Thinking about starting a YouTube channel on high end audio.
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
Whether writing a book or having a youtube channel there are always a few quesitons that need to be addressed. Who is the target audience? What would differentiate the product from what is already available? Is the purpose for education or entertainment?
How much effort are you willing to put into it? The Darko guy over in Germany does oustanding videos. Extremely well polished and very nice content. But I remember on one of his videos he was talking about some of his health issues and mentioned that he was spending about 70 hours a week to produce one review/video. The same goes for Hans Beekhuyzen. He mentioned once that he puts in a lot of hours for that weeks video. His videos aren't as well polished as Darko but the content is very technical and interesting. Very well researched. I enjoy watching both.
Here are the youtube people I watch regularly for entertainment. I don't know where on this specturm you are thinking.
Hans Beekhuyzen Channel
New Record Day
Steve Huff Audio Youtube
Audiophile Junkie
Jay's Audiolab
Jay's Iyagi
Darko Audio
Not sure any of this is useful to you.
How much effort are you willing to put into it? The Darko guy over in Germany does oustanding videos. Extremely well polished and very nice content. But I remember on one of his videos he was talking about some of his health issues and mentioned that he was spending about 70 hours a week to produce one review/video. The same goes for Hans Beekhuyzen. He mentioned once that he puts in a lot of hours for that weeks video. His videos aren't as well polished as Darko but the content is very technical and interesting. Very well researched. I enjoy watching both.
Here are the youtube people I watch regularly for entertainment. I don't know where on this specturm you are thinking.
Hans Beekhuyzen Channel
New Record Day
Steve Huff Audio Youtube
Audiophile Junkie
Jay's Audiolab
Jay's Iyagi
Darko Audio
Not sure any of this is useful to you.
Thank you. I view all of these channels and have been subscribed for a while. It was part of my research to launch TAS YouTube channel. I have been friends with Ron at NRD for a while.
I believe that a audiophile channel that had a better connection to music would be something unique. All of the channels I see are 100% about gear, and nothing about music.
You made the point about visits to shops so I quoted you as a starting point, but I was addressing Lee who started the thread and asked the question.
Out of those listed, the only ones worth a hill of beans is...
Darko Audio
Jay Iyagi
Steve Huff
Audiophile Junkie
In that order.
And the one no one has mentioned is Steve Guttenberg, which I place above all the others. He's every bit about the music as he is the gear.
My POV
- Focusing on your personal experience and path trough audio is tough. It puts a lot of pressure on you not running out of interesting things to say. Most channels of this type are resource intensive - Jay and other small reviewers go though a ridiculous amount of gear just to keep it alive - and at the end of the day they are just boring because they start moving up and down along the same path.
- Most channels are just not focused on the music, at all. My best users are melomaniacs first and audiophiles second. Or third, depending on their relationship with design.
- Focusing on the same, established, well funded high-end brands is new-old. Yes, we all know the Apex Ultra Reference Super Pinnacle Raptor Enabled MKII 17 box preamp is all that and more, but videos on those are difficult to pull off without burn marks. Either go deep - requiring expertise on engineering and its relationship to hearing pleasure, not just recycled marketing blurbs - or go ultra soft, with interviews of users and straight appeals to class and elevation.
- There aren't enough interviews. The most compelling videos from most channels are always the interviews, to the point that I don't really care about anything else at this point. Guttenberg, Audiophile Junkie, Jay(s),... The most viewed seem to be interviews with interesting people. System exposures. Visits. If it's them speaking in the man cave about the latest and greatest and how somehow the bass is deeper and tighter, they have a couple of hits, but it's just not interesting at all, because there is no real subject matter if you really look at it.
So, my suggestions is to steer clear of reviews, monologues and your ego. Hit the road, go to the place of experienced, non-formulaic, audiophiles, other reviewers, manufacturers, audiophile clubs, record shops, musicians and melomaniacs and let them do the talking. Embrace the diversity and experimental side of audiophilia. Embrace the variety of possible sound presentations and their validity. Don't make your channel about an absolute that doesn't exist.
My 2 cents.
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Hi Lee,
I agree with others who suggest interviews with industry people, or even home visits.
Another area that I would find interesting is tech talks examining different technology - that is what is inside the box or cabinet that is different or special. High End audio is so much about the external bling, but I like to understand what is different and exciting.
Good luck!
I agree with others who suggest interviews with industry people, or even home visits.
Another area that I would find interesting is tech talks examining different technology - that is what is inside the box or cabinet that is different or special. High End audio is so much about the external bling, but I like to understand what is different and exciting.
Good luck!
Thats the problem with high end audio development , companies dont wanna release whats "inside the box "
Either because the " tech " thats inside the box is very cheap and simply " Bullshit technology" or they dont wanna release it so that another company takes advantage of it .
A lot of high end audio gear quality is based on hocus pocus technology/ vague principles and claims ,cables being the worst.
Normal industries work with standards which are then built upon for further development but for most audio cables / transducers/ speakers and some amp designs its a free for all.
People are constantly arguing over the standards as to which the products should perform , its basically a completely unregulated mess.
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I agree with a lot of the suggestions on here, I think one of the most interesting things that could be done and to my knowledge isn't done on any of the other channels is in person visits and system reviews of real life members of the audiophile community. I think that's why we enjoy so many forum threads of "show us your system". You could do a really nice and interesting video of room setup, what they have, why they chose particular components, shout outs (if warranted) to their dealers.....even maybe a few minutes with a spouse to get their take on the hobby. If they were a collector, go over their music collections and some of the prized possessions and favorites in person. I personally would be all in on those videos. Of course logistics is the problem there, travel etc. but as far as content, it would be fascinating.
- Buck
- Buck
I agree with this in terms of interesting content. The challenge will be getting people with interesting systems to invite someone with a video camera into their home. And then the question will be do you record the sound of the system or not. We see quite a few home visits or dealer visits which are all about the gear in the room but no good sample of the way the system actually sounds.
The goal is also a bit unclear to me. Is it to simply join a pretty crowded space already and try to be different and get viewers, or is it to try to make money and figure out how to monetize all the effort. It sounds like a real challenge to me.
I think the WBF videos are basically to promote the WBF brand and support the dealers who are the real customers.
My casual observation is that there are fewer and fewer threads about member systems here now and more debates about language and concepts and typology. This seems to be what the current membership is interested in and perhaps as a direction for a new video channel.
I don't like to jinx things, but I have one of these scheduled. . .
IMHO those are missing in current youtube channels:
- Simply saying bad to a bad product,
- Keeping narrative short and simple,
- Sharing video of same records on every setup recorded with same mic and camera,
- Sharing honest opinion about which product is better without being diplomatic,
- Getting rid of comments like “punches above it’s weight” and introducing comments like “not a good product for this price tag” cause we all know the latter happens more often than former.
If I have to describe what’s missing on youtube and magazines with one word, it would be honesty.
Agreed.
A few additional comments:
- we have to acknowledge that music and "audiophila" are simply two different worlds. The most interesting music oriented channels on YouTube (and elsewhere) have strictly nothing to do with "sound". That being said, some variety in music is always a plus. Steer clear of "audiophile playlists" please! Also, I am always curious to hear from musicians that are also audiophiles (well, even if they are not!)...
- some personal "journey" type channels are interesting, but generally when the author follows an original approach, often with a DIY aspect. The Real World Audio channel is very good, for example. Quirky can be charming.
- interviews are indeed interesting, as long as it is not simply marketing talk. The Audiophiliac's two recent interviews of Devon Turnbull, for example, were very good. I would also be curious to hear more from "engineers" rather than sales people: equipment designers, acousticians, recording engineers...
I would likely do deep dives into the making of music. I have a large network in the pro audio community.
Lee, do it if that is where your heart is. Otherwise, don't bother. I do watch Jay Iyagi, Darko, and Steve Guttenberg. No egos and all good in my view.
And I do agree with others regarding focusing on music, interviews with industry innovators, product designers and dedicated hobbyists with unique systems as the main topics / priorities.
And then there is the documentary by Ken Burns / Athens Audiophile Club. The all time classic.
And I do agree with others regarding focusing on music, interviews with industry innovators, product designers and dedicated hobbyists with unique systems as the main topics / priorities.
And then there is the documentary by Ken Burns / Athens Audiophile Club. The all time classic.
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Some of the best information on audio I’ve gotten has been on the San Francisco Audiophile society talks on you tube. They are long form, lasting well over an hour sometimes.
I like interviews, whether it’s about Audio or anything else, where a person has time to go deep into subjects and not be rushed into shallow soundbites.
I think Ron does a great job in the time allotted but the result ends up as fast food.
I like interviews, whether it’s about Audio or anything else, where a person has time to go deep into subjects and not be rushed into shallow soundbites.
I think Ron does a great job in the time allotted but the result ends up as fast food.
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