Racing commentary, finding the balance
Having gone to broadcast school I like to try & do a professional commentary like a real race. Not always easy, but it is a fine line between being a bit dull, and screaming like a madman.
Play by play and color commentators is best, but not always possible. I just try not to overdo it, and do it without "planned spontenaity", but actully act as though I'm seeing the action for the first time, which isn't all that untrue; when you shoot it often happens so fast you only get to see the details when slowed down in editing.I do enjoy it though!
I like that each person has their own track and approach to narrating their events. It is really a broad spectrum and each has its own merits. There is always the volume button for folks that don't like or want to hear any commentary!
To me, commentary is the hardest part. I am not a very out spoken person and it doesn't come natral to me. I prefer videos with commentary so I feel that I really need to do it in my videos. I have been experimenting with using some AI voices in mine to take some of the load off of me talking through the who thing. I really commend those that do a great job at it.
- i think you do a great job! Is the female voice on your vids AI?? — G_ForceRacing
- Yes, Taylor Drift is AI, my wife wouldn't d o it LOL — Papa_Pugsley
- Haha! My wife refused too! I might have to try that, I like the idea. Thanks bro'!! — G_ForceRacing
On my channel I broadcast it as if there's actual people inside the cars. As of now it's a one man band. As someone just starting out my goal is to add a little more (PG rated) humor and a storyline as the season goes along.
I film at 120fps, so my usual playback is 60fps, and I can do slowmo at 30fps.
This gives me a good time to commentate, it lets you see the action and follow it, and it lets you do slo-mo without a loss of quality.
I, like Chaos Canyon, am unscripted. I will write out a sentence if I am trying to convey a concept and I flub it more than once, but thats so I can read it back. I will manipulate the footage with slow mo or replays if I need more time to talk, so the editing is built around the commentary.
That said - I am new and finding my own ,feet in this, so i know my own commentary may not be the best yet.
- The commentary in your latest video was superb IMO. You have a very unique way of presenting. Your dialog takes a couple of real whacky "squirrel" moments and your energy is great! — GravityThrottleRacing
- Thanks mark! That means a lot, and I really appreciate it. — StarCorps
- I’m with you. I am looking to find myself in the mic. I found myself also playing with the slow mo when needing a few more frames. I’ve only done one full length video. As the video went on, I felt like I was developing an idea of story telling and creating the story. I write scripts when I present, so I naturally am drawn to writing the script as I watch the video back. — Midwest_Diecast_Raceway
- On that, I can offer advice. Find the implied story of the race and build on it. If you have 4 races and in 2 of them, the same two cars tangle, make a story out of it. The track gives us the pieces. I just add machine guns and missiles to the mix. — StarCorps
I love commentary on videos. It really personalizes each channel. Everyone that does shows there own personalities and flare. Myself I am not the greatest. I do enjoy doing it. I work to get better each time. I race a race edit it all together then do commentary as I watch it back. It feels very much like I am calling it live and seeing it for 1st time. Then I will add in sound effects. It is time consuming. And I appreciate All who do it. And appreciate all who watch and actually listen to me.