It’s SATURDAY! I believe it’s meant to be a day of rest but I was challenged by readers comments on my post about Animoto, an online video creator.
CogDog (Alan Levine) said “But beware the slippery slope of getting wrapped in the tools- what seems more important is the craft of writing/storyboarding a story; and learning what works in visual/audio/video expressive media”
Chris Betcher said “But educationally I think it’s important that kids think about how they present this sort of visual information, that’s why we spend time storyboarding and planning and so on. Animoto removes their creative input.”
My thoughts are the difference between CogDog, Chris and myself relate to the fact both CogDog and Chris are interested in the digital story telling aspect whereas my focus is on video creation and the content. The concept of creating digital stories has never engaged me but the power of being able to create a video that suits my training purpose does.
While we might use the same or similar tools to create digital stories and online videos — differences in what we are trying to achieve means we will favour some appropriates over others.
Now CogDog really knows his digital story telling and has been working really with 50 tools to create 50 domino stories for his CogDogRoo tour of Australia. Actually I am beginning to think that CogDog is even crazier than me — but what fantastic work you have done on these stories.
And on a side issue CogDog has been elevated to Honorary Top Dog of Western Australia as a result of his picture of Australia covering up all other Australian States and Territories so that only Western Australia is displayed!
So what I decided to do was check through CogDog’s 50 domino stories to see which of the tools were good for creating online videos. I know how long it takes to create videos using PhotoStory, MovieMaker and iMovie as I use them all the time and if I am going to use an online video creator it must make the creation quicker or easier.
I often teach lecturers how to create videos using video footage from their digital camera. But different digital camera record video footage in various video formats and not all formats can be imported into MovieMaker. Which means that you need to convert to a compatible format before you can edit using MovieMaker.
Fortunately based on my criteria of quicker or easier to create online video there was only 3 tools that fit:
My rules allowed me to use either images and/or video footage provided video footage was shot on a digital camera (if I shoot video using my digital video camera I would have had to capture using MovieMaker and no iSight on my Mac because that uses iMovie). OH and no dogs allowed!!!!!
Please note each video I created is unique and shows you different aspects on my world!
Animoto
Extremely fast way to create a video using images only that looks really flashy but takes minimal effort. And yes you can add both text and your own audio to it! You just need to think outside the box! Create a PowerPoint with the text you want to use and then save as jpeg instead of PowerPoint (thanks Brian C. Smith for telling me how your wife did it!).
Record audio in Audacity but when you save it make sure you change the Project Rate (bottom left side of screen) to 22, 050 hz or the audio chipmunks when you upload. Not totally convinced that adding your own voice to this type of movie is a good idea – but I had to prove you can do it!
Negatives to this tool are you only get 30 seconds free video – if you want longer you have to pay! Also not sure that we won’t eventually get tired of this look. Here is my Animoto video with my spoken audio and text!
MotionBox
Fairly easy to create online videos by editing video footage online. I did crash FireFox 3 times while using MotionBox but do believe that it was all me being too impatient!
Benefit to your viewers is they can use the thumbnails or tags to jump forward to sections of the video they want to watch. Motionbox accepts videos a range of formats including: .avi, .mov, .dv, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv, .asf, .qt and a variety of cell phone video (.3GP).
Here is the video I created using MotionBox.
JumpCut
This tool is like having MovieMaker or iMovie online! Can add titles and effects. Very easy to use (says she who makes movies all the time).
Here is the video that I created using JumpCut!
FINAL THOUGHTS
All three online video creators are good for different reasons. Key with both MotionBox and JumpCut is to be patient and do something else while the videos are uploading. Each has its own tricks that you have to work out — but nothing in comparison to some of the skills I have had to learn with desktop applications.
Let me know what your thoughts are? Which of the 3 video looks do you prefer? Have you tried any of these applications and what did you like/dislike about them?
Sue Waters 
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