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Mark Johnson - Posted - 06/09/2017: 07:57:12
semi-random thread drift, but can you talk about your recording setup?
do you have a second mic in the room? the one condenser seems to be angled to pick up your voice, but the banjo sounds pretty great in the videos... curious if there is a second mic in the room.
are you capturing the audio and video separately?
I haven't made a video of banjoing in years... I'm daydreaming about doing it again, but would need to up my game a bit. The stuff I've done in the past is not up to current YouTube standards.
and another compliment... you're churning these videos out and they're all solid.
FretlessFury - Posted - 06/13/2017: 05:33:12
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Johnson
semi-random thread drift, but can you talk about your recording setup?
do you have a second mic in the room? the one condenser seems to be angled to pick up your voice, but the banjo sounds pretty great in the videos... curious if there is a second mic in the room.
are you capturing the audio and video separately?
I haven't made a video of banjoing in years... I'm daydreaming about doing it again, but would need to up my game a bit. The stuff I've done in the past is not up to current YouTube standards.
and another compliment... you're churning these videos out and they're all solid.
Hey Mark!
I'm a total nerd for recording, and so perhaps obsess a little too much on this aspect of production. I think it's worth it though, especially for fellow audio nerds (like you perhaps!).
I'm planning on a "rig rundown" video at some point as I get a lot of questions about how I'm getting my sound. I'll do a bonus video over the summer detailing my process.
Here's a quick summary for those who want to give it a shot:
I've found two keys to getting my audio to sound decent: room treatment and volume automation.
Those panels behind me in the videos are made of framed Corning rockwool covered in acoustically transparent fabric. My daughter has dubbed them "The Meat Lozenges" due to my unfortunate color choice. I have 6 of them on the walls in my studio, and they have a huge effect on the recordings I make in here. If you were to just walk into my studio, you would immediately "feel" the absorption. It's palpable. It helps me get a tighter, focused sound. It also helps students hear their instruments better when I'm giving lessons here. You can build them for cheap, and there are a ton of plans all over the internet.
I'm using a single small condenser mic to capture all audio for the videos. I use Logic Pro to mix and master the audio tracks before importing them to iMovie. The banjo is obviously louder than my speaking voice, so I automate volume within Logic to lower the banjo volume in the track. I also use a compressor plugin to even out overall volume.
To master the track I use a brickwall limiter to bring the overall volume up and shave off any remaining signal that is too loud.
In the rig rundown video I'll give more details as to the exact equipment I'm using.
As far as Banjo Blitz content goes, my goal is a year of weekly short videos. I'm pulling directly from lessons with students, which I give every day. That really helps with generating the content. I have no idea if I'll be able to actually do 52 weeks. If I fail, you'll all witness it! I'm planned out to September right now, so I think I can do it.
Once Banjo Blitz is concluded, I've got some other series planned as well that I think folks will enjoy.
Anyway, thanks for watching the videos! Which reminds me...I forgot to link the newest ones here. I'll do that now.
Best,
Tom
Edited by - FretlessFury on 06/13/2017 05:34:31
FretlessFury - Posted - 06/30/2017: 11:01:55
Hi guys,
Unfortunately, Photobucket changed their hosting rules that have been in place since 2003, breaking 10 billion links to photos across the internet....including the thumbnails that I painstakingly create every week for Banjo Blitz. No warning, not heads up. Fretless Fury is peeved, and that ain't right.
I'll be updating my links to fix this thread, but it'll take a few days to repair them. Please hang in there!
Edited by - FretlessFury on 06/30/2017 11:09:31
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/08/2017: 16:58:39
Heeeey YO! Weekend time is here. So is Banjo Blitz time. Today we learn how to put the Galax Lick into a typical tune arrangement as you wrap yourself around your banjo like a sweet potato vine.
youtube.com/watch?v=twXPq6L1m8o
Vetsorn - Posted - 09/12/2017: 13:05:44
I just wanted to thank you so much for the lessons, Tom!
You are really filling a gap in online banjo resources that needed to be filled. There are countless lessons out there on beginner stuff, but very few that focus on the more advanced techniques that you are delving into at the moment. You are my primary source of learning at the moment! Thank you!
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/15/2017: 17:13:45
quote:
Originally posted by Vetsorn
I just wanted to thank you so much for the lessons, Tom!
You are really filling a gap in online banjo resources that needed to be filled. There are countless lessons out there on beginner stuff, but very few that focus on the more advanced techniques that you are delving into at the moment. You are my primary source of learning at the moment! Thank you!
You're welcome! Thanks so much for the comment!!
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/15/2017: 17:15:34
Whoa, the new website format has mangled the thumbnails!
Let's git our bum on. It's bum ditty time!
youtube.com/watch?v=DMZRGrrv81M
Edited by - Bill Rogers on 09/16/2017 18:22:06
DC5 - Posted - 09/16/2017: 06:47:31
Tom, these are great. Just started and I find the exercises very useful and can already see an improvement in my playing. My only problem is finding a quality metronome, I'm on my 3rd one and they all keep slowing down and speeding up, oddly in the same places. ;-)
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/16/2017: 08:04:19
quote:
Originally posted by DC5
Tom, these are great. Just started and I find the exercises very useful and can already see an improvement in my playing. My only problem is finding a quality metronome, I'm on my 3rd one and they all keep slowing down and speeding up, oddly in the same places. ;-)
Hahahaha! Yeah, mine too, DC5! You'd think by know we'd be able to design a metronome that keeps perfect time!
DC5 - Posted - 09/17/2017: 09:05:57
quote:
Originally posted by FretlessFury
Hahahaha! Yeah, mine too, DC5! You'd think by know we'd be able to design a metronome that keeps perfect time!
Right, if they can fake putting a man on the moon, you'd think they can make a metronome that keeps good time. I'm also looking for a computer keyboard with DWIM capabilities. (Do What I Mean)
Paul R - Posted - 09/17/2017: 12:59:46
Just discovered these today. Fantastic! And they are helping rekindle my enthusiasm for the banjo (been playing less banjo and more fingerpicking guitar lately). Your lessons really help to refine technique. Thanks!
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/18/2017: 07:32:31
quote:
Originally posted by DC5
quote:
Originally posted by FretlessFury
Hahahaha! Yeah, mine too, DC5! You'd think by know we'd be able to design a metronome that keeps perfect time!
Right, if they can fake putting a man on the moon, you'd think they can make a metronome that keeps good time. I'm also looking for a computer keyboard with DWIM capabilities. (Do What I Mean)
I blame Stanley Kubrick for the whole mess...faked moon landing to malfunctioning 'nomes.
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/18/2017: 07:35:35
quote:
Originally posted by Paul R
Just discovered these today. Fantastic! And they are helping rekindle my enthusiasm for the banjo (been playing less banjo and more fingerpicking guitar lately). Your lessons really help to refine technique. Thanks!
Hey Paul!
Man, that is so great to hear...and comments like this motivate me to keep the Banjo Blitz flowing. Enthusiasm is the #1 thing you need to get good at an instrument. The trick is maintaining that enthusiasm over the long haul. Keep on it!
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/22/2017: 07:48:33
OMG, face still soooo blue....
The things we do for banjo.
This week we take a look at the brush stroke, and how to get it right.
youtube.com/watch?v=03O6zjwGUi0
Edited by - FretlessFury on 09/22/2017 07:50:57
FlyinEagle - Posted - 09/22/2017: 08:11:58
Hey Tom,
I'm a Scruggs picker, but little by little I've been picking up clawhammer through these lessons, so I just wanted to say thanks for doing these videos and posting them.
I really appreciate them!
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/22/2017: 09:20:44
quote:
Originally posted by FlyinEagle
Hey Tom,
I'm a Scruggs picker, but little by little I've been picking up clawhammer through these lessons, so I just wanted to say thanks for doing these videos and posting them.
I really appreciate them!
You're welcome! I hope you enjoy your foray into clawhammer!
Blue Tick - Posted - 09/22/2017: 15:38:09
All I can say is WOW! Thank you so much, Tom! This really helps me get a handle on my practice sessions. My usual problem when trying to take up a new instrument is to try to go toooo fast, jumping from step 1 to step 7. With your video approach, I can break this down into bite size chunks.
Can't wait to get started tonight!
Ken
Buzzard Hill, Alabama
fornost - Posted - 09/29/2017: 05:01:00
As a new player I was looking for something to give me a direction, I have found it in Banjo Blitz. Thank you for the work you do in making this. It is very much appreciated.
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/29/2017: 05:48:14
quote:
Originally posted by Blue Tick
All I can say is WOW! Thank you so much, Tom! This really helps me get a handle on my practice sessions. My usual problem when trying to take up a new instrument is to try to go toooo fast, jumping from step 1 to step 7. With your video approach, I can break this down into bite size chunks.
Can't wait to get started tonight!
Ken
Buzzard Hill, Alabama
Whoohooo! Glad it works for you, Ken. Please keep me posted on your progress!
FretlessFury - Posted - 09/29/2017: 05:48:44
quote:
Originally posted by fornost
As a new player I was looking for something to give me a direction, I have found it in Banjo Blitz. Thank you for the work you do in making this. It is very much appreciated.
You're welcome! Thanks for the comment!
FretlessFury - Posted - 10/30/2017: 08:02:38
Happy Halloween everyone! Since I live in Salem, I thought I'd put together a Banjo Blitz episode with a (loose) Halloween theme. Hope you enjoy!
youtube.com/watch?v=G0PKV5Yb8ZI
Exile1981 - Posted - 11/01/2017: 15:50:11
O oh, and I haven't even completely tamed beast #1..
This will keep me out of trouble for a while.
Tom, thanks for doing this series! They are very helpful, interesting and insightful. I've really enjoyed watching them so far!
Really appreciate the time and effort you put in making and sharing these.
Thanks,
John
FretlessFury - Posted - 11/03/2017: 12:03:29
quote:
Originally posted by Exile1981
O oh, and I haven't even completely tamed beast #1..
This will keep me out of trouble for a while.
Tom, thanks for doing this series! They are very helpful, interesting and insightful. I've really enjoyed watching them so far!
Really appreciate the time and effort you put in making and sharing these.
Thanks,
John
Thanks soooo much, John!
FretlessFury - Posted - 11/10/2017: 06:36:40
Building on last week's episode, we learn to substitute drop thumb for ditty's for a subtle, but compelling change in the feel and sound of a phrase of Cripple Creek.
youtube.com/watch?v=i8NMmX_ksUU
banjocatpdx - Posted - 11/14/2017: 22:22:31
New player here! Taking lessons but am getting lots of great tips on how to do drills from your series. Been using “The Beast” for warmups and practice and your advice to use a metronome really helped! Thanks for doing these videos :)
FretlessFury - Posted - 11/15/2017: 07:35:45
quote:
Originally posted by banjocatpdx
New player here! Taking lessons but am getting lots of great tips on how to do drills from your series. Been using “The Beast” for warmups and practice and your advice to use a metronome really helped! Thanks for doing these videos :)
Thanks so much for the comment, banjocatpdx! Glad the videos are helping.
Love your banjo/cat photo!!
lilyrose - Posted - 12/03/2017: 10:59:02
Thank you Tom for those helpful videos together with your smiling good humor. Every week I wait for your new banjo blitz and it's always a nice moment of banjo.
FretlessFury - Posted - 12/04/2017: 13:01:33
quote:
Originally posted by lilyrose
Thank you Tom for those helpful videos together with your smiling good humor. Every week I wait for your new banjo blitz and it's always a nice moment of banjo.
You're so welcome, lilyrose! Thanks so much for your lovely comment.
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