reply to commenter akulbe: >Do you think using AI for text-to-speech lessens the value of the content?
You really don't need any music soundtracks or B-roll stock-footage clips to make compelling tech content. Another problem with music is that most content creators mix it too loud which is distracting and often drowns out the voiceover and makes words unintelligible.
E.g. this (relatively new) channel about computer hardware and programming uses no music and no B-roll cuts with a AI generated voice ("Dylan" voice from ElevenLabs) and yet the quality of content allowed it to amass ~275k subscribers in less than 18 months : https://www.youtube.com/@CoreDumpped/videos
An AI gen voice is not usually ideal but it will be accepted by audiences if the native accent makes the English pronunciation too difficult for viewers to understand -- and the insights from the content itself are high quality. The content creator in the above example is from Ecuador and he said his native English voice is not good.
Ben Krasnow's "Applied Science" is another successful channel without music and no stock footage clips: https://www.youtube.com/c/AppliedScience/videos
If you content doesn't depend on visuals also consider releasing episodes as podcasts.
Tips and tricks are great when you have a working machine you want to improve. But when you are getting started, do it a hundred times, or until you figure it out. For videos, you have to get all your bad videos out of the way so you can start making good ones.
I can't speak in a normal voice anymore, after being on a ventilator.
I'm just wondering... if the content is useful, but oh no it's AI talking... detracts from it?
I thought about putting an intro in my normal "speaking" voice, so people would understand why.
Maybe hire or partner with a voice actor or friend?
as an alternative maybe it helps to explain the reason up front. not being able to speak is a good excuse and i wouldn't want to miss out on good material just because the creator has no voice.
for someone who is simply not speaking english well enough, practice and get better.
as an alternative, record the video in your native language and offer the computer voice in english as a second audio track. then we can tell the difference from AI slop.
But it is not necessarily a dealbreaker. Good research, good writing, funny timing, great editing. All of these can elevate the whole. Or being exceptional at one or two can compensate for missing one.
CGP Gray does well without a face and started with terrible animation.
And approximately nobody sounds like a voice actor.
And most importantly, your audience won’t care because it will be your audience.
I mean people listened to Stephen Hawking’s voice.
I first thought of using a presentation tool like keynote, but it can be limiting if you want to make more complex content, like showing browser tabs, drawing diagrams, etc.
If your content is more technical, I think is best to just record your screen and show the command line or editor. Most people use OBS to record the screen and show your face at the same time. You can explain things with a diagram tool like excalidraw. Theprimeagen and "Theo - t3․gg" work that way, they first make a live stream, then edit that stream into a Youtube video.
> where can I find royalty free music and clips
If your content is more "infotainment" like Fireship, he explains his way of making videos here [2] and this video also goes into his process more [3]
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_WM0lJU6GY
Beyond that: to make good food, eat good food. Spend time watching N hours of tech YouTube and take notes on which you liked and which you didn’t. For the ones you liked make notes of why and try to replicate that (tone, storytelling technique etc.) and for the ones you liked less, find things to avoid or do less of.
YouTube is full of tutorials that can help you get started, but the real shift for me happened when I stopped planning and just hit publish. My first video is rough and super amateur, but putting it out there felt empowering. It made me want to keep going.
I’m no expert, but one thing’s clear is that you only get better by doing. Tutorials help, but nothing beats hands-on learning.
In my case, I’ve always liked Casey Neistat’s raw, authentic style. I’m still working up the nerve to get in front of the camera more, but I know I’ll get there.
I know my comment might sound a bit off-topic since you’re asking about the technical “how-to”, but that’s kind of my point. Don’t get too bogged down too much in the setup. It can keep you from ever starting. Once you begin, the tools and improvements tend to come naturally.
Good luck, and honestly, just start.
Looking forward to seeing your videos.
1. The most important thing is the actual content you want to share. The essence, the meat. Net new information or at least unique angle that someone would not find anywhere else.
2. The second most important thing is the actual content you want to share. How clear to the viewer who is this content for. And if viewer is the target audience - how relevant the subject for him now? Why would he care at all. What do I loose by skipping the video?
3. The third most important thing is the actual content you want to share. Why do you share it? What is you motivation? Why should I trust you and listen to you?
Oh, yes, it helps if you speak clearly and without fluff.
That's it. Nobody (except other wannabe youtube-gurus) cares what's your tech stack or how much you paid for a mic or video editing. IT people come for content.
You need a phone and a Youtube account.
And to give yourself permission to make crap videos because beginners make crap videos and the only way to not make crap is to learn by doing. [1]
And maybe after years of making videos, you might have a popular Youtube channel. But probably not. So you need to decide what success means on your own terms.
how do I set up for good content material and make my videos interesting and where can I find royalty free music and clips
1. Audio matters much more than video, and so microphones are better upgrades than cameras.
2. Make videos that are interesting to you. Youtube reaches a worldwide audience and whatever interests you also interests thousands of other people. But they cannot find your videos if you don't make them.
3. Google.
Thinking about making is a waste of time. Making is what matters. Good luck.
[1] Alternatively, pay professionals professional rates to make videos for you.
One of the best essays ever, on that very subject:
This is a terrific mental model. It can be very helpful to assist perfectionists in pushing past their initial attempts, because getting the flywheel going is hard.
Thanks for sharing!
1) Get a decent microphone
2) Check out freesound and the YT music library
3) Just start publishing. Make a video. Upload it.
Don't do too much research. Just talk about what you know. As you go on, do a little research here and there, but the #1 rule is just publish. Upload, upload, upload.
- give the first draft an extremely low bar
This relieves the pressure, stops my procrastination.
Once you have the first draft, you will get into the flow easily.
Start when you can.
now you only need inspiration I'd go for fireship-style videos and just start pushing content