The Weekly Update Vlog has a new name and look
Main reason is, if anyone saw these they'd notice these things are not weekly. I am finding it difficult to dedicate the time to make this type of video weekly. Partly because of how busy life can be. Mostly because it's not something I want to do all the time. Who knows? Maybe that will change.
But I'm still interested with messing around with the format and having an occasional live stream / channel update. Live streams can be fun and I like the idea of having an audience that follows the Scout75 channel to help keep me in check with my ham radio goals.
So I figured I should get things going with a little more honesty in the branding. It is a "random" update, not a "weekly" update.
Starting to Take This YouTube Thing Serious, But Not Seriously
You will notice that I have been keeping up with my routine of releasing at least one video per week. I have been premiering a video every Tuesday evening for several months now. Plus I throw in an extra video here and there.
With this effort, my tiny little channel is getting some attention. Which to be honest is weird to me. I still have no intentions of becoming a "content creator" or anything like that. I am not going to push this beyond something that is simply fun. I have no desire to chase algorithms over analyze analytics. I just want to have some fun making the occasional YouTube video, like the ones I enjoy watching, and sharing it with friends.
Some of those friends have been hinting that I should take this stuff more serious. Others have been flat out telling me I deserve a much larger audience. Which is also weird to me.
Little More Effort with Production So I am putting forth a little bit more effort. I made an intro and an outro for my videos. On the outro I will link other videos and have the normal "call to action" for subscribing to my channel. My video production is getting a little more polished, but don't expect much more. ;)
Better Sound I have also stepped up my audio game by purchasing a R0DE wireless mic to use with my phone and camera. The GoPro I have is... well. it works good enough for me. But the audio has been glitchy to put it politely. The new mic from R0DE has made a noticeable improvement right where my videos needed it the most (in my opinion anyway).
Upping the Livestream Game I also decided to take this live streaming angle a little more serious. Just using YouTube to live stream has worked fine enough for the previous channel updates I've done and when I experimented with live streaming a POTA activation a few months back.
Once things get a little nicer, I will definitely be live streaming more activations. That was a fun.
I've also been kicking around the idea of having an occasional live stream with a friend or two. So I started to look into streaming apps. Currently I have the trial version of Streamyard. It seems to be the goto app for many of my favorite "Hamstreams"so I'm trying it out first.
As you will see on my video on my volunteering during the Berkie, I can use it to make a little better "in studio" style video too. Something else I am starting to do more often too.
Test Run with Shacking Greg
So today I decided to try another channel update style live stream. As you can see, I eased my way into really go live this time. Not just recording a private video to share here on BMAC. Although I didn't really jump in with both feet either...
I scheduled a livestream and set the YouTube video to "unlisted" and shared the link to the Ham Radio Clubhouse Discord. Still keeping this low key as I am just trying to figure out everything in Streamyard works.
My friend Greg KD9MUG joined in the chat and hopped onto the livestream with me, as I got the feel of how this app works. Greg, myself and a few others have been kicking around ideas for some livestreams and other videos. So Chances are this may have been the start of it.
Not 100% sure what we'll do, but it won't be much or often. Ham radio adjacent, fun, and not on a regular schedule is all we can promise.... that is if we actually do something.