Your Video Expert Blog

Full Blown Analytics Comes to Your YouTube Channel

The pay for play video hosting services I (and many other colleagues) use like iPlayer HD and Vimeo PLUS have what is called 'analytics' - that keeps track and displays for you a variety of information as to how your video/s are being viewed by those who visit your channel or website.

Today, YouTube has announced a new level of Analytics - this is part of the growing number of tools that are free with a YouTube Channel.

 YouTube has had analytics for some time under the name 'Insight', but this new announcement (which YouTube Channel owners will see in their announts over the next few days, according to Google/YouTube) adds some new functions and abilities.

Here are the new options available:

    • A Quick Overview: A new overview provides all of the information that you care about quickly, while also enabling you to easily access more detailed information.

    • More Detailed Reports: Analytics now includes more detailed statistics so that you can have a more precise understanding of your content and audiences.

    • Audience Builders: Discover which videos are driving the most views and subscriptions.

    • Audience Retention: See how far viewers are watching through your video in the new audience retention report.

For the full-blown details of the new YouTube Analytics - visit the YouTube page here: YouTube Analytics Home Page.

---

Visit my website for a thorough tutorial on creating your own animated short video on your YouTube Channel using GoAnimate: Video Tutorial: Create Your Own Animated Shorts

Turn a VHS Case into a Picture Frame

I know many video colleagues have a lot of old plastic VHS album (cases) in boxes or somewhere in their edit suite or office (or up in the attic).

Here's an interesting thing to do with some of them -- you can make a photo frame.  And it's a photo frame with a compartment to hold miscellaneous other stuff.

In the photo, at far left is the photo frame closed and positioned with other standard frames - then there's a close-up of the frame itself in the middle and at far right the opened frame/case.

The idea is from a Finnish entrepreneur named Heidi Lehto whose website has all kinds of suggestions for 'upcycling' items.  Her blog is here (but in the Finnish language) - thanks to a post on Petapixel I learned about this cool idea.

Do It Yourself Inexpensive Camera Slider

I saw this recently and am in the process of creating one myself - I thought some of my readers may also enjoy creating their own very affordable camera 'slider'.  This is essentially a camera mount that is used to move fluidly across a shot in a scene...instead of panning left or right, where the camera pivots - the slider provides a shot where the perspective moves through or across the subject.

It can be quite beautiful and dramatic, and we are seeing more and more of these shots in contemporary videos. This is especially true when HDSLRs are being used. In fact the video tutorial is titled DSLR SLider, but you could use this for most any smaller (and lighter) video camera as well.

Thanks to Peter Wiren of Sweden for sharing this idea with us all - you will find Peter via his website here:  http://www.peterwiren.se/

I highly recommend the movie Hugo - especially for those who craft video & film.

 I saw the movie Hugo with my wife and youngest son yesterday, and it was a real treat!

Apart from the fact that I thought it was an enjoyable film with an intriguing plot, convincing acting, and great direction & cinematography...I loved how the beginning of silent film came alive in the movie.

You may know that the movie Hugo (in theatres in both standard presentation and 3D) is based on the award winning children's book 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' by Brian Selznick. My wife teaches Children's Literature at a local university and this is one of the books she features.

First, let me share that I so enjoyed the movie - though I found myself just for a moment in the middle of the movie, for a moment, feeling like it was a little slow, at the conclusion of the movie I was and am so enamored with the piece of work that Martin Scorcese has directed!  Not only is it an enjoyable movie but the camera work and editing are superb.  The thing I believe I am most impressed is how the movie captured and brought back to life the era of the birth of film (cinema), what that was like, how it was created. 

I explored much of this in Film History classes in College - but this movie really brought it to life for me.  And perhaps more importantly, brings it to life and to perspective for today's younger generation - who can see most any movie or television program over an internet connection, and on their portable phone.

Without giving away the plot the story revolves around a little boy named Hugo - but there is an intertwined story with Georges Méliès. Georges is a pioneer in early film.

Perhaps his best known film is titled  Le Voyage dans la Lune (The Voyage to the Moon) which is considered to be the first science fiction film and the first film to use animation. 

I heard that this piece of film history would have a small role in the movie Hugo, along with a scene from Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last".  I found parts of both of these early films on-line (on YouTube) and we watched them together prior to seeing Hugo.  I highly recommend this for you and your family as well - as I believe it heightens appreciation for the films and their use in the movie Hugo.I have embedded both of these clips below for your convenience and enjoyment.

Georges Méliès - Le Voyage dans la Lune

 

Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last"- 1923

If you're anxious to get right to the portion of the scene where the Harold Llyod is hanging from the clock - you'll find that at 3:45.

 

Holiday Lights Video Workshop in San Francisco - Discounted on Monday!

To celebrate the coming Holiday season I will be offering special prices for my Holiday Lights Walkabout video camera workshop...on Monday, November 28th you can purchase tickets to attend my hands-on video camera coaching workshop which will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday - December 14, 15, and 17 in San Francisco.

Regular price for this fun and useful hands-on experience is $59 for the 3-hour workshop, but on Cyber Monday (November 28, 2011) you can purchase your ticket for $29! Click here for detailed agenda and on-line registration: Video Walkabout: Holiday Lights in San Francisco

Gifts for the Video Producer - Cameras & Gadgets - Free Webinar Recording

This past Tuesday I shared my recommendations for some great video cameras and gadgets for the video producer. 

I shared nine video cameras (between $79 and $1,200), 25 accessories, some services, and a books that would make great gifts for the upcoming holidays (or anytime).

With Murphy's Law in full action -- the recording of the session was corrupt (live recording from PC to external HDD), meaning I could only find it on my external Hard Drive but not do anything with it

The next morning I received email messages from folks who had asked were anxious to view the recording as they could not attend live due to schedule conflicts.

So - I went about presenting the session a second time, this time using a different recording method, and it worked great.

And this time I split the session into two segments to make it more convenient for folks to find what they're seeking:
1. cameras
2. gadgets, etc.

The two recordings along with a booklet - which has a listing of the recommendations and internet links to each item - are available now.

You'll find these resources on this page: Your Video Expert - Gifts for Video Producers Webinar

Drivelapse USA - Tour Around the Country in this Five Minute Video

A free-lance media specialist from New York toured through 32 states in two months, and documented the journey with a camera and an interval timer.  When he got back home Brian DeFrees edited the more than 200,000 still images into a time-lapse that covers the 12,000 miles in 5-minutes.

If you're wondering why I would include a video made from a digital still camera (Brian shot this with the Canon 60D)...it's becuase it ended up as a video, and we're seeing more and more of this type of project come to life, as I observce the continued convergence of photo and video.

Here's the route Brian traveled (and if you'd like to help identifying the states you're seeing on-screen - you can turn-on the annotate feature on the above YouTube video here).

Syracuse.com has a nice write-up with comments from Brian in this on-line article Drivelapse USA: Syracuse man creates time-lapse video of 12,225-mile road trip across U.S.

And you can check out Brian's own website for additional behind the scenes commentary and other photos he shot on the journey: Briaddefrees.com USE Drivelapse 

Adobe Premiere Elements 10 - Lite Version in the App Store for Apple Computers

Adobe's Premiere Elements released their latest edition earlier (September 2011) for Windows and Mac computers...Adobe Premiere Elements 10.

As you may know, the Adobe Elements series is a popular, scaled back version of the Adobe Premiere and Adobe Photoshop software applications.  Just last week an even lighter version was released in the Apple App Store - this online shopping vehicle allows folks with a Mac computer to purchase the software from the convenience of their home or office, and begin using the product right away (after downloading & installation).

This version of 'Adobe Premiere Elements 10 Editor' is priced $20 less than the earlier available version and besides a trimmer price it apparently also is also without some of the components available in the full version of Adobe Premiere Elements 10.

Gifts and Gadgets for the Video Producer...Great webinar last evening!

Thoroughly enjoyed the webinar last evening as I shared gifts and gadgets for the video producer.  I shared nine video cameras (between $79 and $1,200), 25 accessories, some services, and two books that would make great gifts for the upcoming holidays (or anytime).

The recording of last night's session, along with a booklet with a summary of the recommendations, internet links will be available by Friday of this week. I will post the link here, on the 'Your Video Expert' Facebook page, and on the home website of course: www.YourVideoExpert.net

Free Online Webinar Cameras & Gadgets for Video Producers

If you know a family member or friend who videotapes youth sports, family vacations or other travels, please share with them my free web-seminar. Tomorrow evening I am presenting a one-hour on-line session where I share my favorite video tools & gadgets.

I am presenting several cameras (in the $150 - $1,500 range) and a bunch of cool accessories for folks using video cameras, whether you shoot home videos or for business. Click the link below to sign-up (& pass  along to your friends, please)

If you can't join me live- there will be a free recording. And not to worry, this is NOT a sales gimmick or pyramid scheme - just a free session to share the info available at my new business - Your Video Expert. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/864285546