So, you want to make a YouTube cover and are thinking about what you might need? I’m sure you will find ideas and the things that you need to think about when you’re planning to make a YouTube cover in this article.
To make a successful YouTube the singer must have the song readied to the point of getting it recorded. Beyond that post-production will follow and having the skills to mix and master your own songs will determine how much it’ll cost you to make a good-sounding final track.
There are of course no limits to what kind of video quality you can have and even your taste in videography will develop as time goes but this article will cover every aspect that you may encounter while making a YouTube cover.
Practice
The most important thing that you can do is to make sure that you are actually able to sing the song that you are going to record yourself singing.
That is only possible if you’ve put in the time that is required by you to master every nuance the song has for you so when the time to record comes you are able to record it in as less takes as possible and not rely on hit and miss strategy that you can apply when you’re recording yourself at home.
If you find yourself doing too many takes, you need to practice more.
The reason for this is twofold.
First, mastering the song that you’re going to record allows you to get used to it.
Second, the more time you can give to post-production the better your mix will sound.
If you’re a complete beginner then both stages are going to take longer but as you progress through the system that you’ve created yourself you’ll realize that you’ll be faster and faster with your progress.
If you’re wondering if your singing lessons and practice have been worth it, I would highly suggest that you check out this article that I’ve written which talks about the benefits of learning how to sing online and if you just want to skip to the part where you just want the course then this is it.
Always remember that you’re better off practicing for 10 days so you can perform perfectly on the 11th day rather than trying to record every day and ‘hoping’ to get better eventually.
I say this often and I will keep on saying this, practicing even 30 minutes a day is enough if you’re consistent with it.
The worst part is this, good practice doesn’t get applauded but is expected to have a standard while bad practice is almost surely evident, even by people who aren’t musicians. It’s the same thing when you can look at a human face made by an artist who is struggling with anatomy and you can tell something’s off but can’t put a finger on it.
So, practice hard.
Recording from Phone
If you’re going to use a phone to record, I will say this, using a phone has no downsides as long as it comes to video. The video quality even budget phones are capable of is amazing.
However, the audio quality with which phones are equipped is pretty bad.
It’s so bad that I would highly suggest that you invest in some other form of audio equipment to record your audio separately. The reasoning behind that is also simple, the cost of setting up your audio recording equipment is equivalent to buying a decent phone and if you go to the used market, the value for money is hard to beat.
There are literally no downsides to setting something like this up. It’s easy and if you have a laptop, half the work is already done.
You could use the audio from the phone to mix but I would suggest you only take the plunge once you are aware of how to separate the audio from the video and also that you have a very controlled environment where you won’t be getting a lot of noise.
Wouldn’t the same be true if you had a home studio setup?
The thing with a home studio setup is that you are entitled to make as many takes as possible (if there is background noise). And you can record whenever you get the time since it’s not going to cost you anything to do it.
Mixing
Before you even ask, yes, you need to mix it.
Mixing is going to make sure that the audio that you’re putting up is as good as it can be from your end so that you sound as good as you possibly could.
If you’re going to be doing your own mixing, don’t worry the first mixes are always bad and you will get better over time. It’s quite a whole rounded system. Practicing, recording, mixing and it all comes together as a final product that you develop so you can post it online.
Another thing about mixing, learning how to do your own music production is going to allow you to get hired in the music industry much easier, it’s a skill that’ll always be in demand, and whenever you feel the creative itch you can always lay down your ideas to be recorded.
Given how easy it is to gain access to music production these days, I’d say you ought to learn it without excuses.
A Gift That Keeps on Giving
But that’s not it, if you’re putting up a cover, having the skills of music production by your side is going to allow you to arrange the songs the way that you want to. If you understand music theory a little arrangement can add that ‘flair’ of your own taste to someone else’s song.
Additionally, you can change the key, tempo, and everything else to just make it your own but then we need to talk about how to go about it legally.
Legally Speaking
Well, I don’t know if you know but putting up covers requires you to legally state as such. Otherwise, there are copyright violations on YouTube.
If you think you’re doing a really good job and even want to release the cover officially will help a lot. Using Distrokid will allow you to publish the song legally as a cover, just make sure you do the metadata and everything else correctly.
You might think this isn’t fair but laws are laws.
Video Editing
Don’t be dismayed by people who have better video quality than you. It’s okay, you’re starting out. It’ll get better as you grow into it.
Obviously, if you have the means to shoot a higher video quality than the one your phone is capable of then go for it.
Also, you have to think if that is a skill you wish to pursue and improve upon because it’s not something that everyone ought to do and think they will be able to master.
If you’re by yourself, try a few angles and try to get good lighting and as you progress try to let someone else handle it or just go with a template of some sort.
Another great piece of news that I am going to tell you is about the software called Davinci Resolve. It’s free and it can handle every major task of video editing that you can throw at it.
What Social Media Can Do for You
If anything, take this away from this article.
Post online.
I don’t want to discourage you but encourage your participation online.
Having an online presence is everything when it comes to getting yourself out there. Instagram, YouTube, or wherever, you ought to do it. It’s the currency of the online realm and you need it more than you know.
No matter what you’re doing you’re going to have an online portfolio and this is the way to go about it. It doesn’t matter if your grandma asks what you’re up to these days or if you have to impress a potential band member.
Putting your skills on display is the way to go. The possibilities of online interaction for professional use are endless and truly something most rightfully deserving people aren’t doing enough of. If you think you’re one of these people then you really ought to get on that bandwagon. Right now.
Getting books on brand management and how everything else flows is also highly important.
Obviously, as you get the hang of doing things of practicing, mixing, and even editing, so will you get the hang of posting on social media.
The possibilities are endless and you really ought to focus on getting yourself out there. There are only things to gain.
Courses for You to Follow
Of course, there are a lot of particular courses out there that you can follow and learn how to do certain things.
Udemy is a great option if you’re starting out but I also believe that it’s kind of not great when you want high-end quality and really precise instruction.
As far as singing is concerned, I have written an article in which I talk about the benefits of taking online singing lessons. You can read it here and if you’re really interested in knowing about the course that I humbly believe in with all of my heart then you can check this page out.
I talk about why free advice isn’t always the best. These courses are going to make sure that you learn how to sing properly from the first lesson till the last.
Broaden Your Horizons
With that I will say this, always keep your eyes peeled for the next new thing. We’re living in a very dynamic environment where trends are coming and going and I would highly encourage you to pay attention to what’s happening around you.
Maybe look at what’s happening in the music industry as a whole as well.
So, you might just be interested in making YouTube covers but I am sure as you venture on your journey as a singer you will find great success!