Allow me to gaze upon your channel...

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Oh sh- that's a massive backlog. Alright, I've had my coffee and my banana muffin - LET'S DO THIS!

@Lightsen

Glad to see an animator doing well on YouTube. I know I hammer on about frequency on uploads but there is an exception when it comes to animation. There's a lot of work that goes into it that most people aren't aware of, even if things have gotten easier moving from drawing on traditional cells to Flash.

You understand all the principles of animation - follow through, squash/stretch, exaggeration, timing etc - so there really isn't much I can comment on in that regard. However, I have noticed that the 'squash/stretch' technique in your videos by using the transform tools in Flash makes it look really cheap. Sure, it's a quick and efficient method to doing it but you might be better off individually drawing out the squashed frames. It will be time consuming but it will definitely give more life to your animation.

Lip syncing/mouth animations could also use a bit of work. It's typically one of the harder things to do in animation but there is a trick to ease the process (which I should point out you already do). There are several pre-defined shapes you can draw to simulate certain words. It's easier to have a small mirror near your workstation to act as a reference. Say certain letters; A, B, C, D, E etc and look at the formation of your mouth. Do the same for certain phonetics too; ch, sh etc. Look at your mouth shapes and draw them out as you would see them in certain angles.

As I stated, you already do this but what you don't do, and what I learned to do years ago, was to add additional frames transitioning between those key mouth frames. Saying "How are you?" with just 3 frames of animation looks cheap. Saying "How are you?" adding in about 2-3 in between each of the keyframes makes the transitions a lot smoother and a lot more natural.

Anyway, from one animator who hasn't practiced his craft in years to another animator succeeding on YouTube, I wish you the best of luck with your channel. You've shown noticeable improvement over 9 years and I hope to see how your animations will look another 9 years from now.


@CaptainDelugo

You're consistent with your art across your channel header and thumbnails and you upload videos frequently. Fantastic to see. You're also committed to your branding which is also nice to see ("This is your Captain speaking" catchphrase). Microphone quality and audio is also really good, although I have noticed a few plosives creeping through. Invest in a pop filter and if you do own one, keep a bit of distance between your mouth and your microphone. Or add more pop filters, whatever seems more economical. :)

My only critisism is with the title card to your videos. Yes, it is consistent with everything with your brand but it feels cheap. Having a slow zoom on art doesn't work. You should probably think about having a very quick animation based on that art and also timed to the music you use. I'm sure there's a few animators roaming around YTTalk who would be happy with a commission. There might be one browsing this thread right now. :P


@Stephen Mottershead

Very nice to see a channel with tech tips and tutorials. Your logo, header, thumbnails and overall brand is fantastic. Your audio quality in your later video is also very top notch and the videos themselves are very well edited.

My only advice is to add a logo sting at the beginning of your videos to remove the few seconds of silence before you speak. You could also add an ender/end logo sting/end card to the end of the video but it's not really necessary. Other than that everything is spot on. I really hope your channel does well.


@Dimo Dimov

Try to incorporate your text styling/logo from your channel header into your avatar. While I'm normally against gradients within text, it's a slight gradient that feels natural and isn't as extreme as say a Green-to-Orange gradient. Thumbnails definitely need work and like I've already mentioned, should incorporate your branding within them. It doesn't just have to be the logo - it can be colours, the font/typeface or the treatment you give to text.

As for the content itself, it's a bit of a mixed bag. I do believe you're using copy written music which is something you shouldn't do unless you have a license or express permission from the rights holder/creator (for both your latest logo sting and for some of your videos like CS:GO - Wallbang style!).

You audio qualty is also lacking so I suggest that you save up as much as you can and invest in a USB condenser microphone and pop filter. It'll do wonders for your videos.

The logo stings (both in your earlier videos and your later ones) are decent but like with your channel art, thumbnails and avatar, it should reflect your brand somehow. Keep the font/typeface, colours and styling consistent across your entire channel.

You do upload quite frequently which is a good way to build an audience. Keep it up and if you work on the issues I've mentioned your channel will do well.


@Hypa Gaming

Your whole brand needs an overhaul. The channel art is nice but it doesn't reflect what you have in your thumbnails, avatar or your title cards/logo stings. At the moment your channel isn't telling me anything about you at all or what you channel does. Instead, it's just a mash-up of things that look great with no thought into how everything should be laid out or how those things work together. Also, definitely save up some cash and buy a condenser microphone as your audio needs serious work.

Take a moment and think about you. Who are you? What do you enjoy? What are your favourite colours? What are you like as a person? Ask yourself as many personal questions as you can and write them all down. That should be the basis of your brand and thus your channel. Do you like the colour blue? Then blue should be the primary colour that is consistent throughout all of your art. Do you enjoy sci-fi? Choose a font/typeface that looks very futuristic and incorporate the colour blue into it.

Your channel is still new so you have more than enough time to work out the issues I've mentioned. Once you get all that sorted you should see your subscriber and view count increase significantly, as it shows you're taking YouTube seriously.


@GamingBlader

Like Hypa Gaming above, there's nothing in your channel art, avatar, your entire branding that is reflective of you. You play Happy Wheels and Soccer Manager. Great! What else?

The same critiques I made for Hypa Gaming also apply to you and your channel. Invest in a decent microphone and think about consistency between your channel art, avatar, thumbnails and logo sting/title card. Branding is key to a successful YouTube channel.


@Mainlygamess

I like that you said you were going for a 'Nuclear Throne' vibe but didn't just copy the art or style verbatum. Inspiration, not copying - good job with that! Avatar and channel art are consistent which is good. Thumbnails are easy to read and you can tell what each video is going to be about.

Again my only major critique has to do with audio. The volume of your audio is fine for the most part (there are a few points where the audio peaks) and the mixing between your voice and the outro (or intro for your earlier videos) is fairly consistent. The quality of your audio isn't up to par and sounds like a traditional gaming headset mic. Invest in a decent condensor microphone for better quality audio.

A minor criticism I have is with your commentary for gameplay videos (Darkest Dungeon and Insurgency come to mind). There are a lot of points in the videos where there's just complete silence. It's a hard skill to develop since anyone who plays games concentrates intently on the game itself, however if you want to have commentary on your videos you need to learn to concentrate on the game while talking. Spend some time practicing by yourself with any game and just start talking. If you want to record it to hear how coherent your commentary is then by all means do so. Do this at least once a day and you'll start to improve immensely.


@TownCape

For your narration with your latest video, talk a little slower and enunciate a little clearer. This advice extends to all your videos as well. Do not mistake this as a jab against your accent. The key to voice acting or even just doing voice over is to be clear above all else. For reference, look at my critique and check out @Mithrill 's channel of voice acting/voice over done well. Every word is easily understood and the way they're said showcases a lot of heart, emotion and personality.

The core concept of your channel is great. Long-form videos detailing specific design principles within games is fantastic to see. Your voice above all else is what will carry this channel forward so you can't afford to be lazy with your voice. I know you're reading from a script because speaking for 15 minutes to over an hour for some videos can be draining. I'm not faulting you for that one. When reading from a script, you still need to enunciate and vocalise in such a way that it comes off natural. If you have to, take a breath, have a moment of rest, drink a glass of water and continue recording when you're ready. You can edit the audio in post to remove those breaks.

I can tell you've bought yourself a decent microphone in the later videos and it definitely helps. Along with improving your vocalisations, you need to work on your branding - channel art, thumbnails and avatar. Nothing there is unique to you or your channel. Instead of using art from The Legend of Zelda, think about creating a logo, channel art and thumbnails that are entirely reflective of you and your content.


@ReconGambit

I wouldn't call myself an expert but thank you for the compliment.

You definitely need thumbnails instead of using screenshots. The whole point of unique thumbnails isn't so much for your channel (it's still important) but to differentiate it from other videos when it automatically appears as a suggested video. Looking at your thumbnails, I can't tell that your videos belong to you or your channel. There is nothing here reflective of ReconGambit at all.

Your channel art and avatar have inconsistent fonts/typefaces. Like everything else, a successful brand is all about keeping everything consistent. If you like the font/typeface from your channel art then use that font for your avatar and your thumbnails. Speaking of your channel art and like the many critiques I've done before your channel, there is nothing that is really reflective of you or your channel. Think about a logo that is unique to you and incorporate the orange as a main colour scheme.

You need to invest in a decent microphone (based on your latest video) and you need to practice speaking before you record. You should try not to stumble in your recordings and if you do, stop, take a breath, have a drink and begin fresh. You want to sound confident, engaging and professional. Not only do you not want to stumble, you don't want to whisper into your mic and speak softly like you did in your Shadowgun Ep 4 video.

I understand you need to have a quiet house so you can't exactly be too loud. If that's the case, commentary for your channel might not be worthwhile. Overlaying midi music over gameplay doesn't work either. Think about getting some royalty free tracks (although you do have to pay for some of them) and editing your videos in time to the music. It might be what you're looking for and it's the best type of content to make given your unique circumstances.


@MichaelNoker

Nonsense, there is no priority list. I review the channels in the order I receive them. Everyone gets a fair review, even your channel.

The font/typeface you used for main heading in your channel art ("Michael Noker") is great and should be incorporated more into your thumbnails. Considering you channel is a vlog channel your thumbnails are servicable but I really think you should change the font/typeface to what you used in your channel art.

From your first video you need to work on focusing. Your camera was set with a shorter focal distance, meaning it looked fantastic when you were up close to the camera but terrible when you were sitting back. For video/film, you can generally fix most things in post (colour, editing etc) but you can never fix poor focus. I do understand that it was a one-off problem, since all of your other videos have perfect focus. Nevertheless it's important to keep in mind.

I'd also suggest getting a shotgun microphone to give you much clearer audio and to knock out the background resonance from your room. On-camera audio isn't great when you compare it to a proper, professional external microphone. Other than that, good work and good luck with your channel.
 
Apologies for the delay. I've been logged in for most of the day and I started writing out the reviews but I ended up having to re-record the outro to our upcoming Experience episode. Now that it's over with, let's begin.

@AbstractTheater

A virtual high-five to you as well!

First things first, you need to fix the channel link in your profile so people on this forum have a quicker way to view your channel. I found this channel a lot easier in comparison to TheTNGMen but it was still a hassle. For reference for anyone who is interested, the channel link is thus: channel/UC4GV5_ex742Y_i9Xdou-nJA

Your channel banner doesn't fit aesthetically with everything else you have on the channel. Your logo should be used as the basis for your entire channel - the colours, the font/typeface styling, the whole lot. Your thumbnails are spot on in this regard. All you need to do is apply it to your channel header and all of your social media to keep your brand consistent.

As requested I'll only look into your latest 2 videos. Using music licensed under Creative Commons is a big plus. Kudos to you on that one. You'd also be surprised how many YouTube channels exist that have trouble doing 60fps video for gaming so you're already ahead of your competition.

From your CS:GO #1 video you're already aware of your audio issues, not so much for your microphone but for the skype call audio. Mixing the audio levels so they're audible would be a big plus but again, you're already aware of it.

As for the content of the videos themselves, the only major critisism I have is that there are long periods of down time with no commentary. It's great that you're showing the entire match but there should be more engagement not just with your audience but with your teammates/friends you're playing with. Trust me, I know it's difficult to hold a conversation while concentrating on playing but it's a skill you'll need to develop. There's also no need to put a "Constructive Critisism is welcomed!" disclaimer in the videos and your title/end card needs to be extended to the full width of the video.

Other than that, a great start to your channel. Keep it up and keep it consistent and it'll do fine.


@LowJax

Channel header/banner needs some work and the text in your logo needs an overhaul. Gradients for text does not look great at all. Furthermore, it's difficult to tell what your logo/avatar is from a distance as it's all dark and the colours blend together. Your avatar should be clear and representative of your channel/brand as it appears in every video and comment you create

Your ending card needs a lot of work as gradients in those colours don't work at all. Thumbnails also need a bit of work but not as much as the ending card and channel header.

Obviously you've been inspired by Markiplier and Jacksepticeye and if that's what you want from your channel, go for it. It's important to remember that above all else your channel should be about you. Be inspired but don't try to copy them, which judging from your videos won't be a problem. Don't try to force comedy or force vulgarity as it doesn't come off as funny and it doesn't feel natural.

Audio mixing is all over the place and is the biggest issue that needs working on. I'm noticing you have a pop filter (at least I think that's a pop filter) but it seems your microphone isn't anywhere near or pointing to your mouth. It makes your voice come out soft and muddy and turning up the volume makes it clear there's a lot of background noise bleeding through. Turning up the volume to hear your voice was a big mistake as the outro/ending card music was blaringly loud in comparison.

Get your microphone closer to your mouth (without it appearing on camera), record a sample of room noise so you can reduce it in post and mix the audio so it's all level.


@Gametrap

The thumbnails for your latest two videos are spot on, however your channel art should use the same font/typeface to keep the brand consistent. Overall I'm noticing at least 3 different fonts/typefaces on your channel - one for the channel art, one (or 2) for the thumbnails and one for the ending title card. Keep all three consistent and it'll look a lot better.

As for the content of the videos there really isn't much to say. You've got some decent audio gear and it shows. Your voice is clear, easy to hear and the overall audio is mixed perfectly. FIx the few visual issues and keep the uploads consistent and your channel will do well, hell it already is.


@TCDesigns

Overall branding is great. Everything is consistent - from the colours, fonts/typefaces to the overall visual style. Great job on that. You're also using royalty free music which is also a big plus.

Content wise you might want to consider getting an extra light or two to make it easy to see your drawings. Apart from that I have no real major critisisms about your channel. You're definitely on the right track and if you keep the uploads consistent your channel will do fine.


@Idec Sdawkminn

Looking beyond the banner and thumbnails you've already mentioned, your channel seems to be doing quite well for the content you're creating. 8,000+ subscribers is nothing to sneeze at and you should be proud of that accomplishment.

The only aspect I'd need to critisise is the use of copy written content, although that's the entire point of your channel. Simply applying 'inverse' to the video and running the audio through a filter will only avoid the Content ID algorithm for so long. It also won't take long for someone from a major record label to look through your videos if they end up going viral to send a few cease and desists your way.

Your channel does have potential though. Instead of running the audio through a filter you should think about composing, or getting in touch with a musician who can compose on your behalf, music based on licensed audio. Take your Barbie Girl video as an example. A filter on the audio doesn't exactly make it 'scary.' Slowing down the tempo, removing the funky beat and replacing it with something like a heart beat and getting a vocalist to mimic a childlike nursery rhyme, THAT'S scary.

Doing it this way means you avoid Content ID and you'll end up with unique content that will make your channel stand out from the rest.


@LostTrigger

Art for your avatar and channel banner is great, although you should think about incorporating art from your intro sting into it, along with your thumbnails and the outro. Consistency is key here. The intro sting is absolutely fantastic and it's a shame that the art, colours and that overall style aren't being used within the channel banner, avatar outro stings and all of your social media. What you have with the intro sting in your new videos needs to be expanded upon. THAT should be your brand.

Audio in your later videos is also really top notch, although you need to invest in a pop filter to knock out those plosives (you can hear the 'pop' like sound whenever you say words starting with B and P). Audio mixing needs work too; your Humble Bundle roundup video had your audio fading out too early with the outro blasting in volume after, and your Left 4 Dead 2, Soma and Killing Floor 2 videos had your audio peaking.

Clean up the audio issues, take the art, colours and overall style from your intro sting and apply it everywhere on your channel and social media and your channel will do well.
Thank you so much man, I'll work on the banner and the talking, thanks for pointing that out :). I don't really know when so I don't know if you've viewed it already and based your review off THAT video but the most recent video I've uploaded I worked on some of the things that I personally thought were bad compared to the previous video and made it a lot shorter, more action packed, comedy packed and funnier moments.. I know it's a bit to ask since you've already reviewed me but perhaps you could check out my latest video as of right now and review that, see if there is anything I could do better in that video? (PUSH IT CSGO #3) Thank you so much man, you're truly a legend for all this help you're giving, is there anything I can do in return? Thanks in advance, again :)

Edit: The outro is supposed to be film reel showing my logo on it. I guess ill make it a bit more obvious its a film reel. I've just fixed my channel link as well, thanks for pointing that out :)
 
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@Stephen Mottershead

Very nice to see a channel with tech tips and tutorials. Your logo, header, thumbnails and overall brand is fantastic. Your audio quality in your later video is also very top notch and the videos themselves are very well edited.

My only advice is to add a logo sting at the beginning of your videos to remove the few seconds of silence before you speak. You could also add an ender/end logo sting/end card to the end of the video but it's not really necessary. Other than that everything is spot on. I really hope your channel does well.

Thanks for the review. I have been thinking about adding a Logo string and End card for a while now but I have been to busy trying to keep to a schedule. I am really glad that the audio quality is good on my newer videos (I have been try to make it better for ages now).
 
I always look for unbiased feedback so I can improve a bit/a lot :) (ofc I would love have most of them from viewers, but I cant force them to tell honest opinion).

Link to channel is down below (also I changed some scheduling and video formats from the start of this year ;) )
 
Hello, my dear! It's very kind of you to offer something like this.

If you have the time, I would love a review on my channel. All advice is welcomed! Just a couple of notes:
  • I know my lighting can be inconsistent; I'm currently saving up for some proper continuous output equipment. There's only so much a window can do, amirite?
  • My channel banner is a little plain-looking to some, but I'm still in the process of figuring out my "brand", so to speak.
Thanks a lot in advance!
 
Greetings everyone! Although I am new to YTTalk I'll be more than happy to check out any of your channels and offer my advice and honest critiques about them. A fresh pair of eyes just might be what your channel needs.

There are no stirct guidelines. Your channel can be about anything, target any demographic and be of any size. I'll offer my constructive criticisms regarding content, branding, art or technical issues.

Shall we begin?
I would love a review if you would take the time? :)
 
@AbstractTheater

Looking specifically at the latest video ("PUSH IT! - CS:GO #3"), the audio mixing is a lot better and I'm loving the text being edited into the videos. Overall the editing on that video is perfect. Use that video as the basis/benchmark for all your succeeding videos and try to raise the bar every time.

My comment on the title/end card was refering to the actual screen size of it, not so much on what it actually is (I understood right from the beginning that it was a film reel projected onto a screen). It simply doesn't fit the full 16:9 aspect ratio like the rest of your video. All you need to do is re-render the title/end card in a 16:9 aspect ratio (1920 X 1080 for your videos specifically) and you're all set. Just be sure not to stretch it to fit the screen, actually re-render it in the appropriate aspect ratio so it fills the entire screen but keeps your logo intact.


@NuSpirit

Your branding is consistent for the most part. Thumbnails and your avatar share the 'NU' diamond logo but your channel header and end card have it written as 'Nu' with no diamond. Place your diamond logo infront of 'Spirit' and see how it looks.

For your content, your voice is clear and easy to understand and your microphone quality is top notch. Editing is also spot on and your collaborations make your videos entertaining to watch (while also helping to get your brand/channel out there). At this point all you really need to do is be consistent with your uploads. You're already seeing success on the channel and it'll only go up from here.


@Faraz

You've got a strong start to your channel which is good to see. Got your avatar and channel art with the same font/typeface but it doesn't carry over to your thumbnails. Work on the thumbnails so it's reflective of the logo/channel art and they're good to go.

Audio quality is lacking so like many other channels before you, I recommend saving up and investing in a decent condenser microphone. It'll help immensely. Content wise, you may want to consider doing other games besides CoDBlops3 so your channel has a range of content to view.

It's a good start to your channel. All you need is a regular upload schedule, fix the issues I've pointed out and you're set.


@darkstarmedia

First of all it's good to see you already critiquing your own work and looking on how to improve it. I'm not going to comment on either of the points you've made since you already know what needs to be done, although my only advice for your branding is to keep it consistent across your thumbnails, logo, channel art etc.

For a vlog channel it's great to see a range of content (DSM Language and Smarter in Seconds) and the videos themselves are well edited and entertaining to watch. For recording video I recommend turning off the auto focus. You tend to move around a lot when you speak (speaking with your body to help emphasise what you're saying) but because the auto focus is switched on, it's trying it's hardest to correct itself every few seconds. It becomes a bit disorienting to watch as you're constantly switching between focused and unfocused within a matter of frames.

I'd also recommend getting a microphone to help give more punch to your voice. Normally I would suggest a shotgun microphone, however because of your body language it'll make the audio inconsistent. I should probably explain the difference between condenser and shotgun microphones at this point.

A shotgun microphone is directional, meaning it will pick up everything pointed directly infront of it. If set up right (meaning pointed directly at your mouth or if hanging from above, pointing past your mouth and towards your chest), your voice will come out clear and crisp. The issue with your videos, since you tend to move around a lot, is that you'll be off axis for the most part, meaning the audio will be wildly inconsistent.

A condenser microphone commonly uses a cardioid pattern (like a heart shape) that picks up audio from the front and the sides. Even when you start moving around a lot your voice will be clear and picked up evenly. The catch is that because it picks up audio from the sides, you'll need to find a way to isolate the sound or you'll start to have a lot of background noise creeping in.

Definitely consider investing in a condenser microphone with a reflection filter or, depending on your budget, consider getting a lapel/lavalier microphone. It's the little microphone that you clip onto your shirt (or hide underneath it) that most broadcasters and field recorders use. Think of it like a mini shotgun microphone - clip it on your shirt (or hide it underneath with adhesives you can buy) aim it towards your mouth and away you go.

Good luck with your channel. You're already on the right track!


@Oliver Andersen

You're a car enthusiast, that much I can tell from your favourited videos and your uploads. If you're serious about making a name for yourself on YouTube then there's a lot of work ahead of you. You need a logo, channel art and thumbnails initially, then think about logo stings, end cards, social media etc.

Look at other car shows for inspiration, the big one of course being Top Gear. Obviously you haven't got $500k lying around to film an episode like Top Gear but take note of how the videos are edited - what angles they use, the colour correction, the style, what music they add in etc. Get inspired and work out where you want to take your channel.

If all you want to do is film cars then you need to invest in a decent camera and a stabilising rig. Most film makers will try and tell you that the type of camera is not important, it's how you use it. What they won't tell you is each camera has their own unique aspects that can help or hinder you depending on what you want to shoot. Want a high quality camera that is relatively easy to use that works right out of the box? A Canon C100 might be right up your alley. Want to do slow-motion shots? The C100 is completely useless so you're better off getting a Sony FS100.

Keep in mind cameras aren't cheap. The ones I've listed are easily above $5k and even if you just want a DSLR camera, you'd still be looking at slightly below $5k or at least a couple of hundred dollars at the lower end. Again, this is depending on how serious you want to take YouTube. If all you want to use it for is a place to share some cool clips with your mates then keep doing what you're doing. If you plan to make a career out of it then be prepared to spend a lot of time and a lot of cash to make it work.
 
@Klink Thanks a lot, dude! Yeah, I learned the perils of auto-focus early on, which is why in my last two or so videos, I've stuck to manual. I also started using my shotgun microphone in my latest video, although I'm still figuring everything out, so I'm always happy to hear any additional advice!

Photography-wise, I'm fine. Video-wise, total n00b!
 
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