How To Make Multitrack Recordings - BEGINNER TUTORIAL by Danny Fong

[TheOriginalPhex]

@daniscool99 What software do you use to record your video?

[kvector]

Great video, but how can I record while listening at the same time?

When I record from stereo mix, I also hear the speakers output, so every track (except the 1st) is mixed with all the previous ones...

[MafyuB]

Yeah not gonna lie, singing bass is hard. That's why I've started asking some of my low baritone and bass friends to sing those lower parts. It's the only thing that sucks about being a tenor and doing this multitrack thing. But we still have the effortless high notes. :)

[daniscool99]

@MafyuB Yeah in many of my recent videos I've been ditching the Wow Factor of "he's singing all the parts" and replacing it with the "this is very well done in every voice part" mindset,

[WeightlessAnchor]

i know how to record multitrack. but my question is, can you upload only the audio on to youtube?

[daniscool99]

@WeightlessAnchor Nope. You can use a very simple video program and put your audio to a black background.. though, from my start on YouTube, I found putting video to it and doing a good job of it attracts a lot more viewers. Some of my first videos still have only a few thousand views after 4 years on black backgrounds.

[yogertlvr]

I have been recording a multi track for church, and I must tell you, this video gave me some great ideas. for my recording Im just using windows sound recorder recording one track at a time, but I need to get a better program. Thanks for this tut...

[Fredguy15]

Just curious, which notes represent the voices or whatever?

[germyw]

I really enjoyed that for it's entertainment value. Man I miss singing in the choir.good job.

[charlietheblogger]

Thanks for this tutorial. I may have a try at it one of these days (and if I'm bothered to learn the tenor track! ;-p).

[calacala1]

if i only could sing nao lol

[pikachu2460]

I use to take arrows to the knee, but then i found out about multitracks.

[momessi100]

wow no dislike greatwork man

[SJRogers]

Does the camera you use have an external mic input?

[daniscool99]

@SJRogers yes, though I don't use it.

[howelllawson]

I plan on doing pretty much what you do, only instead of vocals, I'll be using violin/cello/piano/etc. I'll be doing more or less what you did in the tutorial, correct?

[SuperCulby]

@howelllawson pretty much the same thing, I'm doing it too (check video responses for my version)

It's cool that there's another multitracker on a string instrument! :D

[ec52]

I'm sorry, you are just too cool. I love barbershop and you're my favorite barbershopper to watch on here. :) keep up the good work!

[birchnbark]

Hi, sounds awesome! What are you using for compression? Is there a compressor in the Apogee Duet or it's software? Or are you using the compressors in Logic Pro. Can you tell me what compressor you're using and what you're compressior settings are set at? Thanks, keep it up!.

[justie1220]

Hey Danny, Yeti by Snowball is a GREAT USB Microphone for use in multitracking.

[LouChuu]

Sweet, a Claymore wallpaper! You should try doing an A Cappella of the Opening or Ending ahah.

[loinsrch]

Thanks for sharing, Dan. That was very helpful!

[t1e1rry]

A good magician never reveals his secrets, but a good barbershopper will stay up with you for hours in a stairwell at 3AM just teaching you a tag. Thank you, Danny, for taking the time to put this together for us.

[musicscifigirl]

Do you use the video of yourself for cues or do you just watch the waveform? Also, could you do a tutorial for making the actual video?

[daniscool99]

@musicscifigirl I never use the video for cues; only watching the waveforms. Sometimes a metronome depending on the piece. Slower out of time pieces don't work with a metronome but something like the next 3 things I've got in the works could use a metronome ;) . I might make a tutorial for video editing, but what I do is very very basic, and there is probably a lot better stuff out there already for video editing. Maybe not by an a cappella multitracker.. but it's out there.

[Kylebbs314]

Love the OVERTONES!

[butlertyrek]

Fantastic....where can i find this piece???

[daniscool99]

@butlertyrek In the description.

[TnFresh67]

Thanks. Retired guy here who has always wondered how you and others can do multi-tracks. Howard

[TheOriginalPhex]

I got goosebumps at 8:20.

[Konnorshi]

One thing I have to suggest - Your D's didn't sound like they were there at ALL at the end of the tag, it sounded like it ended with the l in world, I'm not sure if that was on purpose, but it's just something I can suggest.

[snifflesofdeath]

Thank you. I have some much trouble with voice. Very encouraging. I always thought each take had to be perfect. The imperfections give it texture .Pitch is very important , but not the end all be all. When you hit the last sustain in the first track ,it gave off the tin sound that I hate in my own voice . When you layer and add re verb BINGO! very nice .

[ChuckD2309]

Thanks, Danny!

[PEHSChoir]

I've tried using Windows Movie maker for the Video portion but I cannot get them all onto same screen. Do you have any idea how?

[bibbeny]

Ummm the first thing I need to have to do a multitrack is a voice like yours.....I'll just listen to you, :-) great vid!

[PEHSChoir]

What program do you use to have multiple videos all on one screen? I have a windows 7 computer

[daniscool99]

@PEHSChoir For windows I've seen some multitracks done in Windows Movie Maker, though if you want to be able to use professional effects you could try Sony Vegas.

[drewjbonner]

Another good USB Mic is the Yeti by Blue in case anyone was wondering.. It's what I use!

[primetymept]

What video editing software do u use!!! Thats all i want to know!!

[daniscool99]

@primetymept It's in the description :)

[robertdiniro]

Naruto in the background. Sexy music happening in the foreground. Me gusta.

[zacisabass]

If that's low for you, in other videos do you sing in the morning? I'm pretty sure you've hit low F's and Eb's...

[daniscool99]

@zacisabass Yeah. I can't sing low and high at the same time. When I do them all in one sitting, I usually record the bass and then make my way up to tenor as my voice warms up. As it warms up my low register goes away and my high one starts to work! When I'm warmed up I actually can't sing much lower than a C below middle C.

[TheBig5Brass]

Great video, it will be nice to have something to link to when people ask!

[ulfilen]

Wow. That was fun to watch. I also like the music being there so I could sing along. Thanks.

[okrimitnoc]

Cool! I'm going to post it on "You Tube audio & Video multitracking" page on Face Book.

Very Well Done.

[daniscool99]

@Teeg82 Thanks! Enunciate in singing or speaking?

[Teeg82]

@daniscool99 Ah, well both actually, but I noticed it immediately when you first started speaking. It was just so clear, with every sound so defined which, I think, in retrospect, you also do while singing.

[daniscool99]

@Teeg82 Interesting. I was actually doing a presentation last year (coincidentally about Barbershop Harmony), and my teacher asked me "are you sure you want to be a musician?" Because you speak so clearly that you could be a fantastic public speaker.

[Teeg82]

@daniscool99 Hah, well there you go. Just please don't quit the music, whatever you end up doing!

[Gunrose11]

THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! You are such a natural.

[zazinon]

lol u critique yourself really hard, lol

[Arslanjkee]

claymore! 

[SuperCulby]

It's funny because I noticed all of the things you were critical of too. I'm like that when I record (and even then I get frustrated and just mix whatever I get, because it's not gonna be perfect) :P

[12stuart23]

your pitching is astounding ! 

[lordwindgrace]

I spy with my little eye Diablo II : Lord of Destruction =) and with that your coolness meter just went through the roof

[daniscool99]

@lordwindgrace Ahaha yes, I'd be lying if I said I don't still play..

[MadManMarkAu]

Do you ever release your multitracks as individual tracks? It would be cool to be able to isolate a particular track and play around with it. :)

[daniscool99]

@MadManMarkAu I do, but not as a free download to the public. That's basically what learning tracks are, though, instead of being used to play around with, they're used for choirs to learn music quickly without rehearsal or sheet music to follow!

[MrFungi93]

awe hell. even when you say it wasnt good, I think it sounded epic

[baseresonance]

this is great very informative. and I actually like how your recording wasnt perfect it really shows how even for someone as experienced as you multitrack recording is something that youll get right the first time

[MDMesser001]

Excellent tutorial! Better to give more info than not enough. (Said the guy who posted the dumbest "how to" multitrack video ever made.)

[Marlage]

So awesome! 

[sqwalkie]

nice!.....i've always wanted to see this process

[superstar4god88]

It's nice to know you're not completely perfect on every take. There's hope for the rest of us!

[LPaige14]

Whoa. You must be really good at sightreading if that line wasn't rehearsed. I am personally awful when it comes to sightreading haha.

[moviemantommy]

Great tut! Nice job!

[robbiedoesNL]

Hi Danny, this was a nice look into your "kitchen" of multitrack recording. Although I do multitracking with instruments also, the basic is always the same: sing in tune, play in tune and keep up the correct timing. You did this all great for a tutorial!! I really do love your voice!

Good luck and greetings,

Robert

[MyRabidMongeese]

YOU HAVE MADE MY DAY!

Thank you for this awesome tutorial.

[hjotto]

THX Dan for posting this tutorial!

[TJgrebdnul]

I don't sing barbershop, I don't record multitracks, that was just a lot of fun to watch! :)

[HaukJRoesten]

Funny how I was doing exactly this yesterday, only I do it to learn new songs faster :D

[danwright32]

nice idea! I wish I had something like this when I was starting out

[Smurff017]

nice song, thanks for the video :)

[SuperMrPercy]

Hey ! Thanks a lot buddy, this is very helpful ! One question: how do you assemble the video with the soundtrack once you have finished it ? (i am using GarageBand, and I don't see any video stuff in it). Do you use iMovie (or better) to synchronize the video after having finished the soundtrack ?

[daniscool99]

@SuperMrPercy I use Final Cut Express, but I think imovie has the ability to do the multiple screen stuff now.. but don't quote me on that.

[SuperMrPercy]

@daniscool99 Thanks ! I'll try to do my own now...

[TheRantingBrit]

The problem with Audacity is that it records the tracks out of time. You lay down one track and it's fine. You can then sing over it, but when you play it back, the second track will be significantly behind the first track. You can get away with moving the tracks in to time, but it still sounds off when you layer up a few tracks. I don't know whether that's the program or me.

[mrtobiaskeil]

@TheRantingBrit you need a audio-card. Im using the M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496, its a audio-card for a windows desktop-PC but there are many others like external cards with a firewire or usb port you can use with any PC. This (card+drivers) will serve you the low latency you need to make realtime recordings. I think Dani's Preamp is a Preamp and an audiocard in one device.

[TheRantingBrit]

@mrtobiaskeil That's helpful. Thank you. :D

[jimmyjamjar10101]

@TheRantingBrit It's just that you haven't set up your latency correctly. There's tutorials on YouTube for changing latency.

[bbstenor419]

@TheRantingBrit I use audacity and i do not have that much problem with latency...... try using the beta version its better.

[tagtenor]

Cool stuff! Have been wanting to get a system like this for a few years. "Back in the DAY", I used to do this using a dual CASSETTE recorder...switching the cassettes back and forth for each part! LOLOL!! (Sometimes 8 - 10-part vocals!) But as you can imagine, each generation of recording...the audio quality got worse and worse!

Question..... A lot of these recordings I hear by people sound perfectly in tune. Is there an auto-tune feature on your system? Or vocal "enhancer"?

[mrtobiaskeil]

@tagtenor u can get autotune/melodyne etc. as a plugin for the programm he's using. In Cubase there is even one integrated: VariAudio. But in his case the key to the magic is just that he's able to sing nearly perfect in tune. ;)

[tiger2wild]

Great job! Thanks for the help. I've been looking for something like this to get me started for a while now and am glad to see something like this from a singer such as yourself. Well Done!

[danielwills93]

this is great. Been hoping for this for a while now. Cheers.

[bmcics]

Thank you Dan, that was interesting. Now will be looking at software :)

[trudbol]

Great idea and impressive performance. ;-)

PS: I was working on the same project idea, just didn't finish it yet! Argggl ;-)

[anonymomification]

@trudbol Shall keep an eye out for it!

[TheMyLiFeYoUrLoVe]

This is really awsome thanks

[TheMyLiFeYoUrLoVe]

2nd

[TheGuitarcoverperson]

thnx!