Music Videos

[Greco]

Does your VCR have a Flying Erase Head?? If so it probably has a video INSERT feature. This is your best case. Shoot a master of the singer from beggining to end with NO breaks. Then on a separate tape shoot b- roll stuff, like dancing and such. Put the MASTER tape with the singer in your VCR and INSERT your b-roll in where you want. You may not get accurate beat counts but it'll work.

An INSERT edit in one which replaces video without changing audio.

Hope this helps..

[philipswales]

Hi,

I am interesed in making a music video, but need some help.

I am using a Hi-8 camcorder, and using the camcorder and a VCR as the editing set-up (basic, I know).

What I want to know is: how I can sync up the picture and sound so that the singer and musicians match the song (e.g no 'rubbery lips' on the singer)? Is this even possible with my set-up?

Would this be a nightmare to do, as I suspect it is? If so, then I'll just go and make a video without synch sound (such as the early REM videos which had completely independent visuals) but I'd like the option if possible.

Can anyone help?

Regards

Philip Swales, Spare Time Films

[email protected] www.sparetimefilms.co.uk

[marti-c]

This is a nightmare situation to try and do. It would be easier if you have a vcr that has got a video and audio dub feature. It is possible with only the audio dub feature, by editing with the camera and vcr and then dubbing with a cd (or similiar.....by the way make sure its the same source that the band mimed to during your 3 takes of the song). With time and patience you might achieve reasonable results. Remember when editing with your standard vcr to always use the pause button and make the next edit before it cuts off ,or you will end up with a 1 second blank piece between cuts (due to the helical video head system all vcr s use.

marti

[Ruthie]

I make music videos for a living and you are going to have one major problem.

A camera records video at 29.97 frames per second (fps). Audio records at 30 fps. If you have the artist lipsync to the music then try and match up the music to their lips, after about two minutes the video and audio will go out of sync.

The basic rule in making music videos is to lay your music down first, then put your shots in where you want them. This way you can move your video frames until they are in sync. Your set up makes it very hard to do.

One option is to record the music onto the camera. Do not use the built in mic, but rather one of the audio inputs (rca, XLR, you can even use BNC or SVHS) That way you can record video and audio in sync and not have to lay audio down separately. Good luck