Hey Divi Nation, I’m really proud to present this week’s episode and guest: Augustine Mak. As many of you know, Mak is our video tutorial specialist here at Elegant Themes and it’s long past due we had him on the show. If you’re running a WordPress business of any kind you’re not going to want to miss this one. Lot’s of practical information on the nuts and bolts of getting started with video!
Using Video to Promote Your WordPress Business – The Divi Nation Podcast, Episode 61
In this episode I interview our very own Augustin Mak.
If you’re at all familiar with our blog, our Facebook page, or especially our youtube channel, then Mak’s face is one you’re used to seeing.
Mak is our resident video tutorial specialist and he’s not only got a lot of experience with WordPress and Divi, but a lot of experience using Divi to promote your business and/or products and services.
During our chat we not only get to know Mak a bit better as a person, but he also shares audio/video gear and software recommendations, production tips, and content discovery tips for YouTube.
We get into all that and more in today’s episode of Divi Nation.
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Our Recommended Video/Audio Gear and Software
Below we’ve created some quick and easy reference links for you to see the gear and software we recommended during the show.
The Absolute Basics
It’s really incredible that you can get started creating professional quality videos and podcasts with an initial investment of less than $400. In the podcast above we recommend going one step further though, and paying a bit more for better audio–which can really make a huge difference. However, the draw-back there is that even though the higher end mic we most recommend is just $229, it won’t do you much good without the other items listed below it which increases the overall expense quite a bit. It’s probably better to get started with just the gear in this basics section first and then upgrade as your efforts begin to bear fruit.
HD Webcam – Logitec HD Pro Webcam c920 ($62)
Beginner Light Kit – LimoStudio 700W Photography Softbox Lightingg Kit ($58)
Pro-sumer Quality USB Mic – Blue Yeti Pro ($249)
Professional Quality Audio Gear (Still Affordable)
Even though the audio gear below is more expensive than the single usb mic above, it’s still amazing just how good you can make yourself sound for comparatively so little. This mic and setup is literally the same mic and accessories you will see in a lot of professional broadcasting settings. Well worth the cost if you’re ready for it.
High Quality Mic – Rode Procaster ($229)
High Quality Audio Interface – Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ($150)
Mic Cables – Cable Matters 2-Pack Male to Female XLR Microphone Cable 6 Feet ($27)
Desktop Boom Arm – RODE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm ($109)
Mic Shockmount – RODE PSM 1 Shockmount for Procaster ($49)
Professional Quality Video Gear (Still Affordable)
So this section and the software section below is where the costs begin to rise. But again, when comparing what professional video and audio studios tend to pay for high end gear and software, this stuff is still quite affordable. Especially if you have a marketing budget and put this stuff to smart use that begins earning for you.
As we talked about in the podcast, if you’re in front of your computer doing interviews and livestreams you may not even need this gear. The webcam above will do just fine. But if you’re going out and doing “man on the street” or talking head videos (like our own video intros and outros) then you’ll want at least one of the two cameras below. Or something similar.
And of course we can’t forget the lights. The basic kit above will get the job done but they’re not a sturdy or as capable of fine tuning the exact color temperature you want as the adjustable LED kit below.
High Quality Video (Short Videos) – Sony Alpha a 6500 Body ($1,398 + lens and accessories)
High Quality Video (Long Videos) – Canon XA30 Pro Camcorder ($1,999 + accessories)
LED Light Kit (Highly Portable) – Fovitec StudioPRO 1x Bi Colorr 600 LED Panel ($272 each)
Professional Quality Software
This is the section where most people will just have to bite the bullet and shell out if they want high quality video and audio. You simply can’t do the kind of editing (or broadcasting in the case of livestreaming) you need to do if you don’t have the right software.
If you’re just doing screencasting tutorials then you could probably get away with just buying Screenflow or Camtasia. But if you’d like to promo videos with people on screen and livestreams on Facebook, YouTube and more–then you’ll likely want to get both Creative Cloud and Wirecast. And of course, if you’re doing interviews via Skype then you’ll need to get eCamm. But the good news there is that it’s pretty cheap.
This section is not cheap, but it is essential to getting the job done right.
Video/Audio/Motion Graphics and more – Adobe Creative Cloud ($70/month)
Screencasting for Mac – Screenflow (starts at $129)
Screencasting for PC – Camtasia (starts at $199)
Live Streaming – Wirecast (starts at $695)
Call Recording – eCamm Call Recorder ($30)
See You Next Week!
Well that’s all for this week’s episode. Thanks again to Mak for making the time to be on the show. I hope you enjoyed our chat as much as I did. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments section below!
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