How to get started with writing tech video essays

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44189391

by sonderotis • 1 year ago

90 26 1 year ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am thinking about starting my own YouTube channel that focuses on video essays on software technology like languages or software tools. For example an essay on the computer terminal. For all of you who have tech YouTube channels how do I set up for good content material and make my videos interesting and where can I find royalty free music and clips.

brudgers2• 1 year ago

Making videos is the only way to get started.

You need a phone and a Youtube account.

And to give yourself permission to make crap videos because beginners make crap videos and the only way to not make crap is to learn by doing. [1]

And maybe after years of making videos, you might have a popular Youtube channel. But probably not. So you need to decide what success means on your own terms.

how do I set up for good content material and make my videos interesting and where can I find royalty free music and clips

1. Audio matters much more than video, and so microphones are better upgrades than cameras.

2. Make videos that are interesting to you. Youtube reaches a worldwide audience and whatever interests you also interests thousands of other people. But they cannot find your videos if you don't make them.

3. Google.

Thinking about making is a waste of time. Making is what matters. Good luck.

[1] Alternatively, pay professionals professional rates to make videos for you.

ChrisMarshallNY• 1 year ago

And to give yourself permission to make crap videos because beginners make crap videos and the only way to not make crap is to learn by doing.

One of the best essays ever, on that very subject:

https://vimeo.com/85040589

disqard• 1 year ago

I had a very strong suspicion what this video was going to be -- and I guessed correctly.

This is a terrific mental model. It can be very helpful to assist perfectionists in pushing past their initial attempts, because getting the flywheel going is hard.

Thanks for sharing!

schneems• 1 year ago

There are entire subreddits dedicated to producing content.

Beyond that: to make good food, eat good food. Spend time watching N hours of tech YouTube and take notes on which you liked and which you didn’t. For the ones you liked make notes of why and try to replicate that (tone, storytelling technique etc.) and for the ones you liked less, find things to avoid or do less of.

rickcarlino• 1 year ago

What are your favorite subreddits in this area? I feel foolish saying this, but I had not even considered that there would be a sub devoted to this.

hardwaregeek• 1 year ago

Check out this video: [1]. It's one of my favorite videos on YouTube. It covers instructional design from a YouTube perspective in a thorough, thoughtful manner.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBUy0z5HNlY

testycool• 1 year ago

+1 for these types of videos from Internet Shaquille

ednite• 1 year ago

This hits home. Before I published my first blog and video, I was doing everything except creating. I was procrastinating, researching, overthinking.

YouTube is full of tutorials that can help you get started, but the real shift for me happened when I stopped planning and just hit publish. My first video is rough and super amateur, but putting it out there felt empowering. It made me want to keep going.

I’m no expert, but one thing’s clear is that you only get better by doing. Tutorials help, but nothing beats hands-on learning.

In my case, I’ve always liked Casey Neistat’s raw, authentic style. I’m still working up the nerve to get in front of the camera more, but I know I’ll get there.

I know my comment might sound a bit off-topic since you’re asking about the technical “how-to”, but that’s kind of my point. Don’t get too bogged down too much in the setup. It can keep you from ever starting. Once you begin, the tools and improvements tend to come naturally.

Good luck, and honestly, just start.

Looking forward to seeing your videos.

foxfired• 1 year ago

There are some good advice here, particularly the "Shaquille" video. But one thing I want to add is that no amount of advice can help you when all you have is a blank piece of paper. I don't mean this in a negative way.

Tips and tricks are great when you have a working machine you want to improve. But when you are getting started, do it a hundred times, or until you figure it out. For videos, you have to get all your bad videos out of the way so you can start making good ones.

akulbe2• 1 year ago

Do you think using AI for text-to-speech lessens the value of the content?

I can't speak in a normal voice anymore, after being on a ventilator.

I'm just wondering... if the content is useful, but oh no it's AI talking... detracts from it?

I thought about putting an intro in my normal "speaking" voice, so people would understand why.

Catagris• 1 year ago

Sorry to say but if I hear an AI voice I close the video. Too much spam/slop does the same thing.

Maybe hire or partner with a voice actor or friend?

lawik• 1 year ago

AI voice will detract because voice is very important in video. Especially in essays. And AI voices are very common for low effort slop video so it would not be novel.

But it is not necessarily a dealbreaker. Good research, good writing, funny timing, great editing. All of these can elevate the whole. Or being exceptional at one or two can compensate for missing one.

CGP Gray does well without a face and started with terrible animation.

brudgers2• 1 year ago

Approximately nobody likes the sound of their own voice.

And approximately nobody sounds like a voice actor.

And most importantly, your audience won’t care because it will be your audience.

I mean people listened to Stephen Hawking’s voice.

shortrounddev2• 1 year ago

As soon as I realize that there's any AI-generated aspect of the video, I stop watching the video

high_byte• 1 year ago

capcut will fulfill all your video editing needs for the near future, music, ai dub, etc.

now you only need inspiration I'd go for fireship-style videos and just start pushing content

jasode• 1 year ago

and make my videos interesting and where can I find royalty free music and clips.

reply to commenter akulbe: >Do you think using AI for text-to-speech lessens the value of the content?

You really don't need any music soundtracks or B-roll stock-footage clips to make compelling tech content. Another problem with music is that most content creators mix it too loud which is distracting and often drowns out the voiceover and makes words unintelligible.

E.g. this (relatively new) channel about computer hardware and programming uses no music and no B-roll cuts with a AI generated voice ("Dylan" voice from ElevenLabs) and yet the quality of content allowed it to amass ~275k subscribers in less than 18 months : https://www.youtube.com/@CoreDumpped/videos

An AI gen voice is not usually ideal but it will be accepted by audiences if the native accent makes the English pronunciation too difficult for viewers to understand -- and the insights from the content itself are high quality. The content creator in the above example is from Ecuador and he said his native English voice is not good.

Ben Krasnow's "Applied Science" is another successful channel without music and no stock footage clips: https://www.youtube.com/c/AppliedScience/videos

slyall• 1 year ago

Many people also watch videos speed up. So clear speech and no music is even more important to them.

If you content doesn't depend on visuals also consider releasing episodes as podcasts.

sebnun• 1 year ago

I started a software Youtube channel 2 days ago [1], so I went down the rabbit hole of finding the best tools, best way to record, etc.

I first thought of using a presentation tool like keynote, but it can be limiting if you want to make more complex content, like showing browser tabs, drawing diagrams, etc.

If your content is more technical, I think is best to just record your screen and show the command line or editor. Most people use OBS to record the screen and show your face at the same time. You can explain things with a diagram tool like excalidraw. Theprimeagen and "Theo - t3․gg" work that way, they first make a live stream, then edit that stream into a Youtube video.

where can I find royalty free music and clips

If your content is more "infotainment" like Fireship, he explains his way of making videos here [2] and this video also goes into his process more [3]

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_WM0lJU6GY

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6-Q2dgodLs

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRoSBWYMefY

ramon156• 1 year ago

I'd suggest the opposite as other comments and go for a nic barker style. Longer videos with a slight uptone way of talking. It keeps me interested and I feel like I'm actually learning (as opposed to Fireship which has shifted to seemingly slop)

vouaobrasil• 1 year ago

I've been publishing videos for a few years and made nearly 300. Best advice I can give you is:

1) Get a decent microphone

2) Check out freesound and the YT music library

3) Just start publishing. Make a video. Upload it.

Don't do too much research. Just talk about what you know. As you go on, do a little research here and there, but the #1 rule is just publish. Upload, upload, upload.

aristofun• 1 year ago

From my experience running moderately successfull niche youtube dev channel:

1. The most important thing is the actual content you want to share. The essence, the meat. Net new information or at least unique angle that someone would not find anywhere else.

2. The second most important thing is the actual content you want to share. How clear to the viewer who is this content for. And if viewer is the target audience - how relevant the subject for him now? Why would he care at all. What do I loose by skipping the video?

3. The third most important thing is the actual content you want to share. Why do you share it? What is you motivation? Why should I trust you and listen to you?

Oh, yes, it helps if you speak clearly and without fluff.

That's it. Nobody (except other wannabe youtube-gurus) cares what's your tech stack or how much you paid for a mic or video editing. IT people come for content.

sandra_vu• 1 year ago

a superior tip that works for me:

- give the first draft an extremely low bar

This relieves the pressure, stops my procrastination.

Once you have the first draft, you will get into the flow easily.

Start when you can.

twright• 1 year ago

When I was still making YouTube videos my big rule was "make videos you yourself would watch" (which may not necessarily reflect what is popular). I tried doing some programming videos once and quickly found that screen-recording + narration is very different from speaking into a camera. Someone here mentioned getting a draft out, definitely a good idea. Record a video and edit together and you'll be able to see what's missing and what you need to iterate on.

How to get started with writing tech video essays

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