How to become a vlogger or streamer?

Formats and topics

What is a vlog? This is one of the two most common formats of video content on the Internet: it involves recording, editing and only then publishing the video. It is best suited for beginners, as it allows you to prepare a script in advance, reshoot failed duplicates, and polish the picture and sound at the installation stage.

The largest Internet platform for publishing vlogs is YouTube, which generates over 20 billion views per month. In addition to it, vlogs can be published on Vimeo and Dailymotion video hosting sites, as well as directly on the Facebook social network.

What is a stream? This word is called live video broadcasts on the Internet. This format is more complex and is more suitable for experienced video bloggers, since there will be no opportunity to correct shortcomings at the post-production stage. However, if you are well versed in the subject of your video channel and you have a well-hung language, you can try to start right away with streams. Communication with viewers in real time (they ask questions in a text chat, you answer with your voice) is now valued much more than pre-recorded videos. In addition to YouTube, Twitch is a popular streaming platform.

The most common mistake of novice video makers is the desire to become instantly popular and earn countless amounts of money. Both the first and the second will definitely come, but not instantly. But at first there should be a desire to share with the Internet audience your knowledge and experience on some topic close to you. That is, you should not chase popular YouTube trends, which everyone is currently doing without getting caught and in which you do not understand well enough.

For example, 200K people watch vlogs about viticulture and winemaking with interest, videos about searching and collecting old coins — half a million. It is better to choose a narrow topic and try to popularize it among the masses.

Equipment for vlogs

To record vlogs, you will need a camera that can shoot video, and for subsequent editing — a computer or laptop. Of course, you can shoot, edit and even publish videos using a single smartphone, but the picture and sound quality of such content will clearly be lacking.

Mirrorless (system, hybrid) cameras are better suited for video recording than SLR cameras. However, if you already have a DSLR, it will be enough for the first time. The choice of an object for the camera depends on the subject of the blog. For video reviews of small objects (the "talking hands" format), a whale object is suitable. If you are shooting yourself (the "talking head" format), you will need an objective portrait. For tourist vlogs, a wide-angle object is optimal, allowing you to shoot yourself with an outstretched arm.

Nikon 1 S2 is a very compact mirrorless wide—angle lens capable of recording FullHD video at 60 fps.

So that the camera does not have to be constantly held in your hands or artistically placed on a stack of books on the table, it is worth buying a tripod. It allows you to fix the camera in a static position, which eliminates the shaking and allows you to adjust the frame to your convenient location, distance and angle. A compact tripod is optimal for the "talking hands" format. For professional video shooting with smooth frame wiring along the shooting object, in addition to a tripod, a specialized video head will be required.

Velbon EX-640 is a relatively inexpensive tripod with adjustable height (143 – 170 cm).

For tourist vlogs, a good alternative to a camera is a video camera. The compact and lightweight camcorder is more convenient to hold in your hand (with a special strap), the battery can withstand long video sessions, and the optical zoom can reach 30x, which allows you to shoot, for example, wild fauna. However, due to the relatively small matrix in low light, video cameras shoot much worse than cameras.

Sony HDR-CX405 is a camcorder with a rotary display and weighs only 215 grams.

Raw video, unlike photos, can weigh tens of gigabytes. Therefore, in addition to the camera, you should immediately buy one or even several roomy memory cards. And if you plan to shoot in 4K resolution, the SDXC high-speed standard card is mandatory. Otherwise, the video will simply not have time to be recorded, which is why twitching is possible.

SanDisk Ultra microSDHC UHS-I is a 32—gig Class 10 card, the speed of which is sufficient for video recording in 1080p60 format.

In the case of frequent filming indoors, it would not be superfluous to buy a couple of softboxes with soft white light that practically casts no shadows. They allow you to record vlogs at any time, even at night, and during the day will add clarity and contrast to the picture. And by placing the lamps at different distances and at different angles in relation to the object of filming, you can achieve a beautiful artistic effect. You can also screw a colour, or even better, a customizable RGB lamp into one of the lamps to give the videos the right atmosphere.

When shooting indoors, it is worth buying a couple of softboxes.

Equipment for streams

The basic set of equipment for streams is slightly different from what is used for vlogs. For live broadcasts, the picture is less important than the sound. Therefore, if the existing camera does not support video streaming on a PC, it does not matter — you can do with a regular WEB camera. In this case, of course, it is better not to stream your face to the full screen (the picture from the webcam is too grainy), but limit yourself to a small window in the corner. The rest of the screen space can be occupied by broadcasting your computer's desktop (screencast), viewer chat, a list of donors (who supported you financially) and other text and graphic information.

Logitech HD Webcam C270 is a high—quality webcam capable of temporarily performing the functions of a microphone.

In order not to worry about the interior of the room, which will fall into the frame with your face, you can use the studio background, the so-called "green". A single-colour fabric fabric that contrasts with your face and clothes is easy to make invisible programmatically. It turns out that your face is as if right on the desktop PC.

A single-colour fabric fabric that contrasts with your face and clothes is easy to make invisible programmatically.

One of the most popular stream topics is computer games, which may require a powerful PC. However, no one forbids streaming ageless classics (Diablo 2, Heroes of Might & Magic 3, WarCraft 3, etc.), which run even on an old laptop. In addition, the game can only serve as a background that fills the pauses, while conversations with viewers and guests of the stream (for example, other streamers) can be conducted on any non-gaming topics.

A good semi-professional microphone can significantly improve the perception of the stream. But by itself, it will not make your voice velvety — you need to buy or make a pop filter from improvised means (a grid that muffles breathing, coughing and other extraneous sounds) and install software for real-time sound processing (noise reduction, volume gain, frequency equalizer).

Audio-Technica AT2020 USB is one of the most popular microphones among streamers and podcasters with a built—in sound card and a tripod included.

The OBS application, the most popular streamer software, has built—in sound and visual filters. It is free, highly customizable and supports a great many plugins that extend functionality. In addition to OBS, you can stream through the paid XSplit programme (it is highly reliable, therefore it is suitable for long-term, for example 24—hour streams), as well as utilities from graphics card manufacturers — NVIDIA Share (old name Shadow Play) and AMD ReLive.

The key to success

In addition to video shooting and editing skills, public speaking and the ability to "play" on camera are important. Try to speak slowly, measured, with an emphasis on key phrases. Feel free to show your emotions in relation to the topic of the video. Viewers watch emotional, sometimes even excessively, video bloggers more willingly than chained ones. Dilute the theory with stories from your personal life and jokes, but also do not turn your videos into a solid "Smehopanorama", unless, of course, the channel's theme is humorous. And most importantly, do not delay the start of your video blogging or streaming activities for later. Start today and publish new content, even if not often, but regularly.