Hey guys, Welsknight here! It seems I have some time on my hands while I wait for my most recent batch of videos to render and upload... so I'm going to pass the time by helping you out! If you want me to critique your most recent video or your channel, give you advice on managing your Youtube channel, or answer technical questions for you, just reply and I'll get you an answer as soon as I can!
Upload schedule/frequency seems to be fairly regular.
The Bad:
Video resolution is only 720p. Unless your computer can't handle it, try to make use of a recording software that can go at least 1080p30fps.
Audio quality is OK, but not great. You have some background noise and fuzziness that could be removed. It's very easy to do in Audacity.
No spoken intro, at least in the video I watched (Minecraft Colony S2E2). Also don't seem to be talking to the viewers much.
Some swearing in the videos. I don't have a personal issue with it, but keep in mind that one of the largest audiences for Minecraft videos is people who still live with their parents. Are you going to have people who subscribe simply because you swear? Unlikely. Are you going to have people who don't subscribe simply because you swear? Yes.
No conclusion/outro at the end. Video just abruptly ended.
Personally i feel as though you had only watched maybe 2 videos on my entire channel and based it off that. Cause i know i can knockdown at least 3 of those Bad points. The 720,1080p was a little harsh bad point considering you dont exactly need 1080 for a game like minecraft. i do however do 1080p for some videos i feel require them.
Conclusions and outros i always do, but in long plain survival episodes i record them in big bulks.
Interacting with subscribers is something i do more than well. I reply to every comment and always mention them in videos. whether asking for what they want to see. Watch my everfells series and you would see that.
Swearing wise, i am a fifa youtuber just as much as i am a Minecraft player. my subscribers know who i am and know that i swear. Kids may watch my videos, but i see that the majority of my audience are all 15+ and understand the use sage of swearing.
Sound wise, i know how to remove the fuzz yet it appears to stay after rendering anyways, so i am going to buy a new microphone over the holidays.
Yet again thanks for the review..
You're correct, I did only watch a couple of videos, as that is generally all you need to get a decent idea of what a channel is like. And you are also correct, that Minecraft does not need to be in 1080p, but if you have the capability, why wouldn't you? At least in my opinion, you should always try to have the highest quality possible in every single video you produce.
For bulk recording, you can still have a spoken intro and outro. Just set a timer so you know when to stop, wrap up the video, and then start a new recording with an intro and outro. Easy fix.
Concerning the sound quality, are you recording your gameplay footage and commentary audio separately, or are they both within the same video file? Pretty much any microphone, even the top of the line ones, will still have some sort of fuzziness or background noise, unless you record in a soundproof recording studio (and I highly doubt that either of us could afford that). If you record your audio separately, you should be able to get rid of that fuzziness pretty easily. It's a lot harder when the audio and video are part of the same file.
Now, I should mention, after re-reading my post, I did come across as a bit overly negative. It was good, and I was actually very impressed! Most of the points I raised that can be improved upon are nitpicky things. Keep doing what you do, and just try to make every video better than your last one.
Very first thing I notice is that your channel is basically just a giant news feed cluster****. Go to your channel, directly underneath your banner and to the right, you should see an option (across from your username, it pops up when you hover over it) for "Edit Channel Navigation". Then go ahead and enable Browse view, and organize everything nicely into playlists.
The facecam is totally unnecessary in a game like Minecraft, and I find it distracting, especially since you overlayed it directly on top of the chat (which I am always interested in when watching multiplayer footage). Facecams can be a great tool to improve your video, but too many people use them for the sole sake of having a facecam. Games like 5 Nights at Freddy's, F.E.A.R, or other games where it's spooky or scary, or high in action, and you want to capture your facial reactions... those are the games where a facecam is great. Games like Minecraft... not so much.
There's also the matter of the video and audio quality, but you seem to already be aware of that from your post. Although I will say, it's not very hard to fix, and 1080p30fps is more desirable in a game like minecraft than 720p60fps. Just get your video quality as high as your computer can handle. I'm curious as to what you're using for your recording/editing software.
Now, on to the good stuff! i think you make some really smart editing decisions, and I like your style of editing (with images related to the commentary popping up). You're generally very energetic, which is good. I also really appreciate the fact that you have a spoken intro and outro; it drives me crazy when people don't take 5 seconds at the beginning to introduce what's going on, and time at the end to let them know the video is over.
Your thumbnails, banner art, and avatar are all fine and reasonably unique, so no issue there. You also seem to play a nice variety of games.
All in all, a very solid channel, especially for someone just starting out and with only a handful of subscribers! Now all you need to do is find was to shamelessly promote yourself without driving people mad...
Thanks for your honest feedback I can work with this! Like for example the resolution. I'll do some tests on file size and render time on 1080p60fps (its the resolution I capture in). I use 720p render because most people I know watch on mobile / tablet devices but I can imaging why 1080p is better. Again I'll do some tests for the next upcoming video.
Thanks again for your time!
P.S.
Almost forgot. For my recording software I use Fraps (mostly minecraft), Dxtory with lagarith codec, Mirllis action! (desktop recording) and Adobe Audition CC for my mic audio. For Video editing I use Adobe Premiere Pro CC.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC05miL3C8Mp-Av9EV34rxyg
I used to have a good signature, but it got nerfed.
The Good:
The Bad:
You're correct, I did only watch a couple of videos, as that is generally all you need to get a decent idea of what a channel is like. And you are also correct, that Minecraft does not need to be in 1080p, but if you have the capability, why wouldn't you? At least in my opinion, you should always try to have the highest quality possible in every single video you produce.
For bulk recording, you can still have a spoken intro and outro. Just set a timer so you know when to stop, wrap up the video, and then start a new recording with an intro and outro. Easy fix.
Concerning the sound quality, are you recording your gameplay footage and commentary audio separately, or are they both within the same video file? Pretty much any microphone, even the top of the line ones, will still have some sort of fuzziness or background noise, unless you record in a soundproof recording studio (and I highly doubt that either of us could afford that). If you record your audio separately, you should be able to get rid of that fuzziness pretty easily. It's a lot harder when the audio and video are part of the same file.
Now, I should mention, after re-reading my post, I did come across as a bit overly negative. It was good, and I was actually very impressed! Most of the points I raised that can be improved upon are nitpicky things. Keep doing what you do, and just try to make every video better than your last one.
Very first thing I notice is that your channel is basically just a giant news feed cluster****. Go to your channel, directly underneath your banner and to the right, you should see an option (across from your username, it pops up when you hover over it) for "Edit Channel Navigation". Then go ahead and enable Browse view, and organize everything nicely into playlists.
The facecam is totally unnecessary in a game like Minecraft, and I find it distracting, especially since you overlayed it directly on top of the chat (which I am always interested in when watching multiplayer footage). Facecams can be a great tool to improve your video, but too many people use them for the sole sake of having a facecam. Games like 5 Nights at Freddy's, F.E.A.R, or other games where it's spooky or scary, or high in action, and you want to capture your facial reactions... those are the games where a facecam is great. Games like Minecraft... not so much.
There's also the matter of the video and audio quality, but you seem to already be aware of that from your post. Although I will say, it's not very hard to fix, and 1080p30fps is more desirable in a game like minecraft than 720p60fps. Just get your video quality as high as your computer can handle. I'm curious as to what you're using for your recording/editing software.
Now, on to the good stuff! i think you make some really smart editing decisions, and I like your style of editing (with images related to the commentary popping up). You're generally very energetic, which is good. I also really appreciate the fact that you have a spoken intro and outro; it drives me crazy when people don't take 5 seconds at the beginning to introduce what's going on, and time at the end to let them know the video is over.
Your thumbnails, banner art, and avatar are all fine and reasonably unique, so no issue there. You also seem to play a nice variety of games.
All in all, a very solid channel, especially for someone just starting out and with only a handful of subscribers! Now all you need to do is find was to shamelessly promote yourself without driving people mad...
Happy to help!