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Need advice on playing and recording through a laptop please.

Just as the title suggests, I need advice on how to play through a laptop. I'd like to record into the software, whichever software is best, and make a video at the same time. Basically recording a video but playing the guitar and MAYBE a microphone directly into the laptop so the sound is more "professional" sounding on the video.

I've found this from Dawson's Music and it's a price I can afford in the next couple of weeks:

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/behringer-u-phoria-um2-usb-audio-interfac...

I'd also like to make music tracks with the software when not making videos so is the above suitable for this too or only suitable for making music tracks? Is there a software or hardware that would be better for what I want to do with it? I don't have much funds to do this so if it can be as cost effective as possible that would be really appreciated.

I also need any further help you can offer. Can I record a video using this software or is this just for making audio tracks? Is there a software where I can play the guitar and record a video at the same time live, so to speak?

I'm an absolute novice and I know nothing about playing through a laptop but I've seen others doing it and feel it will help me when making videos. All help and advice is gratefully received. If you have some knowledge and think it's too basic and I will already know, trust me, I don't already know it.

Thanks again and hope you're all well.

Bear :0)

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Permalink Reply by Rich on March 3, 2018 at 10:01am

For Audio on PC I use a free Digital Audio Editor program to record and adjust called Audacity.

It does much more than I have needed, it has all the basics for learning also.

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 3, 2018 at 12:42pm

Thanks Rich. I've heard of it but didn't know if it was any good. I'll take a look at it. Does it let you record a video while recording audio into the computer as though you were playing through an amp and using a camera separately do you know?

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Permalink Reply by Rich on March 4, 2018 at 3:50am

I believe it is for audio only.

I have only used it on MP3 basic files which I then split into stereo and added echo and tempo changes, edits, effects that sometimes sounded bad sometimes sounded good.

Good for experimenting.

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 4, 2018 at 4:43am

Thanks again for the help, suggestion and getting back to me. I'll definitely be taking a look at that. Can I ask, how do you get your guitar's signal into the computer? Do you use an Audio Interface, record through the computer's built in mic, use an external mic and mic the front of an external amp? Some other way? I really do appreciate your help.

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Permalink Reply by 3qt17g550yh6r on March 4, 2018 at 1:33pm

I know it can be done, I use my iPad so I am using IMovie. I also have an iDock. This is how I put the music in with the video. I just don't think IMovie will work on Windows. Wish I could be of more help. I wonder if you could use your laptops camera, you could add the mic into your USB port. Simple yet effective. I don't know, just a though.

I would love to hear when you are up and running. Recording is like building guitars, you get better with each song you do. You can find some mics that sound great and are inexpensive on Amazon.com. Good luck

Rose

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 4, 2018 at 5:47pm

Thanks Rose, I appreciate your trying to help. I used to use a Mac but could only afford a laptop this time around lol. Seems to work well enough, for now. Thanks again and I hope you're well.

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Permalink Reply by Derek Rose on March 4, 2018 at 2:36pm

Bear, I use Audacity and a Blue Snowball usb mic directly into laptop for audio. No need for an interface. (Though I do want to get an interface for better results, and less latency, so far have not needed one since sound is good enough for my purposes).

I use a simple Logitech webcam for video and the Snowball mic for the audio into the webcam software. I often will open Audacity and record the audio to that at the same time as the video, which lets me go back and add additional tracks to the audio and reduce noise, add reverb, etc. Then you save the audacity audio file as an mp3 and import it into your video program. It does take some tweaking to assure the video is synched with the audio.

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Permalink Reply by 3qt17g550yh6r on March 4, 2018 at 2:44pm

Thanks Derek, I just learned something too!!

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 4, 2018 at 5:53pm

Glad this helped more than just me Rose! I always feel silly asking questions which may to others seem so simple but if I don't ask I'll never know haha. :)

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Permalink Reply by Derek Rose on March 5, 2018 at 1:39pm

Glad something I know can help someone! ;)

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 4, 2018 at 5:52pm

That's brilliant, Derek. I've done some video editing at university but that was using expensive software that can cope with all the lining up audio and video channels separately. What software do you use to align your audio and video channels, if you don't mind me asking?

Also, as a fan of your movies, are we talking about your acoustic recordings recorded along with your voice through one mic? I can do that but a large percentage of my own guitars sound far better recorded direct as the acoustic sound really isn't that great. I think I might need an interface to record the magnetic pickups rather than plugging straight into the laptop? Not sure hence the questions. You've been a massive help and I can definitely make use of your information for at least one of my current guitars immediately (just had a clear out of some of my older guitars). Thanks again my friend.

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 4, 2018 at 5:59pm

Oooh! I just realised something, Derek. Could I use the external USB mic close enough to the amp to capture the audio of both my voice and the guitar through an external amp? I have a dual input amp for mic and guitar already anyway and I have a 1/4 inch mic and stand now too. Sort of like "amping the cabinet" as I think people in the know refer to things? Not sure how much a USB mic will cost but it could be the same as the Interface linked above (£30). Definitely sounds like a great way of doing things. Thanks again!