Video content: tools?

Posted July 7th, 2009 by Sonya Mills

If you create video content for your website and/or blog, what tools do you use? Something super simple like a Flip camera? Or a little nicer camera with an external mic and a tripod? Brand/model recommendations?

Do you edit your video/audio? If so, what tools/software do you use?

Thanks

Sonya Mills 2 years 44 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago

Thanks all! What a variety of responses.I had no idea there wer comments here! Glad this post was mentioned in the Magnet email newsletter! Now I've realized I need to click the subscribe icon after I post. :)

Our first attempt is using a Flip on a tripod. We decided to go with raw video for this application but will need to edit screencasts in the future. I'm used to Adobe Captivae, interesting that it wasn't mentioned here...We'll see how the quality is and make changes if necessary.

Depends on the type of video...

Dan Ronken 2 years 45 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago

Are these creations going to be more of an educational variety in the form of sitting in front of your computer? If they are, then a flip phone may not be your best bet. A decent web-cam or (as Rebecca pointed out) a solid tripod for a camera. More importantly in this situation would be GOOD lighting. Hubspot.tv does not spend a lot of equiptment and they have a sweet weekly video podacst. Good lighting does not have specialized or expensive.

I created a couple of quick videos using a simple $200 digital camera. One in India with no editing and another with me face-planting in the snow while snowboarding in Whistler edited using free Windows Movie Maker.

Hi Sonya, Anne is right. A

2webvideo 2 years 45 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago

Hi Sonya,

Anne is right. A good story is important. But talking about software that are useful and economical, I feel you need 4 of them - KoolMoves, Vegas Movie Studio, Camtasia, and PowerPoint. There are others but these 4 will probably suffice for a long time into your working.

I've made several web videos with one or more of these 4. If you wish you can have a look at my website, www.2webvideo.com.

All the best.

Partha Bhattacharya

Re: VIdeo Tools

Toni Aničić 2 years 45 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago

I use Logitech's quick camera, it's a pretty quality PC camera sitting on top of my monitor that can record HD videos and has excellent audio filtering abilities so the sound is usually pretty clear without using any additional / external microphone.

Edit / Record video

Shane Kump 2 years 45 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago

I use Camtasia to edit and record all of our video and it works great! I tried Windows Movie Maker before but Camptasia is by far a better tool.

http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp

Video tips!

Rebecca Corliss 2 years 45 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago

Hi Sonya!

DO invest in a tripod. It's the difference between a shaky hand home video and something "almost-professional"

We have a little JVC camera we use for everything: HSTV, music videos, skits, etc. We love it. -- Other tip: hard drive (as opposed to tape) makes for faster camera to computer file exchange. Easy peasy.

For editing, I use iMovie or Final Cut Express (much more challenging). They work on Mac. For PC users, perhaps try Camtasia?

Also, perhaps I'll plug my post on viral video I wrote today?: http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/4915/10-Qualities-That-Can-M...

Hope this helps!

Rebecca

Flick School

A.M. McReynolds 2 years 45 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago

Check out Flick School for best practices for gear, operation, producing, editing and post production work. Gear recommendations include: Canon Vixia HF10 ($599.00), Audio-Technica ATR-35S Lavalier Microphone ($25.82) and Digital Concepts TR-60N Camera Tripod with Camera Carry Case ($8.05). For editing, Final Cut (Pro/Express) will allow you to incorporate more effects such as motion to create a split screen and a quad screen as well as text overlay. But, ultimately, it comes down to high impact storytelling. [For an example, see David Meerman Scott on GuruTube.Net, "How to Create a World Wide Rave."]

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