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Discussion on: Do you create video content?

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mcastellin profile image
Manuel Castellin

Hi Gary, I am a beginner myself in creating video tutorials. I started a YouTube channel a couple of months ago and it's a whole new skill set to acquire.

Personally, I do screencasts and record voiceovers right now so I didn't use OSB. I am using

  • MacOS screen recording tool
  • Final Cut Pro
  • Apple Motion

I started by using PowerPoint and record the slides, then the voiceover on the slides, but found that using Apple Motion and animating textboxes and logos myself it's much more efficient.

I agree with you, it take a humongous amount of time to publish just a 7 minutes video so I think the process going to be about learning how to optimize the production. Here are a few tips I found from other content creators that I will try to apply for future videos:

1. Schedule production time in advance

When you only allow yourself a set amount of time you'll be more productive. It also helps your creativity because your brain is focused on producing something right now and ditches the need for perfection

2. Batch produce content

Don't produce one video at a time. I started by producing one video at a time from ideation to upload and SEO but now I am producing multiple videos (like 3 or 4) in parallel

  • one day for ideation and creating outlines for all the videos. In the same day, I also do research for all the videos and perfect the scripts
  • Another day I record the screencasts
  • Then I can do the voiceovers in an afternoon
  • Last, I can spend a couple of weekends editing in Final Cut, upload the videos and schedule the release across 4 weeks

3. Plan additional shots in advance!

When you edit the videos you'll need additional media like screenshots, thumbnails, graphics, so take the time listing everything you will need in the editing phase.
It's very time consuming to go back and having to set up your camera, microphone, laptop, lighting all over because you forgot something

4. Keep an idea bucket

Create a notebook (I like using a physical notebook) where you list your best content creation ideas so, as soon as you feel in the right mood, you can take out the decision phase and start producing content. I do it for my posts, videos, projects, etc.. Always carry the notebook with you because when the idea comes it's not going to stick in your brain for a long time!

I hope this was helpful and good luck with your creative journey!

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_garybell profile image
Gary Bell

Thanks for the feedback, it's greatly appreciated.

I think my main issue is that I don't have enough resource on my laptop. It's only got 8GB RAM, so rapidly runs out of memory when I am doing these things. Lighting and camera is less of an issue for me. It's going to be more tech stuff, where me being there isn't going to bring any real benefit as far as I can see. As such, I can get away with a gaming headset for microphone. It seems to record fairly well.

I use Todoist to keep track of the ideas I get. I do that for my ideas for blog posts too, so it will keep things in one place.

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mcastellin profile image
Manuel Castellin

One thing I noticed with my Mac, is that when you're recording screencasts and audio at the same time the CPU goes bonkers. If you're doing some resource-intensive tasks on top of that (like using IDEs or running virtual machines) your machine can struggle..

The situation has improved for me since when I am using an external audio recorder. Looks like audio processing takes a lot of CPU. If you record live screencasts with OSB, using an external audio recorder like the Zoom H1n or similar might help and give you a little bit of headroom.