How to Make a Music Video
Step by Step
Music Videos can be produced by practically any musician and then made available for download and music video streaming at a very reasonable price today. Years ago, this was big news. Now most bands are aware of this. But if you haven't done it, this should help.
There is great opportunity for bands and musicians to produce and release their own music video. The music business is a tough one and exposure can be tricky. A compelling music video on YouTube has been shown to be a game changer.
Your Music Video can be easily created by taking a prerecorded audio stereo track and playing to it and/or lip syncing while recording the performance from different angles and against different backgrounds. I've used a simple boom box and small video camera.
Then the music audio master is combined with edited video using a computer to create a video. Once that is accomplished, the video can be saved in one of a variety of web compatible formats.
The audio process for a video usually is done before the video is shot. The process is no different. You can also record live, but it is more difficult to pull off, although live can work. You don't even need anything but a camera with microphones at a minimum.
The Audio Process
Whether you want to record something to jam to, record a
master two track for a CD and a video, or to convert to MP3 just pick
the best approach for your situation. Musicians today are blessed with
technology that not only allows
quality production at a 1000th of what it cost just 10 years
ago. And this is not only true of audio, but video technology.
Being
able to create a music video, but post it, stream it, promote it and
maybe even
sell it on the Internet for almost pennies if not free if you can
borrow the music equipment and needed music gear. You can make a CD
with a PC
or Mac for less than $1.00 a CD. There are some great free
software studio programs and product demo downloads on
Download.com and other shareware websites that can help turn your PC or
Apple computer into a great recording studio. .
Scripting, shooting, editing and engineering the Video
Its quickest to record live, but most times, you may already have the song recorded and you lip sync to it and/or put shots of other stuff. Video is a powerful medium, especially when coupled with a strong song that is recorded well.
You can draft a script, even story board. And its good to have more ideas of shots than you need as some of it likely will not end up working well. Shooting in direct sunlight is a great way to save trouble. Make sure your video lighting is good. Don't be afraid to over shoot material. Of course you have to have a camera.
Trust me, you can't go wrong with a good Digital Video Camera. But an analog camera can work well. You can use a PC to edit and mix the video and audio into one long clip. You can also use two regular old VCRs. Add Adobe Premiere or some other software and a stout Mac or PC or better and you have a digital production company. Check out Download.com for some great free software or demos.
Streaming you Music Video on the
Web
Today the Internet provides great access for downloading and streaming music video. Whether for a band, individual artist or corporate events, video over the Internet is a reality for even a beginner.
Once you have the video read to go in a format, you will likely have to convert it to a file that is smaller and ready for a web streaming.
Then, you can put up your own site or post your video to one of the many sites that accept video. And there is always You Tube!
Here is the first video I made and I did it all by myself. If I had known how it would turn out, I would have spend more time on it. I recorded all the parts by myself and burned a CD. Took a boom box and a Sony TRV900 with a tripod and a couple of guitars and headed up Mount Diablo in Northern California and just started shooting. A day later, started editing it using Adobe Premiere and a week later showed it to my band to inspire us to do one ourselves. Then, made and DVD using free software, compressed to a web video and here it is still: Free Music Video