HOW TO MAKE VIDEOS AND PUT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA

[geek84]

Hi Folks

I am a maths tutor and want to make videos on topics which students find most difficult.

In the videos, I only want to show my pen, the question and workings out, plus my voice stating how to resolve the question.

Can someone kindly suggest the type of software that I should use? Can this be done at home or would I need the services of a 'professional' ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[fisicx]

You just need something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Overhead-Flexible-Articulating-Compatible-Recording/dp/B09ZNNY165/ref=asc_df_B09ZNNY165?mcid=9bb7de9b062636d9b5083f59d8fb9842&hvocijid=9002707886916700716-B09ZNNY165-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9002707886916700716&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006466&hvtargid=pla-2281435177858&psc=1&gad_source=1

 

[Wesley Cude]

I would probably start with just using my camera on the phone. Buy a holder online (Jobby) and go from there. You might need a decent microphone too if it isn't picking up your voice well. To edit the video, checkout Veed.

 

[John Martin]

We make explainer videos to help people communicate aspects of their business or their products. They tend to focus more on images, but there is some text animation in there as well. We could easily make a text based white board animation if this is something you're interested in.

Here's a link to my youtube channel if you want to get an idea of how it might look... https://www.youtube.com/@olympusdigitalmarketing

We can also do basic video editing if you don't feel competent to do it yourself.

 

[FreddyG]

Hi Folks

I am a maths tutor and want to make videos on topics which students find most difficult.

In the videos, I only want to show my pen, the question and workings out, plus my voice stating how to resolve the question.

Can someone kindly suggest the type of software that I should use? Can this be done at home or would I need the services of a 'professional' ?

Thanks in advance.

Typical equipment for the task -

Grafic Tablet: https://amzn.to/3t08D5h
Light: https://amzn.to/3OIHDi5
Greenscreen: https://amzn.to/3hMcNED
Popfilter: https://amzn.to/3rdW1TD
Interface: https://amzn.to/3u9suKH
Sound: https://amzn.to/3JVhk59
Facecam: https://amzn.to/3YvdNTh
Video Software: https://amzn.to/34r94pe

 

[FreddyG]

Typical equipment for the task -

Grafic Tablet: https://amzn.to/3t08D5h
Light: https://amzn.to/3OIHDi5
Greenscreen: https://amzn.to/3hMcNED
Popfilter: https://amzn.to/3rdW1TD
Interface: https://amzn.to/3u9suKH
Sound: https://amzn.to/3JVhk59
Facecam: https://amzn.to/3YvdNTh
Video Software: https://amzn.to/34r94pe

Sorry - I tried to edit that to give you the English language version of Amazon, but it timed out. But you get the idea of what is needed.

For video processing, DaVinci Resolve can do it all and it's free, but I would recommend Reaper for audio processing. A Shure SM58 is the best budget microphone for voice, then you do not need a pop filter.

And here is a pretty girl from Kaiserslauten doing exactly what you want to do - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioj7SyjwCIw&t

 

[geek84]

Good Morning

Many thanks indeed for all your responses

 

[antropy]

I am a maths tutor and want to make videos on topics which students find most difficult.

In the videos, I only want to show my pen, the question and workings out, plus my voice stating how to resolve the question.

Have a look at how Andrew Ng does his maths videos on Coursera.

Paul.

 

[paulears]

The biggest thing to cope with is that your videos must fit the needs of the viewer. With youtube, the statis they provide make you cringe when you see how many peoploe click away, or skip. I'd surge you to watch as many similar ones as you can. Kids today have crazily short attention spans. A static shot of you writing numbers and a voice over is really, really dull. Assuming your viewers are struggling with the content already, then presentation is everything.

If you have a mac, then you already have moviemaker - and if all you want is the basic stuff, it will do the job perfectly well.

A phone will suffice to get video into it. Audio will be important, so you have the option of the rotten distant sound your phone will capture, or as said above, get a microphone, and perhaps some rudimentary treatment to make your space sound less boxy - this can be duvets, hung up at the cheapest end, or expensive proper sound treatment. The microphone needs an interface to connect to your computer - mic and interface will probably start at a couple of hundred quid. For the shooting numbers bit, you will need some LED lighting that doesn't cast shadows, so your marker pens in hand don't cast shadows over what you write. At the very least a couple - one either side.

You are a teacher, so probably your students may already be adept at making videos? Why not ask if any of them might like to help and advise? They probably would be willing to even help, and throw in their ideas of what would help them.

Do not buy anything randomly - making videos can be amazingly time consuming and expensive. All the good ones on Youtube will not be made on a shoestring with basic skills and kit. I've been making youtube videos for a while now and it takes lots of time, and annoyingly large amounts of money to up your production values.

I have a video studio, loads of great cameras, audio and lighting gear and green screens and cleverness. My most popular videos are ones I make in theatres, using my iphone, and no clever kit at all. The irony doesn't escape me!

 

[DontAsk]

The microphone needs an interface to connect to your computer - mic and interface will probably start at a couple of hundred quid.

I get good results with a blue yeti for less than half that.

For the shooting numbers bit, you will need some LED lighting that doesn't cast shadows, so your marker pens in hand don't cast shadows over what you write. At the very least a couple - one either side.

Cheap PAR cans, or whatever that are called can be bought To take standard LED downloaded bulbs.

Do not buy anything randomly - making videos can be amazingly time consuming and expensive. All the good ones on Youtube will not be made on a shoestring with basic skills and kit.

A channel I watch has just hit 1,000,000 subs with pretty basic stuff, much of it homemade, such as boom arms and sound treatment.

I've been making youtube videos for a while now and it takes lots of time,

This is where most go wrong. It can take many, many minutes, hours even, to produce a minute of output, when averaged out.

My most popular videos are ones I make in theatres, using my iphone, and no clever kit at all. The irony doesn't escape me!

So do you want popularity, which can definitely be achieved on little more than a shoestring, or the ultimate production values? Irony indeed.

 

[paulears]

Not really - it is down to audience. If you make specialist videos, like the one the OP is talking about - the audience is quite specific, so the demands are also specific. We've all seen the total c**p that has gazillions of subscribers and while many look chaotic and random, they're not - they're are designed that way. Content is King - I've watched dire videos that solved a problem. I ignore the rubbish production values, because I want the instructions on how to extend a windows partition that has a recovery partition between it and free space. A video that says "type XXX, then enter the third number from the top and copy X into the box...." doesn't need fancy lighting. A friend just started a channel about his crazily expensive guitar building, and he posted a link to it on a recording forum. He got slagged off for having terrible audio, inconsistent video images and poor lighting. He was hurt. However, he totally forgot that the buyers of multi-thousand pound guitars just expect a little more.

My two youtube channels are quite niche - so lighting, sound and video are all vital - and generate about £40 a month for one that is monitised, and the other generates nothing at all - which is totally fine. This channel is about my local council - so viewers are all locals. Nobody from even the next county would watch. If the viewer want to hear the differences between microphones - then the costs go up, even if income doesn't. First comment on the video this one was from? You should have got rid of the coffee mug!

 

[John Martin]

I have a video studio, loads of great cameras, audio and lighting gear and green screens and cleverness. My most popular videos are ones I make in theatres, using my iphone, and no clever kit at all. The irony doesn't escape me!

A few years ago, highly produced videos were the in thing. The problem is, a lot of the stereotypical youtuber's were fake people and viewers started to realise they weren't who they claimed to be.

Because of that, things have started go the other way and people are now looking for genuine people who aren't perfect and who they can relate to. Hence the reason why low budget videos with minimal equipment sometimes do really well.

However, like you say, you have to consider your audience and what will appeal to them.

 

[FreddyG]

Well, obviously the coffee mug should not be there - just think of the comb-filter effect of having such a reflective object near those mics!

I recognise the 414 - but the others are just some Chinese jobs - not a Neuman or a Sennheiser in sight!

 

[paulears]

the channel spends a lot of time comparing cheap chinese with expensive 'standards'. If you want some classics ...........87 Sennheiser Neumann 2 RE20

Does that help? In the original picture is an MXL tube mic and an Audio Technica 4033 - not cheap mics. The flavour of the month mic for internet channels of course is still the Shure SM7B - these (and fakes of them) are everywhere.

 

[paulears]

A few years ago, highly produced videos were the in thing. The problem is, a lot of the stereotypical youtuber's were fake people and viewers started to realise they weren't who they claimed to be.

Because of that, things have started go the other way and people are now looking for genuine people who aren't perfect and who they can relate to. Hence the reason why low budget videos with minimal equipment sometimes do really well.

However, like you say, you have to consider your audience and what will appeal to them.

A classic example that I watch are videos on saxophones - some incredibly talented people with no presentation skills, (often using their professional title, Dr) and other by more er, animated people who are much easier to digest. Dr Jones in his book filled study, with a cheap sounding mic and birds squalking outside, vs a decent recording that demonstrates the techniques in an understandable way.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

You need to engage with your audience and stand out from the crowd........

Stay hidden, create a character to deliver your lessons.......... buy a mask!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[fisicx]

@geek84 - have you searched YouTube to see if others have already done videos of these problems?

 

[fantheflames]

Sounds like you just need a plug and play mic and some simple editing software to get started. Just something that lets you sync audio and tidy up your slides. I’d definitely suggest getting a bit more creative to keep students engaged. That could mean adding light animation, showing your face now and then, or using background music. Loom’s a good starting point if you’re using slides, and it shows you on screen too, but it is a bit limited on customisation.

 

[FreddyG]

The flavour of the month mic for internet channels of course is still the Shure SM7B - these (and fakes of them) are everywhere.

They seem to sell on size alone! I have never taken one apart, but they are probably SM58 capsules in a cheaper body.

"Buy this £100 mic for just £300 and for an extra £120, we'll stick it onto a £10 clamp-on table-lamp stand!"

Some mics for talking heads, like the MKH 416, are worth the extra - but the SM7B 'Shure' ain't one of them!

 

[paulears]

We're going off on a tangent, but they're not a 58 capsule - common comment, but if you dismantle them you find the SM7B capsule in nearly twice the length and a totally different design which accounts for the the reduction in tonal changes you get as you change distance - unlike most cardioids, which get warmer as you get closer. MKH416's are an OK shotgun, extremely popular, but, they're really not that pleasant. I did a video on both

 

[HFE Signs]

There are quite a few options, I'd suggest trying Capcut for starters, very easy to use with some good features and some good templates, also its available as an app on your phone which is really user friendly

 

[FreddyG]

We're going off on a tangent, but they're not a 58 capsule - common comment, but if you dismantle them you find the SM7B capsule in nearly twice the length and a totally different design which accounts for the the reduction in tonal changes you get as you change distance - unlike most cardioids, which get warmer as you get closer. MKH416's are an OK shotgun, extremely popular, but, they're really not that pleasant.

Interesting comparison - well, it interested me anyway!

The three mics we always get asked for, for VO and ADR work are the 416, the U87 and the DPA 4061 - so I just use all three and the editor can mix and match in post. The 416 is noticeably 'sharper' than the U87 or any Neuman that uses that or a similar capsule (TLM103 and the M149). The 87 and the 416 mix together nicely.

The old Shure SM59 had a long capsule and was regarded as THE radio and reporter's mic of choice back in the 60s and 70s. It too had almost no handling noise whatsoever, not even if one blew across it or tapped the mic. I bought one on a whim on eBay for almost nothing and have used it many times for all sorts of odd stuff. The capsule was spring-mounted from the rear via a long brass stalk set into a rubber mount right at the back.

So far, no one has asked for an SM7B.

 

[John Martin]

Hi Paul,

One thing I noticed is that the sound on your video is a bit quite. I had to turn my speakers up to full...

Or maybe I'm just going deaf.

 

[FreddyG]

No, just dyslexic.

 

[paulears]

It's a really tricky thing. On audio forums there is heated discussion on at what point youtube's 'repair' system kicks in, so when people listen critically for tiny differences between mics, it get wrecked if youtube suddenly decides it is too quiet and too loud. The common thing with (a-hem) younger folk on the platform is their need for being LOUD, so Youtube manages it if you push - so the norm is loud and compressed - sometime horribly. Go too quiet and the background noise intrudes. Be variable and the background noise goes up and down. My peaks (instantaneous, rather than LUFs) hover around -6dB - but sometimes a bit less. I often get complaints - the way of the world with youtube - that speech peaks are distorted, or the fan noise from the computer can be heard on X mic, but not on Z. The upshot of all this is that my videos are quieter than others, absolutely.

I just watched the worst 'technical video' ever. Square room. A long way from the mic, and instead of proper diagrams, he was drawing on a white board at a strange angle, probably to avoid the one spotlight reflecting back. He knew his stuff, but it looked and sounded awful.

Youtube give you lots of stats - I bet he had lots of people start, and then click straight away.