Vid reviewing equipment

[Sluggo]

Hi all!

I'm about to start making my own video- reviews (hopefully) and would like to get some tips from you reviewers about the equipment:
What would you recommend me getting in terms of recording and editing software?
Also, Any tips on background and lights? For example, if I were to make a video right now, you wouldn't really see the vape (because of the white background??).

I've purchased a Logitech HD Pro C910 Webcam and a Audio Technica AT-2020 USB microphone, so that should be more than enough. But I'd really like to make my vids seriously and as good and enjoyable as possible to watch and if I were to use crappy recording/editing tools, for example, it would be a waste anyways..

I plan on doing both juice-, PV- and accessories- reviews and so recordingsoftware that could put images, diagrams and screen capturing in the vids would be prefferable. (Especially if I could do that "live" while recording.)

(I might also be using this at stickam, so a live- streaming- functionality would be a + too, but it's not a crucial function at this moment.)

TIA
//Sluggo

 

[jtpjc]

I'm sure a lot of knowledgeable people will chime in with a lot of professional tips. Personally, I use my old and trusty Canon S3 camera which, though not having HD recording possibilities, has great video and audio (stereo!) quality. For editing I use Windows Movie Maker. Absolutely the simplest of video editing software, but it gets the job done. And it's free. But with these simple means, you have to be a bit creative. For example, when I have some pictures I want to add to the video, with some vocal comments, I record my comments with my camera, and extracting only the audio of that recording to add (in Windows Movie Maker as "music"). For screen capturing, there are free utilities available to record those and then you can insert them in Movie Maker as video. Comments to combine with those I also record with the camera, once again only using the audio.

 

[six]

I don't do video reviews, but I used to do editing for a couple of productions that were webcast and/or destined for websites.

Though a lot of people do use webcams of different sorts, you'll be better served by a regular mini-dv hi-def hand held camera (tri-pod mounted if you won't have help) and either a good shotgun mic for it or a reasonable quality boom mic. Most of these sorts of cameras either have firewire/i-link or high speed USB to transfer your footage to a computer so you can edit it (final cut pro for mac or probably something like adobe premiere for PC -- or cinnerella for linux).

I'll reiterate that a decent quality mic is paramount. Anyone who works with video will tell you that it's the audio that is the most likely source of problems.

There are plenty of resources on the web to learn to use editing software like adobe premier or final cut. For technical reviews, you'll only need to learn some basics.

 

[Timothy Cullen]

For the in recording diagrams and items you want to pop up PBUSARDO would be a great reviewer to get in touch with he uses a lot of that in his vids. One example is his massive juice price graph that shows bassically how expensive the juice he's reviewing is compared to well known n other juices he's reviewed.


Sent from my droid/apple hybrid

 

[Sluggo]

Thanks for your replies, guys!

jtpjc:
I haven't tried movieMaker my self, but I think i'd like to go for somewhat heavier software to get around the fiddeling with "special editing", such like the sound as you describe.

Six:
About the hardware, I got my webcam, haven't really used it much so far, so I think i'll stick with that for a while. At least until I decide to get more involved and know it's worth the money to get a handheld. The Mic, I just purchased about a week ago, so i'll stick with that too. Have tested it some and it seems to do the trick.
I've heard of Premiere Pro too, I think that would be a good way to go for "basic" editing at least before I get the hang of more advanced editing.

Timothy:
Yeah, Ive seen his videos too and really enjoy them. I think i'm gonna do some similar diagrams, as they really describe very nicely what prices and stuff are.
However, I know Phil (Pbusardo) doesn't really like talking about his equipment and setups, so I wouldn't wanna bother him with my questions about this.

 

[Big Hitter]

So basically you asked a question then told everyone your going with what you all ready have??

^^^ BTW, its Phil Busardo not Pete.

Good luck but IMO we have more excellent reviewers out there than we have products to review.
Reviewing better be a passion of yours rather than a dream of getting free products or some Youtube income.

I subscribe to probably 15+ reviewers and honestly by the time I see all the same products over and over its tough to sit through the whole thing. I end up fast forwarding most of the time unless its Phil

I also think Juice reviews are useless but I sit through Phil's because they are entertaining.

 

[Sluggo]

Well, that's a positive post..

No, not really. I was wondering about software, lights and background. Im going with what i've allready got regarding camera and mic..

Yeah, i was really tired when I posted that. I know his name is Phil, changed it when I saw what I wrote. Sorry about that.
I like Phil too. He's a Great reviewer who's really passionate to what he's doing.

I'm certainly not gonna be doing this to get free stuff! and I know I can't bring much to the table if you were to compare to all the great reviewers out there. However, I'm from Sweden and here there are REALLY little information about ecigs, pretty muck non- existing. And so are the reviews in Swedish. And here's why i'd like to do my reviews. -To get more information out in sweden.
The only vieos about PV's in Swedish are.. .."less good" devices. That frustrates me. People don't know what they're missing. They believe that the "kiosk" devices are the only PV's out there.
I want to help spread the word. Broaden the community. And help my fellow vapers here in Sweden.
Nothing more. Nothing less.