A number of people have asked me how I do my video backgrounds, so I thought I would produce a video showing exactly how I do it. My thanks go to Geoff Tiny who helped me a lot when I was getting going. I hope this helps a few people get going too. Dave

Lots of people ask me about how I record my music videos so having already shown you how I do the Chroma Key/Green Screen using Power Director, I thought I would now give you a wiz around my spare room recording set-up. I should add that I find I feel the music better if its loud, so I tend to use headphones rather than the Logitec computer speakers, so I can have it blasting in my ears, but no-one else hears it. I hope someone finds this helpful.

I recorded this video to illustrate how I produce my YouTube music videos in Power Director V10 using Green Screen techniques. I have utilized other video backdrops and shown how I deal with Video and Audio synchronisation and some other tricks learned. In this example I have shown how I produced "The Dark Island" which I recently published . Hopefully others will find the information useful in getting them started with video/audio editing. Good luck. Dave

p.s. To capture my screen shot in a video whilst doing this demo I have used BB FlashBack Express Recorder.

I am often asked how I record lead guitar with a backing track. If you have done it before it is simple, but if you don't know, this may help. Audacity is freeware and available for download from the internet. Please excuse the video and sound quality which is not the best. A number of people have asked about my connections. My guitar is connected to my effects pedal, which is then connected directly to the Line-in socket on my PC.

If Audacity isn't recording your input, go to Edit/Preferences in Audacity. Click on devices. Make sure the Recording device selected is the connection you have connected your guitar to. This should allow Audacity to pick up your input. If Audacity doesn't play the backing track whilst recording a new track, go to Edit/Preferences and from the menu select Recording. Make sure the Overdub check box is checked. This will allow previous tracks to play whilst recording a new one.

ChordPulse Lite is a free edition of ChordPulse with 24 music styles and 5 chord types.

It is a simple tool to practice, improvise and compose music in an efficient and fun way.

Create custom backing tracks easily, experiment with chord progressions and musical ideas, enjoy your practice. Change chords, tempo, key and music style with a few clicks.

Ernst (BurnsErnst) mentioned he had used it to add base and drums to his recording, so I thought I would have a look at it.

Although the tracks produced are somewhat simplistic, I was very impressed with it, and found I could get a usable track for practice in a few minutes.

Here I demonstrate the production of a backing track for "Spring is nearly here" by the Shadows.

ChordPulse Lite is available for download from here:-

http://www.chordpulse.com/lite.html

The backing track created is demonstrated here:-

http://youtu.be/E_IR7TCorl0

Audacity Change tempo

As I am on Corona Virus - Self Isolation at the moment, so I have a little more spare time, so I thought I would show you a useful feature of Audacity. If a piece of music is too fast to learn easily, you can slow in down in Audacity, whilst maintaining the pitch. This is a very useful tool in helping to learn difficult passages in any music.