The "CGP Grey model" is an awesome term that should get it's own wikipedia entry. It is always exiting when the time comes where his next video could be released and the feeling when the new video is actually up is great. I'm curious what the outcome will be if you go a bit more in this direction! We're trying to do this model on our channel too but you need persistence before it pays off - in your case that should be no problem :)
Here we are, me replying to your comment from 6 years ago. You'll never know how much your videos mean to me, but this is the closest I can get to you. I know you won't read this, but you're amazing.
How I reached to Veritasium 1. watched Parents react to UA-cam Star 2. saw VSauce at top 4 3.watch VSauce and intrigued. 4. Saw the most quiet room in the world by Veritasium.. 5. hooked on Veritasium like on meth
How I reached Veritasium: 1. Watched VSauce because my brother was watching it. 2. Got hooked on VSauce. 3. Found out about Veritasium via a collab video between him and VSauce 4. Watched his World's Roundest Object video
1. Properties of sblock elements academic reasons. 2. Vsauce straw to move water to space. Subscribed Vsauce. 3. Michael suggested veritasium. Subscribed to it ever since.
I don't really feel like there's an argument to be made here with regard to Kahn Academy. Here's a guy that has retained a lot of knowledge in mathematics, computer science, and physics, and aspires to share it through means more closely resembling a college lecture. You, Smarter Every Day, V-Sauce and the like are different in that your aims are to invoke inspiration and interest in these fields. He's a UA-cam instructor, you are UA-cam communicators.
+scottucker87 Nerd Writer is a great example of high quality over high quantity. A general vlog over random weekly musings. I watch it religiously. You'd appreciate it.
+scottucker87 Did you just recommend yourself to start watching a channel you're already watching? (sry for purposely misinterpreting you, thanks for the tip)
+Fippe Schmidt I think that he just wanted to add to his previous comment in general. His second comment wasn't directed at himself, but at people in general. (haha, I know that you understood that, I'm just purposely misinterpreting you because I'm playing around and I like a good joke. I liked your comment.)
Hodge Smith Haha you actually got me, I thought you didn't understood until I pressed "read more", so I basicly fell for my own shit xD Well played me, well played
Wow, you just proved your point. I came here from your latest video about Facebook business model, subscribed, then watched your second latest video and now I'm here. Quality is what is making me do that.
Darek, I just wanted to comment on something that isn't COMPLETELY related to quantity or quality. That is: youtube collaboration videos and cross references among the science channels. When collaboration started to happen in the youtube science community, I thought it was very cool, but very temporary. At the very least, I figured it would be a rarity. As it became more common for the Nottingham University faculty, Henry, CGPgrey, you, Michael, Destin, Victoria, and many others to show up in each other's videos I thought it was VERY VERY cool, but assumed it would get old as it became commonplace. Instead, it hasn't gotten old. It's gotten better. The fact that this is a persistent feature of the youtube science community has... humanized the authors and subjects of these videos. It has made for a much more rich and engaging experience. Instead of watching videos about interesting subjects from distinct, but remote authors, I feel like I'm part of a community of people who are truly EXCITED about science. Whenever I come to youtube and see a community like this one that works together for everyone's benefit, it's like a shot of optimism. I feel it's very commendable that you guys have done this, and I think that both the viewers and the authors have benefited from it. Thank you. Sincerely, just an average viewer
Thanks for your very thoughtful comment. I too, really enjoy the collaborations. I've been working on one for a couple years now. Hopefully we will get it done in the next month or two. I guarantee it will be awesome.
Khan Academy is a bad example. Their goal is to literally cover every topic (not just the fun and interesting topics). People aren't watching Khan Academy videos for entertainment purposes. They are watching solely for educational purposes. Khan Academy is a real school.
On the other hand his begs the question - if something can be looked from Wikipedia (most math formulas and algorithms can be, and the ones that aren't there I have to believe isn't usually covered Khan academy either) Should it necessarily be covered in a video?
Yeah Khan Academy makes loads of videos and they are not fancy but he can explain better than any teacher I have ever seen and you can choose what you want to learn.. Khan Academy can't be compared to Veritasium and Vsauce. The one is teaching things that you might have missed in class and you are just highlighting all the amazing things you have learnt. How is the worlds roundest object going to get me to pass maths?
True. Khan Academy channel is an educational channel, i.e. they make lessons, Veritasium, even though there's science and education involved, is primarily focused on entertainment. Khan Academy doesn't have as much views simply because: 1) they do lessons and 2) they cover a wide variety of subjects. No one is interested in watching lessons from all of those subjects. If a person is interested in algebra, he probably won't watch their biology videos for example, no matter the quality of those videos. On the other hand, Veritasium is basically an entertainment show. Comparing Khan Academy with Veritasium is like comparing some textbook with a novel. Those are just two vastly different fields.
Andy Payne In the US, you only really ever hear "math". In the UK (and probably other places too, but I only know about the UK), "maths" is technically correct (I believe as a shortened version of "Mathematics"), and preferred over simply "math" (Mathematic?!?!?).
Haha I just made a comment that was very similar to yours: "I disagree, khan academy's video have great quality, the problem is it covers a lot of areas that most people do not need to learn. Making the majority of video pointless to watch. It is great for learning when you know what it is you want to learn. Salman Khan in my opinion is the greatest teacher on Earth. I can learn something by watching one video, where as with a teacher irl it would take a few lessons and even then the information doesn't stay in." I think Derek might be ignorant of Khan Academy that's why his judgement was off.
I'm just giving you guys a hard time. Math is shorter and means the same so it's better :) Ray Kay I doubt he doesn't know about Khan Academy. Teachers have to make a living so that's why they string shit out (whether by chose or by being in the antiquated system). Problem is young people just want to be spoon feed information but it doesn't work like that. UA-cam is not learning in a pill. It's similar to music in that when I play with someone good we just play off each other for hours but then I see some people just memorize tabs and so they're more like a robot and if they try to adjust the sound or play it remotely different it all comes crashing down. It's hard to tell someone who does not see both sides why it is a totally different to match a stairway to heaven song verbatim verse creating stairway to heaven because to most outside observers they are equivalent.
One of the reasons I love coming back to the Veritasium channel is that in addition to learning new scientific information in an easy to understand format, is that the topics are all very interesting but also related so that you can build upon knowledge gained from one video and apply it to another and make mental connections. I would like to see more videos that build on each other. Also, when you explain how every day observable phenomena relate to interactions at the atomic level or using quantum mechanics I instantly thumbs up because that is just awesome. I never get tired of that "plot twist!"
I think that balance is what we have to aim for. You have to search for high quality, but still be able to post frequently! I am still looking for that "sweet spot". Sustainability is the key word.
The part about quality literally explained why I've been watching several of our videos at 1am. I am not feeling well so I got on youtube and I found your video on a whim. I'm so glad I did because you have amazing quality videos!
I love the quote at the end, "90% of life is just being there." That hit me hard and inspires me to get out there, to do more. Plus, I've had times where I got to meet idols of mine and that feeling is unmatchable. Get out there and live life. Peace!
Don't be pessimistic. He is smart, but not that smart. The fact that he has a youtube channel makes him a guy who is smart with a youtube channel. What I am trying to say is: You can be "smart" too as it all comes down to hard work and sweat.
I work at a high school in Chicago as a Special Educator and am constantly looking on UA-cam for material to share with my students to present a topic/ material in another way. I cam across your channel Veritasium and loved it. I have shown it to a couple of students and they thought it was extremely helpful. I have also shared it with other teachers and one has actually decided to use your videos as an intro to each of his classes. I just want to express that I love you videos and look forward to your videos. Thank you.
This video has given me so much to think about and has affirmed some of the doubts about my channel I have been having lately. On a side note, been watching a lot of your videos lately, they are all quality. Great speaker, handsome face, incredibly smart and sharp points. Beautiful work, Thank you.
I generally appreciate UA-camrs like you who follow the CGPGrey model, and I'm definitely following it for myself. (Then again, I don't have the economic pressure of delivering quantity, because I can't monetize my videos anyway.)
So I'm confused Zogg. Does your research in Earthling affairs is sponsored by the Galactic Bureaucracy? And if not, how could your Earthling -henchmen- followers and fans could help you continue with your -villainous- awesome projects :)
Seriously you are so spot on. I saw your video about radioactivity shared through some obscure Facebook link and now I am here. Looking through your archive on both channels. Despite having a natural science background, having a bachelor degree in medical biochemistry and about to start a MD I find your videos interesting and useful. I get reminded of my high school classes and actually remember stuff. Thank you! You are one awesome science dude!
You raise a good point about quantity that I've never thought about, it makes sense. The past year I've really started to focus on quality and I think it's paying off. I've upgraded my cameras and now shooting with three of them so I can get different angles. You've given me a lot to think about, thanks.
Thanks for this insight. I started a physics UA-cam channel recently and can only upload a video every 2 weeks even though I work on it everyday to get it to the quality that I want. The other "grow your channel" channels suggest the more uploads the better and at least once a week is what it takes to grow your channel. So thanks for this different insight and now I'll take it easy :) quality over quantity!
I think that there needs to be a distinction between technical quality and content quality. If the content is engaging then technical quality can be overlooked a little. I suppose the way I look at it is this: - Technical quality needs a minimum threshold level, otherwise people will be distracted and not notice the content (quality OR quantity) as much (or at all). - Content quality scales exponentially - increases in quality (i.e.: how interesting the video is) gain an ever-increasing number of views. This is why Khan videos don't get that viral hit. They are helpful, but aren't particularly engaging/entertaining to the average viewer. - And Video quantity increases with views linearly. Thus at the beginning, I think frequent, moderately engaging videos would be best, but later on a shift to higher quality, but less frequent videos would have a larger benefit.
I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Any videos I want to make (mine are usually games or random riding videos) can be as good picture quality as I possibly can but, I'm going to be honest here, I don't have the content quality. It's something everyone has to learn, I'm still trying to, hopefully I will get there one day.
Firecul42 Yeah I've been meaning to make some for a couple years now. I have plenty of ideas, but can't quite nail down how I wanted to construct/present them. I really need to take the advice Derek gives in this (and other) videos, which is to just make something :-)
In theory, and in the case of channels like veritasium, quality is important. in practice, the most subscribed user is pewdiepie who literally just turns on a webcam and plays a video game. he can pump out video after video with no effort and due to how youtube distributes videos his channel exploded upwards. While channels like veritasium cant really afford to cheap out on quality and just pump out a lot of shitty science videos that nobody cares all that much for, if theres the choice between quality and quantity, and poor quality isnt going to kill you... go for quantity
***** pewdiepie is not a shame why do you think hes th e most sucsessful growing channels?! not a hater i agree with what your saying i get what you mean
I'm watching this because i came back to look at your back catalog and started to watch all your past videos. You have earned my subscription! Keep going!
What is nice about your videos is, even though this one for example is from 2013, it still feels like you really are talking to me. It's wonderful. Thank you for such wonderful material. I just wish you had the time to make more. Again, thank you
Great video, Derek! As an animator, I had to give more emphasis to quality, since releasing animated episodes of my show frequently would be impossible given the amount of time it takes just to make one. I've just done 30 episodes in more than the five years I've been a UA-camr, and even if I don't get as much views as other channels, I think the effort I put into my videos is rewarded with a great base of followers, because they appreciate more every video I make. Of course, I had to solve the quantity problem, because even the most loyal fans can be discouraged to wait 3-4 months just for one 10 minute video, but there is always a solution. In my case, I began to release soundtracks I designed for my show and a new section where I made short cartoons, and it is starting to pay off. In conclusion, sometimes it feels like it's a paradox to do both quality and quantity, but all it takes is to sit down and think of an alternative. Great video, Veritasium!
I think the biggest problem in the world right now is the fear that has been installed into most people that being "smart" is a bad thing. As a result, most people are afraid to educate themselves and that ignorance feeds the worst of us. I'd like to see your channel tackle that issue by interviewing or highlighting "smart" people who have ignored all the stereotypes and bettered themselves without regard for bullies -- subtly pushing the notion that being labeled a "nerd" or a "geek" is meaningless because the people tossing about these epithets are usually doing so to further their own agendas.
I totally agree but I also want to add that once you learn about the information, later on in life, you use it and you never regret watching it. I think that's what people who are scared to watch educational videos need to learn.
I discovered your channel by accident, watched a few episodes and was very impressed by the depth of research and QUALITY (:-) of your videos and went ahead and happily subscribed. The QUANTITY is just right. Agree that QUALITY takes TIME. Thanks for having the courage to head down this road!
My favorite videos of yours are the misconception video, experiment videos (or hands on for instance the plastic tube), and when you show me something I didn't know existed (water jet pack and the paralyzed rat walking). So amazing that you met Bill Nye, I grew up loving him! He really fed my interest in science at a young age. I was recently pondering how they no long have that type of show for children, hopefully your videos and videos like it will help inspire the next generation!
From a viewer perspective, I vote for quality without a doubt. I have a limited amount of time at my disposal. I'm not a student anymore, I can't spend several hours each day watching UA-cam videos, even if I wanted to. I've actually unsubscribed one channel or the other in the past because they post videos every day, I can't keep up with them and they just clog my sub list.
I watch Veritasium because I like being inspired by new experiences as much as I see the host inspired by his experiences. It is passion for a subject which attracts like passion.
That's what I did. Saw one of your videos on veritasium and now I'm watching them all. I like the quality and that is why I check daily if there is a new one to watch. Keep up the good work!
I was shocked by the attention to detail in your videos. You thoroughly answer every question and then some and keep it fun. You're definitely my favorite science channel now.
+2veritasium OK. This is old. But I just realized I watched at least 40 of your videos in the past 10 days or so. Quality started me up and quantity kept me going.
It's quite amazing that there are people on UA-cam that subscribe to educational channels. Even though entertainment and comedy gets the most viewers, I feel like I always learn something new nearly everyday. I hope for increase in education viewers and hope for all the Science channels' success.
I always thought it was "90% of success is just turning up". I subbed to this channel just last week after realising that every video I've seen over time was of good quality. Great to know you're going to keep it up!
The reason I am back-tracking all of your videos here is because of the quality! This is exactly the whole point of this topic. You really have great videos.
I've seen recently a lot of high (way too high?) budget videos, with entertaining content, but kinda empty at the end. I personally try to support content quality over look quality.
This totally reminds me of Vsauce. He doesn't even create one video per month, but every time he is creating a video, I'm totally looking forward to the next 20 minutes. I just know that I'm about to have a great time. And for such a great quality, I will gladly wait a full month.
My advice, go for quantity most of the time, and go for quality only where it really makes sense. If you examine the youtube videos that go viral, most of the time you aren't impressed with the production quality. That's something a movie studio can do much better than any amateur. UA-cam is a different medium entirely. It's all about having a video camera at the right place at the right time and being brave enough to post the results pretty much no matter what. The channels I most enjoy watching are the ones where the host is really passionate about what he's presenting, and you really feel like you're getting a glimpse into something important in his life. A sense of humor helps too, especially the ability to laugh at yourself and put your outtakes out there for everybody to see.
But isn't that why you should only subscribe to channels with content you want to actually see? My subscription feed is full of videos I would like to watch when I have the time to do so.
321demonfox Yeah, and I do check to make sure I'll like new stuff the channel uploads. But for example in the case of a Let's Player that uploads some series that I really like and a lot that I don't (i.e. I want to see Mario but not CoD) - then I won't subscribe and will just bookmark their channel instead.
docopoper Oh, I wasn't aware that you could bookmark accually. Thx I will use that. There should really be a way to sub to a single playlist or something (maybe this exist, as you see I am not expert in YT UI)
I love the content about youtube and life. I may be posting in a 3 month old video, but this content and insight into the types of decisions you need to make when creating a youtube channel is pretty wonderful, and not talked about in nearly the same way on other youtubers' channels.
I actually binge watch your videos. After a couple of months I go to your channel and start from the last one you posted, then just let youtube take me to your next one. So I end up watching the really old ones again, but I don't mind 'cause the videos are interesting.
One aspect you didn't talk about is that while, greater quantity generally means less quality, the more you create, the better your base-line quality will become over time, as long as you are a quality conscious person. not everyone is so not everyone learns, but Craig (Weezywaiter) Benzine certainly did. This is a topic he's discussed many times on his vlogging channel. As for you in particular, your base-line quality is already pretty good. Content quality is the most important part, production quality is icing on the cake. Neither one is very useful without marketing in an immediate sense, and marketing itself is not necessarily an "immediate results" kind of thing to begin with. I think what happens to many people is a lack of patience. they want to see those immediate results, and when they don't they just give up or they resort to cheating. This is the disservice that the internet has done for the generations after it was invented. Can't figure it out the in three tries? look up a CHEAT! Can't seem to win? Download a hack! and if there isn't a cheat or a hack for them to find, they're LOST, they freak out, they give up. I see it all the time.
I'd like you to talk about your opinion on the US education system as well as how to actually learn. Not just in school, but things like all these great educational youtube channels. Also, please please PLEASE do a collaboration with the PBS Idea channel. please
Man that must have been the most awesome fanboy moment ever! From now on you will be able to say 'Bill Nye the science guy taught me to tie a bow tie!' Great thoughts about how to do a youtube. Is this vid inspired by a certain friend who recently started their own channel?
This vid is more the result of thinking about this question. I know when I started I thought more videos was invariably better than less, e.g. even if this only appeals to half or a third of my audience I should post it. But as I've continued to work on the platform I've realized that those videos may in fact be detrimental. I've become more careful about topic choices and styles of video, so this vid reflects the evolution of my thoughts.
I'm with you: quality has to come first. I'm a subscriber, love your work, enjoy it famously. My Dad was a scientist (an explosives engineer, for the U.S. Navy.) I think the best advice he ever gave me was this: Never give up an opportunity to learn something; you can never tell when it will come in handy. Gosh, I miss him.
after 6 years of uploading this video I'm watching this , cause I'm one of those people who saw a good content and started digging the hole without being disappointed at all.
On vlog channels it is important to upload somewhat regularly because vlogs are more enjoyable when you feel like you know the vlogger. Otherwise quality wins out, I've now watched two videos on this channel that were of consistent quality so I will subscribe. I came to the channel because your main channel is good. (hmm apparently youtube spellcheck can recognize "youtube" but can't recognize "vlog" as a word.)
Agreed. It depends on the channel and the goal of that channel. There is a daily vlog that I like to watch, and it is important for that channel to post frequently, even if the content is generally uninteresting and unrefined from a video quality standpoint. I subscribe to that channel for the daily minutiae and I subscribe to (1)Veritasium to actually learn interesting things.
Awesome video. I am no expert and I don't want to be too judgmental but according to me following is the ranks I would give for quality among awesome independent educational youtube channels. 1) Vsauce and CGPGrey (I don't think there is any other channel in existence which has better educational videos than these two channels). 2) 1Veritasium and Minutephysics (Awesome channels but I think they are second best) 3) Vlogbrothers(Scishow and Crashcourse) 4) Brady Haran's channel. This is my opinion and I already said I am no expert.
I never really got into watching Veritasium versus other science shows on UA-cam, but the simplicity of taking a walk with your talking head is fantastic. Subscribed.
I have just discovered you last year but i have watched nearly all of your old and new videos yes quality really matters
11 років тому+10
I see where you're going with the analogy with Khan Academy. I see Khan academy as a large reservoir of knowledge on various topics that are within the standard curriculum of many school systems. I watch Sal's videos to help learn a specific topic that I'm struggling with on my own hand. I would define his videos as purely educational. His videos aren't as well polished, but that if he did spend a significantly longer time on each video the amount of topics covered would be far less. Channels such as yours and most other popular channels under "Education" i would define more as... educational entertainment. They are smaller well polished and thought through bits of juicy knowledge. Such as your videos on Newtons Laws, they are very pedagogical and try to give you that intuitive feeling of the laws without actually doing any practical work. While Sal's videos are more focused more on approaching different kinds of problems and how to solve them, just what the school system expects you to know. I think they complement each other, and shouldn't be compared on a "quality vs quantity" basis.
I agree. I sort of think of Khan Academy's channel as an encyclopedia and Veritasium as a science book written for the public. I would never just flip through an encyclopedia, so they get fewer views on their videos, but if I need to know more about a particular subject they're the first place I go.
Some of my favorite videos that you've done are the high level physics stuff (i.e. quantum mechanics and up). I also really really any of the videos that are counter intuitive like the falling slinky or the one on firing a bullet into a block. I would like to see more videos like the above that encourage user participation. Destin's channel, smarter every day, had a pretty good video that encouraged user participation recently on the kinematics of grasshoppers. Destin asked users to download free image tracking software and some high speed footage of grasshopper jumping. He asked the users to determine the force of a grasshopper jumping and offered up a prize. (ua-cam.com/video/O-JVepPdZbY/v-deo.html) It'd be fun to have a similar contest on a veritasium video.
I really loved this video and your final saying on being there and exposing yourself to the world. You have an interesting evaluation on an exact formula of success for a UA-cam channel. Thanks for the input and your time on these videos.
Quality>Quantity, but spending 5 hours for aesthetics gimmicks (maybe it made all the difference, I can't remember the video) for a negligible increase in quality when you could use that time elsewhere is not the ideal.
Great video(s) man - I've just done exactly what you were talking about (re watching Veratasium and coming across your older videos). Good model and philosophy. The last point you make really hits home too. Your doing a good thing.
Thanks for this channel, the 2veritasium vids are almost stream of consciousness and so fluid and cool to sit back and watch, like having a buddy with you who's on a trip about something :) just subbed
This is actually a big issue in the gaming side of UA-cam. A lot of content creators there are leaning towards quantity, and no matter what kind of content they produce normally, they almost always have a second channel for lets plays etc. where they can provide more quantity.
"Production quality" doesn't necessarily correlate to the utility that the viewer derives from the material. Even at as low as 240p, the earliest Khan Academy videos have some of the clearest, most concise explanations of science and mathematics concepts available. Certain UA-cam pop-sciers can throw much larger production budgets around and create more fancy videos with flashier graphics but the utility for the viewer can still be really quite low if that "production quality" doesn't really contribute significantly to the educational experience. Khan has managed to create some incredibly, incredibly high quality content with an absolutely minimal budget and hence can afford to also have a significant quantity. In online educational content, it's not necessarily as much a question of "quality vs quantity" as it is how one may increase the "bang per buck" in terms of production value to end-user utility. There are some circumstances in which particularly flashy graphics may really truly be worth it for the educational experience (see Eugene Khutoryansky's physics videos, which I encourage you watch on 2x speed) but even in these cases, as long as the basic requirement is met that the viewer may understand what is being depicted, any extra money thrown into polishing the videos would be almost worthless.
(Sorry for the imminent essay) Also (and sorry if this comes off as any form of an attack) but I've seen you criticise Khan's videos in saying that you're skeptical of their educational value (re: your PhD thesis) and as someone who consumes an awful lot of UA-cam educational content, I have to disagree. You lauded the technique of starting every video with the misconceptions before getting to the meat of the issue. Your means of doing this, however, is through the classic Veritasium street interview, which I actually think may be one of the most wasteful parts of your production. You could do this for much cheaper, even by directly just entertaining the misconceptions yourself at the start of each video. I think it adds a large amount of unnecessary production time to your videos, slows down the material, and actually does in practice only serve more of an entertainment purpose. (I know you've addressed this and how it is not your intent to ridicule anybody, and I trust that it isn't, but given that there are other, better alternatives you could take, I still think that the only thing it really achieves different to the approach that others have taken is that it embarrasses people for entertainment value.) One actual advantage that Sal has - and this is probably an unfair comparison because your videos are obviously targeted at different audiences - is that in exploring the mathematics, he actually encourages the viewer to try to solve the problems in advance. I think that this might actually be more effective than just providing a list of misconceptions that others have (but, possibly not also). The only fault of this strategy is that only a certain fraction of viewers will actually attempt it, but for those who do, I assume they'll reap the advantages. Furthermore, it's false that Khan doesn't address misconceptions in his videos -- he often does address the places where our natural intuition does not match up with reality whenever he's introducing new concepts, and he also benefits (again, recognising that he's teaching to a different audience than you) through the fact that a lot of the ideas he's discussing are not even ideas that people have been exposed to before. I am probably being unfair, given that my interest with science and maths videos on UA-cam is to actually have a more--than-surface-level understanding of the concepts, and that there's very little that channels like Vsauce or Numberphile (& Brady's other channels) or your own can do for me given the pop-sci format. I think your channel is really well-suited to discussions on particular one-off topics like your video on Khan Academy (wherein even though I disagree with your conclusions, the discussion was incredibly interesting), or your recent video on p-hacking in published research, or your anecdotes video. I don't really get any value, though, from your videos attempting to deal with hard science or things like quantum effects/relativity, but I understand that that's also because I'm not part of your intended audience.
Wow, I could really feel your passion for what you do in this video. Scratch that , in all of your videos. You Help me open my eyes to a world I once thought was so amazing as a child. Sort of lost through the year , but now is back in full force. Please keep doing what you're doing . And ill follow suit in this crusade for truth and answers.
YTisMEH ThisisBS Which is why, every year, COD is even more over the top than the last year. It's so over the top every year, I was expecting actual Ghosts in Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Low quantity, high quality: Veritasium Low quality, high quantity: Pewdiepie I'm not sure if your idea stands up to the facts… Which has more subs again?
thats because the type of content also affects the subs, pewds makes funny video's that simply don't require as much work as science video's like veritasium do. also 12 year olds
+The Real Flenuan his videos aren't bad quality i thought but he doesn't put in a months worth of effort like Veritasium or Vsauce, which i'm guessing are a lot harder to make.
it really does speak to quality when it comes to the vids on V1 because you can see he enjoys what he does honestly and that thought and care are put into each thing. upon learning about this channel i subscribed to it immediately just based on what ive seen in the other channel in the past. even if it takes a month for a vid we all have to understand that he has a life and these things take time. this same vid applies to vsauce, cgp grey and all the other channels he mentions. keep up the good stuff and i always look forward to anything these guys put out. i mean, where else have you learned about something as mundane as trees in a way that left you amazed in a way as this channel did.
i like the new comment thing, yes it allows for people to post books and spamlinks but you won't see them because it works via top comments. the reply system is much much better and it's much easier to follow a conversation with more then 2 people and you can see that someone reply'd to you from every google website on every page. they also finally let you post more then 500 characters so people can actually have a good conversation, you can post links now which helps a lot with informing and such and you can finally edit a comment. it fixed all my complaints about the comment system. i remember entire comment sections being controlled by one troll acting like an idiot and because everybody reply'd to him everybody saw his comment which in turn made everybody reply to him. that's gone now because reply's don't create an entirely new comment so the comment box doesn't fill up with reply's to one troll and nobody will see that comment because it's at the bottom of the list. google did a great job (which is rare), and it's time that people actually see that
Yes, you have to pick the right "there" to show up! That probably belongs to the more important and difficult rest of the 20% of success. Btw. thanks for showing the making-of of the auditorium scene. I really was wondering how you made it while watching. Now I know!
I have the Science Channel on UA-cam and I have the same problem, "quantity or quality." So I think that the quantity and value are much more important than quality * By the way, I use the Google translator to talk with you =) because my English is very bad :( Best wishes
I have a youtube channel just designed to test this theory out, i've been doing so for the last couple of months, and the channel I've been using for shitty content is getting more views because of the raw amount of content. TheGamersCottage - Archives is that channel.
Bhanoob I'm not sure that approach tells the whole story, just the story for you and what you consider the best of your content. For example, you aren't going to get many views from people viewing your past content if you release shitty content.
yup, that's the plan. it'd be a 1 time thing. but a lot of them. I've done a lot of research about this, hard to explain in 1 comment. sorry for being really vague.
Hey Derek, I don't know why exactly but whatever you talk about in your videos I can easily understand the topic and the things in general that you talk about. That means your videos are very high quality, I know because I have literally watched every one of your videos. Keep doing what you're doing because that's what makes your channels special!
I love this channel and I understand what he's saying but Khan Academy is a completely different kind of channel. His video don't get so many views because he teaches a lot of different subjects so people will only look at videos in the subject they're learning. It's like having an audio textbook so this argument isn't really applicable to Khan Academy.
You nailed it! It's funny - when I was a kid, there was this Danish stand-up comedian & musician, Anders Matthesen, whom I immediately after seeing became fan of. So I sniffed up anything he ever published - I guess it's safe to say, I was an extremely dedicated fan. Where I'm getting at is that today there are SO many people and so much information coming up on a daily basis; it's necessary to sort out who and what to spend time on - which is where your high quality videos (in terms of topics, persona, etc) might actually be the reason I spend more time on your channel(s) than on most of the other channels I subscribed to :-) Thank you SO much for the always awesome videos - and bring in more cosmology here and there ;-)
The "CGP Grey model" is an awesome term that should get it's own wikipedia entry. It is always exiting when the time comes where his next video could be released and the feeling when the new video is actually up is great. I'm curious what the outcome will be if you go a bit more in this direction!
We're trying to do this model on our channel too but you need persistence before it pays off - in your case that should be no problem :)
Your animations are so good. I used to watch your videos everyday in 2 yrs
Damn you’ve grown in subs dude
Here we are, me replying to your comment from 6 years ago. You'll never know how much your videos mean to me, but this is the closest I can get to you. I know you won't read this, but you're amazing.
The CGP Grey model worked really well for your channel! It’s exactly why I subscribed :)
@ZeroFollowers more than a little late lol, but they also used the wrong "its"
I found this video exactly as you described: back-cataloging because of one high-quality video that you produced that caught my eye.
same! I was only 9 when this was uploaded
How I reached to Veritasium
1. watched Parents react to UA-cam Star
2. saw VSauce at top 4
3.watch VSauce and intrigued.
4. Saw the most quiet room in the world by Veritasium..
5. hooked on Veritasium like on meth
+Xant Falklin How I reached Veritasium
1. World's roundest object video recommended 2 days after it came out
2. Subscribed ever since
How I reached Veritasium:
1. Watched VSauce because my brother was watching it.
2. Got hooked on VSauce.
3. Found out about Veritasium via a collab video between him and VSauce
4. Watched his World's Roundest Object video
1. Properties of sblock elements academic reasons.
2. Vsauce straw to move water to space. Subscribed Vsauce.
3. Michael suggested veritasium. Subscribed to it ever since.
+Xant Falklin Most quiet room was my first Veritasium video as well :)
me too
Conclusion: Montreal is a ghost city....
yeah I was surprised at how few people were in his shots.
Rest assured, it is not a ghost city. I know that.
+Rodrigo Colimodio not a ghost town at all, montreal is a bit like the NY city in usa. It's normally swarming of people
+Thecanadianwitch of course, just kidding, I have family there...its a great city.
montreal is too impersonal to me.. i spent 3 weeks there but i wouldn't live there. nobody communicates, nobody look at each other
My eternal struggle. Great stuff!
omg!!! i love you paint!!
oly shit
So you make a video each 2 months
I don't really feel like there's an argument to be made here with regard to Kahn Academy. Here's a guy that has retained a lot of knowledge in mathematics, computer science, and physics, and aspires to share it through means more closely resembling a college lecture. You, Smarter Every Day, V-Sauce and the like are different in that your aims are to invoke inspiration and interest in these fields. He's a UA-cam instructor, you are UA-cam communicators.
+scottucker87 Nerd Writer is a great example of high quality over high quantity. A general vlog over random weekly musings. I watch it religiously. You'd appreciate it.
+scottucker87 Did you just recommend yourself to start watching a channel you're already watching?
(sry for purposely misinterpreting you, thanks for the tip)
+Fippe Schmidt I think that he just wanted to add to his previous comment in general. His second comment wasn't directed at himself, but at people in general.
(haha, I know that you understood that, I'm just purposely misinterpreting you because I'm playing around and I like a good joke. I liked your comment.)
Hodge Smith Haha you actually got me, I thought you didn't understood until I pressed "read more", so I basicly fell for my own shit xD Well played me, well played
I agree with you ....
Wow, you just proved your point. I came here from your latest video about Facebook business model, subscribed, then watched your second latest video and now I'm here. Quality is what is making me do that.
Darek,
I just wanted to comment on something that isn't COMPLETELY related to quantity or quality. That is: youtube collaboration videos and cross references among the science channels.
When collaboration started to happen in the youtube science community, I thought it was very cool, but very temporary. At the very least, I figured it would be a rarity. As it became more common for the Nottingham University faculty, Henry, CGPgrey, you, Michael, Destin, Victoria, and many others to show up in each other's videos I thought it was VERY VERY cool, but assumed it would get old as it became commonplace.
Instead, it hasn't gotten old. It's gotten better. The fact that this is a persistent feature of the youtube science community has... humanized the authors and subjects of these videos. It has made for a much more rich and engaging experience. Instead of watching videos about interesting subjects from distinct, but remote authors, I feel like I'm part of a community of people who are truly EXCITED about science.
Whenever I come to youtube and see a community like this one that works together for everyone's benefit, it's like a shot of optimism. I feel it's very commendable that you guys have done this, and I think that both the viewers and the authors have benefited from it.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
just an average viewer
Thanks for your very thoughtful comment. I too, really enjoy the collaborations. I've been working on one for a couple years now. Hopefully we will get it done in the next month or two. I guarantee it will be awesome.
Mario grasias
very ×4
Khan Academy is a bad example. Their goal is to literally cover every topic (not just the fun and interesting topics). People aren't watching Khan Academy videos for entertainment purposes. They are watching solely for educational purposes. Khan Academy is a real school.
tru
armghan2013 e
David S. right on. They're not chasing subscribers. Their goal is content diversity, not subscriber growth/youtube cash
Yea a lot of this stuff is based on what content you upload and what you're aiming for
On the other hand his begs the question - if something can be looked from Wikipedia (most math formulas and algorithms can be, and the ones that aren't there I have to believe isn't usually covered Khan academy either)
Should it necessarily be covered in a video?
Yeah Khan Academy makes loads of videos and they are not fancy but he can explain better than any teacher I have ever seen and you can choose what you want to learn.. Khan Academy can't be compared to Veritasium and Vsauce. The one is teaching things that you might have missed in class and you are just highlighting all the amazing things you have learnt. How is the worlds roundest object going to get me to pass maths?
True. Khan Academy channel is an educational channel, i.e. they make lessons, Veritasium, even though there's science and education involved, is primarily focused on entertainment. Khan Academy doesn't have as much views simply because: 1) they do lessons and 2) they cover a wide variety of subjects. No one is interested in watching lessons from all of those subjects. If a person is interested in algebra, he probably won't watch their biology videos for example, no matter the quality of those videos. On the other hand, Veritasium is basically an entertainment show. Comparing Khan Academy with Veritasium is like comparing some textbook with a novel. Those are just two vastly different fields.
S?How much math makes mathS?
Andy Payne
In the US, you only really ever hear "math". In the UK (and probably other places too, but I only know about the UK), "maths" is technically correct (I believe as a shortened version of "Mathematics"), and preferred over simply "math" (Mathematic?!?!?).
Haha I just made a comment that was very similar to yours:
"I disagree, khan academy's video have great quality, the problem is it covers a lot of areas that most people do not need to learn. Making the majority of video pointless to watch. It is great for learning when you know what it is you want to learn. Salman Khan in my opinion is the greatest teacher on Earth. I can learn something by watching one video, where as with a teacher irl it would take a few lessons and even then the information doesn't stay in."
I think Derek might be ignorant of Khan Academy that's why his judgement was off.
I'm just giving you guys a hard time. Math is shorter and means the same so it's better :)
Ray Kay I doubt he doesn't know about Khan Academy. Teachers have to make a living so that's why they string shit out (whether by chose or by being in the antiquated system). Problem is young people just want to be spoon feed information but it doesn't work like that. UA-cam is not learning in a pill. It's similar to music in that when I play with someone good we just play off each other for hours but then I see some people just memorize tabs and so they're more like a robot and if they try to adjust the sound or play it remotely different it all comes crashing down. It's hard to tell someone who does not see both sides why it is a totally different to match a stairway to heaven song verbatim verse creating stairway to heaven because to most outside observers they are equivalent.
He's very smart to always make his videos walking around in various places. It makes it interesting; it's easier to give your attention to his word.
One of the reasons I love coming back to the Veritasium channel is that in addition to learning new scientific information in an easy to understand format, is that the topics are all very interesting but also related so that you can build upon knowledge gained from one video and apply it to another and make mental connections. I would like to see more videos that build on each other. Also, when you explain how every day observable phenomena relate to interactions at the atomic level or using quantum mechanics I instantly thumbs up because that is just awesome. I never get tired of that "plot twist!"
I think that balance is what we have to aim for. You have to search for high quality, but still be able to post frequently! I am still looking for that "sweet spot". Sustainability is the key word.
The part about quality literally explained why I've been watching several of our videos at 1am. I am not feeling well so I got on youtube and I found your video on a whim. I'm so glad I did because you have amazing quality videos!
I love the quote at the end, "90% of life is just being there." That hit me hard and inspires me to get out there, to do more. Plus, I've had times where I got to meet idols of mine and that feeling is unmatchable. Get out there and live life. Peace!
Such a rare smart man
truth
why is he still single? D:
Are you sure he is? Maybe he just doesn´t want to show his gf
hmm make sense!
Don't be pessimistic. He is smart, but not that smart. The fact that he has a youtube channel makes him a guy who is smart with a youtube channel.
What I am trying to say is: You can be "smart" too as it all comes down to hard work and sweat.
Quality- that should be everyones motto.
HOW IS VSAUCE NOT ON THAT TOP LIST
I thought exactly the same thing when that list came up!
Jack Kingers I think because vsauce is on science and technology category? I'm not sure
Vsauce isn't categorized as education and science, rather as a 'Science and Technology' channel, for some odd reason
I work at a high school in Chicago as a Special Educator and am constantly looking on UA-cam for material to share with my students to present a topic/ material in another way. I cam across your channel Veritasium and loved it. I have shown it to a couple of students and they thought it was extremely helpful. I have also shared it with other teachers and one has actually decided to use your videos as an intro to each of his classes. I just want to express that I love you videos and look forward to your videos. Thank you.
This video has given me so much to think about and has affirmed some of the doubts about my channel I have been having lately.
On a side note, been watching a lot of your videos lately, they are all quality. Great speaker, handsome face, incredibly smart and sharp points. Beautiful work, Thank you.
I couldn't put something online that'd be "not that great"... kind of a mental block, I won't upload a video if I don't enjoy it myself.
Right though, like i always say; Amazing or bust lol
I have never missed a video that Vi Hart has come up with maybe a one or two. She makes awesome videos.
I generally appreciate UA-camrs like you who follow the CGPGrey model, and I'm definitely following it for myself.
(Then again, I don't have the economic pressure of delivering quantity, because I can't monetize my videos anyway.)
Are Google specieists, and won't allow non-homo sapiens to monetise their videos?
+ 1 for Zogg. My opinion from my favourite youtuber :)
So I'm confused Zogg. Does your research in Earthling affairs is sponsored by the Galactic Bureaucracy? And if not, how could your Earthling -henchmen- followers and fans could help you continue with your -villainous- awesome projects :)
We're still waiting for more!
Seriously you are so spot on. I saw your video about radioactivity shared through some obscure Facebook link and now I am here. Looking through your archive on both channels. Despite having a natural science background, having a bachelor degree in medical biochemistry and about to start a MD I find your videos interesting and useful. I get reminded of my high school classes and actually remember stuff. Thank you! You are one awesome science dude!
You raise a good point about quantity that I've never thought about, it makes sense. The past year I've really started to focus on quality and I think it's paying off. I've upgraded my cameras and now shooting with three of them so I can get different angles. You've given me a lot to think about, thanks.
Thanks for this insight. I started a physics UA-cam channel recently and can only upload a video every 2 weeks even though I work on it everyday to get it to the quality that I want. The other "grow your channel" channels suggest the more uploads the better and at least once a week is what it takes to grow your channel. So thanks for this different insight and now I'll take it easy :) quality over quantity!
I think that there needs to be a distinction between technical quality and content quality. If the content is engaging then technical quality can be overlooked a little.
I suppose the way I look at it is this:
- Technical quality needs a minimum threshold level, otherwise people will be distracted and not notice the content (quality OR quantity) as much (or at all).
- Content quality scales exponentially - increases in quality (i.e.: how interesting the video is) gain an ever-increasing number of views. This is why Khan videos don't get that viral hit. They are helpful, but aren't particularly engaging/entertaining to the average viewer.
- And Video quantity increases with views linearly.
Thus at the beginning, I think frequent, moderately engaging videos would be best, but later on a shift to higher quality, but less frequent videos would have a larger benefit.
I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Any videos I want to make (mine are usually games or random riding videos) can be as good picture quality as I possibly can but, I'm going to be honest here, I don't have the content quality.
It's something everyone has to learn, I'm still trying to, hopefully I will get there one day.
Firecul42 Yeah I've been meaning to make some for a couple years now. I have plenty of ideas, but can't quite nail down how I wanted to construct/present them. I really need to take the advice Derek gives in this (and other) videos, which is to just make something :-)
Teale Britstra I think thats where I fail lol, I'll just settle for uploading something I'd watch, even if not many others will ;)
Firecul42 Making content that you'd want to watch yourself sounds like a perfect plan to me.
Hope so, good luck to yourself.
And nice telescope ;)
In theory, and in the case of channels like veritasium, quality is important. in practice, the most subscribed user is pewdiepie who literally just turns on a webcam and plays a video game. he can pump out video after video with no effort and due to how youtube distributes videos his channel exploded upwards. While channels like veritasium cant really afford to cheap out on quality and just pump out a lot of shitty science videos that nobody cares all that much for, if theres the choice between quality and quantity, and poor quality isnt going to kill you... go for quantity
It's a shame, too
Just goes to show you the direction the human race is going. Hopefully that won't be the case on the Mars colonies.
***** pewdiepie is not a shame why do you think hes th e most sucsessful growing channels?! not a hater i agree with what your saying i get what you mean
wat naviel leichtnoch we had to bring coke in to something for know reason watever im watching veritasium
I get it i guess
I'm watching this because i came back to look at your back catalog and started to watch all your past videos. You have earned my subscription! Keep going!
What is nice about your videos is, even though this one for example is from 2013, it still feels like you really are talking to me. It's wonderful.
Thank you for such wonderful material. I just wish you had the time to make more.
Again, thank you
You know what I took away from this video? That I miss living in Montreal. I used to live at St. Francois-Zavier and St Paul. I loved that loft.
holy shit, it took me a moment
www.google.ca/maps/dir/45.5033987,-73.5566168/45.5051579,-73.5574177/@45.5038972,-73.5558231,18z/data=!4m34!4m33!1m30!3m4!1m2!1d-73.5530288!2d45.5024071!3s0x4cc91a5872a12155:0xc3c8c2148d2f78de!3m4!1m2!1d-73.5531113!2d45.5028391!3s0x4cc91a581b941c09:0x2b8cf257adad1e1f!3m4!1m2!1d-73.5527594!2d45.5036488!3s0x4cc91a57f614cb61:0x233844cb39eb644d!3m4!1m2!1d-73.5526711!2d45.5039915!3s0x4cc91a57edf90b1f:0x783dc7a77e93155!3m4!1m2!1d-73.5528682!2d45.50683!3s0x4cc91a5659074e59:0x74fd9f71de9cb905!3m4!1m2!1d-73.5569307!2d45.5057617!3s0x4cc91a5733072327:0x1bf3f7793b842d2b!1m0!3e2
orange tj he is practically standing underneath my bedroom window at one point.
Great video, Derek!
As an animator, I had to give more emphasis to quality, since releasing animated episodes of my show frequently would be impossible given the amount of time it takes just to make one. I've just done 30 episodes in more than the five years I've been a UA-camr, and even if I don't get as much views as other channels, I think the effort I put into my videos is rewarded with a great base of followers, because they appreciate more every video I make.
Of course, I had to solve the quantity problem, because even the most loyal fans can be discouraged to wait 3-4 months just for one 10 minute video, but there is always a solution. In my case, I began to release soundtracks I designed for my show and a new section where I made short cartoons, and it is starting to pay off.
In conclusion, sometimes it feels like it's a paradox to do both quality and quantity, but all it takes is to sit down and think of an alternative.
Great video, Veritasium!
Yeah quality is better. Makes it more awesome and amazing
I think the biggest problem in the world right now is the fear that has been installed into most people that being "smart" is a bad thing. As a result, most people are afraid to educate themselves and that ignorance feeds the worst of us.
I'd like to see your channel tackle that issue by interviewing or highlighting "smart" people who have ignored all the stereotypes and bettered themselves without regard for bullies -- subtly pushing the notion that being labeled a "nerd" or a "geek" is meaningless because the people tossing about these epithets are usually doing so to further their own agendas.
I totally agree but I also want to add that once you learn about the information, later on in life, you use it and you never regret watching it. I think that's what people who are scared to watch educational videos need to learn.
I discovered your channel by accident, watched a few episodes and was very impressed by the depth of research and QUALITY (:-) of your videos and went ahead and happily subscribed. The QUANTITY is just right. Agree that QUALITY takes TIME. Thanks for having the courage to head down this road!
My favorite videos of yours are the misconception video, experiment videos (or hands on for instance the plastic tube), and when you show me something I didn't know existed (water jet pack and the paralyzed rat walking). So amazing that you met Bill Nye, I grew up loving him! He really fed my interest in science at a young age. I was recently pondering how they no long have that type of show for children, hopefully your videos and videos like it will help inspire the next generation!
How do you hold the camera like that?
skillz
2veritasium lol
Tim Tian Or optical image stabilization
+digitised what does he use?
Ohh, right, my arm is too short.
From a viewer perspective, I vote for quality without a doubt. I have a limited amount of time at my disposal. I'm not a student anymore, I can't spend several hours each day watching UA-cam videos, even if I wanted to. I've actually unsubscribed one channel or the other in the past because they post videos every day, I can't keep up with them and they just clog my sub list.
I watch Veritasium because I like being inspired by new experiences as much as I see the host inspired by his experiences. It is passion for a subject which attracts like passion.
That's what I did. Saw one of your videos on veritasium and now I'm watching them all. I like the quality and that is why I check daily if there is a new one to watch. Keep up the good work!
I was shocked by the attention to detail in your videos. You thoroughly answer every question and then some and keep it fun. You're definitely my favorite science channel now.
No wonder it's so cool if you are here in Montreal, Quebec.
+2veritasium OK. This is old. But I just realized I watched at least 40 of your videos in the past 10 days or so. Quality started me up and quantity kept me going.
It's quite amazing that there are people on UA-cam that subscribe to educational channels. Even though entertainment and comedy gets the most viewers, I feel like I always learn something new nearly everyday. I hope for increase in education viewers and hope for all the Science channels' success.
I always thought it was "90% of success is just turning up". I subbed to this channel just last week after realising that every video I've seen over time was of good quality. Great to know you're going to keep it up!
The reason I am back-tracking all of your videos here is because of the quality! This is exactly the whole point of this topic. You really have great videos.
I've seen recently a lot of high (way too high?) budget videos, with entertaining content, but kinda empty at the end. I personally try to support content quality over look quality.
yes I think that's an important distinction - I am more for the side of content quality
This totally reminds me of Vsauce. He doesn't even create one video per month, but every time he is creating a video, I'm totally looking forward to the next 20 minutes. I just know that I'm about to have a great time. And for such a great quality, I will gladly wait a full month.
My advice, go for quantity most of the time, and go for quality only where it really makes sense. If you examine the youtube videos that go viral, most of the time you aren't impressed with the production quality. That's something a movie studio can do much better than any amateur. UA-cam is a different medium entirely. It's all about having a video camera at the right place at the right time and being brave enough to post the results pretty much no matter what. The channels I most enjoy watching are the ones where the host is really passionate about what he's presenting, and you really feel like you're getting a glimpse into something important in his life. A sense of humor helps too, especially the ability to laugh at yourself and put your outtakes out there for everybody to see.
Just discovered your channel today and now I'm binge watching
2 years later and this still makes me smile haha
I feel dooped.
Dooooooop
Do you live in a ghost town?
In winters normal towns tend to become ghost towns.
kapilesh14 Not in Europe
Exactly my question. What city is that?? :)
ianislavus Look at (2:32)-ish - it is written Centre des sciences de Montréal. I didn't know either this guy lived in my home province, in Canada!
ianislavus couldnt recognise montreal?????
I personally don't like subscribing to channels that make too much content, I find it pollutes my subscription feed with stuff I don't want to see.
But isn't that why you should only subscribe to channels with content you want to actually see? My subscription feed is full of videos I would like to watch when I have the time to do so.
321demonfox Yeah, and I do check to make sure I'll like new stuff the channel uploads. But for example in the case of a Let's Player that uploads some series that I really like and a lot that I don't (i.e. I want to see Mario but not CoD) - then I won't subscribe and will just bookmark their channel instead.
docopoper Oh, I wasn't aware that you could bookmark accually. Thx I will use that. There should really be a way to sub to a single playlist or something (maybe this exist, as you see I am not expert in YT UI)
I love the content about youtube and life. I may be posting in a 3 month old video, but this content and insight into the types of decisions you need to make when creating a youtube channel is pretty wonderful, and not talked about in nearly the same way on other youtubers' channels.
I actually binge watch your videos. After a couple of months I go to your channel and start from the last one you posted, then just let youtube take me to your next one. So I end up watching the really old ones again, but I don't mind 'cause the videos are interesting.
One aspect you didn't talk about is that while, greater quantity generally means less quality, the more you create, the better your base-line quality will become over time, as long as you are a quality conscious person. not everyone is so not everyone learns, but Craig (Weezywaiter) Benzine certainly did. This is a topic he's discussed many times on his vlogging channel. As for you in particular, your base-line quality is already pretty good. Content quality is the most important part, production quality is icing on the cake. Neither one is very useful without marketing in an immediate sense, and marketing itself is not necessarily an "immediate results" kind of thing to begin with. I think what happens to many people is a lack of patience. they want to see those immediate results, and when they don't they just give up or they resort to cheating. This is the disservice that the internet has done for the generations after it was invented. Can't figure it out the in three tries? look up a CHEAT! Can't seem to win? Download a hack! and if there isn't a cheat or a hack for them to find, they're LOST, they freak out, they give up. I see it all the time.
I'd like you to talk about your opinion on the US education system as well as how to actually learn. Not just in school, but things like all these great educational youtube channels. Also, please please PLEASE do a collaboration with the PBS Idea channel. please
Man that must have been the most awesome fanboy moment ever! From now on you will be able to say 'Bill Nye the science guy taught me to tie a bow tie!' Great thoughts about how to do a youtube. Is this vid inspired by a certain friend who recently started their own channel?
This vid is more the result of thinking about this question. I know when I started I thought more videos was invariably better than less, e.g. even if this only appeals to half or a third of my audience I should post it. But as I've continued to work on the platform I've realized that those videos may in fact be detrimental. I've become more careful about topic choices and styles of video, so this vid reflects the evolution of my thoughts.
I'm with you: quality has to come first. I'm a subscriber, love your work, enjoy it famously. My Dad was a scientist (an explosives engineer, for the U.S. Navy.) I think the best advice he ever gave me was this: Never give up an opportunity to learn something; you can never tell when it will come in handy. Gosh, I miss him.
after 6 years of uploading this video I'm watching this , cause I'm one of those people who saw a good content and started digging the hole without being disappointed at all.
On vlog channels it is important to upload somewhat regularly because vlogs are more enjoyable when you feel like you know the vlogger. Otherwise quality wins out, I've now watched two videos on this channel that were of consistent quality so I will subscribe. I came to the channel because your main channel is good.
(hmm apparently youtube spellcheck can recognize "youtube" but can't recognize "vlog" as a word.)
Agreed. It depends on the channel and the goal of that channel. There is a daily vlog that I like to watch, and it is important for that channel to post frequently, even if the content is generally uninteresting and unrefined from a video quality standpoint. I subscribe to that channel for the daily minutiae and I subscribe to (1)Veritasium to actually learn interesting things.
***** Ahh, Your right. Under Safari and Chrome "UA-cam" is recognized as a word but under Firefox it was not.
definitely quality. no one has the time to watch crappy videos.
i do...
Awesome video. I am no expert and I don't want to be too judgmental but according to me following is the ranks I would give for quality among awesome independent educational youtube channels.
1) Vsauce and CGPGrey (I don't think there is any other channel in existence which has better educational videos than these two channels).
2) 1Veritasium and Minutephysics (Awesome channels but I think they are second best)
3) Vlogbrothers(Scishow and Crashcourse)
4) Brady Haran's channel.
This is my opinion and I already said I am no expert.
I never really got into watching Veritasium versus other science shows on UA-cam, but the simplicity of taking a walk with your talking head is fantastic. Subscribed.
I have just discovered you last year but i have watched nearly all of your old and new videos yes quality really matters
I see where you're going with the analogy with Khan Academy.
I see Khan academy as a large reservoir of knowledge on various topics that are within the standard curriculum of many school systems. I watch Sal's videos to help learn a specific topic that I'm struggling with on my own hand. I would define his videos as purely educational. His videos aren't as well polished, but that if he did spend a significantly longer time on each video the amount of topics covered would be far less.
Channels such as yours and most other popular channels under "Education" i would define more as... educational entertainment. They are smaller well polished and thought through bits of juicy knowledge.
Such as your videos on Newtons Laws, they are very pedagogical and try to give you that intuitive feeling of the laws without actually doing any practical work. While Sal's videos are more focused more on approaching different kinds of problems and how to solve them, just what the school system expects you to know.
I think they complement each other, and shouldn't be compared on a "quality vs quantity" basis.
I agree. I sort of think of Khan Academy's channel as an encyclopedia and Veritasium as a science book written for the public. I would never just flip through an encyclopedia, so they get fewer views on their videos, but if I need to know more about a particular subject they're the first place I go.
Beautiful old Montreal
Some of my favorite videos that you've done are the high level physics stuff (i.e. quantum mechanics and up).
I also really really any of the videos that are counter intuitive like the falling slinky or the one on firing a bullet into a block.
I would like to see more videos like the above that encourage user participation.
Destin's channel, smarter every day, had a pretty good video that encouraged user participation recently on the kinematics of grasshoppers. Destin asked users to download free image tracking software and some high speed footage of grasshopper jumping. He asked the users to determine the force of a grasshopper jumping and offered up a prize. (ua-cam.com/video/O-JVepPdZbY/v-deo.html)
It'd be fun to have a similar contest on a veritasium video.
I really loved this video and your final saying on being there and exposing yourself to the world. You have an interesting evaluation on an exact formula of success for a UA-cam channel. Thanks for the input and your time on these videos.
I totally agree. I only just discovered you yesterday, but I already want to see all of your videos.
Quality>Quantity, but spending 5 hours for aesthetics gimmicks (maybe it made all the difference, I can't remember the video) for a negligible increase in quality when you could use that time elsewhere is not the ideal.
Exactly what I am doing right now xD
Found him and now looking at all his videos ^^
Yeah I admit this channel is amazing and I respect and appreciate each moment if effort he puts out to make these videos possible
Richard Markus of effort
Example of quality wins History of Japan by bill wurtz
That's what I though of as well ;) How great was that? =P
Great video(s) man - I've just done exactly what you were talking about (re watching Veratasium and coming across your older videos). Good model and philosophy. The last point you make really hits home too. Your doing a good thing.
Thanks for this channel, the 2veritasium vids are almost stream of consciousness and so fluid and cool to sit back and watch, like having a buddy with you who's on a trip about something :) just subbed
This is actually a big issue in the gaming side of UA-cam. A lot of content creators there are leaning towards quantity, and no matter what kind of content they produce normally, they almost always have a second channel for lets plays etc. where they can provide more quantity.
"Production quality" doesn't necessarily correlate to the utility that the viewer derives from the material. Even at as low as 240p, the earliest Khan Academy videos have some of the clearest, most concise explanations of science and mathematics concepts available. Certain UA-cam pop-sciers can throw much larger production budgets around and create more fancy videos with flashier graphics but the utility for the viewer can still be really quite low if that "production quality" doesn't really contribute significantly to the educational experience. Khan has managed to create some incredibly, incredibly high quality content with an absolutely minimal budget and hence can afford to also have a significant quantity. In online educational content, it's not necessarily as much a question of "quality vs quantity" as it is how one may increase the "bang per buck" in terms of production value to end-user utility. There are some circumstances in which particularly flashy graphics may really truly be worth it for the educational experience (see Eugene Khutoryansky's physics videos, which I encourage you watch on 2x speed) but even in these cases, as long as the basic requirement is met that the viewer may understand what is being depicted, any extra money thrown into polishing the videos would be almost worthless.
(Sorry for the imminent essay)
Also (and sorry if this comes off as any form of an attack) but I've seen you criticise Khan's videos in saying that you're skeptical of their educational value (re: your PhD thesis) and as someone who consumes an awful lot of UA-cam educational content, I have to disagree. You lauded the technique of starting every video with the misconceptions before getting to the meat of the issue. Your means of doing this, however, is through the classic Veritasium street interview, which I actually think may be one of the most wasteful parts of your production. You could do this for much cheaper, even by directly just entertaining the misconceptions yourself at the start of each video. I think it adds a large amount of unnecessary production time to your videos, slows down the material, and actually does in practice only serve more of an entertainment purpose. (I know you've addressed this and how it is not your intent to ridicule anybody, and I trust that it isn't, but given that there are other, better alternatives you could take, I still think that the only thing it really achieves different to the approach that others have taken is that it embarrasses people for entertainment value.)
One actual advantage that Sal has - and this is probably an unfair comparison because your videos are obviously targeted at different audiences - is that in exploring the mathematics, he actually encourages the viewer to try to solve the problems in advance. I think that this might actually be more effective than just providing a list of misconceptions that others have (but, possibly not also). The only fault of this strategy is that only a certain fraction of viewers will actually attempt it, but for those who do, I assume they'll reap the advantages. Furthermore, it's false that Khan doesn't address misconceptions in his videos -- he often does address the places where our natural intuition does not match up with reality whenever he's introducing new concepts, and he also benefits (again, recognising that he's teaching to a different audience than you) through the fact that a lot of the ideas he's discussing are not even ideas that people have been exposed to before.
I am probably being unfair, given that my interest with science and maths videos on UA-cam is to actually have a more--than-surface-level understanding of the concepts, and that there's very little that channels like Vsauce or Numberphile (& Brady's other channels) or your own can do for me given the pop-sci format. I think your channel is really well-suited to discussions on particular one-off topics like your video on Khan Academy (wherein even though I disagree with your conclusions, the discussion was incredibly interesting), or your recent video on p-hacking in published research, or your anecdotes video. I don't really get any value, though, from your videos attempting to deal with hard science or things like quantum effects/relativity, but I understand that that's also because I'm not part of your intended audience.
Bow ties are cool!
Wow, I could really feel your passion for what you do in this video. Scratch that , in all of your videos. You Help me open my eyes to a world I once thought was so amazing as a child. Sort of lost through the year , but now is back in full force. Please keep doing what you're doing . And ill follow suit in this crusade for truth and answers.
Every video of you is a gem i enjoy watching
I disagree, you don't need quality, you just need perceived quality. If people think your videos are good, that's good enough to get views.
Its really just about expectations. This is why mcdonalds is still running.
YTisMEH ThisisBS Which is why, every year, COD is even more over the top than the last year. It's so over the top every year, I was expecting actual Ghosts in Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Low quantity, high quality: Veritasium
Low quality, high quantity: Pewdiepie
I'm not sure if your idea stands up to the facts… Which has more subs again?
thats because the type of content also affects the subs, pewds makes funny video's that simply don't require as much work as science video's like veritasium do. also 12 year olds
+The Real Flenuan his videos aren't bad quality i thought but he doesn't put in a months worth of effort like Veritasium or Vsauce, which i'm guessing are a lot harder to make.
1:10 what about Vsauce?
GloryHole Productions This was uploaded in 2013
Vsauce had millions of views back in 2011
GloryHole Productions Vsauce is not an educational channel, it's classified as Science & Technology
it really does speak to quality when it comes to the vids on V1 because you can see he enjoys what he does honestly and that thought and care are put into each thing. upon learning about this channel i subscribed to it immediately just based on what ive seen in the other channel in the past. even if it takes a month for a vid we all have to understand that he has a life and these things take time. this same vid applies to vsauce, cgp grey and all the other channels he mentions. keep up the good stuff and i always look forward to anything these guys put out. i mean, where else have you learned about something as mundane as trees in a way that left you amazed in a way as this channel did.
I'm diggin all these recent videos about your facebook fan page insights and this too. Awesome!
As Islamic philosopher Bediüzzaman said;
"Quantity has no meaning if there is no quality."
CGPgrey seems to think quality, but Brady from Numberphile seems to think quantity
i like the new comment thing, yes it allows for people to post books and spamlinks but you won't see them because it works via top comments. the reply system is much much better and it's much easier to follow a conversation with more then 2 people and you can see that someone reply'd to you from every google website on every page. they also finally let you post more then 500 characters so people can actually have a good conversation, you can post links now which helps a lot with informing and such and you can finally edit a comment. it fixed all my complaints about the comment system. i remember entire comment sections being controlled by one troll acting like an idiot and because everybody reply'd to him everybody saw his comment which in turn made everybody reply to him. that's gone now because reply's don't create an entirely new comment so the comment box doesn't fill up with reply's to one troll and nobody will see that comment because it's at the bottom of the list. google did a great job (which is rare), and it's time that people actually see that
Yes, you have to pick the right "there" to show up! That probably belongs to the more important and difficult rest of the 20% of success. Btw. thanks for showing the making-of of the auditorium scene. I really was wondering how you made it while watching. Now I know!
I'm glad you're striving for quality content; it's why I'm subscribed.
I have the Science Channel on UA-cam and I have the same problem, "quantity or quality."
So I think that the quantity and value are much more important than quality
* By the way, I use the Google translator to talk with you =) because my English is very bad :(
Best wishes
I beg to differ, If you're after views, quantity can always trump quality.
There's probably a tipping point, where your videos are so bad it's not worth producing them.
I have a youtube channel just designed to test this theory out, i've been doing so for the last couple of months, and the channel I've been using for shitty content is getting more views because of the raw amount of content.
TheGamersCottage - Archives is that channel.
Bhanoob I'm not sure that approach tells the whole story, just the story for you and what you consider the best of your content. For example, you aren't going to get many views from people viewing your past content if you release shitty content.
yup, that's the plan. it'd be a 1 time thing. but a lot of them.
I've done a lot of research about this, hard to explain in 1 comment. sorry for being really vague.
Bhanoob Your channel proves the other point. 2000 vids and 132 subs? Really?
i wanna see science... keep doing what u doing
Quality Is the thing. First i watched Incompleteness of Math and i watched all of your videos
Hey Derek, I don't know why exactly but whatever you talk about in your videos I can easily understand the topic and the things in general that you talk about. That means your videos are very high quality, I know because I have literally watched every one of your videos. Keep doing what you're doing because that's what makes your channels special!
Isn't Vsauce the most subscribed science channel..? And he only releases about 20 videos a year
I love this channel and I understand what he's saying but Khan Academy is a completely different kind of channel. His video don't get so many views because he teaches a lot of different subjects so people will only look at videos in the subject they're learning. It's like having an audio textbook so this argument isn't really applicable to Khan Academy.
5:27 does he mean grade a under a?
I think he is talking about grey from CGPGrey
oh yes thanks. i love that channel as well
grade a under a sucks anyways.
grade wasn't a thing back in 2013
Austin H Nope, CPGray
You nailed it!
It's funny - when I was a kid, there was this Danish stand-up comedian & musician, Anders Matthesen, whom I immediately after seeing became fan of. So I sniffed up anything he ever published - I guess it's safe to say, I was an extremely dedicated fan.
Where I'm getting at is that today there are SO many people and so much information coming up on a daily basis; it's necessary to sort out who and what to spend time on - which is where your high quality videos (in terms of topics, persona, etc) might actually be the reason I spend more time on your channel(s) than on most of the other channels I subscribed to :-)
Thank you SO much for the always awesome videos - and bring in more cosmology here and there ;-)
THANK YOU!!! this is so amazingly insightful. you say everything that's in my head and to hear it coming from someone else is very inspiring.