Hi

We are thinking of filming a short "how it works" video clip and
putting up on our website.

The idea is to explain how our (rather complex) business model works.

We are total newbies and have never done videos before and don't
really know where to start.
The idea would be start with a simple talking head explaining how it
all
works - and then later we may need something more sophisticated.

It obviously would need to be quite short in length (1-2 minutes)

Any post-processing advise on:
- Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??)
- Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?)
- What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?)
- What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output?

- And what about lighting? Our offices have rather small window.
Should we buy special light-bulbs? Or realistically should we bite
the bullet and buy special lights - if so which ones?

- What about software to capture mouse-movements on a screen?
- Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice.

.... all rather daunting. Particularly as we are an up-market brand
but we only have a minimal budget for this!

All thoughts much appreciated.



Ship
Shiperton Henethe

ship wrote:
> Hi
>
> We are thinking of filming a short "how it works" video clip and
> putting up on our website.
>
> The idea is to explain how our (rather complex) business model works.
>
> We are total newbies and have never done videos before and don't
> really know where to start.
> The idea would be start with a simple talking head explaining how it
> all
> works - and then later we may need something more sophisticated.
>
> It obviously would need to be quite short in length (1-2 minutes)
>
> Any post-processing advise on:
> - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??)
> - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?)
> - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?)
> - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output?
>
> - And what about lighting? Our offices have rather small window.
> Should we buy special light-bulbs? Or realistically should we bite
> the bullet and buy special lights - if so which ones?
>
> - What about software to capture mouse-movements on a screen?
> - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice.
>
> ... all rather daunting. Particularly as we are an up-market brand
> but we only have a minimal budget for this!
>
> All thoughts much appreciated.
>
>
>
> Ship
> Shiperton Henethe


You have to be kidding, but for what you are doing:

> - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??) Windows movie maker

> - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?) yes or embed your file in your page

> - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?) no need

> - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output? about 480x480

> - And what about lighting? yes the more the better.

> Should we buy special light-bulbs? most likely no

> - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice. depends on what you are trying to record.

tech578 wrote:
> ship wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > We are thinking of filming a short "how it works" video clip and
> > putting up on our website.
> >
> > The idea is to explain how our (rather complex) business model works.
> >
> > We are total newbies and have never done videos before and don't
> > really know where to start.
> > The idea would be start with a simple talking head explaining how it
> > all
> > works - and then later we may need something more sophisticated.
> >
> > It obviously would need to be quite short in length (1-2 minutes)
> >
> > Any post-processing advise on:
> > - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??)
> > - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?)
> > - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?)
> > - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output?
> >
> > - And what about lighting? Our offices have rather small window.
> > Should we buy special light-bulbs? Or realistically should we bite
> > the bullet and buy special lights - if so which ones?
> >
> > - What about software to capture mouse-movements on a screen?
> > - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice.
> >
> > ... all rather daunting. Particularly as we are an up-market brand
> > but we only have a minimal budget for this!
> >
> > All thoughts much appreciated.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ship
> > Shiperton Henethe
>
>
> You have to be kidding, but for what you are doing:
>
> > - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??) Windows movie maker
>
> > - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?) yes or embed your file in your page
>
> > - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?) no need
>
> > - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output? about 480x480
>
> > - And what about lighting? yes the more the better.
>
> > Should we buy special light-bulbs? most likely no
>
> > - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice. depends on what you are trying to record.

tech578 wrote:
> ship wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > We are thinking of filming a short "how it works" video clip and
> > putting up on our website.
> >
> > The idea is to explain how our (rather complex) business model works.
> >
> > We are total newbies and have never done videos before and don't
> > really know where to start.
> > The idea would be start with a simple talking head explaining how it
> > all
> > works - and then later we may need something more sophisticated.
> >
> > It obviously would need to be quite short in length (1-2 minutes)
> >
> > Any post-processing advise on:
> > - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??)
> > - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?)
> > - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?)
> > - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output?
> >
> > - And what about lighting? Our offices have rather small window.
> > Should we buy special light-bulbs? Or realistically should we bite
> > the bullet and buy special lights - if so which ones?
> >
> > - What about software to capture mouse-movements on a screen?
> > - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice.
> >
> > ... all rather daunting. Particularly as we are an up-market brand
> > but we only have a minimal budget for this!
> >
> > All thoughts much appreciated.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ship
> > Shiperton Henethe
>
>
> You have to be kidding, but for what you are doing:
>
> > - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??) Windows movie maker
>
> > - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?) yes or embed your file in your page
>
> > - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?) no need
>
> > - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output? about 480x480
>
> > - And what about lighting? yes the more the better.
>
> > Should we buy special light-bulbs? most likely no
>
> > - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice. depends on what you are trying to record.


You have to be kidding, but for what you are doing:
> - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??) Windows movie maker
> - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?) yes or embed your file in your page
> - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?) no need
> - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output? about 480x480
> - And what about lighting? yes the more the better.
> Should we buy special light-bulbs? most likely no
> - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice. depends on what you are trying to record.

ship wrote:
> Hi
>
> We are thinking of filming a short "how it works" video clip and
> putting up on our website.
>
> The idea is to explain how our (rather complex) business model works.
>
> We are total newbies and have never done videos before and don't
> really know where to start.

Do you want a quality video that will make a good impression on the
viewers, or do you want some amateur You Tube stuff?

If you want a quality video and have no experience, then I suggest you
hire a professional.

> The idea would be start with a simple talking head explaining how it
> all
> works - and then later we may need something more sophisticated.
>
> It obviously would need to be quite short in length (1-2 minutes)
>
> Any post-processing advise on:
> - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??)

Lots of options, and for various reasons.

> - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?)
> - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?)
> - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output?
>
> - And what about lighting? Our offices have rather small window.
> Should we buy special light-bulbs? Or realistically should we bite
> the bullet and buy special lights - if so which ones?

Which underscores why you should hire a professional. There are hundreds
of books written about lighting. Do you want natural light or
artificial? Or do you want to simulate artificial light? 2 point, 3
point, or something else? Lights and reflectors, or just a various set
of lights?

> - What about software to capture mouse-movements on a screen?

What about it?

> - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice.

Depends on how professional you want your audio to sound.

> ... all rather daunting. Particularly as we are an up-market brand
> but we only have a minimal budget for this!
>
> All thoughts much appreciated.

Really, you need a professional. But if you insist on doing it yourself,
go pick up about 20 back issues of Videomaker magazine and really read
through the articles, then take your questions over to
rec.video.production where you will find people who know about the
business and hobby of making videos - which is vastly different than
making websites.

> > We are thinking of filming a short "how it works" video clip and
> > putting up on our website.
>
> > The idea is to explain how our (rather complex) business model works.
>
> > We are total newbies and have never done videos before and don't
> > really know where to start.
>
> Do you want a quality video that will make a good impression on the
> viewers, or do you want some amateur You Tube stuff?

Although we are an up-market site (with customsers who's average
household income is are GBP 70K,) and although we want to make
a good impression, we still want to look like we are accessible and
having fun.

So we need to pitch somewhere between the two - mainly making a good
impression "we know what we are doing and are good at it"
but still slightly amateur-ish and "folksy" rather than slick and
corporate.

> If you want a quality video and have no experience, then I suggest you
> hire a professional.

That is not an option at this this stage.


> > The idea would be start with a simple talking head explaining how it
> > all
> > works - and then later we may need something more sophisticated.
>
> > It obviously would need to be quite short in length (1-2 minutes)
>
> > Any post-processing advise on:
> > - Best video editing software - ("Final Cut Pro" ??)
>
> Lots of options, and for various reasons.

Let me put it this way. Can anyone recommend something very
cheap preferrably free that is good, intuitive and which would get us
started doing
some basic editing?

> > - Where to host (could we just embed a youtube clip?)
> > - What about compression? (or does youtube do that for you?)
> > - What pixel dimensions should we use for the final output?
>
> > - And what about lighting? Our offices have rather small window.
> > Should we buy special light-bulbs? Or realistically should we bite
> > the bullet and buy special lights - if so which ones?
>
> Which underscores why you should hire a professional. There are hundreds
> of books written about lighting. Do you want natural light or
> artificial? Or do you want to simulate artificial light? 2 point, 3
> point, or something else? Lights and reflectors, or just a various set
> of lights?

Yes - it is of course a hugely complex issue.
And I have no idea on any of the above.
The impact needs to feel "real", and feel like we know what we are
doing.
I guess similating natural light would be good - but I have no strong
views on this.

> > - What about software to capture mouse-movements on a screen?
>
> What about it?

Can you recommend anything very low cost/free for now?
(With may be an upgrade path after we get the budget)
If so what sort of budget would we need for something reasonable?


> > - Do we need a special microphone or will the Cam Corders suffice.
>
> Depends on how professional you want your audio to sound.

As per above - it needs to sound "reasonable" but not "studio
quality".

> > ... all rather daunting. Particularly as we are an up-market brand
> > but we only have a minimal budget for this!
>
> > All thoughts much appreciated.
>
> Really, you need a professional. But if you insist on doing it yourself,
> go pick up about 20 back issues of Videomaker magazine and really read
> through the articles, then take your questions over to
> rec.video.production where you will find people who know about the
> business and hobby of making videos - which is vastly different than
> making websites.

Yes - thanks for the tip re VideoMaker.
I see that they have some nice looking condensed tips for beginners
here:
http://www.videomaker.com/youtube/

Although I was very disappointed to see that they are in text rather
than in
video format themselves !


Ship

> Yes - thanks for the tip re VideoMaker.

By the way the only problem with VideoMaker magazine is
that I am UK based, not USA based. :^(


Ship

ship wrote:
> - And what about lighting? Our offices have rather small window.
> Should we buy special light-bulbs?

The correct answer is: it depends.

Your window may need neutral density film or color correction film
covering it.


> Or realistically should we bite the bullet and buy special lights

Again, it depends.

> - if so which ones?

Fresnels or soft boxes. If you are just doing talking heads, you will
need at least two. Three would be better. If you are doing something
more complex, you will need more. A cheap fresnel will run about $120
USD. They can also be rented.


> I guess simulating natural light would be good - but I have no strong
> views on this.

Which brings up the whole issue of color temperature. "White" light
isn't exactly white. The color of light coming through the window will
be different than the color of the light from your lights. Your eye
can't tell the difference. The camera can. How important is it to for
everything to look the same from any camera angle? You will need to know
something about color temperature. I have done lighting for live
theatre, and I don't know enough to do lighting for high quality video.
I wouldn't do it without an adviser. If I wasn't overly concerned with
the quality of the video, I would give it a shot.

> Yes - it is of course a hugely complex issue.

Yup.


> And I have no idea on any of the above.

Which is why hiring someone may save you money in the long run.

If you want to try this yourself, do a Google search on three-point
lighting and color temperature. The window needs to be considered a
light source that will need to be dealt with.