Youtube amp /pedal demos

[infrared72]

So I'm clicking through some amp and pedal demos on youtube this evening. Has anyone else noticed how much Youtube amp demos are really lacking in audio quality? I guess you sort of get an idea of what it sounds like, but then it's all down to how well the video was made, amp was properly mic'ed and such. I will say the ProGuitarShop demos seem to be pretty consistent as far as sound quality is concerned. But I'm of the opinion that if you're droppin serious coin on an amp or a pedal, you gotta go find someone that has it so you can try it. The frustrating part seems to be that some of the obscure stuff isn't really carried at the big name stores.

I read somewhere that Youtube does some weird compression or processing to the audio - probably to make it more suitable for computer speakers. If that's the case, it seems like that's changing the quality of the audio and maybe not for the better. Especially if you have a decent set of speakers that aren't the garden variety $10-$20 sets of throwaway computer speakers.

 

[hermetico]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

It's a bit more complex that just that.

By example, I am recording my stuff with a Zoom Q3HD device. Video isn't so good but, it allows me to take the direct room sound with more integrity than my video cam, since the high sensibility mic of the cam is limiting (and therefore distorting) the sound.
Those takes are recorded at 24 bits / 48K. This is the first lost, going from analog to digital.

Then, you go to a video editor. If you are professionally doing things, you would probably have expensive and pro gear that can handle everything without any lost but, common mortars, as myself, are handling what can afford to get a minimum quality but, without going so far (BECAUSE NOBODY PAYS US FOR THIS!!!!).
Well, the Sony Vegas version I've got, works with 16 bits / 22.1 K so, we are having here the second lost, going to a lower resolution.

Ok, once the video is ready, video is being rendered to be compatible with Youtube and to don't take your whole hard disk and hijack your Internet connection for life so, format MP4 with MP3 audio is being generated. And this is the third lost, because MP3 is throwing part of your lower and higher frequencies.

Once the video is uploaded to Youtube, Youtube reprocesses it to match their standard and, we have the forth lost. Sometimes, a source material that isn't giving you overs ends with some loose of high and low end and clipped.

People like ProGuitarShop are working with professional tools. Just the mic they are using to mic the amps costs more than $1000 and, the mic that they use for speech is also expensive. BUT WE AWARE THAT they are working the audio in ProTools later, and therefore applying sound processors. I've found that stuff that I bought based on their videos doesn't sound the same in real life. So, I am always comparing several different "sources", from cheap-direct-sound to studio-pro videos to get a better idea of the real product.

In my case, I am using a Make-up Compressor, to raise the RMS level of the take without clipping and a Brickwall limiter just to avoid overs and clipping during. I never re-EQ or add Reverberation or make parallel compression or do any other thing that can sound fake to me (I respect Dynamic Range and never use some maximizer as the L2 or BBE). But, that's just me. Because what I record is mainly for myself. To check how it sounded under certain conditions.

So, people doesn't valuates how hard is to make some decent sounding video with amateur or semi-pro tools and, often, they don't realize about how processed are those takes of professional sellers (often using studio outboard gear)!.
This is a hard work for regular people without rewards different of "that sounds OK" or "that's ****".

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

In my not very humble opinion...it is a waste of time!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

In my not very humble opinion...it is a waste of time!

I could not agree more.

The sound quality is usually awful, the playing is usually even worse and the music (if you can call it that) is usually "music" I can't stand.

I almost didn't purchase my King of Tone (which I LOVE!) because the demos were so uninspiring.

Thank goodness TGWIF talked me into it.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

I could not agree more.

The sound quality is usually awful, the playing is usually even worse and the music (if you can call it that) is usually "music" I can't stand.

I almost didn't purchase my King of Tone (which I LOVE!) because the demos were so uninspiring.

Thank goodness TGWIF talked me into it.

I agree. Poor audio quality, limited playing skills/styles/etc, way too much talking.... these are all far too common in the average "review".

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

Making a good gear demo video that doesn't sound like poop is difficult. Making a gear demo video that shows people how something will sound in their rig is impossible.

You have to realize that a video is just one way of representing a piece of gear, and absolutely in no way should be considered the complete picture. It's like trying to tell someone what Paris looks like using one low-res photo.

A video can be a good way to get a general idea of what a piece of gear is capable of, but you have to realize that you will never get the full story until you are playing through it with your own rig.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

Even the best audio quality sound samples I have heard on youtube are really NOT going to give you a good impression of what an amp or pedal sounds like because you are listening to it through a computer speaker. The way I judge these is I go to a store and play through it so I can really hear what it is doing then I can judge whether I can use it or not.

 

[Dr.J4ckal]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

I love watching amp demo from this dude : testing123reviews.
I think he's the best in youtube. Every amp he demo sounds distinctly different, and it feels like you're listening in the room. Good chops as well.
With most other gear demo, you can't tell the difference whether you're hearing a randall solid state or a soldano. Sounds the same. GuitarWorld is one example.

 

[dominus]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

You also have to realize that the better sounding demos are ones that have plenty of post processing in them, and the best sounding ones are shown in a full mix.

You're also hearing someone else's guitar playing, with their guitar, into the gear they're reviewing. If they're a phenomenal player, you're going to hear it, no matter what they're playing through.

It might not be to everyone's taste, but just about everything Ola Englund (feardse on YouTube) and Silent Underground Studios (silentunderground1 on YouTube) post sound awesome to me.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

For me, the far bigger failure is most of the player input. Almost every demo ends up being someone who launches into a bunch of widdly-diddly screeching and heavy riffage with maximum distortion, making almost every item sound a) exactly the same, and b) disgusting. Very few will use a clean sound and/or let a few chords ring to illustrate properly how an item really sounds. And I hear this kind of thing with things like reverb and delay demos where you really need some clarity and space to be able to hear the qualities of those sounds.

I think at least half the demos are more about the idiots they feature than the gear, and those people do a fine job convincing me that they have no idea about what the experience is like for the listener. Or they don't care.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

Even though this thread is more concerned with the quality of sound production and reproduction in YouTube videos, the thing that disturbs me most about pedal demos is the focus on extreme settings. Let's see how fast the tremolo can go, listen to a thousand echos, listen to this runaway self-oscillation, listen to the sea-sick warble. Who cares? Most pedals have a range of more moderate settings that are more useful to me and that I seldom hear demonstrated.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

I love watching amp demo from this dude : testing123reviews.
I think he's the best in youtube. Every amp he demo sounds distinctly different, and it feels like you're listening in the room. Good chops as well.
With most other gear demo, you can't tell the difference whether you're hearing a randall solid state or a soldano. Sounds the same. GuitarWorld is one example.

Another good reviewer is rotren. He plays really well and the sound quality is amazing.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

For me, the far bigger failure is most of the player input. Almost every demo ends up being someone who launches into a bunch of widdly-diddly screeching and heavy riffage with maximum distortion, making almost every item sound a) exactly the same, and b) disgusting. Very few will use a clean sound and/or let a few chords ring to illustrate properly how an item really sounds. And I hear this kind of thing with things like reverb and delay demos where you really need some clarity and space to be able to hear the qualities of those sounds.

I think at least half the demos are more about the idiots they feature than the gear, and those people do a fine job convincing me that they have no idea about what the experience is like for the listener. Or they don't care.

And they usually talk to much!

As for clean tones, hardly anyone under a certain age (mine?) plays clean anyway. :cool2:

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

I also love the guys who put the camera on themselves, and then STARE at the camera the whole time. I don't know; it creeps me out.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

And they usually talk to much!

As for clean tones, hardly anyone under a certain age (mine?) plays clean anyway. :cool2:

I'd be willing to bet money I play cleaner than 95% of people here.

I don't mean technique wise, just saying I don't use overdrive or distortion often.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

I'd be willing to bet money I play cleaner than 95% of people here.

I don't mean technique wise, just saying I don't use overdrive or distortion often.

Yeah...me either. Well that's not completely true...I've been enjoying my new King of Tone a lot!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

I buy stuff based off youtube reviews all the time and they always give me a pretty good general idea of what to expect.

If I watch enough video's on the same product (amp/pedal/pup etc) I can generally gauge what to expect it to sound like when I plug in..in fact the less professional ( ie. post-produced) video's give me a more accurate picture of that, just so long as the playing is competant and the stuff is decently recorded..

Maybe it helps that I'm into metal/widdly leads/chunky rhythms etc, so most of those vids are just what I'm looking for. Would'nt make sense for me to buy a Landmine distortion pedal based on it's sparkly clean bypass tone

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

These are two of my favorite amp demo players:

 

[Psykel]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

I check demos from ProGuitarShop and Andertons. That's mostly just to initially check out the market and for the comments Andy/Chappers/Cap say about the gear. I don't base the buy value just on the videos.
After that it's off to a store that sell the stuff and try it out for myself.

 

[Frankly]

Re: Youtube amp /pedal demos

IFLHO, many of the videos are either over or under produced. But Frank Lee can still get a general vibe from them.

There's a series by a guy who calls himself Pop Into the Chemist that are nice.

Frank Lee likes to hear people playing songs.

Thank you.