24 posts
Say gents, I'm messing around with this video, which a nice distraction on free days. Anyway, I'm trying to settle on a look - the original picture is fine but pretty stark, so I'm going with either of these two ideas, black n white or a sorta 'muted color', which is nice and fits the earthy vibe of the tune (I think), but then the b/w has some appeal too. Problem is, opinions with others are fricken spilt down the middle, cannot get a gauge on which is better lol...so I'm asking, which one works better? I'll keep a copy for myself of each of course, but eh, I'd like to share on YT just the one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y88tDH9YHPc (b & w)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQgXmeTv1A (desaturated color)
I enjoyed the tune. Both times. LOL. I'm kind of split down the middle......... kidding!! I like the color. You can see that marble looking Charvel better. Definitely the color. I dig the half step slide down with the ring finger. Is that on a bend??
LOL! Thanks man. Someone else cited the same reason for the color version, said they could see the finishes of the guitars better. Guess I don't care bout that cause I see 'em all the time, plus there are gear pics online, etc. I think the b/w has better clarity so that's tugging on me but I will go with the majority lol.
Not sure about the playing part - if it happened once it was prolly an accidental, if it happens several times it must be a playing quirk....along with a couple of stupid/goofy head bobs lol...hate that, but at least I noticed I don't seem to sway too much like a lot of dudes tend to do lmao. ;D
Oh it happens more than once. I went back and looked. First of all, I was just listening and this "move" caught my eye. It appeared to be a bend because of your hand shape. On my search for it ( roughly 1:32) the holding the note with your 4th finger, playing the 3rd string with your ring finger then jumping a fret to the 4th and then sliding down, gave the appearance of a bend. You revisit the "move" at about (1:45) with a much better camera view.
It caught my eye because I try to play, and I don't do that. I have played slides like that on the higher three strings. I'm mostly a pent wanker, though lately I have tried to add some Natural minor notes and the "move" may be useful. We'll give it a whirl tonight. ;D
first... great tune!
I prefer the b/w.
is there a sync problem as it plays along, or is there some video dubbing or something? I guess it never said "live"... so I don't know why I expected it, heh. the spot where it's really noticeable is the vibrato around 2:00... it's like the video is in slo-mo... is it? dunno, maybe it's a feature.
don't worry about moving around - just do what you do. as much as people like to bag on stuff like that, it's totally irrelevant if it's all natural. just don't stare into the camera... good lord that's freaky when people do that. lol.
I see DM, I dunno, just a silly thing we all do with our playing, it's sorta a mix of both a bend and slide.
Ahh, a b/w vote! ;) Thanks Sheep! Yeah, definitely some intentional effects added here and there, not many, just playing around with them, so many little tools to mess with lol, hate not using some! Slow-mo is used a few times for sure, but not at 2:00, that is not even a vibrato actually, if you listen/watch closely you'll see it's just two distinct quick bends back to back. ;) A clear slow-mo spot though is at the end of that very same phrase, like 2:10 ish. I will go and double check now however and make sure the b/w audio is synced up properly and at the same point as I used in the color clip! You never know, I was in a rush last night and getting sleepy lol. (=
I hear ya lol...on a practice (checking lighting, etc) clip I freaked myself out when looking directly at the cam, ouch!! creepy!! I'd still take that over the guys who sway with the tempo on the ballady stuff.
I was thinking of the 2:06 vibrato. guess it's not that helpful to say "at 2:00, plus or minus :30"... heh.
the thing I thought was the coolest on the video is how economical your playing is -- you get great expressive sounds without much movement... really great control going on!
No worries and thanks again for the input!! I'll have to go check it on yt to see what you're seeing...I'm using my actual mpeg/master vid as reference and at 2:06 is actually no vibrato, just a final even note right before a quick jump down the board to play that next sorta non picked descending phrase. It's all good, an no, definitely not live! I prefer the audio quality of the 'studio mix' and then playing to that. edit: shit, and thanks for the playing compliment - weird thing is, I'm one wound up mutha when not playing lol!
EDIT #2: holy shit, NOW I see what you're saying! Just watched the YT version, quite a difference in the time stamping lol!! a good 6 or 8 seconds diff from the master file. Weird! But yeah, 2:06 is a slow mo effect I added to that single note, thought I made it pretty obvious, it's actually ULTRA slow motion!!! I can always take it off...less is more.
I vote for color. The black and white wasn't contrasty enough--kind of very gray. The color was cool, it almost looked like a faded finish on the guitar. It was kind of surprising when it then looked all glossy as it moved through the light.
For video and film in general, one thing to think about is composition-- eliminate distracting elements. In this example, it's that curtain hanging out on the edge of every shot. It's the most meaningless little element but you'd be surprised how often my eye wandered to it. The other is framing, and using the rule of thirds. I'm not going to go into a technical explanation but google will--
https://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=rule+of+thirds
Those are minor elements, but to me, making it visually striking adds a ton. You've already got the audience who are guitar geeks and want to see how you play your licks--you need to give everyone else a reason to stick around for the duration.
Sounds good D, I like both videos. Like the tones.
I had a video put up a long time ago and noticed a discrepancy in timing as well. You can see me strumming and the chords you hear are off from my strumming, then there's one place I did a fast run and was half way through it on the video before you heard any of it. But that was a crappy vid shot with a camera so not sure what's to blame.
Thanks Charger. The curtain was pre-planned, it's the same color as the Charvel lol. No really, those are great points! Where were you when I started shooting? ;) I'm gonna check out the google link tomorrow. Seems like I've heard that 3rd guide before but it never entered my mind here. This is not the full tune btw, there's one more verse/chorus, some ad-libbing and fin, just didn't wanna upload the entire song until I decided on a 'look.' And while I've got you, I was thinking of adding a dash of percussion here and there and I figure you're our resident drummer/percussion man and I know you've spent your time mic'ing that stuff - do I wanna hold that shaker right up tight to the condenser mic or several feet back, or hell, across the room? Never tried it, if it sounds like ass I wont bother, but I also don't want to add it via a plugin either.
Thanks DTR. I understand what you're saying, see it often, but I gotta say, I'm pretty happy with my vid with regards to that, not seeing any video/audio lag, at least not with the true file, heck, even on the yt version it flows just fine for me. And for the tone, I have to give you a nod! You once said in passing that you loved your Red Shift as a boost. I was lovin it for what it is, a zen clone that kills for that low gain, grunty creamy soloing type drive - but I tried it as a boost with my Ceriatone and it kills!!! Using it throughout this tune! The Chupa is set for med crunch, the Shift is set as clean as possible but with some volume hitting the amp and yeah, it's not a colorless pedal, but it adds some wonderful (I said wonderful lol) low mids. Thanks!
It's hard not to record a shaker--those things are loud and cutting. If you don't have a ribbon mic, use a condenser, stick it a few feet in front of you, and try your best to stay on beat. Low cut at the preamp and at the mic--you're not gonna need anything below probably 400 in there. Mix it lowish.
yeah, it definitely adds a low mids bump in a spot that's different from any other pedal. I'm trying to find a similar bump with a 10 band MXR EQ right now...
Another vote for color. Plus I didn't see a lava lamp anywhere, isn't that a required piece of studio gear? ;)
(Oh yeah, were any cats harmed in the making of these videos? :D ;D )
Thanks for the tips, Charger, especially the eq'. Will try all that this week sometime.
I have the MXR 10, Howie, really handy for tweaking, I especially like messing with it when trying to dupe famous tones for fun with my obviously 'not the same' gear. The Red just seems to have this chirp + growl thing that the EQ pedal can't nail. Just my O though.
Thanks for the vote, Craig! Leaning color it seems. No harm to the local critters! My cat passed last year, haven't had the urge to replace her, not sure I wan't to get attached to a pet again.
Kabala — Mar 12, 2014 No harm to the local critters! My cat passed last year, haven't had the urge to replace her, not sure I wan't to get attached to a pet again.
Aww... That sucks. :( I still have that video uploaded somewhere - cracks me up every time I stumble on it!
Hey D, I wouldn't worry about minor head movements. But, if you are worried about them, you could do some of the Headless Horseman vids like Sheep used to do! ;D ;D
Thanks Craig. No worries. She was 14, not as long as I hear others say their cats lasted, but at least it was natural aging that got her (well, I had her put down per the vet) and not any degenerative stuff.
I'm not really concerned with the head movements/expressions...though I was actually considering just keeping the angle from the neck down like a shit ton of guys do, and why not, owning the face of a mackerel lol, just might've made the whole things a little easier to watch! Problem is though, with those tight up-close views, my stinkin' camera goes in and out of focus too much (can't turn off auto focus) due to the guitar moving. Long shots don't cause any problems so I mostly did that.
I must've missed Ironsheep's earlier video's! I do remember him jamming on an acoustic clip...and I recall his head fully attached in that one (I think anyway?).
I've got some videos of the Sheepster wailing away in full view. But then he heard that Howie wanted to see what he looked like and has hid ever since. :D
I have a few headless vids from last fall but they're kinda large to upload. if anyone's interested, I could, I guess... they aren't songs, though... just screwing around.
the older I get, the more likely I am to use the "headless video" method as well. :(
Hey D, I was watching a horror movie last light and I thought of you. :D
Here's a curve ball for you if you haven't decided yet. The opening scene in "The Conjuring" has a transition from B/W to color.
You could have the best of both worlds. (a little Van Hagar earworm for ya)
Hey, it works in the movies!
hrm, swore I posted in this thread a couple days ago.
oh well, Dig the song, tone, playing, I concur with Dean that blending the BW and color would be very cool.
HA! I LOVE the Conjuring! Forgot about how it moves from b/w, era correct feel to color. I just may fiddle with that. Thanks. (=
Thanks Richard. No sweat! I yanked the vids for now, got a good feel on which version was better. I finished up the whole tune now and will re-up the entire video Monday from work (fiber vs my home slowness lol).
Thanks again for all the input gents. :)