I’ve recorded greater than 270 movies (give or take) since I began my short-form video journey about six months in the past. I’m usually requested about my course of for recording short-form movies, and I really feel like it is a good time to do a reveal.
In truth, I didn’t really feel all that snug saying a lot throughout most of this journey since I knew that I used to be nonetheless so early in figuring all of it out. I used to be studying and evolving, and I knew that no matter course of I had was prone to change as quickly as I talked about it.
At this stage, although, I really feel fairly good concerning the course of I’m following. It’s constant. I’m positive loads will nonetheless change to how I do issues over the following yr and past, however the fee of change will possible sluggish. I’ve discovered what I like and what makes me environment friendly for now.
Beneath is my present course of for recording my short-form movies. It’s not excellent. Nevertheless it’s what works for me.
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Scripting
I do know there are plenty of theories on this, however I largely don’t script something.
Often, I’ll write down some ideas and I’ll even write out bullet factors. However I really suppose my movies are extra conversational if I don’t have a script.
I’ve a purpose in thoughts, after all. I do know what I’m going to speak about. After which I discuss.
I’ll get to {that a} bit extra later.
Lighting
I received’t get into the entire particulars about lighting right here as a result of that’s a separate matter of its personal, however listed here are three main issues that I do…
1. I activate my two LED panels which are mounted on both aspect of my desk.
2. I flip off my ceiling lights.
3. I activate my RGB mild that’s laying on the ground for a splash of shade to the partitions and ceiling.
The RGB is pointless, however I’ve discovered it provides just a little bit of fashion and variation. My movies are certain to look similar to each other, so switching up the colour on daily basis tends to assist.
My Digital camera (My Telephone)
Some individuals are shocked to listen to this, however the main video supply is my telephone. It’s not a particular DSLR or fancy digital camera.
In fact, I do use an iPhone 14 Professional, and I can see a noticeable enchancment over my outdated iPhone 12. I additionally use the Cinematic video setting to make the background blurry and provides it a bit {of professional} polish.
I perch my telephone on a small tripod in entrance of me on my desk. I exploit the rear-facing digital camera as a result of it produces barely higher high quality. To try this, I join my iPhone to my MacBook and open up QuickTime. I begin a brand new video and choose my telephone in order that I can see what I’m recording from there.
Many have reached out and advised me that I don’t must do it that manner, however I do as a result of I’ve an older MacBook from 2016. Newer ones can mirror to the laptop computer with out hooking them up.
I exploit just a little distant that after got here with a tripod to start out recording. Couldn’t value greater than $10.
Past that, I line every little thing up in order that my desk doesn’t seem within the shot and my eyes land on the highest horizontal line of the grid software.
Screenflow Recording
Whereas I report with my telephone, I additionally report with Screenflow, a desktop video modifying app.
Many individuals ask what I exploit for modifying, and I’m all the time hesitant to inform them. The reality is that you are able to do the identical factor with so many various apps, it actually doesn’t matter. Use what you’re snug with. I’ve used Screenflow for greater than a decade.
I report not less than my exterior mic from Screenflow. It will exchange my telephone audio to enhance the standard. If I’m doing a tutorial, I’ll additionally report my display screen.
What meaning is that we’ll have not less than two recordsdata to work with after I’m modifying. Since there will probably be audio from my telephone’s video file, I’ll line up the telephone’s audio with the audio from my exterior mic earlier than deleting the telephone’s audio file.
The Sit-Down
Right here’s one thing it’s good to perceive: Whereas the ultimate product is a clear edit, it was something however that after I sat down and hit report.
I may create a blooper reel for each sit-down I do. I’m not kidding.
I do know that this is among the issues that retains individuals from creating movies. They see the ultimate polish they usually suppose that’s the way it regarded when it was recorded. That may be intimidating.
My unique video recordsdata are wherever from three to 6 minutes. And actually, three and 6 nearly by no means occur. It’s normally between 4 and 5.
To recap from earlier, I arrange my telephone in entrance of me and hit report. I’ve a basic concept of what I need to say, however I don’t script something out. I simply discuss.
To simplify, I’m actually enthusiastic about the following sentence I need to say in my head. I’m not all that nervous concerning the full message.
I do know I’m not alone on this, however I fumble with my phrases loads. I usually want to aim to say the identical sentence 5 or 6 occasions. It’s irritating, however that stuff will get edited out.
I say a sentence, after which pause and suppose. I say one other sentence, pause, and suppose. I repeat it if it comes out awkwardly. Typically I say sentence fragments and pause after which full the sentence. I can splice the fragments collectively later.
Enhancing
I received’t get into the small print of my modifying right here, however just some fast factors.
I’ll lower that three to six-minute tough file all the way down to not more than 60 seconds. No exceptions. You’ll discover that lots of my movies are 59+ seconds. This isn’t by chance.
After lining up the recordsdata, I make a first-pass edit. That is after I simply clear up the errors and pauses.
In fact, that nearly all the time leads to a video that will probably be longer than a minute (usually 10 to twenty seconds over). Meaning I want to return by way of and prioritize. That is the place I take out components that aren’t fully essential to the message.
As soon as I get it all the way down to 60 seconds, I then add a last polish with leap cuts and zoom video actions.
The ultimate step is that I export that file and import it into CapCut so as to add the captions.
Scheduling and Publishing
I publish my movies to 6 completely different platforms (hyperlinks to my profile for every):
It’s loads. I’ve experimented with utilizing varied scheduling and repurposing apps, however I’m at present again to scheduling nearly all of them natively. I simply don’t discover it takes all that a lot time to want a separate app.
There’s all the time the talk about whether or not third-party apps harm your attainAttain measures the variety of Accounts Middle accounts (previously customers) that noticed your advertisements not less than as soon as. You possibly can have one account reached with a number of impressions. Extra, too. Personally, I solely have suspicions about YouTube Shorts. Whether or not a coincidence or not, I’ve seen that my movies constantly carry out much better when scheduled or revealed natively from YouTube.
Not that my movies do nice from YouTube. However I used to be often seeing 50 views or much less per video when utilizing a third-party app, however I constantly see greater than that when scheduled natively.
All the things else is trial and error and private desire. I publish not less than as soon as per day, and it’s usually within the morning.
Your Flip
Do you might have any questions on my short-form video recording course of? Ask it beneath.
