How to Record a Guitar Video with Backing Track for Youtube. With Bias FX & Reaper

A 50 minute video that covers a lot of the basics on how to record a guitar video from start to finish. There is a heck of a lot that has been glossed over here as to not make the video too lengthy. There are tutorials galore on how to use all of the software that I demonstrate in this video, should you wish to expand your knowledge to make your recordings and videos even better. This is a good basic run-through however to give you an idea as to how it's done.
This is my very first time making a video of this sorts, so forgive me if I'm unclear at times or make a few mistakes.
I hope it helps.
Some of the hardware that I use and mention in this video:
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 audio Interface
Focusrite Scarlett SOLO-3RD-GEN audio interface
Headphones: Audio Technica ATH M20X
Studio monitor speakers: Mackie CR4BT CR Series Channel Studio Monitor
Software:
Do not install ASIO4ALL if you install the asio software as part of your audio interface drivers. It will override them.
ASIO4ALL sound driver www.asio4all.org/
Reaper www.reaper.fm/
Bias FX2 www.positivegr...
Shotcut video editing shotcut.org/
Support for my channel is always appreciated.
Patreon / kellydeanallen
Paypal tip jar if you're so inclined paypal.me/kellydeanallen

[@felipemarques7531]

That right there is actual proof that the real heroes do not wear capes. Amazing tutorial!

[@PrayWithUsNow]

Democrats think heroes wear turbans

[@SomeStrangemysterious]

The YTMP3 trick was worth the watch. Now I can grab backing tracks at will. Thanks 🙏

[@varunolimattel]

I haven't found a single video that breaks down the set up and recording process so well like this one does! Found it incredibly relatable and useful and encouraging, given the fact that even a star guitarist like Kelly Dean gets the job done with basic gear. Another reminder that all it takes is showing up and putting yourself out there is all that matters! Thank you!

[@FirstLast-ur6xt]

There's nothing as nice as watching a tutorial and realizing you already have all the tools he listed. Thank you! I was able to record a track for this christmas!

[@frankpratte8358]

Good tutorial; and good sounding track. My setup is just about $400. Monitors (Kali LP6) $200, headphones (AKG K240) $50, audio interface (Behringer umc202hd) $100, Reaper $65 = $415. But, my PC was about $1,500 lol. A couple of Reaper tips: - Audio equipment and vst plugins are most often optimized for -18db input, when setting the gain on your interface look for a recording input that averages around -18db. - To Delete a track or a media item you don't have to use those long conceptualized menus, just use the delete key on your keyboard - To split an item you don't need the menu just use the "s" key on your keyboard. - "W" will bring the cursor to the beginning =, Of course, ctrl v, ctrl c, ctrl z, shift ctrl z, are the standard window shortcuts for paste, copy, undo and redo respectively. There are a lot more "hot keys" to speed up your process, you can see them on the right side of the menus. Also, you can make your own hot keys for functions you often use.

[@boomerdell]

This has been one of the best and most understandable tutorials on this topic I've ever seen. This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Thank you!

[@dhellly]

Your video helped me a lot... I wanted to record my studies with quality and your video taught me how to do it👏👏👏👏

[@petermad152]

Literally the best video on KZbin to video record guitar. 🎉

[@jamesmarsh704]

Kelly, this is one of the best KZbin videos ever, all the step by step stages have helped me understand the process of recording in a simple but very effective way, you are the man!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Cheers James, and thanks!

[@robertocruz9677]

Best video on the subject I have seen for us newbies. THANK YOU!!!

[@stevebrockman4090]

As someone who has been wanting to record at home, this video answered a lot of questions. I've been trying to learn about the equipment I will need by shopping at online guitar stores, Amazon, etc. I didn't even know what DAWS was until I watched your video. Thanks for saving me much time and money as I won't be buying equipment I don't need. In spite of the affordability of the equipment you profile here, the technology and usability are impressive. I will be diving in to recording my own audio and video now. Thank you!

[@bobmays2946]

Thank you very much! I was able to follow along, bit by bit and make my first ever recording - really appreciate how well you detailed each step within each software program.

[@mhyr_ghvm]

Thank you so much Kelly for this amazing tutorial! You are one of my favorite guitar teachers on KZbin 🫶

[@davidedelprete8480]

I just wanted to say that this video was gold for me... All those details that you showed... Thank you so much.. greatings from Italy

[@captainoakleaves36]

This has to be one of the best videos on KZbin. Recording has always been a no man's land for me because it seemed like there was so much to it, but you made it seem so simple and explained it so plainly. I really appreciate your efforts man, this video gave me all the info I need to start recording music and getting it out to the world! Cheers man 🤘🏻

[@slicksalmon6948]

This is the video I've been waiting for. I didn't know you had already created it until it popped up in my feed. Thank you!

[@philf4086]

Super helpful video for this newbie! The test strike was very helpful for synching, great tip!!

[@spudsmackenzie13]

One of the best instructional YT videos ever on a topic that I wanted to learn about. Subscribed. Thank You!!

[@vancescustom955]

Great vid Kelly, first vid on this subject that covered the issue concisely and covered the total basics

[@SkipStraus]

Kelly - You nailed it today. Seems you have a knack for knowing what I'm thinking and what I need to learn about next, or which of your solo covers aligns with my mood for the day. I have been fiddling with my 2 month old Scarlett 2i2, and my tried and true free DAW, Audacity, as well as the recent Cubase and Ableton Live lite versions that came with my Line 6 amp and the audio interface. Discovered overdubbing latency, ASIO drivers and what they do, and was just starting to think about when I'd do a first video. What a great tutorial! Inspiring. Many thanks!

[@javierf55]

This is exactly what I was looking for, your step-by-step process helped me a lot to make my first video. Thanks!

[@bluzzjazz]

Thanks man, surely cut down the amount of time I would have spent getting started with this.

[@chetanverma7746]

I struggled with this for over an year, thank you so much.

[@Simvali]

Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial! Simple and straight forward. Im new to guitar recording and playing and i wanted to begin record my playing so i can see my guitar progress. This helped me a lot!

[@sebastiansilva4776]

This video is GOLD. Helped me a lot, very well explained.

[@SoFloCichlids]

Thank you so much for this video! Recently bought an audio interface and a mic so i can record my amp. This video really sparks inspiration.

[@nigelgrove7373]

Great video, so many people do tutorials that go way above my head, this is perfect for a beginner. Thank you!

[@milankotevski1663]

This is easily the best tutorial on youtube, and I've watched quite a few.

[@peterpan7206]

Great video. Have had Reaper and a Focusrite for ages but got really overwhelmed when I opened reaper the first time. This video made me want to give it a shake again. Thanks for this.🙂

[@kotdrauf]

Awesome video. Thank u very much. I'll try it out!

[@leobarrios2532]

Thank you so much for covering this topic. Now I found a hope from you.

[@yukio.motorcycle]

this is the most informative video about electric guitar recording, you’re the man!

[@Mtdfffgghv]

best video I have ever seen for beginner's. thank you so much !

[@nickhutchinson9068]

Thank you for this tutorial! I've followed it from start to finish. I just want to cover tracks and put them on KZbin and you have enabled it to happen! thanks again.

[@MrAxel1892]

Kelly, amazingly sympathetic to see, that one is never too old to start through. Fun to see how you struggle w reaper and shotgun. But finally you’re victorious. I love it! Go on mate

[@cliftonmurphy84]

Been very helpful only starting out doing all this didn’t have a clue what I was doing lol. Thanks

[@fernandorocha2759]

this is just amazing, thank you so much bro!... it´s the best tutorial i´ve seen so far

[@pclay103s]

Thank you for taking an hour out of your day to teach us. You're a good man. 👍🏿 👏🏿👏🏿 I needed this info. Cant thank you enough.

[@hadivafaei4008]

i can't believe how exact you made this video, cheers.

[@adamstones6187]

This is an amazing video, you made it simple enough for cleetus here to understand and full of awesome tips. Amazing work thank you 🎉

[@GarryLennox]

well put together , you simplified this topic for me. many thanks

[@ryangreene50]

Incredibly useful. Great stuff

[@tonyrobertsguitar]

This tutorial is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for…thanks!!👍👍

[@raulands]

Great video, straight to the point. I learnt a lot, very helpful. I also enjoyed that it is not one of these over produced videos as many are now on KZbin.

[@777shea1]

Fantastic vid!!! Really helpful, priceless actually. And thanks for recommending vid editing software. I was just wanting to make vids for a FB guitar group & I could NOT figure out how ppl have these great vids using their cell phone & you could tell the sound was not their phone mic. Loved the synching explanation & using a sound spike as a reference. Thank you, again!!

[@jeffreywestervelt2671]

Hey man!! Can’t tell you how much I appreciate this well paced easy to follow tutorial! Nice wok and helped me out a ton!

[@dr.psycho5606]

Thanks alot for taking from your time to explain these basics, This helped alot

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

My pleasure mate!

[@TheTimeProphet]

Good tutorial, but you had a lot of background noise from your computer fan. If you used a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM58 it will only record from the front and will pickup less sound from your computer fan. You can also put a noise gate and an EQ on your vocals so you don't get the hissing in the background. All this can be done in Reaper.

[@view5558]

Thank you so much Kelly. You have summarised beautifully what I learnt the hard way. You earned a subscriber. It was well narrated in good detail.

[@ericthompson9429]

Mr. Allen, this was an over and above fantastic tutorial. Bravo....Thank you kindly sir.

[@ivangarzonmusic]

Finally someone explains as it should be, thanks man

[@fabianpalmerin]

Hi there! I saw your video and I downloaded shotcut it’s amazing. Just fyi if you right click and select align to reference track , magic happens! No need to cut and move haha I loved it now I can make like 10 steps less. Thanks

[@desert_rat_guitar]

Kelly, my brain lights up when you have a new video. But this video was special, and I don't know why it's so difficult to find such a straightforward but complete "how to" video on guitar recording. This was the video I was waiting for and after viewing it I purchased Bias FX 2 Professional, Reaper, and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface. I've now got the whole signal chain working and WOW. I was tired of the tones from my Blackstar ID:Core 10 and 3 pedals and couldn't figure how to match what I was hearing from you. I still can't, but at least I have the tools to do so. I searched the Bias FX Tonecloud with your name and found nothing. Do you feel like uploading some presets for the more tonally challenged among us? Positive Grid should be sponsoring you. You have the gift of gab, and can play a passable guitar :) so don't quit, please. On a side note, a negative thing in Bias FX is that so many of the downloadable presets require software upgrades from Positive Grid. I bought Bias Amp 2 Standard because of that, and now I'm seeing presets that require Bias Amp 2 Professional. Excuse my minor rant and keep the videos coming.

[@joshyepyepzo8356]

Excellent video kelly, truly was impressive compared to almost every other video on youtube regarding this topic.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks man! Was a lot to cover in a short time. Glossed over lots but it's a good start I think.

[@jonmarshall2125]

Good stuff this helped me out a lot

[@metalhead_1996]

This is what I’ve been looking for! Thanks!!

[@sergebraida5622]

I just ordered an interface, amplitube and new headphones. Can't wait to start really recording!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Good luck with it! If you have any questions, just ask.

[@sergebraida5622]

@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar Thank you again for this video Kelly. I used the Reaper tutorial part of it to properly record a solo for the first time.

[@aholmes46]

It's so weird... I was just going through all your videos a couple days ago because I could have sworn that you'd already made a video like this. But I couldn't find it... because it didn't exist... yet! And then to top it off the first comment on here is someone who did the same thing as me. Thanks for making this, and also thank you for reinvigorating my love of playing again (I suppose I should also thank this pandemic for giving me the time to do...?). Can't wait to start recording!

[@lsilvaj]

Very useful information, mr. Allen. Thank you!

[@namgrunt51]

Great video.... thanks for sharing your knowledge 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@lics50001]

Talent is optional made me smile. Haha this is exactly what i needed and was planning on for a while now. Thank you Kelly!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

No problem mate.

[@MrRonzy123]

Thank you so much good sir. This was very helpful.

[@allanaxe6781]

Great tutorial :) Helped me a lot :)

[@markbowers7664]

Thanks so much for this video. Really one of the best tutorials. This was really so helpful to get me started with my channel. Really can't thank you enough! 🎸🎸🎸

[@andycowell608]

Thanks!! Using a DAW is a pretty steep learning process, and I really appreciate the quick start like this.

[@otraperspectiva]

wow, really extensive tutorial. I appreciate it a lot, Im looking forward to doing my first video of this type. Definitively seing in parts.

[@fairuz565]

You sir, are the real hero. Thank you for the details in this video. 2 thumbs up !!

[@frednoce3043]

Thank you for putting together such an exceptional and easy to follow tutorial I've been wanting to do this forever but didn't know where to begin. I can't wait to try this myself. Subscribed and liked!!

[@swiftrance]

omg this is exactly what i've been hunting through your channel for! the missing link! your sound is always soo good. A lot of us can play, but making the electronics work is the hardest part.

[@Chris14421]

Absolute brilliant guide Kelly, so easy to follow and very informative! You’ve earned yourself a new subscriber 😃.

[@ahmedhanin5706]

Thats exactly what i was looking for, very helpful Thank you 🙏

[@SteveMallam]

Perfect timing! I just got a Scarlett a week or two ago for my son to use for his music classes while we’re in lockdown (at least, that’s what I told the wife 😁) - I’m sure you’ve saved me many hours of figuring stuff out on my own! Thanks as always!

[@arye_amsalem]

What an outstanding tutorial. Thank you!🎉

[@braderluwi5045]

Nice video sir! I don't know these things until I saw your video. I can't wait to give it a try. Thanks!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Good luck. Have any problems, just give me a shout.

[@christianlopez6130]

Great. Exactly what I needed. Thank you.

[@fretbuzz4983]

This is awesome content just what i'm looking for. i'm new to all this and the learning curve is intimidating to say the least. more content on this for complete beginners would great...

[@pauldennehy8921]

Great tutorial. Thanks for putting this video together. Very very helpful 👍

[@nicolasdealmeida2381]

Man! You were perfect on the explanation. Amazing and clear video!!

[@jmsaint623]

Amazing tutorial. Goodjob sir

[@Zooooman]

Very helpful video thank you. not much good info on this subject. What resources did you use to learn this stuff?

[@akoharrey]

I got it! Nice teaching. However, I'm confused about recording this way. If I used a great Gibson L5, or Strat, or Tele, just for example, which I bought because of their legendary sounds, what justice does it do to it if I have to record into the computer and end up choosing some sound within a DAW as my final sound? How do I record and get the sound of my guitar as intended? Maybe this is simpler than I'm seeing, but I just don't know. Thanks.

[@wardiup939]

Such a Great Video!! Thanks so much for a great explanation!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Cheers mate, thanks!

[@antoniob.1882]

Really useful. Thank you. Can You do more tutorial about recording in this way?

[@skarfie123]

Thanks for this, really helped me. Decided to use cakewalk

[@bluesdude1194]

Very interesting and informative

[@pb12661]

Geez, this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks Man! liked and subscribed. 👍

[@BorysPolevoj2]

Thank you monsieur

[@matli316]

Great tutorial. This has been a great help for me. Thx a ton!

[@VeloVagabond]

I found this because I've been thinking about buying Bias FX 2 and I have already been watching your guitar videos and was impressed by your wide array of tones. So I appreciate you making this video to pull back the curtain a little! Wondering if you ever tried editing and merging your video and audio directly in Reaper? I've done a couple of basic videos that way. There's a little bit of work to get the Reaper settings right, but once you've done that, you can treat the video file as just another track in Reaper. You can add text, fade-ins/outs, multiple video windows etc, too. Learned those tricks from another KZbin channel called The Reaper Blog.

[@bearded_riffs]

I have same headphones they are awesome

[@kevinmonsonalaksa]

Thank you for the great video! I was waiting for one key point that you never brought up. And that is using backing tracks without a license. Are you paying for a license to be able to put these covers on the internet and if so what service do you use? As we all know the trouble you can get in from using original material anymore is not something we can take lightly. TIA!

[@billwarkentin3630]

So well spoken and informative! Thank-you!!

[@Rekcolbkcoc]

Very well put together tutorial man, thank you for your time!

[@MrAnalyptic]

Great guide hope I can get it all going with my boss katana

[@markcalvert6402]

Great job. Love your channel. Been lurking here since day one I think. Watch plenty of other youtube guitarists, but always look forward to yours. Wish I had half your talent. Similar journeys on and off the guitar over the years. I do something similar, using a Behringer UMC22, same exact headphones, GarargeBand, some basic JBL 104 monitors, and rarely use my amp. I do use DaVinci Resolve for video. It is pro quality, and does much more than Shotcut (no issues with it, tried it briefly a couple of years ago), but DR can do the automatic audio sync and mutli-camera is a breeze. And the free version is amazing. Tons of youtube tutorials out there. Might want to give it a try. Now I need to check out that Bias FX2. Your sounds are amazing. Another video on using Bias for some your tones for the classic solos would be very interesting. And thanks for your tutorials on some of those rare but classic solos from Sweet Jane and Aqualung, among others. Play it loud!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Hey Mark, thanks for that. I'll check out DR for sure. I get kind of set in my ways and fear change sometimes. I'm still learning a lot about video editing with shotcut. I was actually thinking about doing just a video on bias fx. Sometimes I can sit there for hours on a tone search. The past two days has been Stevie Ray Vaughan. Might make for an interesting vid for sure.

[@silvercn8337]

so good for so many.. thanks bro!

[@carlospaz28]

great video, nice & well rounded, almost self explanatory. well done, subbed!

[@amirhosseinazizi7570]

Thank you for this nice tutorial💯

[@ricmel8008]

Thanks for this video

[@1sylvan1]

Wow!! You had me then you lost me! LOL Seriously, great video but way over my head. I’m where you were a few years ago when you didn’t know anything about this computer recording stuff. So.. how did you get here from there? Really. I really think I need a hands on tutor! Keep up the good work.