In this FAQ video, I tackle the following questions:
- What guitar do I play in the acoustic videos?
- Would I give voice/singing lessons?
- What gear do I use to make videos?
I talk about gear quite a bit in this video – here are some links to the stuff I talk about:
- Martin D-35 (the guitar I use in most of my videos)
- LR Baggs Anthem Pickup (pickup system in my guitar)
- Universal Audio Apollo Twin Duo (audio interface)
- Shure SM7b (vocal mic in most videos)
- Audio Technica AT899 (lapel mic I use in speaking videos like this one and the tutorials)
- AKG C214 (condenser mic I use – mainly for acoustic and vocals)
- UAD API Preamp Plugin
- Waves CLA Vocals Plugin
- Apple Logic Pro (recording software)
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (video and image editing)
- Blackmagic Production 4K Camera (my main video camera)
- Canon 70D (second camera)
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens (I use the older, cheaper version of this lens)
- Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 lens (this is a GREAT all purpose zoom lens)
- Lighting – I use these bulbs with these stands and these umbrellas. Typically I use 3-4 of these lights for a video.
This may seem like a ton of gear (and a lot of money), but you don’t have to jump in head first with all this kind of stuff. With great light and a decent microphone, you can make very high quality videos using your iPhone. I have purchased all this gear over a long period of time, and as Worship Tutorials has grown as a business, I’ve invested back into it with higher quality gear. Start slow, buy used, and build up over time.
Hey Brian, I really appreciate you sharing your talents with the world……… thanks! My question is this: I play acoustic guitar in my church with a beautiful female singer. I seem to struggle with strumming at times. When you perform do you think about a specific strumming pattern or do you just “feel” the rythem and go with it? Do you have any suggestions for us that struggle with strumming at times.
God bless!
Hi Don,
Honestly I never think about a strumming pattern unless the song has a very unique pattern, but even then, it’s more of a feel thing than anything else. As you play more and more, you’ll find that you start to approach strumming and rhythm like this. One way to really help is to play to a metronome (or the the album versions of the songs, which is basically the same thing).
I love your pads. i would really love to learn how to use them in a group setting… like in more than one song. I have the pads, and a ipad air. so i guess can you do a video on how to set up and use the pads in a worship setting. i see a lot on pads on you tube but no one goes into how to set it up and use it.
Hi Richard,
On the Pads page, I have highlighted 3 different ways you can use them live – with ProPresenter (or other presentation software), with an iOS device (using WT Director), and with a midi pedal setup through Ableton Live.
Hey Brian,
Even though I’m not that heavy into all the gear and what makes the performance sound awesome, I’m still digging all the GREAT gear that you do have and I have been learning from you! I’m slowly but surely coming around to understanding what goes into a song.
I have one question a little off topic. Could I use “Come as you are” multi track with garage band? Or should I get Logic Pro?
God Bless
Steve
Hi Steve,
The multitrack comes with mp3 files of each part, so you can use them in just about any program you’d like that will play back mp3’s. Both Garage Band and Logic will work great. Thanks!
Hi Brian, great idea with the FAQ, here’s one for you, as a solo worship leader I would love to use pads, however the Church’s I tend to play at don’t have a desk let alone a tech guy, what would be the best way to run with the pads bearing in mind that I will have to control them myself whilst singing / playing and I only have two hands
Thanks in advance
Dave
Hey Dave,
You don’t have a sound board at your church? How do you get sound through your speakers? I have a video explaining how to run the Pads from a foot controller here: http://www.worshiptutorials.com/blog/how-to-play-pads-in-ableton-live-using-a-midi-foot-controller/
Some questions, where do you film your videos? With your young family member, are you a work from home dad? Is your new Baggs Pick up active or passive and why did you chose it?
Hey Dennis! I have a studio set up in a spare bedroom, which is where I film the videos. I do it during the day while the little guy is at daycare. The Baggs Anthem has a pre-amp built into it, so it’s active, and I chose it because it’s one of the best sounding acoustic pickups I’ve ever heard.
Hi Brian
Coming to you from London England. I’m right at the cusp of buying a pickup. I stumbled upon your site and noticed in your earlier videos that you used a K&K Pure Western Mini whereas, in your latest, you use a LR Baggs Anthem Pickup. Would you say that for your present day worship setup the Baggs is the way to go?
Hi Joel,
I prefer the Anthem to the K&K pickup by a pretty large margin – it sounds a lot better, and it does much better with feedback (as in, it doesn’t, ha).
Hi Brian
Do you still use the Dean Markley UltraSound DI Plus Preamp & DI with your current set up?
Hi Joel – I still use the DI plus with the Anthem, but you don’t need something like that with it since it has a pre-amp built into it.
the guys are the best.(awesome) i have been Pastoring for 20 years..in small mountain towns in northern california were the churches are falling by the wayside…so i have used cd’s for worship.bottom line is everything i do is stone age (no pun intended) the Rock.. lol. brad and brian have open a whole new door and given me a whole new tool shed of worship possibilities . thank you
Thanks Mike!
Hi brian can I ask you a question is it okay to play a acsoutic guitar with a electric guitar amp? What amp do you use?
There are acoustic amps out there that are voiced more for acoustic guitars – that might be more what you’re looking for. I never use an amp with acoustic, personally.