Chris Pirillo » Video

Screencast!

Chris — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:59:34 +0000

Screencast! is a post from Chris Pirillo

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It seems that everyone is doing screencasts, other than me. I do them every so often, but it takes a lot of time. I know I don’t do them as well as many of you can do. So, I’m going to give you an opportunity to do screencasts for my YouTube channel. What’s in it for you? Promotion, of course! You’ll be promoted not only on my YouTube channel, we’ll also link off to YOUR YouTube channel. We’ll also send out notifications on Twitter, Facebook, and promote you in our newsletters. That, my fellow Geeks, is one heck of a lot of promotion! We can promote your YouTube channel, your website, or your Twitter account – it’s entirely up to you!

So what do you need to do? It’s simple, really. Show me what you’ve got. Anything that can be shown on the screen can certainly be screencast. I can accommodate an unlimited amount of screencasters, but not everybody will pass muster.

Record the screencast in high quality, YouTube HD dimensions. Keep the elements and motion lively. Be tasteful. Zoom in where appropriate. I’d currently prefer the videos be done without logos and/or text. No intros, no outtros.
Be mindful of your audio quality (keep it clear and clean). Nobody wants to hear you fumble with the mic or popping your Ps. Properly licensed Creative Commons music would be okay to play in the background (be sure to give credit where credit is due)!
Introduce yourself at the very beginning of the screencast, making certain you state that you’re recording it for Lockergnome’s YouTube channel. Feel free to close the video with a tease to your own YouTube channel AND Lockergnome’s.
Narrate clearly with specific directions. Why do you like the software you’re demonstrating? What’s someone to expect on the Web site you’re sharing with us? If need be, work from your own script.
Don’t upload the screencast to your own YouTube channel first – the idea is to promote it from mine, where more subscribers will see it and discover more of what you do.
If you want to show me what you can do, upload a sample to our Geeks Community so that I can take a look and make a decision. Email me to link me to what you’ve done, and introduce yourself.

Once I’ve accepted you as a regular contributor, you’ll be able to submit an unlimited amount of screencasts for Lockergnome’s channel on YouTube – about anything worth screencasting! Tips, tricks, suggestions, help, tech support, etc.

I get free stuff (software, hardware, etc.!) all the time… and I just don’t have time myself to review them all. I am looking for a few of the best screencasters in our community to help me when the time comes. You can potentially score some free things, simply by being good at reviewing.

Ideally, I would like to post one new screencast per day – created by any one of you. In order to do that, I have to get them from you, so get busy!

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Kodak Zi8 Review

Chris — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:24:39 +0000

Kodak Zi8 Review is a post from Chris Pirillo

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You might remember my review of the Kodak Zi6 awhile back. The folks at Kodak recently sent me the new Zi8 to review – and I’m very thankful they have. I really like what they have done with it!

For one thing, this video was recorded using the Zi8, and no tripod. I wanted to show off the amazing Digital Image Stabilization on this little machine. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? The Zi8 also allows me to hook up an external microphone, to allow for better sound quality. That, my friends, makes this gadget priceless in my book. The frame-rate is perfect in low-light situations!

I recorded in 720p at 60fps! That may not be apparent if you’re watching on YouTube, but it will be if you use the download link below. Kodak also kept with the macro feature. You can see while looking at my Bamboo tree, the tree comes into focus and fades away the background. You can easily switch between focal points with just the flick of a button.

There is, of course, a built-in USB port, allowing you to connect to your computer and upload direct to YouTube and other sites if you wish. The Zi8 has a slot for additional storage of up to 32GB. That will hold more pictures and videos than you will likely ever take.

I highly recommend the Zi8. It’s a great recorder, with excellent quality video output. At less than $200.00, it’s an excellent buy, as well.

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How to Create Captions for YouTube Videos

Chris — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:07:49 +0000

How to Create Captions for YouTube Videos is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I have recorded and uploaded over 2000 videos on YouTube, and that’s a lot. Many people have asked me if I would ever go back and caption the videos using YouTube’s caption tool. Sadly, I just don’t have the time to do that. There is a way, though, that you can go in and caption your own videos easily. Caption Tube helps you create captions for your YouTube videos. It’s easy to use and it’s free.

You can incorporate your YouTube videos within this service. Sign in with your YouTube account ID, and it will list all of your YouTube videos that have been uploaded and processed. Press a button to import a video. I can choose to pause the video if I wish, add a caption and the text… even the start time and duration. Then just press the save button, and it’s finished.

When you’re done with captioning the entire video, there are a variety of things you can do. You can save them to a text file, email them to yourself, or even export them in one of a few different formats.

If you know of any other really cool services out there, drop me a line! I’d love to take a look at it, and maybe share whatever you’ve found with the rest of the world.

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How to Design Your Own Video Game Fighting Moves

Chris — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:50:18 +0000

How to Design Your Own Video Game Fighting Moves is a post from Chris Pirillo

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If you ever challenge me to a fighting game, I’d likely not accept. I’m a button masher, in the hopes that I’ll accidentally come across the right moves. I’m not very good at the whole video game thing. If you’re interested in the whole fighting game genre – and want to create your own moves – you’ll be interested in this, for sure!

On Toribash, you create the violence. Toribash is an innovative fighting game where YOU design the moves! Earn credits by winning matches, then customize your character in the store! Trade items with other players. Win prizes in weekly tournaments.

The basic aim of the game is to fight the opponent, scoring points for damage. Some limbs break easier then others, others give more points when hit. To get more points, each joint can be relaxed, contracted, extended or held. This makes the game play very open-ended as there are no set moves, although many people will copy a move which seems to work well.

Toribash is a free download, and works on both Windows and OS X. I am pretty amazed at how easy and fun this is, even though I likely won’t get into it much. I’m just not a fighter! There’s a bit of a learning curve in creating the moves and styles, but you should get the hang of it pretty quickly.

I’d rather see you fighting via Toribash, and not in real life – so check it out today!

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What’s the Best Video Recorder to Buy?

Chris — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:04:38 +0000

What’s the Best Video Recorder to Buy? is a post from Chris Pirillo

I received this email from Kieran “Zer0″ Hill the other day, and thought it was worth sharing with the rest of the community – since I seem to be asked this question every day…

We have never spoken before, so I hope that you don’t have a problem with assisting me. The general impression that I got from your youtube video on the comparison between the Flip Mino HD, Kodak Vi6, and Creative Vado HD, left me thinking that you would not mind being asked for assistance on the matter. You seem to be a very knowledgable person on the majority of genres, which you do reviews the products of, so I feel that it would be very appropriate for me to as you my question that I have on this matter.

Moving on, my name is Kieran Hill (online gamer tag [EVGA]A.Zer0pWnZ) and I recently qualified for the grand finals of the Command and Conquer: Red alert 3 Ladder Season Finals in Cologne, Germany. On this trip, I will be an exclusive member to the alfa testing team on the next game, and will therefore be partaking in the CnC4 community summit. My point – I want to buy an HD video camera to document the entire trip, and to use footage on the show, which I am the lead producer of, Red3TV (the main RA3 web show on the internet, and a product of gamereplays.org.) I will be using the camera mostly indoors; in lowly-lit rooms, with a large amount of monitors present. I will need to have good audio quality for my video, so that any developer interviews, which I conduct, will be flawless, and good enough quality to be included in the August episode of Red3tv, (which is displayed in a 720p HD flash player.)

After the LAN tournament, I will be using which ever camera I purchase, in order to record the news coverage segment of the show, ( which we greenscreen.) My question, is in your opinion, which HD video camera should I buy? I am only 17, and therefore naturally want to spend as least possible on the product; however, I am not saying that price is an issue, rather that it is important that I am not spending an extra $300 for a few extra features, which I will not need.

The main things, which I am looking for in the camera that I purchase will be: (in order from most important to least)

Video quality in low-lighting areas
Audio quality
Compact design (I will be bringing this wherever I go during the grand finals and community summit)
Accessories functions available (I have a very expensive USB M-Audio microphone, which I wouldn’t mind connecting, along with an optical wide lense, which I could attach if needed.)

I would really appreciate it if you can give me any feedback possible on this matter. I also saw your Kodak Zx1 unveiling, so if you would like to expand on your thoughs about that, then please do.

Honestly? My choice is still the Creative Vado HD. It’s not perfect (sound is a bit tinny, no external audio solution, etc.), but it certainly leads its class in terms of overall quality. I have high hopes for the next iteration of the Vado, and have given the Creative team direct feedback on what they need to improve upon. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but my opinion stands: the Vado HD rules. And remember, I purchased the Vado HD with my own money.

How to Broadcast a Wireless Audio / Video Signal from PC to TV

Chris — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:42:31 +0000

How to Broadcast a Wireless Audio / Video Signal from PC to TV is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Let’s say you have an HDTV, a computer and Internet access. Why not put all of those things together by experiencing computer content on your computer? How would you get content from the computer to the television? You know you don’t want to run a cable from one to the other, right? So what else can you do? Lucky for you, the latest product from IOGear is here to save the day!

The Wireless USB Audio and Video Kit allows you to connect your computer to your TV wirelessly without the long and unattractive cable run. The system has strong, reliable signals – ideal for streaming media content across a room… even up to 30 feet away. There’s not even any complicated setup process.

The kit consists of three adapters: audio for speaker connectivity, VGA for the TV and Wireless USB for the hosting PC. Once you’re hooked up, you can do everything from watch your favorite YouTube videos to editing a spreadsheet for work – right on your flat-screen TV!

Broadcast whatever is on your computer onto your television. Make your family happy. Instead of gathering around your monitor, you can relax in front of the TV.

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What Do You Know About Online Video?

Chris — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:08:41 +0000

What Do You Know About Online Video? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I’ve been doing this live video thing for just about two years now. I wanted to talk about online video today in order to answer a few questions Steve Garfield had for me. He’s working on a new book, which should be a great read! When talking with me about the book, Steve says:

Most of the videoblogging books out there were written a few years ago, so I’m producing a book with real world examples that people can pick up and actually do things. Interviews with people like you will be both inspiring and practical.

Sounds good to me, so let’s get going on those answers!

You have a background in TV, hosting the TechTV show Call for Help. What did you learn from your TV experience that would help others produce video for the web? The keyword in that sentence is “produce”. That’s what most videos lack – production quality. I’ve evolved my production quality over time – I’m doing my best! My setup is now such that I feel it works very well. I’ve even worked with others as a consultant, who all now use this same setup.
You stream live using Ustream.tv and then post your videos on YouTube. The quality is very good. What computer, video and audio equipment do you use and why? It is true that I stream live to file via Ustream. I do this because it brings a different dimension to my videos. Instead of just being a talking head, I’d rather have the interaction of the community. I change hardware up frequently, in order to make things better.
What equipment would you suggest to someone getting started? People can get started using a laptop with an inbuilt webcam, right? Is that a good idea? Absolutely, they can start that way. Don’t spend any money if you don’t have to. That being said… if you want your videos to look professional, then spend money! It’s a matter of personal preference, and what your ultimate goals are when producing content.
Why are you using YouTube to host your videos? Is it because of the integration with Ustream.tv? Are there drawbacks to using YouTube? I use a variety of video hosting services, honestly. I don’t only rely on YouTube. That being said, YouTube has this vast audience worldwide. It’s pretty much the place where everyone goes to find videos. YouTube is actually the second largest search engine on the Internet. A person would be crazy not to put their videos on YouTube. The number of views that YouTube gives me is astronomical… around 80,000 views per day!
You just got over 1 million hits for your airplane safety video! How’d that happen? That was the first YouTube video I ever did. It was just me mocking the safety announcement on a flight. I couldn’t help it, it was hilarious at the time. I was making up hand gestures, and being silly. For some reason, people just love this video, and find it to be completely funny. When you put something on the web it doesn’t just fade away – it’s there forever!
Have you figured out the best method for producing web video? Recording a live stream without editing and posting directly to YouTube? Any secrets you can share on how to best do it? Everyone is going to have a different style. Me… I like doing things live, saving the file and converting it to a different format. I have to thank my assistant Kat for the help she gives on that end. She downloads and converts all my videos, gets them uploaded to the various sites, and writes up the show notes for my blog. There’s a lot involved, and I’m grateful for her help! That also shows you that producing content regularly is not always a walk in the park. If that’s all you’re doing, you can likely manage it yourself. But if you have your finger in many other pies as I do, you’ll need help. I choose to shoot live to file because I hate editing… it takes up too much time!
What makes a successful video? Success can be measured in many ways. For me, success comes from doing something that I myself am proud of. For others, it’s getting information from the video that they were hoping to attain, and learning something new from whatever it was I talked about. So success can be measured in view numbers, or one of many other ways.
What advice would you give to a business getting started in online video? Just do it. So many businesses and people get caught up in not doing things, or become afraid of bad comments/reviews. In fact, your video is not a sucess unless someone has been negative!
What is the secret to online video? Do something that is unique, and stands out. Not only yourself, but your set as well has to convey your message. Don’t try to be someone else. You have to own what you’re doing, and make it yours.
What other comments or advice do you have? One thing I will say is to develop a thick skin. There are idiots everywhere, and you’ll have to deal with them when your content is distributed. Keep doing your thing, and don’t let jerks bring you down or make you question yourself. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t take constructive criticism – you should! But take everything else and throw it out the window.

My target market are the people who don’t know me, as much as I love my audience. I have to do my best to get to the people who don’t yet know me. Pay attention to your community, and remember to go after the rest of the people to get them into your community!

Good luck with the book, Steve! I’m looking forward to reading it.

How to Make Money with YouTube: Earn Cash, Market Yourself, Reach Your Customers, and Grow Your Business on the World’s Most Popular Video-Sharing Site (How to Make . . .)

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YouTube Comments are Worthless

Chris — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:05:46 +0000

YouTube Comments are Worthless is a post from Chris Pirillo

Seriously. Why do I even bother accepting (or reading) comments on YouTube? The other day, someone accused me of doing nothing but advertising for other companies – but they asserted this accusation for the video in which I was doing nothing but throwing a snowball into the camera’s lens. WTF?! Today, this happened:

chrispirillo: Someone just called me a Dutchbag on YouTube. Should I be offended? Is this a bad thing? Better than Italianbag, Frenchbag?

about 56 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:02:33 +0000 2009

ammunix: rofl

about 55 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:03:30 +0000 2009

MarjyMeechan: What's going on over at Youtube? Somebody else told me they were blocking people. Is it getting rowdy over there?

about 55 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:03:33 +0000 2009

gourmeted: Hahaha.

about 55 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:03:40 +0000 2009

andycaster: well..they say if you aren't dutch, you aren't much! must be a compliment!

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:01 +0000 2009

mxgirl22: lol dutchbag. People on You Tube are so smart haha

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:01 +0000 2009

JLHughes: That's better than a bag of Dutch…I think.

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:04 +0000 2009

dbhaffey: they were probably half in the bag?

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:10 +0000 2009

craigsutton: I think it just means you dont like tipping at the grocery store

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:18 +0000 2009

DennisWhite: LOL

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:23 +0000 2009

jeffery300: lol

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:34 +0000 2009

techlover: You know what they meant…

about 54 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:45 +0000 2009

charliejennings: chris, you are a douche bag. But not as much of a douch bag as the douche bag that mis-spelt the word douche bag.

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:04:59 +0000 2009

Nathan_halo9: No need to worry,just ell them to spell it right next time.PS I didn't know that a English major can say “Aint” on youtube!

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:10 +0000 2009

KevinLittleton: I'm Dutch and I think “dutchbag” is hilarious! Don't be offended, say thank you!

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:13 +0000 2009

dmerwrock: bag of Dutch. iunno… that's a tough call. I'd sleep on it. xD

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:13 +0000 2009

iUberGeek: Egregious spelling errors render insults comically invalid :).

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:17 +0000 2009

sophiaperennis: Being a Dutchbag is a privilege if ya ask me. :D

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:27 +0000 2009

Schmal: lol, kinda like: your fucking stupid

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:34 +0000 2009

awesomenossum: Yeah, that's usually not a good thing. I'd be a little offended.

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:41 +0000 2009

ericpratum: Hmm… I'd say it's better than Spanishbag, but not as good as Germanbag… unless you wanna get technical…

about 53 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:05:47 +0000 2009

dkmeister: who what it? sxephil? If its him feel honored you will get lot of 'fame'

about 52 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:06:11 +0000 2009

joshua_w: What about Canadianbag? That's the WORST! :P

about 52 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:06:27 +0000 2009

Chris_Jenkins: RE:Dutchbag I think it's a compliment, the dutch have very nice bags. Be happy and thank them. :)

about 52 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:06:35 +0000 2009

orcaman42: I'd publicly ask him to use a dicktionary

about 52 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:06:45 +0000 2009

musicloverchick: Heehee, that is really hilarious….I'm going to laugh like an idiot cause it'll be stuck in my head now, Dutchbag…haha

about 52 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:06:54 +0000 2009

Xentagz: dutchbag = good:-)

about 50 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:08:51 +0000 2009

sciamachy: Well, I was always taught the French & Italians made great bags

about 50 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:08:57 +0000 2009

mixman55: yo bro u should report them now

about 49 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:09:05 +0000 2009

ponet: Or “half of this, half of that bag!”

about 49 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:09:07 +0000 2009

idumych: that's kind of a douchey reaction >_>

about 49 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:09:06 +0000 2009

compuhelp101: lol its pronounced “doosh-bag”, well not really, they are just jealous of you

about 49 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:09:14 +0000 2009

mellibel: you should send them a thank you gift, and make it a dictionary with a spell checker

about 49 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:09:29 +0000 2009

Dortz: nah. Dutchbag is so much better. Nobody hates the Dutch.

about 49 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:09:35 +0000 2009

Nkosi868: I envy the scholars on YouTube…..

about 49 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:09:44 +0000 2009

triFeral: Are you even dutch?

about 48 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:10:27 +0000 2009

secretgiftgirl: Sounds like a complement to me ;) http://bit.ly/2iGYB9 Bosboom makes very nice “dutchbags.”

about 48 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:10:53 +0000 2009

ScottEO: beats being ignored ;-)

about 48 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:10:53 +0000 2009

dette4556: Hahahaha I am not sure if you should be offended with that or not

about 47 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:11:51 +0000 2009

tylergillies: at least they didn't call you a dirty Seattle hippy

about 46 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:12:19 +0000 2009

akirareiko: hilarious!

about 46 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:12:19 +0000 2009

brennanmuir: i wouldnt

about 44 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:14:02 +0000 2009

emilyrlerner: I'm pretty sure Frenchbag is the worst of the worst, followed by Dutchbag, then Italianbag.

about 43 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:15:10 +0000 2009

DacoTaco: dutchbag? how is that even an english word? o_O; if it is..i guess thats good cause of the weed in holland o.o

about 43 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:15:57 +0000 2009

andrew42092: Just Ignore it. Not Worth being offended over. Trust me :)

about 41 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:17:36 +0000 2009

mtpflyers: dutchbag? WTF? I wonder if this 12 year old thought he was typing douchbag but failed? Kids can't live without spell check..

about 39 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:19:13 +0000 2009

atulkarmarkar: perhaps they meant “douchebag” ? :)

about 38 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:20:18 +0000 2009

odaynasser: hahhahhah

about 38 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:20:40 +0000 2009

EricJacksch: LOL Sounds like you were insulted by the illiterate squad.

about 38 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:20:46 +0000 2009

WrathOskvro: Sheesh Chris, you're such a dutchbag. :P

about 37 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:21:21 +0000 2009

sketchee: Was this someone you know or just the usual internet background noise?

about 36 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:22:05 +0000 2009

Aswell: or canadabag…

about 33 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:25:31 +0000 2009

j_holtslander: A Dutchbag? You sure it wasn't Douchebag? Not saying you are, just never heard of Dutchbag before.

about 33 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:25:55 +0000 2009

LivingRichLee: Does that mean he shares your baggage with you? Perhaps a new form of empathy. Definately a compliment. :-D

about 32 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:26:30 +0000 2009

grantbourque: you should be glad that you got name called by a complete loser

about 32 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:26:57 +0000 2009

bls4design08: That's hilarious! Your a real wallet I guess! http://tinyurl.com/dh8jh8

about 31 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:27:20 +0000 2009

IanMcNaughton: haha, think the spelling is messed Dutchbag- Douchbag! and ya, Chris, it's not flattering and I am sure not accurate! :o)

about 30 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:28:02 +0000 2009

bls4design08: That would make for a great list! The top 10 insult misfires.

about 27 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:31:23 +0000 2009

bcarcio: send the link, Dutch Boy

about 25 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:33:07 +0000 2009

straightahead: what sort of axent did the person have? lol

about 19 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:39:10 +0000 2009

edgewoodblake83: Jack from Jack in the Box is back dude.

about 8 minutes ago

Wed Mar 11 00:50:28 +0000 2009

Creative Vado HD Video Format Help

Chris — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:37:05 +0000

Creative Vado HD Video Format Help is a post from Chris Pirillo

David Fay appreciates my hardware recommendations:

Thanks a lot for all your vids posted on YouTube. It was very helpful in my decision to buy the Vado HD. I had originally purchased the Kodak zi6, but thought it was a bit bigger than I wanted to carry in my pocket every day. So, I got the vado HD and LOVED it.

The AVI format does not work in iMovie ‘09. I read a bunch of blog entries with this issue, and downloaded “ffmpegx” which seems to take a while, be a huge extra step, and I do not know if it is possible to batch process. I have a MacBook Pro, and love the ease of dumping vids in iPhoto, then making movies in iMovie ‘09.

Is there an easier workflow to convert files into a better format?

Yeah, Creative screwed the pooch on Mac support – but there’s a perfect way to fix their shortcomings (until they wake up and realize that not everybody in the world uses, or WANTS to use, Windows).

My suggestion for both Windows and Mac OS X users is to download MPEG Streamclip (freeware). It’s got a batch processing feature for you. Simply adjust your output accordingly (I’d recommend experimenting and finding your own favorite MP4 setting). I believe the Windows version is on par with the OS X version, so you should be good in that respect. I also use this utility to watermark URLs in the lower right-corner of videos that weren’t produced live.

How to Edit Videos for Free

Chris — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:45:18 +0000

How to Edit Videos for Free is a post from Chris Pirillo

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If you hadn’t noticed, I do happen to record and upload a lot of videos. I don’t really like to do video editing. However, there are times it needs to be done. One of the programs I use to edit videos is called ZS4. This was recommended to me by Steve Johnson.

This is available for Mac, Windows and Linux! It’s also a free program, with a handful of very useful features. ZS4 Video Editor can be used like an object oriented photo-manipulation program with a timeline: things that can be manipulated in a photo (workshop) program can be manipulated in ZS4 using parameters which alter over time. ZS4 Video Editor is worth using when…

the final output is a combination of more than 2 media sources rendered simultaneously. (like nine talking heads separately filmed, but later arranged in a 3×3 video wall combination)
every aspect of the compositing process needs to be ‘tweened with an adjustable interpolation algorithm, from rotation angles to audio volume and chroma key sensitivity etc…
it becomes necessary to create custom effects and imaging processes by combining any number of effects using a highly flexible and infinitely variable toolbox of imaging “primitives”.
the user likes to be limited by their own imagination instead of the software-makers ideas of the “desirable”.

The program is free, yes. It works well, yes. It’s easy to use, yes. It’s just… ugly. I can’t help it! I didn’t design it. But if you’re looking for a free video editing tool that won’t require you to take a class to learn, ZS4 is for you!

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Video Camera Comparison Test: Mino, Zi6, Vado!

Chris — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:21:14 +0000

Video Camera Comparison Test: Mino, Zi6, Vado! is a post from Chris Pirillo

I kept the camera(s) as steady as possible as I panned across the landscape from the vantage point of my bedroom window this evening. Watch the full HD version on YouTube, or scroll down to watch the high-quality embedded version.

Each series of clips were taken back-to-back – the first series, earlier when the sunset was striking the clouds in a dramatic fashion; the second series, when it was a bit more overcast (and there were both pink and blue hues on the horizon).

In each set, the cameras were used in this order: Flip Mino HD, Kodak Zi6, Creative Vado HD. You’ll see annotations lead off each scene (then quickly disappear).

I removed the audio from this video to alleviate volume level discrepancies, as well as to provide further concentration on the video quality at hand. Obviously, viewing in HD is required for fairest judgment.

Processing was NOT done to any of these videos; these recordings were sewn together in a seamless fashion and uploaded to YouTube in their near-original condition.

The Flip Mino HD pretty much washed out the sky’s vibrant colors in the first set, and effectively made a drab mountain view appear even more drab in the second set.
The Kodak Zi6 did a good job with the colors, but couldn’t strike a good balance between the bright sky and the dark landscape in either set.
My verdict still favors the Creative Vado HD – not only with its wide-angle lens capability, but its truer-to-life colors and exposure balance (between dark and light in the same shot).

Best Video Camera: Creative Vado HD vs Flip Mino HD vs Kodak Zi6?

Chris — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:37:37 +0000

Best Video Camera: Creative Vado HD vs Flip Mino HD vs Kodak Zi6? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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First, I got the Kodak Zi6. Then, I got the Flip Mino HD. A few hours ago, I received a recently-ordered Creative Vado HD and decided that instead of doing a full-on review of it, I’d compare it directly against the Mino HD and the Zi6 – in a short video shootout.

Flip Mino HD Likes: small and lightweight; has decent software that runs on both Mac OS X and Windows; decent “foreground subject focused” audio in noisy situations.
Flip Mino HD Dislikes: Touch controls are too sensitive; there’s a plastic protector that flips out along with the USB connector; colors are always washed out; flat video quality; white balance is impossible; tons of noise in low light; my skin tone never looks right indoors; built-in YouTube uploader decreases quality automatically; tiny LCD screen; cheap plastic wrist strap.
Kodak Zi6 Likes: decent saturation; decent audio; great LCD size; uses AA batteries; uses SDHC media; macro switch; great quality when not blurring.
Kodak Zi6 Dislikes: unpredictably blurred recordings in low light; no clear audio when noisy; no Mac software support; can be oversaturated in certain scene; heavy construction.
Creative Vado HD Likes: great balance of color and saturation in the average shot; tends to favor skin tones; wide angle lens; can record two hours; replaceable / rechargeable battery via USB; lightweight; sharp definition.
Creative Vado HD Dislikes: included skin doesn’t accommodate battery replacement / hard reset; audio is treble muted from behind (in narration); skews to light which isn’t always neutral; has a wrist strap slot but doesn’t come with a strap.

The Flip Mino HD is the worst of the bunch to my eyes and ears, and I’m looking to sell it (hardly used) at a good price. The Kodak is completely unusable in artificial light (due to uncontrollable blurring), which rules it out for where I’d need it most. I don’t think Flip is going to fix their problems with a software update, but I’m holding out hope for a Zi6 fix. Kodak has to get its act together – so does Pure Digital.

For my money right now, it’s the Creative Vado HD. The wide angle lens is absolutely essential when you’re trying to get closer to a subject – or if you want more in the scene. That’s all you need to know – and all the reason to go with a Vado HD over the others. Even if you think the Zi6 isn’t bad, the Vado’s wide angle lens trumps it. You have to be much further away from your subject to get the same shot as you can with a Vado (closer, and with MORE in the frame). Keep that in mind the next time you’re in tight quarters, or when you have to take three steps back just to get the shot you wanted.

Plus, the Vado does a much better job with skin tones and saturation (generally) compared to the other two in indoor situations. The HDMI cable may be another win for you and the Vado, but I seldom use video out in these cameras – so that’s just a value add. Hardware controls are comfortable on the Vado, and I like how its USB connector is flexible.

Now, you can watch the following videos inline – but I’d also recommend viewing them on YouTube (where you can watch the original 1280×720 as recorded and uploaded without editing). I’ve linked to the HD versions in the list above. Understand, too, that the Zi6 was at least six inches behind both the Flip Mino HD and Creative Vado HD in this test – even though it appears as though the Creative Vado HD was the furthest away. I’m telling you: that wide angle lens is AWESOME.

Flip Mino HD

Kodak Zi6

Creative Vado HD

Mark Day and Me

Chris — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:28:37 +0000

Mark Day and Me is a post from Chris Pirillo

I met Mark Day at the YouTube Live event a few weeks ago. I was shocked to discover that he recognized me, too!

He asked permission to Flip me off – a request that I was more than happy to oblige. I wasn’t quite sure what he was doing when he started to spin around me, but apparently I have my own laws of gravity? I was using my new Flip Mino HD (with less-than-impressive results).

I’m beginning to think there’s no such thing as the perfect, high quality pocket camcorder (especially in the “high definition” variety. No matter, Mark wound up shooting this with a regular Flip Mino, and wow… it came out extremely pixelated. Still, I can brag to all my friends that Mark Day shot me!

How to Create a Successful YouTube Show

Chris — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:39:35 +0000

How to Create a Successful YouTube Show is a post from Chris Pirillo

This is Matt Scinto’s submission for the HP Magic Giveaway. Feel free to leave comments for this article as you see fit – your feedback is certainly welcomed! If you’d like to submit your own how-to, what-is, or top-five list, you can send it to me. Views and opinions of this writer are not necessarily my own:

For the many of us who want to get our “tech show” up-and-running (and attract subscribers), it can be a difficult and stressful road. With my own experience (yes, I am still learning), I want to offer my top 5 tips for those who want to become popular on the YouTube front.

Success on YouTube can open doors to your other time investments, such as your website or blog. It is a great idea for those who want to be recognized and gain a following to start on one of the most visited sites on the Web. YouTube can open doors if follow the right steps.

Be Friendly and Active in the Tech Community

I found that when I started commenting on others videos and channels, or simply added others as a friend, I began gaining more subscribers and views. Now, if you want video authors to recognize your page, you best write thoughtful and meaningful comments. Avoid vulgar language, and offer an opinion on the issue. Better yet, provide further information on the subject at hand. (i.e., if they are discussing a new gadget, comment on an additional feature that was not mentioned in the video. The author will most likely feel that you are trying to benefit their own videos and thus check out your own page) Most of all, don’t be a jackass. There are a lot of kids on YouTube. Act like an adult through your comments and be respectful. It will pay off in the end.

Build a Following on YouTube Before Expanding

This may be a slightly contradictory, but hear me out. Before you start making videos on your new blog or website, make sure people will be watching in the first place. For new users, your views won’t be coming from subscribers, but rather people typing subjects in the search query. It will be a rare event if a video titled “Check out my new blog!” gets anymore than 100 views. Honestly, I started out my page in this manner; I set up a new blog and hoped to attract more viewers from making an announcement video on YouTube. Stupidly, I made this video before having no more than 5 subscribers and thus it was completely ineffective. If you want to start advertising your other content, you must have a significant follower base before doing so.

Plan your Videos

I can’t stress this enough. I’ve seen too many 10-minute videos of people rambling, stumbling over thoughts and spitting out random information. Before sitting down in front of the camera to record, write down the topics you will be covering and rehearse them. The average viewer has a very short attention span; if you start making videos around the limit with no coherent thoughts, prepare to be bashed (from experience, this happened to me). Don’t take it personally. Everyone has the ability to make a great video. It comes down to organizing your thoughts and having done good research on the topic. Don’t read an article and blab on for 8 minutes about your thoughts. Most of the time, many things will be incorrect and your viewers will definitely make this apparent to you. Plan, plan, and plan!

Make New Videos as Often as Possible on Timely Topics

If your videos are constantly on the technology page, you will gain a much better subscriber base. Also, people subscribe to people because they like their content and want to see more of it. If you want to be successful, don’t make videos weeks at a time. This may be acceptable once you have a very large following base and a few un-subs don’t matter much, but for new users, this is crucial. People want a constant flow of new and fresh information; that is why they subscribed to you after all. The best of example of this is when I started doing videos on new products. Even though I didn’t physically have the product, I attracted more viewers because it was a very popular search term. People listened to me because I offered my opinion on the product and because it was a popular product at the time. Don’t make too many videos of you simply discussing a product released months and months ago. Stay current. If you can provide with this, not only will your subscribers and viewers be happy, but also they will tell others about your page. It’s simply a chain reaction from there; please a few and you will inevitably grow.

Show Rather Than Tell

I put this as my number one tip because it is what really gave me more views. People want to see something rather than hear you babble on. Yes, it is annoying and hard for many of us. Not all of us have the ability to get their hands on all the newest and upcoming tech products. For newbies, getting test copies of new products from companies isn’t a reality yet. However, show them what you have. Do a review on that new iPod you have, the computer you run on, your speaker system, etc. People like videos in which you show them something because it shows more connection. They like to know that you are a geek too. Once you start showing rather than telling, you will begin to grow. Once you are off and running, you can talk about anything, but still keep those reviews/overviews a priority. This will, without a doubt, propel you on YouTube. People like to be pulled in by your shiny new toy, rather than your blabbering mouth.

If you follow these steps, you will begin seeing a better flow of viewers. Many people quit when they first start because they aren’t attracting many people. Market your page around the web on social networks (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace) and you’ll see a better turn out. Don’t give up if you aren’t seeing a lot of traffic; it takes a lot of time and effort to make good videos. If you put the time and effort in, you’ll reap the benefits.

How to Produce a Successful Video Shoot

Chris — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:49:11 +0000

How to Produce a Successful Video Shoot is a post from Chris Pirillo

This is Keegan Blackshear’s submission for the HP Magic Giveaway. Feel free to leave comments for this article as you see fit – your feedback is certainly welcomed! If you’d like to submit your own how-to, what-is, or top-five list, you can send it to me. Views and opinions of this writer are not necessarily my own:

Whether it is a live video stream, or a video that you are going to put on YouTube, there are many things that you have to keep in mind. Through my trial and errors in making videos, I have found many important items that need to be addressed to make an all-around decent video. I have arranged them according to what I think is the most important first, to the tip that affects you the least.

Video Quality – Good video quality is a must for almost every type of video that you may plan to shoot. In the case of showing small items, you need to make sure that the audience can see what you are holding or showcasing. If you appear as a blur on the screen, you should adjust the video quality. This can be achieved by adjusting the focus. Good video quality is a goal that you need to work towards each and every time you shoot video. Try finding out what quality your device has, and attempt to use it to its fullest. If you can use a video camera or photography camera that can record video, then try to use that. If possible, stay away from webcams as they can have a lower quality picture than that of a video camera. If you must use a web camera, purchase one that is of higher quality instead of one that is less expensive.
Lighting – Lighting, along with video quality, is important. If you do not have good lighting for your video, then your audience will not be able to see what you are trying to show them. Placement of lighting is important so the viewer can see what you are showcasing. For example, if you place a lamp to the side of you with the shade taken off, then the viewer will typically be able to see only half of your face. If you can move the lamp in front of you as much as possible, it should cut down on the shadowing of your face. Another example of this is if you are standing in front of a window that is open. The light coming in from a window can darken the things in front of and around it. A simple solution would be to close it, or put a sheet, towel, or a curtain over it. If it is necessary for the window to remain open, then you can brighten the area in front of the window with some artificial light from a lamp or ceiling lights. If there is a brighter window behind the camera, then you could let light in from that window to combat the light in front of the camera. Remember, too much light can be a bad thing. The video can become washed out, where it is hard to see what is on the screen.
Sound – Sound is another key item that you need to take into consideration when you are setting up, recording, or streaming video. The placement and surroundings can effect your decision greatly. If you have a microphone on the device that you are using to record or stream video, then you may want to think about getting another microphone. The most convenient spot to place your microphone may not always be the place that you should put it. If the easiest place to put the microphone is behind you, you should automatically think about a different place. If you can not find another spot for the microphone, then you can attempt to make the best of the original microphone on your video recording or streaming device.
Information – The information that you give in the recorded or live video is an important factor, because it will help you express your message to the audience. You have to be able to convey what you’re saying to your audience properly, or they may not be able to understand what you are trying to get across to them. You will want to take some time to plan out what you will say ahead of time to prevent the need to redo the shot. Before you stream live video, take some time to look at the material that you will present… rehearse it, then shoot it.
Editing – Editing is important mainly to recorded video, as it is difficult to edit a live feed. However, you can record the live video that you streamed, to edit later. Some people prefer to upload raw footage and do nothing with it. That is understandable, because it can be a hassle to edit video. However, it is a good idea to edit video in the event that you made mistakes. Editing may also come in handy if you are unable to get the same camera angle again, because of the time of day, position, or equipment change.

These are the five tips I find most important for beginners to have a successful video shoot. It is easy to incorporate these tips into your video-making routine. If you have any other suggestions that you find helpful, you can find me on Geeks, or leave a comment here.

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

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VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

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