as I couldnāt seem to listen to the original track whilst recording the backing in OBS without re-recording the original sound Anyway thatās just another part of this journey, Iāll work on it
For now, have a listen and if you feel inclined Iām happy to hear constructive comments.
Every now and then the low notes sounded a little big. I canāt say if maybe they were notes in the chord or maybe low notes that ought to have been skipped/muted.
Maybe in Reaper a high pass filter on the guitar may have helped?
Were you trying to create the picture in picture in OBS live or in Reaper?
Thanks, yes, the rogue sounding low note you hear is occasionally catching the 6th string whilst fingering the Am chord I think. I had noticed it but wanted to just run with it as it is because itās something that just needs correcting in technique. At times I have muted the 6th with my thumb but generally just try to strum accurately.
Pic in pic in Reaper. The tutorial made it look easy but the layout was different to mine and also I was applying it differently too. I had recorded the main track to OBS through Reaper then wanted to hear the main track back by playing it in Reaper and hearing it through the cans whilst recording a backing through Reaper to OBS. The issue was that what I was hearing played from Reaper was also being recorded in OBS on the backing track and I couldnāt find a way of killing its o/p from Reaper to OBS. (Sorry if that sounds really complicated )
It seems youāre doing good on your way of consolidating Grade 1. Playing was good, singing as well and both at the same time. Also starting in the production-territory is a great achievement and for sure, you know more on that already than I do.
Over time, youāll get the muting of the low E down, Iām sure. As youāll progress on your guitar journey, you and the song will grow together nicely.
Well played and sung Craig. And well done on getting to grips with the ātechieā stuff too. Yes the low E did sound out a bit. You mention trying to strum accurately but there is nothing wrong with using your thumb to mute the string too.
I really enjoyed it Craig. You are venturing beyond Grade One stuff by standing and singing while playing. I also liked the finger lights while playing the Am. Strumming was nice and steady and the vocals were good.
I made a video in Reaper with multiple inserts. It sure can be a bit finicky. It took repeated watching of Kennyās related videos and a fair amount of trial and error.
Perhaps you could try rendering the main track out and playing it back from outside Reaper. Again could take some tinkering to get all the apps routing audio output as you want it. I find OBS is quite flexible at working with multiple audio input sources and output devices.
Hi Craig,
Good job on this. The time you put in was evident by what I saw and heard. Guitar play was good and I think the vocals were possibly a tad better.
As a side note, on guitar I am able to strum a few songs. Prior to my thumb going south on me I got to the point I could do the Old Faithful strumming pattern fairly well in practice with Justin. So I took that over to guitar play (not muted strings) and the song I went with was Knocking On Heavenās Door. I never could get it to sound right and my thumb was done. I got that all fixed up and the next task is to rework my path above. I hope to at some point do Knockin as well as you!
You might consider getting a low cost video editing program. @DavidP has one and can share that with you, as for what to get. I use Vegas, but that is pricey. Reaper and video work does work. But the time you spend trying to make it work makes a low cost video editor a welcome step up.
Sounds great Craig!
Guitar sounded great, nice mellow sound to it. Vocal is also great!
I read and hear a lot that Knocking on heavens door is so easy to playā¦ i find that a bit funny, i find this to be a little bit Ā«under ratedĀ» i do not think this song is very easy to play and sing. It is not as easy as it looks on Ā«paperĀ»
I use Corel Video Studio, which I purchased for a discount at some point. It works fine but I do find it a bit finicky at times. Itās auto-sync of multiple audio sources is not a winner (or Iāve not figured it out yet).
In the Community several people have adopted DaVinci Resolve, the free version, and reported it to work well and be (relatively) easy to use. They have mentioned finding syncing audio recorded in a DAW with a video to be effectively automated. This is provided the video has matching audio, typically recorded via a phone or webcam mic during recording while concurrently recording the audio in the DAW.
I have been tempted to try it based on all the comments and move from Corel.
Thanks for the input David I hadnāt thought of that. I need to sit and just work on the tech stuff, its just that it becomes a massive hole and before you know it youāve spent a day just messing around with tech things. I also need to get myself set up for an OM I havenāt even looked at that yet, I want to solve this piece of the puzzle first. Iāll try the rendering out, itāll get there just needs a bit of work
thanks, thats too kind. As usual we are our worst critics and I can see the errors that I shouldnāt have made but its a WIP.
Yes, thatās also an option. I have previously used Windows Movie Maker to put together reasonable movies with some added sound tracks but its a pretty basic program. I was hoping that I could achieve this using only either Reaper or OBS alone to save messing around with more programs.
Thanks Trond, much appreciated. One day Iāll try a heavier sound like some of yours but I need to concentrate on walking before running
Thanks again David. My main aim is to try to make this work with just Reaper and OBS just to simplify things but if Iāll check that out if I start looking at another application.
Hi Graig,
That was a good start of my morning ā¦great singing and fine/smooth strumming with the pick
Iām just a little worried because I havenāt noticed the sometimes low, unintentional tone that other people hear, so Iāll listen again this afternoon when Iām a little more awake/freshā¦ my ears sometimes have some ānoiseā of their own ,like now
Hey Craig, that was really good. I think Iāve said before that you seem plenty beyond Grade 1 and this is another of those performances that far surpasses that.
Great strumming, good singing, I just sat back and enjoyed the song. I didnāt hear the stray bass note but I was listening on my iPhone which really doesnāt have much bass
Youāre pretty tech heavy already so just do youā¦ Others mentioned video editing programs. If you go that path, DaVinci Resolve is powerful, easy to use and free.
Edit after Jk above brings to my attention what I had clearly missed in the video thumbnailā¦ Consolidate grade 1 this???
on it and very far over itā¦Thatās what we say here if you surpassed that level a long time ago,
Now go to the next level where you belong
Greetings
I thought that was brilliant and I canāt believe you are just at grade 1. You got the singing and playing down so well! I did not hear any wrong notes. Super impressive. Susan
Thanks for the DaVinci heads up JK and for the comments. Yes, I will be trying to avoid too much more tech programs, if I can get there with what I have then it will save adding yet another step to the process
Thanks Rogier & Susan much appreciated. I have started with Grade 2 but working on more basic campfire songs to add to the repertoire is enjoyable and can only improve fingering accuracy, strumming techniques etc etc hence I continue to add them.
I have spent a lonnnggg time in Grade 1 @SusanW as I wanted to feel that I had really dragged as much out of it as possible. In addition I wasnāt a complete beginner as I had knowledge of some basic chords and dabbled on and off over many years . However I could never complete a song or strum overly successfully, let alone play and sing my way through something.
as I couldnāt seem to listen to the original track whilst recording the backing in OBS without re-recording the original sound 
Anyway thatās just another part of this journey, Iāll work on it 
)
hole and before you know it youāve spent a day just messing around with tech things. I also need to get myself set up for an OM I havenāt even looked at that yet, I want to solve this piece of the puzzle first. Iāll try the rendering out, itāll get there just needs a bit of work 
