How to Do Everything with YouTube
Reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher
Author: Chad Fahr
McGraw Hill Osborne
http://www.osborne.com
Released: December 10, 2007
Pages: 208
$30 USD $39 CND 15 GBP
ISBN-10: 0071498656
ISBN-13: 978-0071498654
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced
Strengths: (How to Use Everything series of books have screenshots which are easily
readable but are a little lackluster in terms of visuals. This book has a
nice objective oriented listing in the inside cover of the front cover page
as well as a nice website resources listing on the inside of the back cover.
The index is nicely done and a helpful glossary is included. The Chapters are
well thorough out and have easy to read numbered tutorials. |
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A few tips and notes are sprinkled within the
chapters. ) Good solid information for both Macintosh and PC/Windows users
was well done. The index is well written.
Weaknesses: The book has only black/white text which makes the chapters a little
drab. There a few screenshots and they don't have screen pointers or anything
else within these to explain how to use hardware or software.
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Introduction
Who would have thought YouTube would have been such a
success? But it has "blossomed" and grown. Even now, it is changing
how we think and display all videos. Also, our elections process has integrated
YouTube for video conferencing. While I have started working with YouTube, I
still have a lot to learn. But I think I found a real good book to improve my
work with YouTube that could also help you. It is called "How to Do
Everything with YouTube". While it might not explain all you need to work
with YouTube, it sure is a great one to start out with or improve your
"Youtubing " skills.
The author is an author who has worked extensively
with video editing, hardware and software and has created his own films and
videos. While my experiences include these on a much more rudimentary level as,
I have much to learn. I wanted to see what else I could learn from his much more
extensive experiences, especially on how to use YouTube in many ways. And his
experience and knowledge are evidence in many ways throughout the book.
There are only 7 chapters, but they are packed with
useful information. These include starting off with YouTube; Shooting
professional-quality videos; learning how to edit your videos with Windows
Movie Maker, iMovie, and Remixer; sharing and uploading your videos; joining
the YouTube community and sharing; customizing your YouTube Channel and the
utilizing of special tools and finally publicizing and promoting your YouTube
experiences. While I have dabbled with YouTube, the book let me know more of my
potential.
What I particularly liked is his information about
adding audio tracks with AudioSwap, helpful hints on using lighting and adding
sound and special effects. Learning how to create a short film, vlog, or video
mashup was very insightful. Optimizing and uploading, creating playlists,
subscribing and customizing channels, and participating in groups and ways to
promote the audience had some really helpful and sensible ideas.
Conclusion
The black on white text and the lack of color within
the chapter makes things a little dull. But while the dull visuals do not
"stand out", the insightful chapters do. What I enjoyed about this
book is not only the breadth and depth in which the author explains how to use
the hardware and software information, but even more importantly, specific
helpful techniques concerning what kinds of videos to create with YouTube
directing your messages, ideas, creativity and more. The screenshots will not
explain visually how to use YouTube, especially if you run into a little
trouble. But I have found YouTube is not that difficult to use and this book
can help start and master using the Video editing and sharing capabilities. If
you need more information, another book may suffice.
As a confirmed Macintosh user, I like that the author
included information about iMovie 6 and the new one iMovie 8, as well as
PC/Windows related information. The author includes a section about the
compositional use of video involving "the rule of thirds". I thought
this was really nice as I found this idea this technique only used for
photography. It is "little" specific gems, like this, that are
integrated throughout the chapters and really make this book a very good one
for learning about YouTube.
In short, this book is "crammed" with good
solid information that will not only have you " up and running " in
no time but also help you in your improvement of your YouTube movies, ideas and
creativity. Mostly for novice or intermediate users, even Advanced users may
learn a trick or two as I did.
