DIY Videos - What do you prefer to watch out of the options?

[3Arider]

Hello guys,

I am currently editing my latest (kind of a filler) video. I got some mods for my MT-09 and filmed the installation and I decided to actually split the content into separate short videos about each part.

It turns out the natural video sound is quite nice, borderline ASMR. I Recorded with both - my action cam for POV and my S23 Ultra for the rest of the shots. Davinci synced the audio pretty well, giving a really nice stereo effect.

So I am wondering, when it comes to DIY videos, what do you prefer?
- natural sound only
- natural sound + low volume background music
- music only
and
- text only
- voiceover only
- voiceover + text

Cheers!

 

[Hippo-Drones]

If someone is showing me how to do something, I don't really want any music.
Spannering noises are good, they keep you involved, but it needs a narration too, it is better if it is recorded as doing the work, but a voice over is acceptable if the video is clear and the voice over covers detail of tool sizes and torque wrench settings etc.

 

[throttleup]

Dad mode:

What's DYI?

 

[Hippo-Drones]

In the UK I think we call it DIY - Do It Yourself

 

[throttleup]

OK, because searching produced some results which looked dark enough that I didn't want to click them.

 

[3Arider]

Damn, two typos out of rushing it... DIY, yes, sorry, I don't see how to edit it though.

 

[Motoguy]

A DIY video will be my first video. Only because I have some work that needs to be done, and may as well start somewhere, right? I'm sure the tasks have been video'd a million times before, but:

1) not by -me-
2) it'll serve as functional practice in video creation

Based on the videos I've watched, I like:

1) multiple cameras. Usually more of a wide shot then a more "focused on the area I'm working" shot

2) real-time audio but also narration. I don't like listening to people grunt and groan and breathe while they're working to remove a bolt. I also like how some videos have used narration to clarify / offer suggestions they learned while doing the work. Such as "I did it this way this time, but I learned to do it -this other- way next time" type of stuff. Or as mentioned above, clarifying tools used, procedures, etc. Useful info that wasn't mentioned real-time.

3) one of the funniest ones I watched, the guy had overlaid him making tool noises. It was him -sounding- like the air gun, cutoff wheel, clickity of a ratchet, etc. It was quite entertaining. I never would have thought of something like that. Just little details that kept my attention.

4) fast forward, skip past or narrate over dead "action". Walking around the garage, removing bolts, carrying parts around, etc. I'd fast forward if you want to keep continuity but not be boring. Skip past if you're trying to stay just focused on "action". Or use this as a natural spot to offer a voice over for tips / tricks or suggestions. All three offer more value than just watching some guy spin a bolt for 20 seconds.

5) I like light background music. However too many people overpower it and make it hard to hear the commentary.

 

[LoneWolfer]

I prefer only instruction or the sound of the tools or what not going on. Sometimes I put in comical music if something is taking forever and I speed the footage up to Benny Hill levels of ridiculousness to get thru a monotonous part.

The biggest issue with background music is that most people on YouTube aren't using 10 thousand dollar audio recording setups unlike movies or tv shows that are so precise and sensitive that you can remove a person breathing in post, so keeping the natural sound/dialogue understandable is not as easy with less expensive microphones. Plus we as DIY makers aren't usually sound engineers or sound designers, which takes a great deal of education/experience to master.

 

[R-Rated]

I suggest a mix of natual sound, voiceover only when sound may be iffy (think you just muscled off the wheel and then tire from the rim so you are a bit winded or if background noise is an issue like neighbor decided the best time to mow is when you are recording), and text for technical things like measurements and steps/key points.

You can use music in the intro, outro, or montage.

Oh and NO drama aka OCC or like one big motovlogger did when they uncrated a motorcycle and acted like they never saw handlebars rotated down for shipping for a good 5 minutes.

Also anything disingenuous is a turn off for some viewers.

 

[Drakhen99]

Yeah, I'm gonna go with what the others said. There's no reason to have the video last as long as the install would. Cut it down to the important bits. Either use your audio or voiceover to explain the steps and tools needed for each step. Show the step being done, either in realtime if it's quick, or sped-up if it takes a minute. After a couple of wrench turns, the viewer gets the point and you can move on.

If you'd like to see how I do an install, I did one recently


-John

 

[CalmBiker]

I hate it when people put music on their videos. I have a hearing problem and it can distract to the point that I can't understand what people are saying.