Video Recording - Community Member Set Ups
I thought that it might be worthwhile to start a thread where the community can share their approaches to recording videos for this site. This could be helpful for those that are new to the process. There are many potential setup options, but I will start with what I currently use:
Digital Piano into Windows 11 PC
- Basic Web camera with a 10 foot USB extension cable, which allows for flexible positioning
- Yamaha digital piano plugged directly into the PC via a USB audio cable. NOTE: Confirm that your digital piano supports USB audio. If not, you will need to connect your piano to your computer using an external audio interface via the headphone or 1/4" output jacks on the piano.
- Windows Movie Maker / Microsoft Clip Champ / any other video recording software, to record and trim & edit the video
- Set the "USB/Piano" as the audio input source in the recording software above, which yields a better sound than recording from the mic on the web camera. However, you can use the mic on the webcam to record the room audio from your piano speakers if your digital piano is not connected to the PC (step 2)
- Adjust the volume level on the keyboard to ensure that the sound is being recorded at decent level in the video recording software.
- Make final edits to the video (fade in, trim the beginning and ending, etc) then export the file for upload to YouTube.
For acoustic recordings, I use a high-quality USB microphone connected to my phone to capture the audio/video. Then make the video edits on my PC (step 6).
I don't get great quality videos. My PC is used with a camera for coaching, but I don't have a way to show my playing live unless I move the little camera on the computer, so it shows the keyboard. That is a hassle, so I put my iPhone on a little stand I bought and hit the camera video record button. I can go directly to YouTube from the camera (easy) or, like you suggested, I can edit in Clip Champ (Microsoft). My videos come out sideways, but it gets the job done. I wish I were more computer proficient. Thank you for the thread, Jim.
James Nabhan I bought a 10 foot USB extension cable which makes it very easy to position the small web camera to any angle or location for recording. These extension cables are available in many sizes.
To record myself I use my iPhone that I attach on a stand. I make final edits in the iPhone camera app. Then I export the file to Youtube. I do have a Focusrite Scarlett audio Interface that I can use for audio recordings. It would be possible to record also video with the Focusrite but unfortunately I don’t know how to do it, it’s too complicated for me. Willie once explained but that’s beyond my comprehension. Good idea to start this thread Jim, Im curious how the others manage.
Els Do you have a "settings" option in your video recording software where you can specify the audio input source? You can set the video input be your web cam and set the audio input for the Focusrite. Also, does your keyboard model support audio via USB? If so, you can plug your keyboard into the computer directly without the need to go through the Focusrite.
It’s so nice of you giving us all the information, but I have zero knowledge how to use any of the things you mentioned. I don’t even know how to edit YouTube. That’s why I videotape progressions for all 12 keys in one time. I should learn more.