Making Ham Videos On A Budget

[@QRPSchool]

See Description for direct links to the many topics within this video!

[@VU3FXD]

Hello Mr. Cliff, Sorry to bother you with an unrelated question, but are you alright?...You has disappeared from youtube...once again!...Thanks & 73 de VU3FXD

[@QRPSchool]

@@VU3FXD Good morning! I am very much alive. Thanks for asking about me. I am busy with my business (just got back from working a trade show in San Antonio, TX) but I retire on my 65th birthday in 278 days, and I expect to be able to have more time for ham radio then. That said, I'm taking my KX2 to the Caribbean for a month and expect to make a video or two of me working POTA from St. John, USVI. I should also mention that I play piano in a jazz ensemble and I practice piano for at least two hours each day. It's a full life! I hope to work you during a POTA soon. (leaving in 13 days...) - Cliff

[@VU3FXD]

Thanks for your prompt reply. Looking forward to gaining knowledge from your videos in this channel. 73

[@marksullivan9584]

Great video and instruction. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@nunyabidness9257]

Nothing to add here Cliff, just a thankyou for the videos you did years back when I was getting into HF and only playing with QRP.

[@QRPSchool]

That's nice to hear. Thanks for taking the time to say that. I appreciate it! - Cliff

[@vk2sky]

Excellent video Cliff, thank you! I'll share this around. One thing I would add (I don't *think* you mentioned, but I could have missed it) is to turn one's phone to landscape mode. I see way too many videos online, inexplicably shot in portrait mode, leading to dead space on the sides of the finished video and a lot of unnecessary panning to capture the entire subject. 73 Richard VK2SKY

[@QRPSchool]

Good point on shooting video in landscape mode, Richard. Unless you're a young person making content for other young people who are watching video on their phones in portrait mode, landscape mode is the right way to go. - Cliff

[@chuckvoss9344]

Thank you for all the practical information.

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Chuck. - Cliff

[@DaveW6OOD]

Thanks for the video. I could tell that you have production experience just by those comical videos you put out and even musical skills to boot. I have done professional shooting, editing, lighting and sound for a living (news media) for the last 30 years. I sometimes think about doing Witherspoon style videos. But, I don’t, because all that seems like actual work and I also don’t like myself on camera. But, the hardest part is actually thinking while speaking and having it come out smoothly. It takes a natural talent but that too can be learned over time. For now, I’m just a viewer.

[@QRPSchool]

Hi, Dave. There's no getting around it... it's work! Even the (mostly) unedited K4SWL videos take time to plan, pack your gear, shoot, edit a little, and upload. That said, you could do one just to see how it goes. Nobody ever needs to see it! Question: Is it possible that you're being a little too critical of yourself? Maybe you'd do a perfectly acceptable job while on-camera. I get that some people are more smooth and natural when talking to a camera, but the goal is just to be yourself. And it you're a little awkward at times, so what?! Authenticity is what people want. Given your background, you'd do a fine job on the production side. I just want to encourage you to make ONE video... just to see how it goes. It might be darn good. - Cliff

[@JunkyardPhysics]

Thanks Cliff. That had more useful information than the last 5 vids I have seen on the subject. Just recorded a little clip that I think will make a decent short. And there you were with answers to most of my questions. Thanks again.

[@QRPSchool]

Glad to help! - cliff

[@ConstantForwardMotion]

Excellent! Thanks for doing this. 73, Charlie

[@QRPSchool]

Thank, Charlie. - Cliff

[@rv6amark]

Excellent presentation. I will probably never record a YT video, but now I have a much greater appreciation of what goes into that process. -- Mark, KE6BB

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Mark. YT is free and gives you unlimited storage for your videos... which never have to be made public. It might be something you could use at some point in the future. And you might be good at making videos if you give it a try. You never know. Thanks for watching! - Cliff

[@MentalWhiplash]

Great presentation at FDIM...seeing it makes this the perfect follow-up.

[@QRPSchool]

Thank you! FDIM was fun. I wish it was held monthly! - Cliff

[@MentalWhiplash]

@@QRPSchool FYI...I AM grabbing the bull by the horns...headed to Puerto Rico this weekend for some QRP POTA and I WILL be doing video! First crack at it and I'm already story-boarding

[@QRPSchool]

@@MentalWhiplash YES!!!! Trust, me... having a shot list with you is worth the trouble of making one. Tell the story. Get little clips of getting on the plane, even. (if you care to make it that granular) Clips of getting to the location. Go nuts making little clips that you can stitch together later. Maybe you won't use some of them, but it's good to have extra footage. Can't wait to see it when you're done! Of course, you are under no obligation to show it to anyone if you're not happy with it. (But, I'd like a peek!). Have fun down there. I'm jealous. - Cliff

[@renegtz]

Excelllent resource, thank you.

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Rene. - Cliff

[@jacquesredmond]

Thank you so much for this video, very informative. :)

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Jacques. -Cliff

[@pvdk]

Hi Cliff, very interesting topic. I did photo and video for a while for a magazine and I am familiar with a lot of stuff you talk about in this great video. As always it's nice to combine one or more hobby's or passions with eachother. I'm curious in what kind of video editing software u are using to edit and produce your content. I tried different ones but came to the conclusion that for me Filmora Wondershare is a great piece of software capable of producing fantastic results even more with the latest releases. Besides that I was shooting my clips with dslr at start but got it down to a small decent mirrorless camera known for great photos and great video for less than 900$ us. I combined that with a external mic with windscreen also. I'm also using my phone sometimes. Indoor I often use my airpods pro. They sound very good but won't cancel wind noise outdoors. For indoor shooting I still use two small tripods and some softboxes. A led light circle for close-up works also works fine I think. It seems we have a lot in common ;-) 73 Phil from EU. ON4VP.

[@QRPSchool]

Hi, Phil. It sounds like you are probably very good at this (video). While I have Adobe Premiere, I don't use it very much. I tend to use Camtasia by Techsmith. It is a wonderful package for making tutorial videos where you're capturing computer screens and adding narration, annotations, etc. I use it for my software business videos and it's perfect for that. But, it also works great as a general purpose video editor. - Cliff

[@pvdk]

@@QRPSchool thanks Cliff. Now I am a lot more advanced but this is one of my first attempts to make a small movie about a trip in the Alpes. The motorcycle (both) have a dualbander on board. Body under the seat, display on the handlebars and antenna mounted on the back of the frame. We integrated the ham into the onboard com set (helmet) and PTT on the handlebars. We did almost 4500 km. We made a daily vlog. My buddy filmed and I did the talking. We used a similar mic (on my vest) with wireless remote to the Sony camera. One clip I even used the intercom audio that was transmitted over the air to the Sony. We edited those days with low budget. But for a first attempt I was excited to learn more and improve my skills. have a look if you are interested. Language is Dutch (sorry) but you get the picture. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYOtXmx3mNSlfZI

[@QRPSchool]

@@pvdk That is a great video! And congratulations on your fine motorcycling skills. I have a Honda Goldwing (2018 model) and riding on loose gravel and taking those tight turns at high speed would scare me! Well done, Phil! The video was fun to watch. Even though I've been going to Bonaire each year for nearly 20 years, my Dutch is limited to niet parkeren and let op drempel. 😃

[@hamradioattitude9712]

Been making u tubes for several years and picked up some great tips from you today Cliff!!! Thanks and 72 from "ham radio attitude" wb3dsj

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Gary. Keep up the good work! - Cliff

[@radioman3229]

Cliff, thanks for all the great educational videos. Sir, I am finnally learning CW. Do you know a QRP radio that decodes CW, so I can learn ... see what Iam sending? I can learn the characters by listening... but Iam trying to find a cheap way of learning to send... but if I cant see what I am sending??? how do I know ... what I am sending. Thanks for any help, advice, thanks again NS9T Bob.

[@QRPSchool]

Hi, Bob. I have several radios that decode Morse, but maybe the cheapest thing would be a smartphone app? I can’t tell you a specific one, but go to the Google Play store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS) and search for Morse code and I’ll bet you find an app that can use your phone’s microphone to decode CW. Congrats on making progress with CW!!! -Cliff

[@radioman3229]

@@QRPSchool Thank you very much sir!

[@radioman3229]

You are absolutely right... thanks!

[@MichaelSellery-k6o]

Cliff, what video editing software do you use?

[@QRPSchool]

While I have Adobe Premiere, I don't use it very much. I tend to use Camtasia by Techsmith. It is a wonderful package for making tutorial videos where you're capturing computer screens and adding narration, annotations, etc. I use it for my software business videos and it's perfect for that. But, it also works great as a general purpose video editor. - Cliff

[@bityard]

What happened to the Tornado Observing and Safety video? I wanted to watch this with my son as he is interested in severe weather tracking and spotting, but it doesn't seem to exist anymore.

[@QRPSchool]

Hello! I maintain FOUR youtube channels. One of those is my local ARES group ("WCARES") and that Tornado video was supposed to be uploaded to the WCARES Media channel on KZbin. I accidentally uploaded it to my QRP School KZbin channel! So, I moved it to the correct KZbin channel. You can watch it now on the WCARES KZbin channel here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moqrYqtqqJ1ph6csi=N7kxbcw5iSEN9mVa

[@MichaelSellery-k6o]

Cliff - I sense a stream of future QRP School content, whose prospect I look forward. Also, congratulations on your somewhat imminent planned retirement. Cheers.

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks! - Cliff

[@NewHamBasicsKD9ZRO]

I use my phone, a cheap Bluetooth lav and a cheap tripod.

[@EricFullwood]

Coffee and Ham Radio is a perfect example of a bad channel. They sit around and mumble at each other. No one looks like they want to be there. It's uninspired and quite sad actually.

[@QRPSchool]

I'm unfamiliar with that channel. I don't watch "talk show" types of YT videos for any of my hobbies. - Cliff

[@Blezner]

Thanks Cliff! 73 de NM9O