Click the Red Record Button

Video tutorials on how to use a software product or website can be fun to create, particularly when the product is as cool as VHS to DVD 4.0 Deluxe. It converts all your old media, such as VHS tapes and vinyl records, to a digital format and then burns DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and CDs.

We used the Jing software to capture the VHS to DVD application screens, and then combined HD footage shot by the client (Honestech, Inc.) with voiceover and LiveType in FinalCut. When I produce tutorials or screencasts, I usually record the narration first, and then match the action to that (as opposed to talking while using the software). I think it makes for a more professional video (that, and I can't walk and chew gum at the same time...)

Going Thru My Second Childhood By Playing With Action Figures

We just produced a series of three video tutorials for a software product called Claymation Studio 2.0 from Honestech. It's a fun application that lets you easily create stop-motion animations using your PC and webcam. For the tutorial, I played with action figures. Then added backgrounds, dialogue, and sound effects.

This project was produced in HD format (1280x720) to take advantage of the higher-resolution videos now possible on YouTube. I also used Jing by TechSmith which allows you to do video capture of on-screen action like mousing, clicking, menus, and value selection.

Just who would win in an ultimate deathmatch - GI Joe or Gumby?