Are there any Youtube veterans out there?

[AlanD]

I have been entertained, and sometimes appalled, by what I have seen on Youtube. Now that I have got a camera for recording my rides, the next step is to put some of them on Youtube. I must confess to having not looked at this yet and in some respects I tend to be a bit of a technophobe. So can someone help me get over the mystery of this? Questions that spring to mind :
1. Is it easy to do?
2. Do I have to 'register'? learn, and forget, yet another password.
3. How do I ensure that is seen by people? i.e. Do I enter metadata to help a search? Can I enter a meaningful filename (e.g. "car <registration number> who ran me off the road in <town/road name>") or is it arbitary alphanumerics?
4. Are there any rules limiting use? 'Flesh' images taken as said.
5. Is the senders identity made known to those looking at it?
6. Anything else I should know?

Thanks, Alan

p.s. Considering changing username. With rising unemployment, food (and everything else) prices, taxation; and falling benefits and services...... somehow the name 'Churchmouse' seems highly appropriate, 'cos I feel as poor as one. SQUEAK!

[kwackers]

I've just done it. If you have a google account already you can use that, but I think I'd suggest creating a new one and keeping the google one for non cycling lunacy stuff. (you can of course create as many as you like).

1. Yes.
2. Yes. (I only have a few passwords, a secure one with variations I use for banking etc and a crap one I use for most sites).
3. Yes. I use the registration, company name then words like "bicycle", "near miss", "lorry" etc.
4. Don't think so, although I'd expect people can complain to you tube to have stuff taken down.
5. Only via youtube, they can leave messages either as comments or privately into your 'youtube' account.

6. You can choose who can view your video, you can make it private such that it requires the link or available only to certain people etc etc. You can change anything at any time, although once published someone could immediately take a copy. Best thing is simply to publish a test and see.

[downfader]

As Kwackers said..

I'll also add that using a separate non-related username on Youtube would be beneficial. There are all kinds of privacy setting you can put up on vids, but its dead easy to get into. There are even tutorial vids on there to aid you (what ever you wish to know type "how to disable comments" for example in the youtube search bar and you should get something back, have done this a few times myself)

My advice is that anything near miss wise then please consider adding the link to a stop smidsy record. Also try to post some more positive experiences of cycling up there if you can. If you "tag" videos with search terms then keep it factual and unemotive, if you decide to publish plates then look at how older YTers do it (they will post it as one lump and one split like on the plate eg: "xxx1 x11" and "xxx1x11")

[Mick F]

Yes, it's easy.

I have AppleMacs and use iMovie. My Sony handicam loads into iMovie and you can edit it ok. You then export it as a movie to upload to YouTube - it's one of the options.

Just register with YouTube for an account, upload, and Bingo!

I'm "MercianMick" on there but not got much showing. I should put some of my Raleigh Chopper on or even my Mercian, but never really get round to it.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=MercianMick

[downfader]

Yes, it's easy.

I have AppleMacs and use iMovie. My Sony handicam loads into iMovie and you can edit it ok. You then export it as a movie to upload to YouTube - it's one of the options.

Just register with YouTube for an account, upload, and Bingo!

I'm "MercianMick" on there but not got much showing. I should put some of my Raleigh Chopper on or even my Mercian, but never really get round to it.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=MercianMick

http://www.youtube.com/user/MercianMick

[Redvee]

Some form of video editing software is also a good start when uploading, you don't want to upload 12 mins of footage for 30 seconds of action. A free but good editor is virtualdub bit this doesn't work with .mov file types but Picasa3 does. It might work with other video file types, I've not tried it yet tbh. I had to use Picasa3 when I jumped onto the ConyourHD bandwagon. One word of caution: Do not delete your entire youtube collection off the site like I did earlier tonight, when you only want to delete one video

[downfader]

Windows movie maker sorts out 90% of the video formats I've come across, so most people wont need anything more advanced imo (as long as you backup the orginal separately)

[AlanD]

I am familiar with using Windows Movie maker from editing clips of my ride, although I have not explored the full functionality of it for the 'fancier' stuff.
My question was driven in part by the technical aspect of how, but also by what choices would I be presented with and what would the implications of those choices.

I did have a possible candidate for a first film clip. Going home yesterday as it was beginning to get dark, I saw a cyclist ahead dressed all in black and virtually invisible against the hedges. As I got close I saw that he did indeed have a rear light, comparible in output to that of one glow-worm. I was about to share some words of wisdom along the line of "Do you expect the motorists to see you" and "How will your family cope when you are dead". But seeing that he was not a youth, and so not likely to accept my pearls of wisdom, I left him to his fate. Likewise, I did not bother keeping the recording.

[BSRU]

Some form of video editing software is also a good start when uploading, you don't want to upload 12 mins of footage for 30 seconds of action. A free but good editor is virtualdub bit this doesn't work with .mov file types but Picasa3 does. It might work with other video file types, I've not tried it yet tbh. I had to use Picasa3 when I jumped onto the ConyourHD bandwagon. One word of caution: Do not delete your entire youtube collection off the site like I did earlier tonight, when you only want to delete one video

For virtualdub and .mov files use the following:-
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/edito ... aldub.html

[kwackers]

Just throw something up to try, even if it's just a couple of seconds of your tea brewing.

Once you feel you've mastered the options you can delete it. If you wish not to risk anyone else seeing it whilst you mess about, then simply mark it private.

+1 for Windows Movie editor too. Works well and you can do most things you'll probably ever want to do with regards a youtube vid.

[downfader]

Just throw something up to try, even if it's just a couple of seconds of your tea brewing.

Once you feel you've mastered the options you can delete it. If you wish not to risk anyone else seeing it whilst you mess about, then simply mark it private..

Agree with that. Just make a small 20 second film to practice. Doesnt have to be anything fancy, just aid the learning process

[Redvee]

For virtualdub and .mov files use the following:-
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/edito ... aldub.html

Much appreciated, took a bit of work but now have a 1280x960 clip awaitng the knife in VDub.

[AlanD]

OK, falling at the first hurdle, a user name!
My interests include, as well as cycling: Model railways, listening to music, scouting, SciFi.
Names taken:
ProgressiveRock, ClassicRock and variations.
BalooTheBear.
Engine shed.
Sprockets

Don't want anything that starts with "Mr"
Running out of inspiration
Even GrumpyOldGit is taken.

Any suggestions?

[kwackers]

You probably want something relatively disposable for cycling vids, and probably another account for general hobbies.
(I'm assuming a certain amount of 'toxicity' here, don't want someone who objects to your cycling vids posting obscenities or probably even seeing your kids birthday/general hobbies etc).

I gave up trying to be clever and just strung words together until it said OK.

But having a stab.
AlanDaCyclist
CyclingAlanD
CyclingWivAlan
RoadWarrior2010
SmallSteamer
ChuffinHell

Go for ChuffinHell, it's brilliant. I'm still sniggering 5 minutes after thinking of it.


<edit> don't bother it was so good I thought I'd have it myself but it's gone...

[AlanD]

Well these came to mind on the way to a fireworks display:
BergamontBrewer (Tea)
TheakstonsTippler (Beer)
GreyhairScout (self-explanatory)
FunctionalBreakdown (software - systems engineering)
VinylRock (LP records)
BrakespearQuaffer (Beer)
CropredyCamper (Fairport Convention)
MrMattyGroves (Fairport Convention)
GreenbeltVeteran (Christian arts festival)
VeloVeteran (cycling)

still thinking. Can I have several, one for each 'application' ?