JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum using youtube to display songs with lyrics?

Hi friends.

I am updating my website (1 page only) and would like to know what you think of my idea.

I used to have my music as sounclick embedded files with a button to press to open a new window with the lyrics. (for those who wanted to read while they listen.

I also had my youtube videos embedded on my page.

I found it to be a bit clumsy and unsightly so decided to make youtube videos of all my songs with lyrics only.

As youtube videos can be viewed on almost any machine and is heavily googled, I thought it a good idea and also as youtube is making over a billion euros a month, I don't think it will be going anywhere soon lol.

Anyway if you have a moment please let me know what you think of having songs displayed in this way.

http://www.royandhelen.com

God Bless Roy and Helen

One of the best videos I ever saw on YouTube was the original pre-release of "The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert. It had the album cover as a backdrop picture and the words scrolled from bottom to top as the song played. It really made aware of the lyrics.

So, I would have at least a picture or two in the video (not a slide show though -- those are hard to do well and be relevant to the song). ... And I would change up how you display the lyrics on songs. Do some like you have it now, scroll some, etc. (but stay with the same approach within one song).

Kevin

Kevin

Good idea Roy.......Karaoke......There are around 50,000 CDG Karaoke songs in my collection with the lyrics displayed as per your samples. I have a program that allows you to make your own Karaoke songs. You import a backing track and then import a text file with the lyrics etc and merge the two together. You can space the words out by tapping the space bar to the exact place where they need highlighted as the music flows. Font and colours can be changes etc and Pics and logos etc can also be imported and you can even import a video and superimpose the words over this.....It is a neat piece of kit and I have several of my own songs made into Karaoke using this program. I even have invented my own karaoke label for these....Krapioke! It gets a laugh when I show my friends.

Thanks Kevin for having a look.

Some excelent points. I will work on it when I get home

thanks and God Bless Roy and Helen

Roy,

I like this idea, the song Jackson Kelly is incredible. Glyn wrtoe the lyrics and you the music? Who is the singer, great voice - right up there what's on top 40 country. If I ever get a song done, would love him to sing the song.

Please fill me in.

Mix. Petra
Your work is right up there Roy, where have been hiding all this time.

Thanks Big Jim for having a look and your comments are thoughtful and of use.

'Krapioke' I love it.. have you registered it lol

God Bless Roy and Helen

Roy,

Whos is the singer onf Jackson Kelly?
You missted my post.

petra

the listener can see the lyrics as the music unfolds..enjoyable this way.

Thanks Petra and I am pleased that you like my work.

With 'Jackson kelly) there are two songs about him there by the way. before and after he died. Glynda wrote the story of him in the creative writing section and then I asked if I could write the lyrics and Glynda agreed.

We co-wrote the lyrics then I had the demo done in Nashville.

The singer is Mike Lusk. I believe that he works for a few demo houses in Nashville.

I agree, great voice.

He also sings the first song on my webpage, 'Where The Devil Lurked'. You may like that one too.

I will be adding some others over the next week, so please pop back when you get a moment.


Thanks again and God bless Roy and Helen

On a serious note...the karaoke creator is a great tool......I made some karaoke tracks for some Dj pals who wanted certain songs on karaoke that were not commercially available......things like football songs and original songs or send ups. I have made a few including Hearts and Hibs football team songs and a comedy version of "Oops I farted again" a take off of THE Britney song with a similar title and the Elvis "Burning love" with alternative ADULT lyrics.

Roy,

Thanks, just curious how much did it cost for Mike to sing the demo, plus who did the music, you? Great melody.

I will go back to your site and take a listen to the other songs.


Petra,

I think I use to have one of those machines Big Jim. A standalone box with its own keyboard built in.

Great tool as you say.

I do it all in premiure now.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Eoy

I just came back from your site and listen to the vidoes, the before of Jackson Kelly, great, and The song about Glyn's Mom, very touching, who is the singer there, great vocals, and the
Where the Devil Lurked, powerful story.

Petra
You have a talent for music compostition..modern, you keep up with the rest of the boys in Nashville.

Impressed.

No Roy it is a software program.......very easy to use but produces pro results.
http://www.powerkaraoke.com/src/prod_karaokecdgcreator.php

I will check it out.. thanks Big Jim

God Bless Roy and Helen

Mornin' Roy:

I really like the idea of video depicting the lyrics. I know I'm outside the mainstream when it comes to music and videos but I'm in it for the music... not the artist's looks. Being able to read along while listening really helps me understand "meanings" which are sometimes "blurred" by the vocalist or drums, etc.

I also appreciate Kevin's input about album art and other enhancements. Because Petra mentioned enjoying your wonderful collaboration with Glyn, "Jackson Kelly"... I took the time to visit your site-link and gave it a listen. Great work, you two.

One thing I'll add to the topic... it would be helpful to scroll the name(s) of the songwriters as well as the artist across the screen at some strategic point. Songwriters always seem to get "short shrift" regarding their creations.

I'll be back for more when time permits.

Thanks,

Dave

Dave,

Yes, they sould place the writer, singers names scrolling down, giving them credit..also, if we would like to contact them

Petra

Roy, Just came across this. I like the idea. It's a good way to get the lyrics up front and out there and it doesn't involve a lot of time. I may give it a go if I post anymore songs here.

Thanks for having a look Dave and I am pleased that you like the idea. Also that you liked mine and Glyndas song.

I have played with scrolling text and add in scrolling across the base of the screen and found that it distracts me from reading the lyrics as I listen.

Sure I could use pretty pictures etc as backgrounds, but then with a lot of songs it almost becomes hard work lol...

So I think KISS applies to me in this case.

If I want images then I may as well make a proper music video... howerever my plan I think is genius... he says insanly...

The lyrics will never change and once its done, I want to leave it alone, not do it again if some information changes... so...

Youtube has a wonderful application that allows you to overlay annotations onto the video as it plays. They can be placed whereever you want on the timeline and should something change, its easy to edit the annotations...

So I can overlay the songwriter details etc as and when without making it a part of the actual video.

And should it annoy the reader/listener they can just swithch it off...

That way, no movement to distract... KISS

I have just done the top two videos on my webpage using the two available youtube options for annotations.

'written by Roy Cooper(c) 2010 - Registered copyright - Available for licence' plus my email address....

may add other lines later...

God Bless and thanks again for your nice comments Dave.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Pleased that you stopped by Dan and I hope this works for you as well...

God Bless Roy and Helen

Great idea Roy and great songs. It is definetly a way to highlite the lyrics while listening to the song.

I am going to have to have a go at that.

By the by is it difficult to set up a web page?

Douglas

She is half of a husband and wife team who do some demos for me Petra. They are really resonable so if you want their details let me know and I will PM them to you.

They also did 'Selfless Acts' as a duo.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Very pleased that you had a stop over Doug and that you like my idea.

There are loads of website providers out there who provide free sites, but I much prefere to buy the name in my name and pay a monthly fee for the site space.

I think the name cost me approx $7 per year and the space(land) about $8 per month.

If you don't mind an advert at the top of the site, you can have the site space for free.

I use http://www.godaddy.com

Then a website design package on my pc to design and maintain the page.

If your page was simple, like mine I could always help with the design for you... You pay the bills though lol

Does that help friend.

God Bless Roy and Helen.

Dear Roy,

You are so helpful with everyone. Till I have a complete song, and the money I will inquire about the husband and wife demo singers at the time. Thanks so much for the offer...they are great singers, no doubt.

Your are ideas agre great. I have heard of GoDaddy, myself am using Homestead, drag and drop..it is only 4.95 US. They help with listing yoursite,indexing, on search engines and you can buy a domain name through them. If one has no clue how to do make a website this is the place to go. They hav been around a long time and have 12 million owners of website.

I got your poem, thanks again.

Take Care
Petra

Thanks Petra and when you are ready just drop me a line.

Helen is overjoyed that her poem (that she wrote 30 years ago) may be on another website. That poem by the way was printed in the top wildlife magazine at the time....

Maybe Doug will will check out homestead... great name that is...
whatever I will help if I can.

I dont mind helping Petra because I know that often I can do in 5 mins what others can stuggle over for days lol...

God Bless Roy and Helen

Roy,

You do save people time and aggravation, and stop people from pulling out their hair. LOL That's me. Roy you are Heaven Sent

Wildlife Magazaine impressive...I knew it was special when I read it and touching.

Tell her thanks again and she is a real poet.

The video with the lyrics displaying is an excellent idea, may have said before but will say again. See others like it to.

You are mutlit-talented guy.

Petra

Just an update Kevin.

I tried using scrolling lyrics and it didn't work well IMO.

I think that a karioke style as Big Jim mentioned is ok on a big screen, but on youtube size video the scrolling is really distracting, from reading the lyrics.

With scrolling, I think thats fine for a sing-a-long because the words appearing, time your singing, but with reading, the opposite happens IMO.

I also tried just having other information scrolling, artist and songwriter details, but again it was distracting.

So I will keep with static lyrics and use the youtube annotation app for extra information which can come and go on the time line where and when I want it to.

Images maybe, but I wouldn't want it to look like a half baked attempt at a music video lol

Just having lyrics appearing at the right place is so simple and nothing to nit about lol.

Maybe some different methods of going from sheet to sheet would look good. scrolls left to tight, fades, windows etc but quick enough to allow maximum time for reading as the words are sung.

Anyway just some added thoughts.

On my webpage the top two videos each have a different style of annotation appears after about 4 secs. I don't know which looks best.

any thoughts.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Roy:

When convenient, let's discuss the technique you used to get a lyrics only video for your individual songs at MT. Surely, you didn't have to set up on YouTube then transfer everything to MT?

First, since I don't do video yet, how do you get a video format to accept the words (lyrics) and then the audio portion? (The song, itself?) Also, in which format is the audio? (MP3, WAV, WMA, Ogg or something else>)

Did you experiment with background colors to make the lyrics easy to read for the viewer? If so, which background color is best visually and what works best for the color of the lyrics?

Forgive my ignorance. Ten years ago, I did not know anything about MP3... LOL!

Finally, have you started the join up process with Facebook? How invasive are the questions and can many of them be ignored or optional? Your thoughts will be helpful.

Thanks,

Dave

Hi Roy and Dave I have not had much experience with vids so cannot suggest what is the best way of doing things. I know that video editing is an artfrom just as is audio editing. That said the Karaoke creator
http://www.powerkaraoke.com/src/prod_karaokecdgcreator.php
is an easy tool to use and will produce the results required IE lyrics and or graphics to come up at the correct time with the music. All sorts of graphics and pics can be inserted and edited to fit and any audio format used. The end product is a CD+G but can be converted to any video format. I have used this prog a lot and it works fine for any of the apps as spoke about on these threads. There is also a Karaoke video editor that is the same idea but works with videos as opposed to CDG. There is a free trial if you want to try befor buy. I suggest giving it a go. Go to the link and search under the products tab.

PS Dave this prog is simplicity itself to use and very user friendly just one click and a few taps on the spacebar will do most jobs. If I can use it then anybody can. LOL
I do not promote things unless I have tried them myself and there is a free trial albeit I think you can only get a limited part of your song to edit but it will show if it is what you are looking for before parting with cash.

Hey Jim:

Thanks for the link to KaraokeCreator. I looked at the site and will explore more about it later. I appreciate you taking the time to share this with us. Looks like it will do the job. The Video Creator is $119 USD for those who don't have time to look it up.

Regards,

Dave

Hello again, Roy and fellow posters:

I may have found a way to resolve the problem (without having to make a movie) by using Microsoft's "Windows Movie Maker" software. I just paste still photos in appropriate places as the song plays and let them dissolve into another photo along the timeline of the movie. Since the audio is what I'm trying to get across (my song) the rest is just window dressing.

I'm sure that after my first attempt, I'll learn alot of new tricks. So far, I have not been able to find a way to get the lyrics to show up... even with Microsoft's low-end word processor.

Later today, after a few more experiments, I'll try to send this to Mark Halsall's site via upload. Who knows, it may end up being a very inexpensive alternative.

Best,

Dave

Dave,

Place your link here so we can go to it.

Are you looking for fans?

P.

Dave I have a JVC camera it came with some free software, part of it allows video editing and making slide shows. I am sure it would work for basic music video presentation. It is worth checking if you can download a free version. I also believe that other camera manufacturers have similar software and free downloads. NCH does editing products but I do not know if they are free. I have used other NCH products and they are pretty good.
http://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/index.html
http://www.nchsoftware.com/slideshow/index.html
Here is a link for another freebie that does a similar job.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/ssmm.html

Then of course there is my all time fav program the all singing all dancing Nero. It is a multi purpose player, viewer, burner and video and audio editing suite all rolled into one it also has a very neat CD/DVD cover designer which I use a lot.
Edit...I have never come across any product that is so cheap and user friendly that can offer as many different functions all rolled into one. I only scratched the surface explaining all the things it can do.
PS I am in no way affiliated to Nero or have any bias towards it or financial gain from recommending it.... sadly.... LOL

Dave

It's really easy to create lyric slides in Powerpoint - you also get to customise the designs more. Then:

Save as JPEGs
Choose save each slide individually
Drop all your slides onto the timeline in WMM
Stretch the slides to fit the music
Add transitions and effects.

Probably nowhere near as nice as the karaoke software - but totally free

Mark... can Powerpoint really be saved as different formats or is it always as a powerpoint type file? I have never used it but have seen some really neat PP presentations. I was also under the impressions that only the PP viewer was free.

Hi Jim

Ah, I think it might depend whether you have Works or Office. If you do have it though, yes it can be saved in different formats. If you choose JPEG it will let you save all the slides as individual images into a folder.

Thanks Mark I have both MS Works and Office so I actually have Powerpoint already as part of MS Office. I did not even know that, as I rarely use office. Well another tool to explore. It is amazing just how much stuff folks have on their puter and do not even realise what tasks they can achieve. It is not the first time I have purchased a program only to find that something I already have installed can do the same or similar job.

Well pointed out Mark. I was going to suggest that myself, but you beat me to the punch lol.

Also if you have your lyrics in a document or text file, you just copy and paste into powerpoint as text.

I am now defunct lol.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Last video I did ("50 Ways to Cure the Depression"), I put lyrics in. There's a feature in Windows Movie Maker that lets you stick the lyrics at the bottom, so they don't interfere with the slides or video. Worked pretty good.

Link is www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5X-zIcwp2Y

Never thought of using PowerPoint. I'll have to see how that works. Thanks, guys.

joe

Thanks Joe:

My version of Windows Movie Maker must be an earlier issue. (Or Captain Stupid can't figure out how to use that feature yet... LOL!) I will go back and check it out. I'm using XP as an Operating System and I've owned this darned ol laptop about five years... so that's probably my problem.

Thanks again... and don't forget to feed those naked Space Hamsters!

Dave

Dave. As Mark suggested using powerpoint to create images with text or text only. I already put this into another post, but as this post applies as well, thought I'd get away with it lol. Once the images are made just use them in your windows movie maker.

This is just a quick example of what can be done.

Loads of room for being original I think.

God Bless Roy and Helen

 

I just like to say YTube is a wonderful vehicle to share songs and stories, pluse reach people you may have not otherwise.

I like to thank Ott, hope he is back, because of his post of
Christian The Lion. I have now posted it on my website on the Wild Cats Page just below Helen and Roy's Poem. I believe it is fitting and make people realized animals have the capacity to love unconditionally. Love Has No Limits. Maybe I will write a song on this now I think of it.

In any case just wanted to say again thanks to Ott and Helen and Roy, without that poem, I don't think I would of dedicated a page to Wildlife, it has open the door for me and I am learning so much in the field of Preservation of Wildlife. God Bless

Petra

Mornin' Everyone:

I'm on my third cup of coffee trying to wake up.

Well, I'm finally able to report that I completed my second video using only still jpeg photos from my digital camera file. This time, the village idiot (me) learned how to put text in most of the right places and to use fades, wipes, flips and scrolls on some of the text and photos to make things a little more interesting... I hope!

Thanks for everyone's advice. I will be posting "Thank God for Glen Rose" on my songwriter's space at MusiciansTogether.com later this morning. I'm tired after burning out all my brain cells last night getting this thing to work. It does get easier with more experience. Roy and Mark have been especially helpful with their comments and encouragement. Nope, not ready for Hollywood yet... but it's a start.

I tried to plug the song first... but while I was at it... I wanted folks to know what a delightful little town I live in and enjoy so much. Ya'll come visit us down at the square whenever you're in Dallas, Ft. Worth or Waco. Fun begins in Glen Rose.

Well, Dave I see Roy has taught you well!!! Roy makes an excellent teacher, don't you agree.

P.

Glen Rose, Small Town Life, nice video and song Dave.

Next move is action video, ask Roy.

ROY--

GREAT WORK MY FRIEND--THE DIGITAL WORLD IS HUMMING ALONG AT AN ELEVATED PACE--I'M JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE WITH MP3'S--THIS IS A GREAT IDEA--I'D HAVE IT SET UP THOUGH, WITH JUST ONE AT A TIME, WITH THE NAME OF THE "NEXT ONE" WITH A GO TO BUTTON--LOOKS FINE TO ME--ENJOYED--

Mackie

Thanks Mackie.

I feel that no has anything to loose by puting our songs all over lol.

Here is my MT page which seems a good place to put your vids when done. Just for songwriters and musicians.

http://musicianstogether.com/user_videos.php?user=roy_cooper

I look forward to seeing a vid form yourself and will always help if needbe.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Rouy,

In regards to your website, is it the One Page you have or do you have more pages (space to place more videos). I don't know what type of package you have with your hosting company. I think, IMO, you need more space as you are growing rapidly with the ongoing projects you have. Suggestion; have you thought about getting ads place on site, whereby you get paid. Believe YTube has affiliated programs. But you can find companies out there, airfare companies, music related companies, instrument companies, and so on they all have affiliated programs and they work with Commission Junction, you sign up there.

Might as well get money when you can.

As for getting your site out there, I have become more acquainted with ways this is done, more research needed.

Petra

Just Suggestions take them or leave them.

Mark and Roy:

Both of you mentioned "Powerpoint." Mark implied (or I interpreted it wrong) that Powerpoint is free software. Is that true? I've always thought it came bundled with the high-end Microsoft Office package. Please tell me I'm wrong... so I can go download a free version right now. I've used the program earlier in my career (outside of songwriting) and it certainly will do the job I'm wanting to do.

I finally figured out Windows Movie Maker and will soon begin creating a third Song Video. This time, mostly lyrics with just a few photos thrown in. The idea is for presentation of a song to an A&R Department in one neat package.

I'm also wondering how easy or difficult it is to "move" an entire song video to a USB hard drive for storage so my main PC hard drive is not so bogged down with big files? I know (or believe) it can be done but have not attempted it yet.


Petra:

Where on earth did you find "Commission Junction?" I need to investigate that idea further. Did someone say, "Money?" LOL!

G'day, Mates

Powerpoint comes as a part of Microsoft office, whhich as you suspected, has to be paid for.

However thos nice people at 'Sun' who build most of the internet servers and own, 'Java' fell out with microsoft, and bought their own version of office out, which is 99.99999% compatable with microsoft office.

In other words it has its own powerpoint.

AND its totally free...

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.openoffice.org%2F&ei=5BHMTa-SJtGahQfvk-SoAg&usg=AFQjCNG4DI1xvMIwF8teVaddDpJ0-TogHA

Works on PC or Mac.

Its callen openoffice impress.

So it you are against paying, or against MS..there you go.

God Bless Roy and Helen