Starting today, I’ll have a new offer on my blog. Often I come across really good video blogs, or other video films on the net, made by enthusiastic people. Some have amazing content, others are funny, and others again are just plain honest. What all too many of them have in common is that they could be easily improved. From time to time I shall pick out one video I enjoyed (and I am open for suggestions) and come up with some possible technical remedies.

I’ll kick off with Commoncraft’s excellent explanation for us non-nerds about what RSS is, and how it works. (Via Doug and Dawud.) I’ve been seeing RSS buttons everywhere, and have been told many times as to how cool and great they are, but before I had never understood the concept, nor its benefits for me. Now, I am enlightened. So, content-wise a fantastic video. Lets make it even better.

3 free improvements

Technically, I would suggest 3 simple improvements.

1. Do a white-balance on the camera before rolling the tape. The background is slightly orangish. Simply clear the frame (just plain background) and perform the camera’s white-balance. (On many cameras, the white setting is put to Auto. Don’t. Use. It. Speaking of Auto functions – it seems that the exposure is also on auto. Again: Don’t.)
   If you have already shot with the wrong white-balance, you can always fix it with most editing programmes. And while you’re at it, you can always tweak the contrast ratio for extra credit.
2. Get the microphone closer to the speaker. On a zero-budget, just do a separate take, and speak directly into the camera mike. Mix it together afterwards. That way you get rid of the “talking from the next room” feel.
3. Mark off the visible area with a pen. Since the camera is locked off, you can make some marks just outside the visible area. That way you always know what your audience is seeing.

— and 2 low budget ones

1. Buy a simple clip-on microphone. This attaches to your shirt, keeps the mike close to the voice, while keeping your hands free to shuffle the pages. For a bit more cash, you can buy a wireless version, thus freeing you from any cable-worries.
2. Get 2 lamps (like the 250/500W types found in a hardware store), coming from either side of the table and bounce them off some Styrofoam. That way you get a soft light, even exposure, and not too hard shadows.

That’s all for today. Comments are welcome.