The new crop of HMT contributions

[Frank S]

I have noticed a trend lately that almost seems as though no one can build a tool anymore without it being done as a television production video.
We are seeing some really great new contributions and solutions to problems in the form of homemade tools, but their all videos.
I am beginning to think that before I post any new homemade tools that I may eventually come up with that I may need to enroll in a video-graphics course backed up with a cinematronics editing course before making my tools.
While I enjoy watching many of these and seeing how the contributor went about the making of their tool I miss the printed versions.
I personally like for the build to be more essay driven with pictures and possibly short videos included builds.
But this may be construed as being too esoteric.
Never the less the followup discussions often to become more in depth than a mere video built.
All of that being said my fav. this week is the 1/2 size tractor build. I can see where there must have been dozens of homemade tools and set ups to build the tractor I would be real interested in reading about those builds with pictures.
Please don't take my viewpoints as being overly critical, one of my selfish reasons for liking essays and pictures is I can print them for future build ideas

[Toolmaker51]

I too appreciate written descriptions augmented by photos. Not to say someone's choice of video is wrong, lacking, or less interesting.
Like we commented elsewhere, our first exposure was printed manuals and catalogs. I think it's due in part with a measured quantity of pertinent detail. Even the best video has detail that may not be absorbed. A good technical description is a thing of beauty.

At the same time; certain items have long lists of features. When you look at those critically, a third, maybe half are just re-worded extensions of a few positives so and so actually has. Most call it 'hype'; I call it 'long-listing'.

[foden]

I have noticed a trend lately that almost seems as though no one can build a tool anymore without it being done as a television production video.
We are seeing some really great new contributions and solutions to problems in the form of homemade tools, but their all videos.
I am beginning to think that before I post any new homemade tools that I may eventually come up with that I may need to enroll in a video-graphics course backed up with a cinematronics editing course before making my tools.
While I enjoy watching many of these and seeing how the contributor went about the making of their tool I miss the printed versions.
I personally like for the build to be more essay driven with pictures and possibly short videos included builds.
But this may be construed as being too esoteric.
Never the less the followup discussions often to become more in depth than a mere video built.
All of that being said my fav. this week is the 1/2 size tractor build. I can see where there must have been dozens of homemade tools and set ups to build the tractor I would be real interested in reading about those builds with pictures.
Please don't take my viewpoints as casino play for real money, one of my selfish reasons for liking essays and pictures is I can print them for future build ideas

I noticed it too.

[mklotz]

I believe another major contributor to the glut of amateurish videos is people's ever-increasing inability to express themselves in writing.

[Jon]

Build documentation used to be so lacking that we once decided to offer a monthly prize for the Best Documented Build. Needless to say, we no longer need to do that.

Some of the better video makers are making genuine artisan productions. But it's a difficult skill to develop.

I don't know that we have enough experience as a society to understand how information is best presented on the web. We are communicating very richly, and we don't have a well-established template for how to best do that communication.

Ideally, I like to see a scaled presentation, starting with one good photo, one good sentence, and one short GIF. Then a few more pics, a paragraph, maybe a 2-minute video. Then more. These days on the net, the greatest act of courtesy seems to be brevity.

[Toolmaker51]

Everybody's opinion on pleasure or lack thereof regarding video and detail is correct...
On the open web, targeting an audience virtually impossible. From your subscribers to trolling lurkers, providing detail that engages individuals, no curriculum satisfies that range.
I can single out a recent HMT post carried it to extremes. Clearly the poster was enthused but hadn't considered any kind of draft; just 20-odd minutes tossing features around. A dozen single JPEGS could have done same thing, and been more effective presentation. Result was 'too' on any measure; too mincing, too scattered, too much juggling, repetitious, too long. More "New from Ronco" advertisement, than 'Hey fellow HMT guys". Too much on what it did, little on the object it self, as camera was stationary.
Really washed out a well thought out, great job that had plenty "Thanks". In this case a build tape, and separate operation tape would be tolerable.

Regarding worldwide pitches, maybe two varieties exist. One is 'what I did, hope you like it', second type shows every single measurement, chip and spark, as if viewed by middle-schoolers and then fishes for subscribers.
I don't include those without speech, when language is a barrier. Though supplanting audio tracks of canned music, which detract if not carefully selected, playing in foreground, and not keyed with scene changes, seemingly hinder our absorption.
Now, for me to say this or that music was not appreciated is rare. I chase that exposure, but it musn't take over intent and content.


BTW. For any other chasers I offer https://listen.streamon.fm/ktbg and KFOH Radio Right now, it's The Bridge - Joseph Arthur and 'Saint of Impossible Causes'. Earlier, it was 'Ain't Got So Far To Go' by David Byrne.
I'm still shaking.
Both are local, public type broadcasting, but as practiced in Europe. Long live Radio Caroline, Radio Free Europe, The X and other pirate stations; treating listeners like friends, not sheep.

[Crusty]

I agree about the lack of writing skills and more fundamentally the younger folks show an intolerance for doing things that are difficult or require real work.

I do understand why so many videos about doing things are made - by just recording what you're doing the potential is there to get money for it, and while I can't criticize anyone for trying to make an honest buck I also prefer to read a document and understand what the author is saying rather than watching a poor video that doesn't communicate the required information.

And don't get me started about the wastage of frivolous and useless projects.