YouTube Plays My Demo...

[PierceVoice]

Step 1. Create your demo.

Step 2. Create a video of equal length in iMove, Windows Movie Maker, or your favorite Adobe product. (could just be a blank screen)

Step 3. Post video demo to YouTube as a high quality Quicktime or AVI

Step 4. Customize the embed code to the color you like.

Step 5. Paste the embed code as html to your site, and resize the height to 25.

The code looks like this:

<OBJECT height=25 width=230><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/UHwGNPk1xcw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd 311b"><PARAM NAME="allowFullScreen" VALUE="true">
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UHwGNPk1xcw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="230" height="25"></embed></OBJECT>

And if I could just figure out how to embed it on this board, I'd show ya what it will look like....

[Jodi Krangle]

What a cool idea, Chadd. How would that work for the rest of us with no video experience though? Did you use stock footage from different places? :)

[PierceVoice]

Actually, there is a really simple program that comes free with Windows called Windows Movie Maker-- a simple editor that woks just like your linear audio editing, but with an extra track for video.

Essentially, one would import the demo audio to the project, place on the timeline (kinda like Pro Tools or Adobe Audition), and simply save the movie as a high quality (read: best audio you can) WMV, AVI, or Quicktime. Despite the lack of actual video, it should save as a blank screened movie.

Keep asking if you need more, I'll try to walk anyone through...

[Jodi Krangle]

Um... if I did it that way - with a blank screen - kinda looks like it would be spam for YouTube? ;) I do see what you're getting at though...

[PierceVoice]

Hey, if you've seen some of the crap people put up there... Don't fret. You'll be fine.

[Jodi Krangle]

:D

[Diane Havens]

I found it, Chadd. And you know, I don't think the YouTube video demo thing works for everybody, but with yours it plays more like a commercial for you. I think because it's radio imaging and the flashy word barrage matches the sound well.

Sometimes you're just better off with no visuals, and let the listener imagine -- especially with narrative content. And especially if you're not very good with video editing. It could cheapen your image and dilute your marketing message.

I liked yours, though. Here it is, btw:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfZRRTUCF_k

[Jodi Krangle]

:D That was awesome! :D

[spartacus]

Wicked Cool Chadd!!!

[John Bigl]

:afro: spiffy

[SilverSurfer3001]

will you embed the thang in ya website?

[PierceVoice]

Actually, I'd like to disclaim: You're seeing the "it's got to have some kinda video component to create a YouTube posting" part. I really didn't mean to suggest visual content was totally necessary-- it's your choice (i gave it a lil effort because i wish to also appeal to 'Tube people.

My original suggestion was to embed the YT vid to your web page and change the parameters to a height which leaves only the "player bar".

Looks like this pic.

[PierceVoice]

I think I finally got this down.... i've embedded the players to my site (http://www.piercevoice.com), and besides still toying with the best settings for friendlier audio quality consistency, I think it looks kinda neat. But this is from some dude who tried using Dreamweaver, completely erased my whole site design over the weekend and had to rebuild using a host-provided template. (I an't exactly savvy here)

Just thought I'd give some closure to the topic. Thanks!

[Jodi Krangle]

A "plehhhhthra". ;) Chadd, I have to say that every time I hear your radio imaging demo, it makes me giggle. I love that. :D I think your new site is great, too! Easy to look at and navigate and straight to the point.

But ... speaking from an Internet marketer's point of view? You have virtually *no* text on that site. To the search engines? Your site will be invisible. :) Just saying ... You may not *need* search engine traffic (people are generally directed to your website from other sources or directly by you, etc.), but if you can add text of some kind, it'll probably be a good thing in the end.

[PierceVoice]

Hahaha... Thanks, Jodi. I'm experimenting with Alt. Text on my images, and do have some "hidden text", but you do have a point there.

[Jodi Krangle]

Just as a word of warning, search engines pay very little attention to alt text that doesn't have a link associated with it. They're also very wary in general, of "hidden text" of any kind. Alt text isn't exactly "hidden" in that sense, but other "hidden text" will set off a red flag and can get sites banned from the engines entirely. So careful there, ok? :)

[Clintonnobles]

awesome idea! and loved the demo. My friends make fun of me a lot for using the word Plethora . . . So RIGHT ON!!! lol

[billelder]

I've had clients post work I've narrated on Youtube and have some links to their work on my web site. If you can edit video on your computer, you could probably make a "still" graphic with your name and logo on it while the demo is playing. Although I would think serious clients would probably prefer an mp3. <g>

I used to put out a yearly Christmas video for friends and family and was convinced to start putting it on Youtube. Here is a clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rsm2VXelvs) of a story I did of narrating a presentation for a local school system.

Youtube is fantastic fun!

[PierceVoice]

BILL! That's great! The BillTV logo is really cool-- and nice work on the vo.

With regard to YouTube's cred in the business, I agree that most people won't be tracking down their next voice talent on this Google-owned high-traffic network. But if only to use them as an alternate source of marketing yourself (remember, search engines rank YT clips, too), your suggestion of an audio clip with a static logo is WAY better than nothing at all, IMHO.

****THIS JUST IN*****


Do you embed YouTube videos to your website/Myspace/other? Have you noticed that on many videos there is a "High Quality" playback option on YouTube, but you can only embed the low-quality, mono flash video? The formula for embedding the High Quality version has been cracked! Like any other "code" it's as easy as adding a simple string of html to the mix.

Rather than explain, I'll send you to my source which will walk you thru if you wanna use it:

How To Embed YouTube Videos In High Quality - Podcasting News (http://www.podcastingnews.com/2008/07/13/how-to-embed-youtube-videos-in-high-quality/)

OR you can use this site which actually generates this new High Quality video embed code for you:

http://www.twittervlog.tv/high-quality-youtube-embed-generator.html (http://www.twittervlog.tv/high-quality-youtube-embed-generator.html)

I get this feeling that I'm the only geek THIS interested.... :cheesy:

[billelder]

Chadd,

I added a player to my site that does kind of the the same thing but it doesn't play well with my internet tablet. (Nokia N800) Sometimes my clients like to download the demos so I put a link there too. But with your idea if you can embed the code, it'll display and play anywhere. We were doing this with Real Players years ago, eh? <g>

To answer your question. On my web page I just put links to video on the demo page.

Please mark me under the 'geek"column as well! Thank you for the code addition! Many of my Youtube features are old video tape so they need all of the help they can get! <g> I have some embedded custom players on my web site that will play all of the videos from a category and it has made a big difference. It's nice to have a web guru here.

Thanks, again!

Bill

[Adrian Cox]

Chadd, FYI, the linky no worky for YouTube. Perhaps the original link has been altered or YT pulled it.

[PierceVoice]

Yeah, that's what happens when I wanna change my demo... either I leave up all the old versions (and when I change small things that's not what I wanna do) or blow 'em out. I did that last one. Thanks tho, Adrian!