Content Creation

Agbasimere Joshua

3 Notes | Public

23 HOURS

What Camera Am I Using?

I've had some questions concerning what camera I'm using. So, let me give the details.I shoot my videos with my smartphone. And it's the Samsung Galaxy S10+. I got it in 2023, I think. I was hoping you wouldn't make me bore you with the specs, so I'll be brief here. It comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage memory. There are three cameras on the back (12.0 MP + 16.0 MP + 12.0 MP) and two in front (12.0 MP) --actually, it's one, the other one is a depth sensor that looks like a camera. I love it especially because it can shoot UHD 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) @60fps, max. I can also watch video of up to UHD 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels) @30fps. Impressive, huh?So, one of the best things I use it for, is shooting videos and taking pictures. I usually use the Pro Camera feature within the camera app. Some phones, like the iPhone, have to force you to get or pay for a different app to harness the pro capabilities of the camera. But, Samsung's default camera app comes with Pro functionalities, built-in. I love it! Using the Pro Camera, you can adjust the shutter speed, ISO, focus (bokeh), white balance and a few other things on the settings.When I want to shoot videos, I particularly like turning on HDR+ because it captures more light in the same environment and situation. And allows you to adjust the feel of the video later. I also love setting the camera to 24 frames per second (fps). I don't know why, it just gives me this cinematic feel and wide angle. Based on your liking, you might like 9:16 or 9:21. It's a subjective choice. Sometimes, I use 9:21, but most of the time, I use 9:16 because it's common for all screens. What I'm trying to capture is what determines the choice.The Samsung Galaxy S10+ retails at #370,000 on Jumia, as of this writing. When I got it, it was #180,000+. So, we have to decide early, I guess.Just in case you feel a little biased to other brands, and choose to buy those, let me say this. The phone with the best camera system is the newer, high-end iPhone. The next best, technically, is the high-end Samsung. The next best would be a high-end Xiaomi. (And I keep being particular about the word, high-end.) So, take your time, do your homework, seek counsel, and get a good deal. I hope this helps.

2 DAYS

Audio for Podcasting

I've been into podcasting for a while now, and one of the things that I have enjoyed about it is the freedom to share ideas with other people. It's one of the most satisfying things to engage in: sharing your story, opening up to the world and expressing how you feel about subjects of interest. It's amazing! Today, I want to share with you some ideas about getting started. The traditional flow of audio is recording, editing and sharing. Every other activity comes under any one of these three. So, let's talk about them.Recording. You want to get a decent microphone to start with. However, your phone, depending on its make, should do a good job. (For example, a high-end Samsung or an iPhone often come with really good microphones. And that's great to get started.) But, much better, get a dedicated microphone, if you can afford one. It doesn't cost much to get one. You can find a shotgun microphone on Jumia or Konga for as low as #20,000 naira; or an entry-level studio microphone for around #50,000. The high-end microphones will cost over #100,000 to #500,000 --and even more. They include the Rode, Shure, Sennheiser, Blue Yeti, Teenage Engineering, DJI, et cetera. (Be careful now, some microphones require you to purchase another device, sometimes about the same amount or more as the microphone, to make it work with your device. So, do good research when you decide to buy one or ask someone who has experience with it.)Depending on the microphone you have, you might not have to bother so much about the recording environment. But, for most mics, you need a surrounding with very little noise as possible. Condenser microphones are notorious for their sensitivity and consequently picking up, perhaps, too much of the surroundings. So, you want to be in a place where you can minimize that from happening. Noise is not great for the audio, and prevents people from enjoying the work of art and getting the message you want to pass across. You don't want that! Find a good environment, shut the windows, and the doors, and manage the discomfort while you create something remarkable. Editing. As I said in the previous Note, you need a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). And they largely work only on desktops or laptops. Some include Audacity, Cakewalk, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Reaper, etc. You want to pick one or two that you enjoy the workflow. Learn how it works and practice often. Spend a lot of time with the tools, and learn how EQ settings work and how they impact sound. Just soak yourself into this craft and understand the science of it.While editing, you will cut and mix various copies of your recording, balance the levels of different audio, apply effects (like noise reduction, fade in/out, etc) and master the audio for your special effects and mood.Sharing. After editing, you will have to listen to it a few times. (You get to choose how many times you want to do that.) And you might find MANY things that will put you off. But remember, you want to share what you make, regardless of your current dissatisfaction with it. Share what you make and allow the world to critique it and tell you what they think. Then, listen to the reviews. Silence your ego and your biases, and just listen. Think about what the people are saying, ponder over it, and make necessary changes. Spotify is a good place to start sharing your work. They have a service called Spotify for Creators. Register for a FREE account and start sharing what you make. I hope you get started today.

3 DAYS

Four Ways to Get into Content Creation

In my theory, I segment all content creation into four sections: video, audio, photo, and text. And here are the ways to get started and the platforms to share your work.Video. You don't need a fancy camera, you just need your smartphone. (Well, it depends on the kind of smartphone that you have. Yet, you know that saying? What's the Best Camera? The One You Have.) So, just pick up a camera, and shoot something that piques your interest. Get creative and explore. When you want to improve upon your craft, then take some classes on cinematography, lighting, composition, and sound. Try your best to get a decent microphone (a lav mic should be okay, or better, get a shotgun mic). Having very nice audio is key to making a video enjoyable to watch. Finally, before you share the video, you might need to edit the video. CapCut is a good option to start with; and if you have a capable laptop or desktop, you can try Davinci Resolve (DR). DR is a free software and there are tons of free resources to learn video editing on their website. When you want to share what you create, TikTok is a good platform to get started with because of its good exposure for new-entrant content creators. Audio. Sometimes I hear people calling short-form video content Podcasts. They are not podcasts, they are just short-form video content. A podcast is a recorded audio while a live audio recording is called radio. You get it? Thank you! Now, that being said. If you want to have a Podcast, it's still approachable to anyone interested. All you need is a microphone and a small space with not much noise from the environment. Your phone mic is still a good place to start, and your bedroom is a decent environment to record. Just make sure there are no echoes (or not much). Also, depending on the mic you are using, ensure you are not too close to it, or else you might pick up plosives. (Plosives are sounds that require an extra burst of air from the lungs, which creates a micro windstorm at the microphone. They include B, P, and T sounds. Plosives create an abrupt, sharp, sometimes shocking effect. They can be uncomfortable to listeners, especially the ones using headphones or the like.) Once you record your idea, to put it together, you will need a DAW or Digital Audio Workstation to edit the audio: cut out some parts, remove background noise, rework the audio using EQ or equalization etc. (Audacity, Adobe Audition, Reaper are some examples.) DAWs are essential if you want the audio to sound professional. Yet, there are some AI platforms to help with cleaning up your audio. Adobe Podcast Enhance is one of them. After post-editing, you can share your content on Spotify by registering with them on Spotify Creators, (formally, Spotify for Podcasters), get an RSS link for your Podcast and share to other Podcast platforms (like Apple Podcast, Pocket Casts, Audible etc) so you can be found on other places also.Photo. You should, first of all, have some level of passion and interest in photography. Taking pictures of beautiful sceneries, places, events etc., anything can be exciting for some people. But, your work needs to be out there for the world to see and critique. You might need to edit your pictures before you share them online, but that's still fine. Using your smartphone, there are a plethora of apps on the PlayStore to start with. Yet, you can try Adobe Lightroom, Google Snapseed, Canva, and GoDaddy Studio. Platforms to share your creation include Instagram, Unsplash, 500px, Flickr, Glass.photo etc. You pick the platform that resonates with you and start creating.Text. Writing is the easiest to start with. You can start writing in your journal: the one over there on the table. And you can just pick a pen from the stationery store. But, nobody will get to see those great ideas--well, at least, not many people. So, you want to share your perspective with a wider audience of people, get feedback, some critiques, reviews and maybe become better at your craft. You don't need much to get started, just your smartphone. Notes, the platform you're reading this on, is a good place to start. Share your ideas in seven (7) paragraphs or less. Other similar platforms include Medium, Substack, and Google Blogger.Okay, I hope this list helps. Decide where you want to start, and race right after it. If you have questions, you can share them in the comment section.