YouTube Video Creation

Some viewers have been asking me about the tools I use to create my videos.

Scriptwriting

Before creating the video please create a script. The script should have:

1. Hook - Why someone should watch your video?
2. Content - The actual content you want to discuss.
3. Call to action - Remember to ask viewers to comment, subscribe and press notify to keep the YouTube algorithm happy.

Voice-Over

Audacity

This is a free, open source, cross-platform audio software.

I recommend the following:

1. Record your voice in mono.
2. Use Noise reduction feature to remove background noise.
3. When you make a mistake clap your hands. The volume spike makes it easier to find mistakes when editing.

Link to website

Animation

VideoScribe

This is a subscription based software for creating whiteboard animations.

They provide a 7 day free trial which I used to test out the application.

I recommend the following:

1. Plan the animation based on your script.
2. Ensure there is animation every 8 secs to avoid losing viewers.
3. VideoScribe has both free and premium drawings inbuilt into the software be inventive to avoid paying for premium drawings.

Link to website (Affiliate link - Buying from this link lets me support my website)

Inkscape

This is a free software for creating vector-based drawings that can be imported into VideoScribe.

I recommend the following:

1. Keep your drawings simple.
2. Use the 'Draw Bezier' tool to create smooth curves and lines.
3. Use the 'Edit paths by nodes' to change the route the drawing takes when used in VideoScribe.

Link to website

Background music

YouTube Audio Library

This is a free site provided by YouTube which hosts free music and sound effect.

I recommend the following:

1. Select background music that matches your content
2. Use sound effects for titles and movement
3. Find longer music in case you want to make longer videos

Link to website

Video Editor

iMovie

This is a free for Apple users video editing software I use to edit the animation, voice-over and music together to create my final YouTube video. I am sure there are free apps for other operating systems.

I recommend the following:

1. Align the volume of the voice over and background music to complement each other.
2. Align the animation to the voice over to start and same times
3. Speed up or slow down the animation to fit the voice over.

Link to website

Contact me

I am not an expert on these things but contact me on twitter and I will try and help.