Almost every time I add a video from Casey to the Friday Roundup, it is going to be pretty much specific to using DaVinci Resolve in some way.
More often than not it will be something to do with color correction or using Fusion.
However this week is an exception and for the average person editing their videos, I think it is a rather important exception.
A great deal of the information we receive on the subject of creating videos comes from a place of or viewpoint of marketing.
It may not seem that way on the surface but believe me, it’s there!
Most of it takes the form of presenting you and I with a technique, an effect, an editing style, a transition or any of a bunch of other things we have to be doing to be successful.
Then we are presented with software, plugins, effects packs or whatever in order to cure our terrible inadequacies!
The reality is that probably 90% of those things are simply not true and the keys to improving your videos in a real sense are already in your hands.
If you are at a point where you think that you need to learn some fancy or complicated new process in your editing to take your videos to greater heights then please, watch this video!
So before we get into the video below I need to point out a few things about it regarding the program itself called Remotion.
First up is the fact that you need to go through some reasonably complex steps to get this thing set up and running.
I managed to do it so that tells me pretty much anyone can if you follow the steps in the video but you do have to follow the steps.
Secondly, YES! The results are very, very good but as is the case with most things A.I, it all hangs on the prompts you give it.
A key point is interacting with the A.I. part to let it help you create those good prompts.
Anyway take a look for yourself but as someone who pretty much hates creating motion graphics, this is gold!
This is a quick demonstration of the background removal abilities that exist within the PowerDirector interface.
A couple of things to note here are the fact that the techniques and modules demonstrated are only applicable to still images and not video.
PowerDirector does a pretty decent job using either method for removing backgrounds especially if you give it images that have clearly contrasting subjects/backgrounds.
For all of us there was a point before we started video editing and just after making the decision to do so… we sat staring at a computer screen wondering how to start.
For me personally I had to start providing an employer with videos of the activities I was engaging in so I just had to dive in.
I purchased a camcorder (that’s a whole story in itself!) but then had to deal with at least basic editing.
That’s when the real confusion set in because also at that time there was very little information available for beginners on the internet.
These days it is a different story so if you are thinking about dipping your toes into the editing pool, here’s a great video tutorial to get you started.
So this next tutorial video is definitely not for everyone but for those that it does apply to, it is packed with all the good stuff!
Let me clarify who it is for first.
This is for anyone that wants to approach building a successful YouTube channel as an actual business goal rather than just a fun thing to do like a hobby.
It is a live strategy session, is very technical and goes way deep into the tools and especially the analytics available to all YouTube users.
Most people scan over all that stuff and don’t really know what it all means and worse still, have no idea what actions should be taken based on those stats.
So if you are looking for a free masterclass on the subject… here you go!
This is another video I came across this week that dovetails perfectly into the longer deep dive video on YouTube channels and using stats.
It makes the very good point that most people tend to get caught up in chasing the algorithm for views and subs rather than business goals or at least the goals they had in the first place.
Lighting for video is always a bit of a pain for the average creator because more often than not we are shooting in an uncontrolled environment.
By uncontrolled I mean spaces where there is existing lighting that we really don’t have the ability to totally control.
So regardless of the shooting situation the first rule we are taught is that you have to get the key light right before you do anything else.
Very often that way easier said than done especially if you are shooting on your own.
Here’s a great demo video of how to set that first key light correctly even though shooting solo.
I came across this tutorial video this week and although it covers material I have shown before, I think it is well worth looking at.
If you are very new to DaVinci Resolve or are thinking about using it then this is definitely for you.
Easily the biggest barrier to using Resolve is the interface of the program.
Let’s face it, the program was and is designed for professional use so the knobs and dial and buttons and settings literally go on forever!
I know from my own experience that I had the program on my computer for months before I actually started using it.
I would open it, look at that interface, click a few buttons and then quickly shut it down and walk away!
Easily the best way to start is to follow along with a video like the one below.
So this one comes with my standard disclaimer for when it comes to camera recommendations.
I do not even attempt to keep up with the camera market as it develops because I just don’t have the time and I certainly do not have the background for it.
What I can do is watch a review video and work out whether it is worth it or not!
Whilst the video below is certainly driven by a little “salesyness,” the content is solid and these are some good suggestions for video cameras if you are looking to go there.
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