Whether you need to have a plan or not for making a tutorial video project depends on how complicated the video project is. You need to at least have a one-page project plan if you are making a fairly complicated project involving lots of media elements and having a number of steps to complete the project. If your project will contain just a small number of media elements and just a few steps to accomplish, then you only need to have a project idea in your head. A good practice to follow when making videos using your computer is to group your files into your various video projects. Make a single folder for each project and put all the files and media elements pertaining to that project in its own project folder. This practice can save you a lot of time and effort in looking for misplaced or missing files.
A video tutorial is a movie that teaches how to do something on a computer by showing the student how the computer screen looks while the teacher is explaining what he is doing. It's an effective way of teaching a computer skill because it shows how actually the task is accomplished in a computer. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a moving picture could probably be worth millions.
Things You Need to Make a Video Tutorial
For you to be able to start and complete a tutorial video, you need to have the following in your computer:
A Vista or XP computer with Internet connectionMicrophoneThe Paint ProgramCamStudio softwareWindows Movie MakerA video project ideaAn Internet connection is not an absolute must but being connected to the Internet will be vitally important if you need to download something that you need to complete your project. You will also need an Internet connection if you want to upload your video to a file hosting site as a way of sharing your video with people who are interested in viewing it.
The type of microphone that you are using to make your voice over determines the voice quality that you can achieve in your video. You will either have an in-built microphone in your laptop or you might be using an external microphone that you connect to your computer. You generally have more flexibility in using an external microphone since you van move it as closer or further from your mouth. It is very much possible for your microphone to have a very low level of pickup that your voice comes out barely audible in your speakers. If you're using a Vista laptop, you can use the Sound tool in your control panel to increase the recording volume and boost the pickup of your computer's microphone. In the Sound tool, click on manage audio devices link and then click on the recording tab of the pop-up window that comes out. By clicking the name of your microphone hardware, a properties button that becomes visible can be used to increase the microphone's recording volume and its pickup boost.
The Paint program is already present in your Windows computer if your computer is using the XP or Vista operating system and can be found under the Accessories folder in the Start menu. CamStudio is a free screen capture software that you can download from the Internet. It is a powerful but easy-to-use software that you can use in showing how to do certain things in your computer. Window Movie Maker is already installed if you're using either an XP or a Vista operating system in your computer.You will learn how to make a video tutorial by actually making a video project. Have a simple project idea that you will undertake as a first project. Start by making the media elements that will comprise your video, and then integrate everything using the Windows Movie Maker.
Steps to Be Done in Making the Video Tutorial
To make a tutorial video, you need to perform the following steps:
Download, install and test CamStudioHave a short plan or project idea in your headPrepare slides using the Paint programRecord a discussion of the slides using CamStudioMake demonstration videos using CamStudioAssemble all the media using the Movie MakerInclude special effects or background musicUpload video to hosting sites in the InternetYou might need to use an administrator account when installing the CamStudio software. Once installed, make a short screen capture to make sure that both the video and the audio are working well. Your final project brings together all the media elements that will comprise your tutorial video. The basic approach really comes to making the media elements using the Paint program and CamStudio and then combining all the media elements into one video file using the Windows Movie Maker.Using the Paint ProgramPaint's default document size measures 640 by 400 pixels. This is too small if you want to put in more text in the slide and use larger size fonts. You can increase the document size by clicking on the Image command and clicking the Attributes option. Use a larger document size like 800 by 600 pixels. A medium font size like 20 points makes the text legible in both small and large screens. Choose an attractive font style and prefer to have your text in bold. A darker font color degrades better when the screen size is increased or reduced. Having a light background color will go a long way in making the image more pleasing to the eye.
How to Use CamStudio
Before using CamStudio, make sure that you check the record audio from microphone option before you start capturing your screen. Capture a medium sized screen that can remain readable when the screen size is enlarged or reduced. Using approximately three-fourths of your total screen area can be used as a guide in determining how large a screen size you need to use. All the video elements that should go into the making of the screen capture should ideally be opened but minimized and ready to be restored as needed in your discussion. Make sure that the image will fall inside the video capture boundary when it is brought into the picture.
It can happen that you become at a loss for words when doing a screen capture. If you think you cannot talk continuously in an extemporaneous way, write a script first then read your script as you perform your screen capture. Keep your discussion focused on the topic at hand. Your screen capture area should never be allowed to be cluttered with unnecessary images so it is best to keep the images to the minimum. If you happen to make a mistake, just click on CamStudio's stop button and cancel any prompt to save the video.
Using the Windows Movie Maker
If you have a lot of media elements in your project, it's a good practice to have a sequenced list that can be used as guide in sequencing the media elements in the timeline. Make sure that all your media elements are already included in the timeline before setting the transitions and effects that you will be using in your video. Movie Player has an undo button that you can use when you make a mistake in making your video. It can be particularly helpful when you want undo a mistake that affects most or all of the media elements in the timeline.
Windows Movie Maker offers a lot of special effects and transitions that you can be tempted to use a lot of them in your video. While effects and transitions can help improve the visual impact of the images shown on the video, too much of it can also hinder your viewers' understanding and appreciation of the video you are making. As we are using Windows Movie Maker for learning purposes, you will be well advised to use special effects and transitions sparingly. When using the Windows Movie Maker's titles and credits wizard, make sure that you use the same background color and font face that you have used in making your slides. This is to give the uniformity effect that can help a lot in making the video easily understandable.
How to Upload Your Video to Files Hosting Sites
You generally have to open an account with the file hosting services provider by registering a user id and email address and providing other information about yourself. Each hosting service has a different upload page but basically, you will be asked to enter information about the video you are uploading. It takes some time after uploading your video before it is published in the file hosting site. It is good practice to read the terms of agreement that you make with the file hosting web site so as to avoid any problem that may arise regarding your upload. You should be very careful that you do not include any copyrighted material in your video without the permission of the copyright holder. Check your video once in a while to check on the comments that viewers give on your video. These comments can prove useful in improving your video making skills that you can use in your future video making projects.
Making a Video Tutorial Has Never Been Easier Now
With the advent of more powerful computers and ready availability of user-friendly hardware and software, it has become very easy for computer users to produce learning videos that can prove to be of immense value to people interested in learning how to make better use of their computers. Undertaking a simple video making project as a kick-off activity can go a long way in helping you learn how to make a video tutorial using the resources available in your Windows computer.
originated from: http://tipsfortechy.blogspot.com/2009/04/do-it-your-self-video.html
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