“…What do you usually do to record the commentary tracks while playing?”

Good question.

First of all I have one of these babies. It has an internal mic solution. However, not everyone has one of those, and I can understand that. In fact, I’ll be a good percent of you are on some form of Windows machine, and would like instructions as well. We’ll split this up into two sections, a Mac section and a Windows section.

For both types of computers, you will need the following:

1. A fast enough computer to both play your emulator/rom and the video recording software.
2. A little bit of cash. If you’re spending over 20bux on something for the internet there’s problems. You can pick up a cheap headset at Walmart and it should work well.
3. Patience.
4. Google Video/Dailymotion/YouTube account.
5. TIME.

Mac

Step 1 – Vocal Verification!

Make sure your Apple either has an internal microphone, or some way of getting audio. Perhaps a USB Line In. Whatever the case may be, just get your Mac to hear your voice. (Hello, computer.)

Got that? If not I can wait.

Alright, once your equipment is hooked up, let’s verify that your Mac can hear you. Open up System Preferences.

Then, let’s click this guy.

Click on input next.

Talk to your Mac. Tell it it is beautiful. These bars should move as you speak. If they do, AWESOME! That means your Mac can hear you. If they don’t. Well, I don’t know. Troubleshoot.

If your Mac can hear you, then let’s go on to Step 2. If not, continue to troubleshoot.

Step 2 – Let’s get Viewtiful, Baby

Henshin a go-go, baby!
For this section, we’re actually going to get some recording going. First of all, we need a video recording program. For this, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend shinywhitebox’s iShowU. The name may be completely stupid, but the software works SO WELL. I haven’t had a single problem with it. It does cost 20bux, but for what it does, and the simplicity of it, it’s MORE than worth it.

I know, earlier I said if you spend over 20bux for the internet there’s problems. But it’s for THE INTERNET, dammit. INTERNET!

Now, let’s launch the program. You should then get a screen like this:

Click for Big.

Now, if it isn’t checked, tell it to both “Record Microphone Audio” and “Record System Audio”. If it prompts you to install something called “Soundflower” install it, because Soundflower allows you to record system audio. And system audio is pretty essential to recording video game sounds, right?

Now, let’s pick a video format. I suggest using “Small, High Quality, Small File” and then leave it alone. Now open your emulator+rom combo. Once the game and emulator is loaded, switch back to iShowU and mash the big ‘Edit Recording Area’ button. From there, resize the area to fit just the emulator window, minus the title bar.

Click for Big.

When you’re ready to record, mash down the following keyboard combo: Fruit+Shift+A (Apple-Shift-A)(Command-Shift-A)
Play the game, and commentate however you wish.
When you’re done recording mash the following combo: Fruit+Shift+T (Apple-Shift-T)(Command-Shift-T)

Move on to step 3.

Step 3- Sharing is Caring!

Now, we’ve got our movie recorded. I’m going to assume your Mac has iLife on it, and therefore, iMovie. If it doesn’t, get iLife now–it’s so useful for things other than LPs. Open iMovie and import the movie you just made. For this example, I’m going to use iMovie ’08.

Open iMovie and create a new project. Select the Standard option give it a name and hit Create.

Now hit the Share menu and hit Export Movie. Give it a name and select the Mobile Option. Click Export and let iMovie do its thing.
(If you’re using an older version of iMovie, fiddle around with “Export as QuickTime Movie” and its settings. You’ll find a setting you like.)

Once the movie has been created, upload it to the internet.

DONE!

Windows

Please note, I have not actually done this. So take these instructions with a salt lick.

DONE!