Kryvox
Tribute
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2013
- Messages
- 97
- Reaction score
- 39
Kry here!
So firstly, I want to give thanks to @fatmannumbah8 for giving me inspiration to write this. Now, I am no godly Youtube figure, but I know a very good approach at becoming bigger on Youtube. I want to mainly focus on MCSG commentators, since that seems to be the norm around here, and most of my tips will be centered around Minecraft and MCSG, although some can be used in general terms for other videos. I will have 13 segments in which I will go into much greater detail with that topic. So, that means you don't necessarily have to read the whole thing, just the parts that you are struggling on or need assistance. Although, it would be recommended to just read the whole thing
.
(NOTE: Being a Youtube gaming commentator means that you will have to spend quite a few bucks, it will not be cheap at any means. You'll also have to be willing to donate a lot of time out of your life to produce quality content).
Name -
Don't pick something funny. Try to stay away from funny names as their humor will die out and it'll just be an annoyance to your viewers. Pick something that's unique to you. Possibly part of your first and last name with a few different letters. Never pick numbers. It'll just be harder for new viewers to memorize your name and they'll most likely forget you. Same goes for very complicated names such as - zZzHuJuToOoas Or something of that nature. (That's not a real account). You should also stay away from "craft", that is very unoriginal.
Logo/Saying -
Many commentators here start with the same mainstream "Hey guys". No, just no... That has become way overused. Pick something unique to you. Also, try to symbolize some sort of logo. For me, it's a penguin and to get subscribers, my saying could be "Join the colony" (Which is a group a penguins). Just food for thought. Just don't copy others.
Recording -
If you have a computer that goes below 30 fps when recording, you won't have a chance. I'm sorry, but people don't want to watch a slideshow. Here's what I recommend: Have a good recording program (FRAPS/Dxtory). Make sure that you are not using a trial version, trust me, that's the worst thing you could possibly record with. If you can afford it, record at 60 fps, even though Youtube only shows 30 fps, recording with 60 will be enough to let you PvP efficiently and you can do slow-motion if needed. Just something that might give you an edge over other players. If you have a better computer, record at 120 fps. That's what seems to work for me and looks pretty smooth after I render the video. One thing that I forgot to mention, you will need to record in HD!
Audio -
Please be aware of your game volume, Skype/TS/Mumble/other volume (If recording with other people), and your own mic volume. If you have a softer mic, and don't want to turn the volume down for Minecraft or Skype. I would use Dxtory. It will allow you to record gameplay volume and your mic volume separately. Or, use a combination of Audacity and FRAPS. Use Audacity to record your commentary and FRAPS to record gameplay volume. You might have trouble syncing your videos. Also, when recording, try to record with no background noise. Kind of a no brainer.
Microphone -
You don't need to spend a lot to get a nice microphone. I've used a small, $15 headset that I got from Walmart and it worked fine. If you have a pretty bad microphone, use Audacity. There are many effects to improve the quality. I might make another guide to getting the best quality on Audacity at another time.
The voice -
If you have an accent, make sure others can understand what you're saying. English is the main primary language that most commentators record in and most viewers know how to speak English. If you haven't hit puberty, I suggest not to record. I'll admit it, I don't enjoy listening to squeakers commentate on MCSG. Unless you're like that one kid who's pretty much a mini Sethbling. (Forgot the name). And you're probably not. Anyways, make sure to vary your pitch when talking. Monotone commentators are the worst, I agree that I'm a very good example of a monotone commentator... but, you can always fix that!
Rendering -
So now you have your audio and gameplay. You're ready to render your video and ship it off to Youtube for millions to view! ...
If you can't render in HD, don't even bother recording. Most people that you will be contending with are already rendering in 1080p and 720p. Every famous Minecraft commentator, has HD videos, for the most part. Don't use junky free programs like iMove or Windows Movie Maker. Use programs like Camtasia Studio or Sony Vegas. I would highly suggest Camtasia to anyone new to editing and rendering since it's the easiest thing ever. If you're pretty good at a different program, use that as well. Just make sure it can render HD videos. Always make sure to render the videos at a resolution of 1280x720 for 720p or 1920x1080 for 1080p. I wouldn't worry too much about 108op since it can be a pain to render and upload. 720p is fine for most.
Editing -
A lot of the MCSG commentators here don't edit their videos, which can be ok. But if you want better content, edit the boring parts out. Have an intro and outro. Intros catch the viewers attention and outros can help the viewer pick another video of yours that they may have interest in.
Uploading Schedule -
Many starting Youtubers don't have a upload schedule since they lose motivation because of having very few subscribers. It doesn't matter how many subscribers you have, have a upload schedule that you regularly upload videos on. There may have been people that have wanted to subscribe to you, but see no recent videos.
Advertising -
You have the quality, but do you have the viewers? Most likely not if you're a starting Youtuber like myself. To get viewers, advertise on Minecraft websites such as PlanetMinecraft and/or Minecraft Forums, both have a place where you can share your videos. Collaborations with other Youtubers is also a great alternative. Make sure to involve yourself in the comments, someone may be interested in your avatar or name and may check your channel to see what it's about. But whatever you do, DO NOT post spam advertisements to get viewers. That will do nothing for you. It will only generate false viewers that are there to hate and dislike your videos. You can also submit your MCSG videos in the media section right here on the MCSG forums.
Social Media -
Have at least Twitter or Facebook. They're just another means of advertising and staying connected with your viewers.
Designs -
I see a lot of great Youtubers lacking designs that could give them the boost they need. If you're not a Photoshop wiz, don't be afraid to look for free designs. There are many designers out there that only want a simple shout out. If you want something of great professionalism, try learning Photoshop yourself or pay someone to make designs for you. In the end, make sure to have a nice avatar, Youtube background, and thumbnails.
Description/Tags:
Don't whip through the description. It's there to help your viewers and yourself in the long run. Fill it with as many details as you possibly can. As the video is uploading, take the time to write a description, it isn't that hard.
And most important, have fun! Enjoy playing and commentating. If you're just in it for that Youtube monaay or popularity, don't waste your time doing any of the steps above. That is not the correct way to create a better Youtube channel.
I wrote this all last night, and spent a lot of time on this. Don't hate.
- Kry
So firstly, I want to give thanks to @fatmannumbah8 for giving me inspiration to write this. Now, I am no godly Youtube figure, but I know a very good approach at becoming bigger on Youtube. I want to mainly focus on MCSG commentators, since that seems to be the norm around here, and most of my tips will be centered around Minecraft and MCSG, although some can be used in general terms for other videos. I will have 13 segments in which I will go into much greater detail with that topic. So, that means you don't necessarily have to read the whole thing, just the parts that you are struggling on or need assistance. Although, it would be recommended to just read the whole thing
.(NOTE: Being a Youtube gaming commentator means that you will have to spend quite a few bucks, it will not be cheap at any means. You'll also have to be willing to donate a lot of time out of your life to produce quality content).
Name -
Don't pick something funny. Try to stay away from funny names as their humor will die out and it'll just be an annoyance to your viewers. Pick something that's unique to you. Possibly part of your first and last name with a few different letters. Never pick numbers. It'll just be harder for new viewers to memorize your name and they'll most likely forget you. Same goes for very complicated names such as - zZzHuJuToOoas Or something of that nature. (That's not a real account). You should also stay away from "craft", that is very unoriginal.
Logo/Saying -
Many commentators here start with the same mainstream "Hey guys". No, just no... That has become way overused. Pick something unique to you. Also, try to symbolize some sort of logo. For me, it's a penguin and to get subscribers, my saying could be "Join the colony" (Which is a group a penguins). Just food for thought. Just don't copy others.
Recording -
If you have a computer that goes below 30 fps when recording, you won't have a chance. I'm sorry, but people don't want to watch a slideshow. Here's what I recommend: Have a good recording program (FRAPS/Dxtory). Make sure that you are not using a trial version, trust me, that's the worst thing you could possibly record with. If you can afford it, record at 60 fps, even though Youtube only shows 30 fps, recording with 60 will be enough to let you PvP efficiently and you can do slow-motion if needed. Just something that might give you an edge over other players. If you have a better computer, record at 120 fps. That's what seems to work for me and looks pretty smooth after I render the video. One thing that I forgot to mention, you will need to record in HD!
Audio -
Please be aware of your game volume, Skype/TS/Mumble/other volume (If recording with other people), and your own mic volume. If you have a softer mic, and don't want to turn the volume down for Minecraft or Skype. I would use Dxtory. It will allow you to record gameplay volume and your mic volume separately. Or, use a combination of Audacity and FRAPS. Use Audacity to record your commentary and FRAPS to record gameplay volume. You might have trouble syncing your videos. Also, when recording, try to record with no background noise. Kind of a no brainer.
Microphone -
You don't need to spend a lot to get a nice microphone. I've used a small, $15 headset that I got from Walmart and it worked fine. If you have a pretty bad microphone, use Audacity. There are many effects to improve the quality. I might make another guide to getting the best quality on Audacity at another time.
The voice -
If you have an accent, make sure others can understand what you're saying. English is the main primary language that most commentators record in and most viewers know how to speak English. If you haven't hit puberty, I suggest not to record. I'll admit it, I don't enjoy listening to squeakers commentate on MCSG. Unless you're like that one kid who's pretty much a mini Sethbling. (Forgot the name). And you're probably not. Anyways, make sure to vary your pitch when talking. Monotone commentators are the worst, I agree that I'm a very good example of a monotone commentator... but, you can always fix that!
Rendering -
So now you have your audio and gameplay. You're ready to render your video and ship it off to Youtube for millions to view! ...
If you can't render in HD, don't even bother recording. Most people that you will be contending with are already rendering in 1080p and 720p. Every famous Minecraft commentator, has HD videos, for the most part. Don't use junky free programs like iMove or Windows Movie Maker. Use programs like Camtasia Studio or Sony Vegas. I would highly suggest Camtasia to anyone new to editing and rendering since it's the easiest thing ever. If you're pretty good at a different program, use that as well. Just make sure it can render HD videos. Always make sure to render the videos at a resolution of 1280x720 for 720p or 1920x1080 for 1080p. I wouldn't worry too much about 108op since it can be a pain to render and upload. 720p is fine for most.
Editing -
A lot of the MCSG commentators here don't edit their videos, which can be ok. But if you want better content, edit the boring parts out. Have an intro and outro. Intros catch the viewers attention and outros can help the viewer pick another video of yours that they may have interest in.
Uploading Schedule -
Many starting Youtubers don't have a upload schedule since they lose motivation because of having very few subscribers. It doesn't matter how many subscribers you have, have a upload schedule that you regularly upload videos on. There may have been people that have wanted to subscribe to you, but see no recent videos.
Advertising -
You have the quality, but do you have the viewers? Most likely not if you're a starting Youtuber like myself. To get viewers, advertise on Minecraft websites such as PlanetMinecraft and/or Minecraft Forums, both have a place where you can share your videos. Collaborations with other Youtubers is also a great alternative. Make sure to involve yourself in the comments, someone may be interested in your avatar or name and may check your channel to see what it's about. But whatever you do, DO NOT post spam advertisements to get viewers. That will do nothing for you. It will only generate false viewers that are there to hate and dislike your videos. You can also submit your MCSG videos in the media section right here on the MCSG forums.
Social Media -
Have at least Twitter or Facebook. They're just another means of advertising and staying connected with your viewers.
Designs -
I see a lot of great Youtubers lacking designs that could give them the boost they need. If you're not a Photoshop wiz, don't be afraid to look for free designs. There are many designers out there that only want a simple shout out. If you want something of great professionalism, try learning Photoshop yourself or pay someone to make designs for you. In the end, make sure to have a nice avatar, Youtube background, and thumbnails.
Description/Tags:
Don't whip through the description. It's there to help your viewers and yourself in the long run. Fill it with as many details as you possibly can. As the video is uploading, take the time to write a description, it isn't that hard.
And most important, have fun! Enjoy playing and commentating. If you're just in it for that Youtube monaay or popularity, don't waste your time doing any of the steps above. That is not the correct way to create a better Youtube channel.
I wrote this all last night, and spent a lot of time on this. Don't hate.
- Kry
