Have you ever felt too intimidated about video recording to even try to get a simple message out on YouTube?
Yes, I thought so. Me too. I did a quick search through Google. Let me give you a run down on some of the issues to consider when making a video for any purpose.
First, I was instructed in no uncertain terms to buy the most expensive camcorder I could afford. The quality of the video suffers greatly unless the camera is first class.
Second, I discovered that EXPENSIVE tripods are a must. The tripod must cost at least $100 - $200 or it will wobble. I also learned that you need something called a “Lavaliere Microphone”. While I was trying to figure out what that was, I learned that you also need a portable microphone.
I learned about narration, editing, panning, zooming, composition, lighting, and even equipment organization and sorting.
I haven’t even addressed the issues of cue cards versus memorization - keeping background noise to a minimum - inflection - facial expression - and, (my personal favorite) - STAGE FRIGHT.
This would all be well and good if you were trying to re-make “Gone With The Wind”, but it’s definitely overkill if you just want to explain something or sell something.
If you’re like me, you understand the incredible power of YouTube and other video sites. You know that more and more internet traffic is video (52% as of this writing), and that if you want your message to get to the most pairs of eyes, you have to go video. The question some of you may be asking is: “How do I avoid all of that other nonsense mentioned above?”
Great question. You might consider buying one of those expensive video editing programs. You know, the kind where you can create flashy messages that fade in, fade out, leap in, leap out, dance and prance in a circle - all to synchronized music. Of course, that’s a lot of work and a steep learning curve to overcome.
Or, if you think that all of the above is a bit much just to get a straightforward message across, then why not consider something called “text to video” software?
It’s actually been around for a little while, but don’t worry if you’ve never heard of it. I hadn’t either until fairly recently. Basically, text to video software allows you to paste or type language into your computer. It then converts that language into audio speech. They developed it to the point where it’s far less robotic than in the past.
With this kind of program, creating a video is as easy as writing an email to a friend. Since more and more people would rather watch and listen to a message than read one, you can see that such a program has value.
The main question to ask is how the software handles the video portion. I would personally recommend that you choose a program that generates some kind of computer image, rather than simply flashing the words on a screen as they’re being spoken. Most viewers feel more comfortable actually seeing someone talk, and you want viewers that feel comfortable watching your message.
Looking to find the best deal on a new text to video program? Go to Jennifer Gordon’s site VIDEOGOROUND.COM to find the best advice on NEW TEXT TO VIDEO SOFTWARE.
Related Blogs
- Related Blogs on Video
- Clubs
