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Quickie Video Production

by GuerrillaIM
6 replies
Hey Guys,

Right now I am using one of two methods for making my sales videos:

1) powerpoint + camtasia - Very quick and easy but looks cheap and very "done at home in my bedroom stylee"

2) Adobe Flash - Very nice looking presentations that look professional but take way too long as I have to fiddle about with code to get it to load at right speeds to match voiceover to embedded clips.

What I want is a middle point between the two methods.

I have a competitor that is putting out loads of videos that look really sweet but they all have similar effects (sorry, not going to link to videos as I dont want to disclose niche). The kind of effects I mean are text flying in and out, screen flipping round etc.. They all look exactly the same type of effect, just with different text in each video.

From the rendering of the video it doesn't look like flash so I am wondering how he is doing it.

Is there some software out there that lets us create some simple but professional looking effects and time to a voiceover with a short learning curve?

I have seen things like Animoto which are great but they are not designed to have a voiceover attached.

Any suggestions?
#production #quickie #video
  • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
    Originally Posted by GuerrillaIM View Post

    I have a competitor that is putting out loads of videos that look really sweet but they all have similar effects (sorry, not going to link to videos as I dont want to disclose niche). The kind of effects I mean are text flying in and out, screen flipping round etc.. They all look exactly the same type of effect, just with different text in each video.
    Without seeing the videos...your description sounds like it could be anything from Windows Movie Maker to After Effects.

    Camtasia will also allow you to do what you're after, but the new version of Windows Live Movie Maker (for Windows 7) will give you a lot more flexibility as far as playing around with the text effects. If you have software that can convert the .wmv file WLMM or the older WMM produces to either mpg4 or flv format you're good to go.

    ~Bill
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    • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
      Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

      the new version of Windows Live Movie Maker (for Windows 7) will give you a lot more flexibility as far as playing around with the text effects.
      Installing this bad boy now. Sounds like it might be what I am after.
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  • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
    I'm loving this Windows Live Movie Maker. Is there a pro version I can get with more effects and stuff?
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
      Originally Posted by GuerrillaIM View Post

      I'm loving this Windows Live Movie Maker. Is there a pro version I can get with more effects and stuff?
      Nope, what you see is what you get.

      One of the things to remember about creating videos is that more often than not you will end up using several programs to create the final video. Even if you have Adobe After Effects, as an example, you will most likely have a slew of plug-ins to help you with the different tasks needed to get the look and feel of any given video you make.

      Now that you've tried WLMM you may also want to experiment with Camstudio which is a free version similar to Camtasia (which has a free 30 day trial).

      ~Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrea Wilson
    Besides of Windows Live Movie Maker there is also Windows Photo Story. Have you tried it yet? Well personally I have not used it yet but Im giving you just another option you can try. Good luck on what you're doing!~


    Andrea
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  • Profile picture of the author Marty S
    Hello sir. This:

    Originally Posted by GuerrillaIM View Post

    1) powerpoint + camtasia - Very quick and easy but looks cheap and very "done at home in my bedroom stylee"
    is only true to the point that the user has not gone deeper into the functionality of such programs. While it is true that I have seen some horrid PowerPoint based videos, there is a lot, (not kidding - a LOT) you can do to make your video much more professional, exciting and even might I say... KICK-ASS, using Camatasia+PowerPoint, or Screenflow+Kenynote (Mac).

    The challenge is that PowerPoint is designed for business presentations and as such, many people use that same process to layout their videos. BORING. What I might suggest you do is the following:

    1- Have a closer look at all of the object, text and page transitions available in PowerPoint. (You will find many of these are actually those effects you referred to in other videos).

    2- Make a standard branding background to use in all of your videos. This helps with professionalism and negates any unscrupulous ideas about stealing your videos without due credit to you.

    3- Take advantage of layering more than one recording in the same video. For example, you can use a screen capture combined with a head shot, both overlaying a branded background.

    4- Make your audio come alive. Use audacity to record your rehearsed script so as to sound professional and fluid. Also, find a standard opening and closing musical track that compliments your branding.

    5- Finally, render at 1280x720 and upload to Youtube using .mov or .avi. You will get very clear, HD quality videos that just smacks of professionalism.

    If you want to get more out of PowerPoint, I might also suggest a one month subscription to Lynda.com where after a few hours of PowerPoint tutorials you will know more about that software than 90% of it's users.

    This video is based on a PowerPoint background I created, while using multiple screencasts, logo branding, and intro-exit themes that are used in the entire series.

    This video, done for a client is well branded because poker videos are often embedded in other blogs. Again a standard intro-exit theme -

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