Exciting project for youtube help needed

loosecannon

Hi there

I have been asked by the national sporting body of a minority sport to run a campaign via youtube trying to generate awareness & interest in the wider (sporting) public. The youtube channel will also feature on our website. (examples of types that we are trying to look like 1. http://www.bathrugby.com/matchdaytv/ 2. http://www.youtube.com/user/LeinsterrugbyTV 3. http://www.youtube.com/user/chelseafc

Our aims are just to spread the public's knowledge about our upcoming tournaments and hopefully raise the profile of our sport within the country. I understand that the above channels are probably made spending quite a lot of money but I am hoping that we are able to produce a low budget version.
We are obviously a non-profit organisation and have literally no budget of any kind for this so all costs are trying to be kept down to an absolute minimum.

I have no technological or creative background beyond good standard computer usage and essentially need help on every single thing that I will need to acquire to make this project happen. The type of video we are looking to produce will be interviews, skills, fun viral type videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYeQbcSQ8CU) and other sport related shorts.

1. What type of video camera will produce good quality youtube video's (preferably in HD, I was hoping not to spend anymore than something like this... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Camcorder-Recording-Intelligent-Recognition/dp/B0031RG4HM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) would that do the job?

2. What kind of external microphones can I use with a compact digital video camera

3. What kind of basic budget lighting is available?

4. Which free video & audio software (user friendly of course!) would be best?

5. What accessories may I need? (tripod? memory cards? anything else)

6. Do you think it would be possible for someone with little experience beyond windows movie maker to produce something watchable on youtube?

7. How easy is it to set up your own customiseable youtube channel?

8. Finally if asked for an overall cash budget (not including man hours how much would be a good estimate?)

Sorry for all the questions and I greatly appreciate any information that you can give me.

Many thanks

Loosecannon

ciencin

1. What type of video camera will produce good quality youtube video's (preferably in HD)
- if its for youtube, a decent sd camera will be fine. A VX1000 will produce good quality videos and still look great on youtube (just look at the tons of VX vids up there). However HD is the latest buzz word and everybody seem to want it... so if you still insist on hd look into HV models like hv20

2. What kind of external microphones can I use with a compact digital video camera
- dont get a shotgun mic, if you need interviews then buy an external mic that records to a reciever

3. What kind of basic budget lighting is available?
- LED on board light ~$100, get one if you plan on doing interviews

4. Which free video & audio software (user friendly of course!) would be best?
-iMovie, windows movie maker. Pinacle Studio is about 80 euro, good value for the price

5. What accessories may I need? (tripod? memory cards? anything else)
- a GOOD tripod with fluid head. If you're shooting sports you need to invest in good tripod and head. You'll regret getting a cheap one when you start shooting.

6. Do you think it would be possible for someone with little experience beyond windows movie maker to produce something watchable on youtube?
- if you have the time and the interest, then sure!

7. How easy is it to set up your own customiseable youtube channel?
- fill in contact info and hit upload button to get some movies up

8. Finally if asked for an overall cash budget (not including man hours how much would be a good estimate?)
- depends on how much you're willing to spend or can afford. Looking at basics I'd say...
- camera - 500
- tripod - 200
- (optional) LED light 100
- mic - 150
- tapes / cards - 50
- extra battery (standard ones never last too long) - 50

Depending on how much you are going to spend on your camera, I'd say 1000-2000? :pac:

loosecannon

thanks so much for the reply mate, that's given me a great base to get going from!

just to go into a little more detail on the camcorder, the two that you specified both seem quite old - is there a more specific modern HD product that you might recommend, is something like this miles off what would be needed? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Camcorder-Recording-Intelligent-Recognition/dp/B0031RG4HM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

also with regards to the microphone, i will be doing interviews so what kind of external mic do you think i may need? something like a clip on mic or more like one you would see on the tv?

thanks again mate I assure if and when we get the whole thing finished to put up some of the links, i hope they should make for good watching

cheers

cannon