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- [Instructor] I have created plenty of videos using nothing

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but my laptop, Camtasia and whatever space I find myself in.

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That said, there are a number of workflow tweaks and tools

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that can make production quicker and just more fun.

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I'm going to show you a few that have worked for me.

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Hopefully you'll find one or two

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to boost your own creation experience.

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I'll start with a second monitor.

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Now this alone improves my productivity by at least 25%

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and just makes creating media so much smoother,

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highly recommend this.

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Any monitor will do.

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You can even use a TV.

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I'm also a big fan of the external mouse.

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I use this the majority of the time.

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Now, I know some people swear by the track pad,

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but for media creation, I can move much quicker

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and make more refined adjustments with a quality mouse.

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Sound is also a big deal for me.

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My sound hierarchy goes like this,

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studio monitors at the top, headphones, then earbuds,

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and at the bottom of the pile, laptop speakers.

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If you're going the earbud headphone route,

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be aware that things sound a bit different up close

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and personal like that.

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So if I mix with headphones, I like to give things a listen

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on some sort of regular speakers before posting.

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And of course a nice quiet low-reverb workspace

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is great for creating and recording quality sound.

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If you have roommates, especially of the kid variety,

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good luck with the quiet part.

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Now my workspace has a lot of flat surfaces

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that can create a lot of reverb.

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So a rug on the floor, some fabric around the perimeter,

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and a few sound panels on the ceiling

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helped tame the reverb.

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Anything that absorbs sound helps.

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On a related side note,

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a walk in closet full of clothes is an excellent option

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for recording vocal tracks.

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If you're going to be on camera,

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you'll want decent lighting at least for your face.

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And really any light will help.

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You can use a desk lamp, a ring light,

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or even if you just sit facing a window,

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that will often do the trick.

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Along those same lines, consider your background.

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For video shoots, I try to remove any distracting clutter

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or at least hang something to hide it.

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I also leave most of my audio video stuff

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set up in my studio.

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Now the extra clutter is kind of annoying

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but setting up and tearing down every time I create a video

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is just too much of a gumption sucker.

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I also think a comfortable quality chair

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is a worthy investment.

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I spend more time in this chair than my bed,

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so why not be comfortable?

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And if none of that works for you,

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plopping down with a laptop at the kitchen table

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or the back deck works just fine too.