Multi person video lip syncing audio track

[blasto333]

We are looking to use a song in the background where people do a quick video of them lip syncing the audio of song. We would then put the video clips with the song in the background together so it is one video with the audio playing in background.

Are their any iOS/Mac/Web applications that can simplify the process? We are thinking of either recording everyone doing the whole song and then putting together the clips; or having each person do a small part of song.

It would be great if there is some sort of service out there that can make this process easier. I know I could use iMovie; but this is going to be very time consuming.

 

[kohlson]

FCPX Multicam is exactly what you're looking for. Of course, you'll need FCPX. Also, for myself and others, it was really hard to grasp how it worked. Once you get your head around it it is very easy, and saves an incredible amount of time. Basically, you select the clips (including an mp3 of the music, if you like), select Multicam, and then it's as easy as pressing buttons (like the number key 1, 2, and so on) to show which camera you want to use at various time codes in the storyline. But if this is for one-time use, slog through it with iMovie. It will take less time. The learning curve on FCP can be steep for things like this.

 

[BeechFlyer]

+1 for what kohlson said.

One additional comment: When you record the individual video clips, make sure the song is clearly recorded along with the video. That way, synching it up in FCP X for multicam editing will be very easy.

 

[blasto333]

Is FCPX mean final cut pro x? Also if we have like 10 people; what is the best way to do the recording of each segment? Do we have each person do the whole song?
[doublepost=1453832922][/doublepost]Is FCPX Multicam a plugin? (Sorry I am really new to this)

 

[BeechFlyer]

Yes, Final Cut Pro X. Multicam editing is a standard feature of FCP X, not a separate plug-in.

For editing, yes, it would be easiest if each person recorded the whole song, but not absolutely necessary.

 

[blasto333]

Yes, Final Cut Pro X. Multicam editing is a standard feature of FCP X, not a separate plug-in.

For editing, yes, it would be easiest if each person recorded the whole song, but not absolutely necessary.

I am a programmer as my profession so I am good with computers; but I am not great with video editing.

I see fcpx cost 300. Do you think if I learned that feature it would save me time in the end vs manually doing it in iMovie? We are doing a 1 song mashup

Also. If the person actually SINGS will that screw up audio synchronization? (Actual song + their voice); or is it smart enough?

 

[BeechFlyer]

I am a programmer as my profession so I am good with computers; but I am not great with video editing.

I see fcpx cost 300. Do you think if I learned that feature it would save me time in the end vs manually doing it in iMovie? We are doing a 1 song mashup

Also. If the person actually SINGS will that screw up audio synchronization? (Actual song + their voice); or is it smart enough?

How many of these videos will you make? It's not just the $300 to buy FCP X, it's also the time you spend learning to use it. If this is a one-time thing, you may save time (let alone money) just sticking with iMovie, if that's what you already know.

People can sing along on the video if they like. There's still enough time without voice where the waveforms of the original song and the recorded clips should look alike so you can easily line them up on the timeline, especially if you always record people singing the whole song.

If you want to get an idea of what the FCP X multicam edit feature will get you, go to lynda.com, get a free test subscription and look at their "Final Cut Pro X 10.2 Essential Training" course - specifically chapter 9 on Multicam Editing. It's a very powerful tool. It can even do the synching of the clips based on audio waveforms automatically.

 

[blasto333]

I haven't used iMovie since Mac OS 9; so I am sure it is way different. It was easy to use back then.

I figure if I can save 4 hours final cut would be worth it.

 

[Unami]

Also. If the person actually SINGS will that screw up audio synchronization? (Actual song + their voice); or is it smart enough?

probably not. put your playback device next to the camera, then your playback-track will be recorded much louder than a person singing a few meters away.

as for saving you four hours... depends - if you know how you'll be cutting in imovie and film your video accordingly, you might get that done pretty fast (=under 4 hours). but if you run into any problems, they will be much easier to deal with in final cut.

i think, there's still a fully functional 30-day trial version available:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202389

 

[kohlson]

If this is a one time situation, I would put the sing-along music on your iPhone and play it, and record on your camera the subjects singing along to it. Have them sing the entire song, even if they have to revert to left-leg/right-leg be-bop every once in awhile. Don't be afraid to shout on-camera instructions every so often - this audio won't make it to the final cut. As long as they are singing to the same song, it's all good. Then, insert the clips on a time line. Note that it may require too much computer to process 10 video + one audio clip all at the same time. In which case do 5+1, export, and then do the other 5. As suggested above, just line up the audio waveforms, then silence the tracks you don't want.
In my FCPX class, while the instructor thought Multicam was easy, no one got it. It took a couple of hours of searching the web and reviewing the notes and then back to assignment. Who knows, maybe we're dumber than the general populace. But I would suggest that that the break even will be 3-4 hours, maybe more if you've never learned the fcpx basics. I could easily do it the manual way in less than half that time. But once you master Multicam, it take just a few minutes. It's awesome. My advice? If you plan on doing this once, don't even think about Multicam. Twice will be the break even. You won't gain anything until the third time. That said, it's always fun to learn really cool things. But this comes at a $ and time cost.

 

[martinX]

Multicam in FCP X is awesome. It's easy to learn and fun to use. I've done the Ripple Training series, but there are plenty of multicam tutorial videos around (like this one). Your experience may be different because you have never used FCP X before - it can be difficult to get your head around the whole thing when you first start out.

10 clips is a lot to edit as multicam. If you are capturing as H.264/MP4 and using that natively in FCPX, you are asking your Mac to deliver 10 times 25 Mbps from different spots on your hard drive AND decode the complex h.264 video codec at the same time.

If you transcode to ProRes, you are asking your Mac to deliver 10 times ~125 Mbps from different spots on your hard drive AND decode the simpler ProRes video codec at the same time.

If you transcode to ProRes and ProRes Proxy and use Proxy as your timeline codec, you are asking your Mac to deliver 10 times ~40 Mbps from different spots on your hard drive AND decode the simpler ProRes video codec at the same time. This is the way I'd recommend doing it. I think I can get 5 or 6 streams of ProRes Proxy from my hard drive RAID 0. An SSD will give you better throughput.

Learning to cut multicam on FCP X is great fun...

But this comes at a $ and time cost.

What he said.

 

[rx7dude]

Use FCPX. Makes multicams a breeze. If it's a one time thing just download the FREE trial:

http://www.apple.com/ca/final-cut-pro/trial/