YouTube Channel W/ MTG Content
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Posted on Dec. 21, 2014, 10:06 p.m. by SaiScott
I started a YouTube channel earlier this month and I've been opening MTG products weekly, sometimes even twice a week. I think I'm starting out well, but I would like to grow the channel more.
Once I get a deck built in real life, I'd like to see about uploading matches and deck profiles.
So if you could, please check out my channel. Thanks!
P.S.To all you Pokemon fans, I upload battles and team building videos too. I also plan to bring content for another card game in the future, but we'll see what happens.
P.P.S. Thanks to everyone who has helped me so far. Glad I joined here, because I've learned a lot! :D
Thanks for the feedback, it's greatly appreciated!
I'm definitely trying to get a better set up for recording videos. Having a bunch of distractions in the background isn't what I wanted, but I gotta work with what I have. Getting a new laptop set me back on money, but laptops just like to choose the best times to stop working, huh?
But anyway, next month when I get paid next, I'll be buying a desk lamp or something so I can have better lighting. Also, got new tables in the house, so besides the content I already have recorded and am just waiting to upload, I should be recording at a better place from now on.
I'll also be buying an MTG mat for the background too. Got one on my mind, just have to get my pay first. So that should help out. Will also be getting a camcorder so I can move on from recording with my iPad. That alone was a huge pain.
As for editing, have you heard of the Flash Integro Free Video Editor? That's what I use for my editing. I'll admit that yeah, I should have cut out a few things in some of my videos. A friend brought that up, and I will be doing so in future videos for certain!
Looking at my Selesnya video, yeah you're right. I knew absolutely nothing about what I was opening. Literally the only thing I knew is that I was getting cards I needed for my Green/White Saproling Beatdown deck. So I'll work on that in future videos and actually do some research. Didn't know people disliked such things, so it's a good thing I learned that early on. Thanks!
Lastly... Mostly my pack openings have been whatever I could find at Toys'R'Us and Walmart. The Selesnya Theme Deck is the only thing that's an exception to that. Not exactly sure what I can do to make those interesting. Any suggestions? Best I can think of is opening a pack with a friend or something, doing a challenge to see who pulls better...
Anyway, thanks for your advice. You're the first person who ever went into detail on what I'm doing wrong, so I really appreciate it. I promise I'll work on improving my Magic: The Gathering content to meet the expectations of the community. (:
That said, coming soon: Better recording quality, better camera angles, more time spent on editing, better lighting, getting that computer out of the background for good, getting a not-so-distracting background, and doing some research.
P.S.My next two videos have already been recorded, so improvements won't be seen there. And until January comes, I'm unable to purchase more products to open. Sorry...
And one last thing. How's the background music? Not too loud or quiet?
December 22, 2014 midnight
Servo_Token says... #4
So working backwards through your post:
I honestly didn't notice background music, so it's probably a bit too quiet. Is it being played as you record, or added in post? I would definitely recommend the latter because it will both drown out any unexpected interference (loud car driving by) and help even out the tone of your audio. If it's just played as you record, that's ok, but not my ideal setup. Louder if you want it there, but don't let it drown out your speech.
In regards to what you're opening: Those 3-packs are fine because it's always a surprise as to what's inside. Older product is always good. If you want to do new product, I would personally like to see Pack Wars, which i'll describe later. Otherwise, whatever you can find is totally cool.
I've never heard of that editor, but looking at the download page, it looks fine for what you're using it for. Really the only thing that you'll need to do is adjust audio, cut clips, and maybe EQ and color balance a little, which I believe it is capable of. Once you get more into it (if at all, not saying that you have to become the next great film producer), you might want to move up to better programs, but yeah, this is definitely a fine start.
As much as I hate to say it, the iPad is a fine camera for just starting off, so getting a new camcorder shouldn't be the highest priority unless it's something that you personally want. I won't tell you how to spend your money, but you totally don't need a new one yet. If I were in your situation, I'd just save that money for the camcorder to get an HD capable camera. Up to you though.
pack wars Pack wars is when you and a friend each open up a pack, remove the land and token, then shuffle the pack and use it as a deck. You have infinite of any color mana, play 1 card per turn (on each player's turn), can activate any activated abilities up to five times (if they don't tap to activate), discard any cards that have to do with lands then draw (Verdant Haven, things of the sort) and have a 3 card opening hand. You can even do like, winner gets both packs, loser tears their rare (not recommended), or some other variant that includes adding lands. Anything else you'd like to include, go for it, if you don't like this idea, don't go for it. It's your channel, do what you want, i'm just throwing out ideas.
December 22, 2014 1 a.m.
I add in my music during the editing process. It sounds horrible to have music playing as I'm recording. Plus, I get distracted really easily, so easily that music playing while I'm recording will literally throw me off and prevent me from focusing. So yeah, it is added post recording.
I'll definitely be getting more 3-pack blisters. It's literally the best deal Walmart has, and unfortunately Toys'R'Us doesn't seem to have anything like that. I try to avoid buying packs and such online for the most part, unless I manage to find lower prices there for the same product, or can't find the product at any local stores anyway.
Anyway. Pack Wars. OH MY GOSH this sounds so fun, and not near as stressful as playing a serious game. Definitely going to talk with my friends about doing this. Might even do a 3-pack vs 3-pack thing. Dunno, but definitely gonna see about getting this added to the channel.
As for the iPad and Camcorder stuff... Honestly, I would like to save and use the iPad a little longer. But it can be hard getting good angles and finding a good place to put it for recording. Plus, letting the kids watch something on Netflix in their room while I record would definitely help keep them busy, and there's no way I can trust them with my laptop long enough to do this.
Dunno, maybe I'll figure something out within the next week.
December 22, 2014 1:23 a.m.
Servo_Token says... #6
Oh, derp. Totally forgot that not every person has an iPad holster for a tripod. Of course.
That makes the camcorder argument a bit more in favor of the purchase.
December 22, 2014 2:10 a.m.
Or I could go ahead and buy a cheap tripod to get me by. Amazon has some pretty cheap ones.
Anyway, talked to my friend and he seems to be up for doing some pack wars.
Now I have questions on how I should do them. 1 game, or best of 3? if best of 3, should i do separate uploads for each part?
Servo_Token says... #2
[Incoming wall of text]
While it's cool that you are doing a new channel (i'm watching your first opening video now), I think that it wouldn't be too out of line to critique on the production aspect of your videos. Watching the Angelic Skirmisher videos, it's pretty clear that you're very new to this, so some tips thrown your way for higher production value wouldn't hurt.
First off - Camera angles. For your first three, you're facing the camera at a computer screen. Putting your subject matter between a camera and a light source in any instance is a pretty bad idea because the light source will overpower the subject. Using a computer screen as a light source is an even worse idea because you'll get running lines in your video (You can see this very clearly in the third angel video). This looks super bad, though you did fix it for the selesnya video. However, in the selesnya video, you're pointed at some box or something. Using some sort of background, like a playmat or nice tablecloth, will give the best effect for a pack opening, because it gives the subconscious something pleasing to see while not directing the attention of the viewer. Your light source should always be behind the camera (sometimes directly, sometimes not, depends on what you're shooting) facing the material. You seem to have figured that out in the third video, but just a general reminder - good lighting is like, half of your video!
Secondly - Subject matter. While it's super cool that you're contributing to this awesome community, not too many people want to see just a pack opening - there's enough of those out there already. You should try to find some niche to work at, something that makes your openings unique. For example, MTGHeadquarters frequently has old products that he opens, and AbsoluteMTG (Back when it was just AjemanCinnajob) did full booster box openings, which was kind of new at the time. Find something that makes your channel stand out from the rest. If you want to be an introduction to Magic for Pokemon players, that's cool too, find a way to incorporate some pokemon material into your MTG videos, talk about how the two are comparable. That'd be very different and appeal to a more broad range of people.
Thirdly - Know how. I saw in your Selesnya opening that you didn't exactly know what you were opening. This is a HUGE no-no. People don't want to just see random product being opened, they want commentary on what that product is. Give em a history lesson! If you find a neat Magic thing to open up, do a little research first so you have something to talk about while opening, and you can provide some insight into the game for those that may not know what you're opening. I saw in your build-a-team video that you've got your competitive pokemon team building down pretty well, and you need to be on that level with Magic as well if you're going to be making videos.
And Finally - Editing. I saw that you're on a windows, so your options are a tid bit limited in terms of cheap editing software, but you should definitely be editing your videos. No one wants to watch you get up from the camera to go deal with your kids (While you may love em, not everyone else has time for that), so just cut that bit out of the video! Anything that doesn't pertain to the core video content can be cut out. Any interruptions, exterior noises, and just general nonsense should definitely get the axe. On that note, try to record in closed, secure room where you won't be bothered by these distractions. Anyway, back on point, Windows Movie Maker is probably your best bet for super cheap editing software, though Camtasia is pretty sweet as well. I'm not a windows guy, so I'm not sure what else is available to you. But please, please please don't just put your raw footage up as a video. It doesn't look good, and you'll definitely leave a better impression if you have produce higher value content.
As I said, it's super cool that you're trying to break into the community, but this community has some standards that need to be met for a successful channel. Once you get a bit more acquainted with the game, it'll come a lot easier to you. In the mean time, watch some of the other MTG Youtubers out there. MTGHeadquarters, as I mentioned, is one of the biggest, AbsoluteMTG, TheMagicManSam, MrLuBuFu, and Roxaboxen90 are all in the same realm as what I feel you're trying to accomplish, and learning from them will certainly get you places. Not trying to bring you down here at all, and don't think that i'm just pointing out everything you're doing wrong, but if someone else doesn't correct unknowing wrong behavior, then how can that other person know what's right? Just trying to help ya out a bit here. Best of luck on the channel!
December 21, 2014 11:16 p.m.