Thanks everyone for your vote of confidence in my reviews! ❤ I'm still curious if anything changes when I do NOT accept gear in exchange for reviews for 3 months. Can't wait to try it out starting in mid to late March!
So if "bias" implicit/explicit exists, I guess it's in the companies will to take a shot, at ANY review (just to get the product out there), any company who can't or won't try to get a review would be eliminated from consideration. So I guess there is numerically, and statistically a bias *for* companies that have people who managing sending stuff out for reivews on YT. That's the only bias that exists. And you are NOT alone if that's a bias at all.
Your awareness of your own potential bias is one of the things that draws me to your channel. It seems that a major benefit of getting a free product isn't the bias itself, but the "first mover" advantage of getting it in advance, so you (I mean any creator in that situation, not you specifically) can publish your review to coincide with the product release. Even with no particular bias from the creator, the structure provides timely visibility for the product brand. I noticed this especially in your review of the DJI Mic 2. Because of the firmware issue, you couldn't release your review when the embargo lifted, so you first released a (somewhat apologetic) prequel explaining the situation. At least to me, that prequel prompted me to keep an eye out for your later product video (even though I had by that point already chosen the Rode Wireless Pro!) Good luck with your experiment in asceticism!
From my perspective, I've personally received a lot of value from every one of your videos over the years and am thankful that you are willing on putting in the time to help us all out!
Bro, don't let trolls stop you receiving stuff. You work hard and your content is honest. I always trust you and value you. Delete the trolls and keep making great videos ❤
Curtis, you are most trustworthy audio person on whole UA-cam together with AudioScienceReview and Eric's Audio Corner. They are more into speakers/headphones and you are more into recording audio. Love you all, you all are reasons why I still watch UA-cam. You helped me a lot to produce better videos. Not on my channel, because I abandoned it way back, but professional videos that I'm doing as a job. ❤❤ ❤
Long time lurker here.. In 2018 i was thrown into the film scene overnight and i was booked as a sound mixer on a tv commercial. I did not know anything about the gear, i did not know anything about my role on set. Hell, i hadnt even been on a film set before. The day before the shoot, the production company sent me a list of all the gear which they had rented for me to use, and i stayed up ALL NIGHT, not a single minute of sleep, vacuuming youtube and google for all information i could get on every piece of gear on that list. And here is where i found your channel. The following day, i was nervous and on set, I was confident about the gear but i did now know what to be expected of me. Later that night, i got a great message from the producer telling me i passed the day with flying colors. I quit my fulltime job a few months later and have since worked in production sound as a freelancer and i couldnt be happier. What i wanted to say - If you ever find yourself in sweden, i think i owe you a dinner and perhaps a beer. If it wouldnt for you, i would still be working for the airlines. Thank you curtis for everything! You do you, I will always listen to your advice, biased or not!
You have GOT to be the single MOST TRUSTWORTHY, straight-forward, honest, technically competent, critical-yet-kind reviewer on all of UA-cam - or even the whole damned internet. I can't believe you even have to do this video.
I'm driven to your videos because of your professionalism, product knowledge and depth of information provided. Your Pros & Cons section is particularly helpful so that I'm able to see the good and bad features of a product. I don't need someone opening a box because I assume we all know how to do this. I don't need flashy transitions or stylized intros. Just keep it simple. You accomplish this perfectly.
Those are great and honest points about product reviews. There are of course some creators who straight out lie to their audience and also break the law by not discolsing that they get paid to do a video. However I think that is rare. What happens more is that creators get to know personally the people at the companies that offer products for review, which makes it harder then to be harsh or critical. I know I've fallen for that where I just kept on delaying a video review and eventually never released it because the product was bad but I personally liked the people at the company and didn't want to hurt their feelings or make enemies. Since then I've actually tried to avoid to personally get to close to the people at these companies and don't accept their dinner invites or those creator retreats to exotic locations etc. It all affects our opinions. I also think a lot of viewers have personal bias without realizing it. Sometimes the viewers already bought a product and spend so much money on it that they hate to see a video that is critical of it. People often want confirmation that their purchase was wisely made. Also a lot of viewers watch a particular creator so much that they feel like they know them personally and can trust them and them. Then when that creator is caught lying they will make excuses for that creator because they "are a good person". I've seen all of that happen. Also having personally met a lot of the creators that I liked online, only made me realize that some of them are nothing like what they portray in their videos. They're either not as sociable or funny or energetic as they come across in their videos. You Curtis and your brother are exactly as cool and likable as in your videos. The only thing I remember that shocked me when we first met was how tall you are! 😊 I felt so tiny. Keep up the videos!
Thanks for sharing this comment, Tom! It’s weird, but even though I’m a subscriber, you’ve fallen off my radar. It’s that damn UA-cam algorithm, I suppose. I see that I’ve got hours and hours of your videos to enjoy, so at least there’s a silver lining. I think there are all sorts of bias and it’s important to distinguish what sorts of bias we are talking about. There are harmful biases and non-harmful ones. It’s true when we say “everyone has bias”, but it’s important to understand biases on a case by case basis. Back in 2000, I worked for a company that did seminars for Final Cut Pro. We also made tutorial DVDs. We were often asked for recommendations. I owned a Canon GL-1, so when I recommended that camera, I always made sure to point out why I had chosen it, and how other cameras from different brands might better serve a clients needs. The ethical problem came up when our company was hired to create material for Canon, which was tutorial and marketing hybrid DVDs. It was at this point that we were told to push Canon cameras and to downplay other brands. We were told to avoid disclosing our company’s relationship with Canon. I was let go after a few months if this, but I was already on the verge of quitting. I don’t blame Canon for my boss’s questionable ethics. They might have or might not have directed him to engage in this unethical marketing (but I doubt they would have had to).
@@MarcosElMalo2 yup I've heard of a lot of similar cases like that where certain brands are conveniently omitted. I'm happy that you discovered my videos again. The youtube algorithm now only let's less than 1% of my subscribers know when I release a new video. Unfortunately the subscribers don't matter much anymore. There are only certain channels that youtube overlords prefer to promote and everyone else is left in the shadows. All my videos that get any decent amount of views get it all from new people and not my subscribers according to the youtube analytics. And the only reason why those new people discovered my new video is because it was posted on some other popular website or youtube channel.
The key point for me is that people like you have the ability to take a step back and be as transparent as possible about their relationship with the gear companies. And I do appreciate that you actually talk about the bias matter. I've personally never perceived you as a shill.
Been watching Curtis for almost 8 years, he is my go to single source whenever I need to buy or upgrade anything audio. So many old channels have disappeared, like Dave Dougdale and maybe Tom Antos is still around I think - but Curtis is the OG of video tech UA-cam imo. Looking at that audio part 1 course too as I have a big documentary project I am working on solo this year.
The people who "accuse" you of being a [fill in the blank] are in my opinion accusing you of something THEY would do...a.k.a. ignore those few comments as they don't matter IMO. :)
Honestly the way you review and just give a perspective is excellent, that is why others mention you in their videos. For example your review of the DJI Mic clearly helped me decide that the Rode Pro was a better option for my needs.
The way creators present a product even with a bias attached to it ( free product etc) goes a long way to how much credibility I give to them. Some people always seem to promote stuff from the same manufacturer over and over and always have glowing things to say every time. These are the people I don't really listen to that much. Your reviews are always fair and balanced and I don't see any reason to guestion any of your opinions or conclusions. It's up to the viewer to do a little reseach and soul searching to figure out who is worth listening to and who isn't. I would rank you up in the upper 1% of creators who consistently create good honest reviews that are worth watching. Keep up the good work.
I have never been a content creator/influencer, but I have been given free products to review. I stopped doing it, because once you review products, you start getting products to review, and it's almost like a job!
You’re definitely the last person I’d ever think was a shill. Personally, it’s always easier to make reviews with something that was just bought like a normal customer, but like you said, a lot of us would go bankrupt pretty quickly. One kind of cool thing that can happen on UA-cam is that you find people actually want YOUR specific viewpoint on something, so I figure that I’d rather work to serve those people instead of someone who assumes worst intent regardless of what I do or what the actual facts are.
Thanks Tom. That’s why I appreciate your content. What a lot of people don’t realize as well is that there comes a point, and I bet you’ve felt this, where you have no need for new gear. So there isn’t any drive to make the new products look their best, you can easily just talk about their pros and cons from your perspective.
@@curtisjudd definitely. And like you said, there is a bias in what we choose to review in the first place. My reviews tend to be positive because I just don’t want to spend time dealing with something that’s awful, so by the time a video has been made it probably means I like whatever it is.
I watch videos from reviewers for the way they are presented. I dont care about bias as long as it's disclosed. As a tuber myself who also does reviews, I can say everyone is already biased depending on their own personal preferences. I just want to see the product features, pluses and minuses, and that person's opinion based on their expertise (no matter if they are a pro or beginner). It all adds value imo. I can be a big boy and make the ultimate decision on whether I buy something or not. Thanks for all the hard work! Ps I bought something based on one of your reviews and love it👍
I think you are very clear on disclosures. Also you are very good at trying to be clear on your own biases, where you are coming from. I think that’s important, for example semi-pros opinion on lights and cameras might be the “wrong take” for normal pebbles who have less acceptance on complexity and weights. You, Philip Bloom, and other pros, have great professional opinions that are “the wrong take” for many of their viewers - pros accept more weight for pro performance. Like big lamps and cinema cameras, completely unusually for many non-pro use-cases where low weight and being allowed in without approvals matter more. (You moved on to your point about not being vlogger, that pretty much captured similar topics as I had in mind). As for a break in product videos, your technique / mentor videos rock so that will work perfectly!
I’m in awe of your videos and channel. Your channel has allowed me to grow as a creator (I work in TV). Also, your gentle humanity and unassuming nature is refreshing. You clearly review the things people are most curious about. The DJI mic 2 (recently released) being a great example. You help so many people and have taught me so much about lighting. Of course your videos influence me to buy certain things but that’s a good thing. Maybe you should consider returning some of the kit given to you after the review is finished. I think you deserve to keep it though. I’ve never questioned your integrity for a nanosecond. I flock to your videos ahead of Netflix, they are that well produced.
Fantastic video Curtis, I appreciate you sharing your open and honest opinions about this topic. I have to say that I have never once watched one of your videos and thought "Curtis is being dishonest" or "Curtis is misleading us". You are a beacon of ethics on UA-cam, and the entire UA-cam platform is better because you're a part of it. Keep up the amazing work, and I'm excited to see how your experiment goes.
I find that you are always honest in your assessments of gear and I learn a ton from you, so I do not mind a bit if you make money through affiliate marketing or even sponsorship - just ignore any negative feedback, I never worry about your ethics Curtis. All the best to you and your family. Cheers!
This is a great take on implicit bias which I've had many trainings on and apply daily at work. Do I think you're a shill no because of your notifications about the gear you review and end the end I can choose to accept or reject your shillness if that's a word lol. Keep up the good work, I look forward to the next 3 months and what it brings.
Great video, cool experiment as well. And great points around making sure that, as viewers, we explore different perspectives. Even BEFORE receiving free gear, we all have a bias in even choosing what topics and products to create videos about. It's excellent to see you proactively reminding fans not to get stuck in too small of a bubble 🙌
As a reviewer, you are dammed if you do - dammed if you don’t. Keep doing what you are doing Curtis. And YES, every reviewer is biased. There is no such thing as a truly objective review.
MR JUDD IS NOT A SHILL IN EVEN 1 ATOM OF HIS BEING. Do I know him? No. Am I an audio expert? No. However, my job is to understand what people are telling me and figure out who is dying and who isn’t. Their lives and my livelihood depends on it. Based on 20 years of experience, I have 100% faith in Mr Judd and his objectivity.
CuJu ⁉No way man. And Emma she's no shill, and neither is Danni. All are shining examples of _truth_ in live streaming, with full disclosures, citations and notes. It's all there at the beginning/end of any review.
You’re not a shill, Curtis. I understand the cynical perspective of someone who may use that label, but it is definitely overly harsh and unjust to throw such vitriol your way. I suggest that anyone who did throw it your way has an unbalanced viewpoint.
Fine business on your decision to step back from reviews for three months, however the downside from my perspective is the lack of a Curtis Judd review for a piece of gear that I am particularly interested in.
I have no problem with you receiving goods to review. I've compared your reviews with that of many others and you are always fair and accurate. Keep up the great work.
Perhaps consider free loans of products from resellers or distributors, rather than the manufacturers? B&H, Adorama, and the rest are far less invested in the success of any given product.
Been following your reviews for years, and I can confidently say that all your reviews are fair and never shady. All the reviews are very subjective and straight up show the pos/neg/opinion in the first slide, literally! I personally don't think you should stop receiving anything, since those free products give you a chance to review stuff ahead of them hitting the market and help us the viewers make a judgment on how we would like to move forward with our purchasing. so thta's a huge loss for us.
IMO, if you fully disclose your relationship to the product (or company), you aren't "shilling" at all. IMO, if someone is calling you a "shill" on this platform, it's most likely from someone who has a poor self image of themself, and can only feel better by tearing someone else down. IMO, you don't need to prove anything to any one. You have always been honest with your viewership (as best as I can tell. I watch many, but not all your videos) and presented in an educational as well as practical perspective. Let's face it the troll can't get a sponsorship themself and is simply jealous of your acumen and skills. I'm looking forward to the next video. I'll learn something.
I have made full-on sponsored paid videos and others where I've been given free devices. I don't describe them as reviews, they are things I would buy if I could afford them, and I'm a shameless fanboi about them. I leave the objective reviews to review channels.
I certainly don't think so! Any more courses on the way? I'm hoping you'll put together a color correction/color grading course for DaVinci Resolve one of these days.
As a reviewer myself (for Amazon Vine), I have always enjoyed your reviews, your layout of content and information and your presentation. I firmly believe as a reviewer we just offer an insight, but ultimately we are offering a perspective and choice and should be one of several voices someone takes into account when they are looking whom/what to spend their money on. You do you, but I hope you don't change to much after your 3 month experiment (unless its to become more awesome).
Mister Judd - you helped me a few years ago with some advice. You proved to be a complete scholar and a gentleman - you took the time to give me the benefit of your advice, which I was amazed at given how busy your life must be. Not only are you generous with the time you give others but you are down to earth and pragmatic (which I reckon saved me thousands on buying the wrong equipment - whether buying gear that's wayyyyy beyond what I need (deminising returns) or experimentation until I finally found the sound quality I needed). More importantly, you saved me hours / months / years of time and potential frustration. You have always struck me as humble, honest and hard working. And I also love the family and social values that we discussed at the time. So please don't have any self-doubts: you sir, are not a shill but a valuable contributor to society. Keep doing the great work you do 👍👍👍
I personally like your approach to the tech you cover. Comes across as always trying to cover both sides as best as possible but focusing more on the technical side of things. Nowadays you’ve always gotta listen to a range of peoples opinions to your exact point of ‘perspective’. Keep up the great work as always
I've never thought of you as biased, or a shill. I appreciate what you are doing and it's an interesting experiment. But as yet, I've seen no reason not to trust your reviews. I completely agree that everyone has biases of some kind. Some of them may simply come from tastes and preferences. Some may come from certain life experiences or other factors. And of course, money and such can come into play. And to some extent, biases can be a good, or at least a neutral thing. A person with a certain "bias" may bring a unique viewpoint or perspective to a review. But there's definitely a line between holding personal biases (even subconscious ones) but still being open and honest, and putting out glorified ads. It will be interesting to see the results of your trial period. If you decide your path forward is to stop accepting review samples moving forward (beyond the three-month period), I just hope you're doing it because it's the right thing for you. If so, that's great. But bear in mind, these companies are going to find folks to send products to for review. Not all of them will be as thorough and objective as you. Cheers!
👍 I'm pretty sure I'll go back to accepting gear as long as I retain full editorial freedom. Just checking to make sure I don't have any major blindspots and taking a bit of a breather. Reviewing week after week is like running constantly on a hamster wheel.
Shill! Shill! SHILL!!!!! - But seriously, I'm wondering what has prompted this turn of events? Has there been questions about the veracity of your reviews of products? I've been watching, and relying upon the expertise shared in, your videos for quite some time now. I've always found your review videos to be of high quality, excellent information, well thought out and balanced. I think a hallmark of your videos is your comment screens sharing technical details, pros, cons and your thoughts on the product. As defined in the dictionaries, a shill wouldn't disclose that he is an agent of the manufacturer. You've always been open about how the product in the videos is sourced. I don't see a conflict there. Of course, we all have our own biases. If we're open about those biases the video is improved because the viewer can judge for themselves if/how that bias is coloring the review.
No you're not a shill. Your videos provide tons of information that's helpful to the community. And if anyone watches your videos carefully your version of 'this isn't good/skipit/thisisbad/notgoodsound" is when you say, "This is not my favorite" rofl. But overall anyone in a video can say what they want but when you put mic comparisons in there the video doesn't lie, it shows how it really sounds and everyone who watches can draw their own conclusion. I can review a mic and say this mic sounds great (but if it sounds bad, the facts are in the video). So TLDR, nope, you're credible in my book! :P
My perspective......., I use you as a quality sounding board ( pun intended ) for making purchasing decisions for gear. You come off as genuine and for the most part unbiased. So if you don't accept free gear, and therefore do less videos about said gear, your value for my purposes does down, and therefore my viewership to your channel. Now that's not to say that I will unsubscribe or that I am judging you for this decision, its just as a viewer, you mainly get my views for product reviews.
Great transparency Curtis! It's so hard to trust most UA-camr "reviews." Getting free products, paid or not, there will be bias if you want to continue to get free products. Especially before the product is available to the general public.
I’ve watched many of your videos and I’m quite knowledgeable in the audio world. I know immediately when someone is full of it. You have always been upfront and quick to point out pros and cons about the products you discuss. Also you give sound examples too give the viewer an opportunity to make their own judgement. When I want a detailed review of something I come here. When I want to feel like I need to buy something I go to a schill lmao!
Given life is relatively short and creating video content with cutaways, b roll, structure and a reliably systematic purpose, takes a decent chunk of time, there is no harm whatsoever in accepting free gear in order to be able to review it. I think people by now have in-built bias filters anyway and what's more, prior decades of magazines and newspapers reviewing products, always came with significant favourable bias for advertisers. The commercial world is what it is. That often means that products aren't as good as they could be and mass-market offerings are typically constrained in some way. I've always respected your attention to detail and honesty with issues - e.g. you mentioned, the Roadcaster Pro 2 had begun delaminating so I returned it for a repair, etc. I'd say you are on the very conservative side of induced bias. Not the happy clappy cheering everything beyond belief type.
Your reviews are based on facts, like testing the noise floor of a mic etc... I know at times you have not recommended a product for certain situations. That makes you very honest IMO.
Your product reviews are professional, educational and helpful. Keep them coming. Don't worry about this shill silliness. Everybody can see how the product leads to your reasoning.
PewDiePie and Linux TechTips, I don't go to them for reviews or HowTo anything,... as they live/die by their numbers and how many ads they clear each week/month/episode.
What??!! That’s silly, you show just as much if not MORE bias by only reviewing products you felt attractive enough to spend your own money on. Maybe review on loan is best?
You always offer a balanced and in-depth opinion. Don't worry about any negative comments that suggest otherwise. You're a breath of fresh air compared to all the shallow UA-cam "content creator" / "Whaaaats up guys!?" tech bros who have no professional experience.
Gosh, I wish I had a criticism just to add balance to all the positive comments here! I can't think of a single one. You are a go-to source for me, and your reviews are spot on, the most objective out there. Every now and then I wonder why I wasted money on a piece of gear, and I think of all the glowing reviews I watched. Your reviews are never among them. You exude sincerity, kind of like an Abe Lincoln. You're probably from the Midwest.😂
Transparent state of mind. Apparently not into longing for sexiness or fast bucks, but honesty. As least the way this resonates to me. Appreciate that. Thanks, Curtis and greetings from Nuremberg, Germany.
To echo many of these other comments, I hold you in high regard with you reviews as you always provide any bias context before you give real world opinion and POV on whatever is your review target. If you come to the internet for buying advice, like your audience does, prolly 90% of purchase decisions are baed on reviews I bet. Keep on 'shilling' as you do, 'cause ...you manage expectations so well.
As long as you're objectively giving the pros and cons from your perspective without holding back I think it is absolutely fine. I haven't seen a video of yours where I would have named you a "shill". Your reviews are very professional and I've bought quite some gear after watching them.
Curtis, I have never thought of you as a shill. You are up front about the products that are given to you for review. I feel you judge them fairly-listing both Pros & Cons. Of the items I have purchased after seeing a review of yours: I've been very pleased with all of them. Your reviews let me decide if I'm okay with the cons. I trust your reviews & I feel you are honest in them. Thank you!
1) I trust Curtis’s reviews as honest and as objective as possible. Of all the different reviewers on UA-cam that I watch for all the categories of products that I am interested in, I trust Curtis the most (ok and Bandrew too). 2) if I’m interested in a product and Curtis has reviewed it, I won’t purchase it without watching his review in full.
Two points. Firstly, I love your videos, and I have received a lot of useful information from them, bias or no bias. Secondly, how does buying a product with your own money make you less biased. If you buy it you have a vested interest in feeling that you were justified in your purchase decision. Keep making balanced, interesting and useful videos, for those of us who don't have an opportunity to try before we buy.
My perspective is simple, I prefer not to purchase a piece of audio or lighting gear, until I have seen Curtis’s review. I do not always agree with the Pros and Cons but I always value your opinion because you work in the industry and are not just a UA-camr.
There’s harmful bias and non-harmful bias. Let’s say that a friend loaned me a piece of equipment so I could review it without buying it. There’s no harmful bias there. Compare that with accepting loaner gear from a company. In that case there is a potential for harmful bias, but we cannot automatically assume it. In the case of Curtis, I find him trustworthy, so I’m not going to give the potential harm much weight, but other people might have a different opinion. I am curious about one thing that doesn’t really have anything to do with bias. Is it ethical to buy something for a review and then return it? I’m of two minds on this. I think it is perfectly ethical if I might not return it because I am honestly reviewing a product to see if it meets my needs. In other words, I am buying it, testing it (and the testing is the review), and I might keep it if I like it or return it for a refund if I don’t. However, I’m not so sure I would be acting ethically if I never intended to purchase a product, but just to review it. In that case, I’m forcing others to cover the costs of shipping, stocking, etc. The product would have to be sold as an open box, affecting profits of the vendor. These costs are often pushed on to the consumer, i.e., everyone else. I think a good rule of thumb is “What if everyone did this?” Does the social benefit of doing a review balance the cost? I don’t know how common the practice is of “buy, review, return”, but I think it should be disclosed. I’ve seen a few reviewers who are open about this practice, and I’ll give them points for honesty.
In regards to vlogging the fact that your videos are NOT vlogs is high up on the list of reasons why I like your videos. They are no nonsense videos that are not trying to be trendy and appeal to a younger audience. I've grown really sick and tired to all the 20 and 30 something year olds that cover camera, photo, lighting and sound tech but also try to make it super trendy with filler and buzz words and made up words and flashy set ups and all the rest. I just want information delivered in a professional manner. It's the same reason I like Gaffer and Gear. No BS.
Hey Curtis. You provide some of the least shill-y product reviews on this platform. You tell us the deal right off the top every time. I wouldn't change a thing.
Hi Curtis. I appreciate your videos and perspective, whether they are reviews or technique videos. I think any long time viewer will know what your channel is about and they accept that. If we wanted to learn how to vlog, we'd go elsewhere. :-) Please keep up the good work. Cheers JC
My opinion about my 7k € sony alpha 1 is far more legitimate that all those influencers that reviewed the product for free. Each default, each dificuty you encounter, you swallow it for every dime you have puted in it. Still , I believe in honesty of most of people lile you that have understood the limitations of getting something for free. Your knowledge, how educational are your videos, and the fact that you've tried so many products to put them in perspective of each other.... it is far more superior than the bias you are describing. Thanks for all the work you have put to share your knowledge with us. Keep on, we need more people like you !
Curtis, you are definitely not a shill for anyone. I have always thought of you as the most trusted reviewer in the photo/video industry for years. If people are calling you that they’re just some lame Internet trolls. There are many others in the photo/video industry on UA-cam definitely heavily influenced by the manufacturer. keep doing what you’ve always been doing!
Hey Curtis, very thoughtful talk and courageous decision to put yourself through this self test that most wouldn’t think is necessary. I am an engineer and a hobby filmmaker if there’s such a thing and I have a lot of respect for you and your work. I’ve always felt as if you must have some kind of teaching and/or engineering background because I feel the things you do seem to come from genuine need to satisfy curiosity to understand things and let alone the question of trust or honesty I actually enjoy the aspect that your scientist like personality will bring out truth from things in ways that’s applicable to a variety of people and with the knowledge and satisfaction that you’ve done enough leg work, the quality of your tests is amazing I feel very confident sometimes I check your videos out just to see if you also think what I think about something like a reality check with a trusted friend. The sad thing about being in public domain and has been that way since time immemorial is that criticism and often cruel, unfair criticism is absolutely unavoidable, I’ve seen it up close nobody is spared and just everybody have to find their own ways of dealing with it and I have no doubt yours will truly reflect your soul in it. Love and respect always!
As far as I'm concerned, as long as a reviewer is honest about their relationship with the manufacturer, and doesn't outright lie about the product, all else is fine. The whole 'shill' thing is about honesty more than anything else. Of course we all have our own biases, which may mean we skip over potential problems that wouldn't impact the way WE work, and that's why it's always good to find many different reviews of a product, and pay closer attention to those reviews by those who have a similar workflow to our own.
It's a shame that you can't watch your videos without bias. I think that you'd find that you are as fair as any reviewer for any product. I just wish you did reviews on reliable late model used cars and internet bank accounts. You don't need to do any reviews on audio equipment because I bought that stuff a week ago. You've been a huge help not only with strengths and weaknesses, but with helping me understand just what features are important and why. Thanks!
why did this video need to be made? your explanations are fairly self-verifying. one of my top favorite reviewers, especially because you cut to the chase in the beginning.
Thanks everyone for your vote of confidence in my reviews! ❤
I'm still curious if anything changes when I do NOT accept gear in exchange for reviews for 3 months. Can't wait to try it out starting in mid to late March!
So if "bias" implicit/explicit exists, I guess it's in the companies will to take a shot, at ANY review (just to get the product out there), any company who can't or won't try to get a review would be eliminated from consideration. So I guess there is numerically, and statistically a bias *for* companies that have people who managing sending stuff out for reivews on YT. That's the only bias that exists. And you are NOT alone if that's a bias at all.
I‘m looking forward to the topics you‘ll cover when you don‘t review stuff.
@@carpetbomberz Good insight. 👍 Bias exists not just in the reviewer, but also the product company.
Your awareness of your own potential bias is one of the things that draws me to your channel.
It seems that a major benefit of getting a free product isn't the bias itself, but the "first mover" advantage of getting it in advance, so you (I mean any creator in that situation, not you specifically) can publish your review to coincide with the product release. Even with no particular bias from the creator, the structure provides timely visibility for the product brand.
I noticed this especially in your review of the DJI Mic 2. Because of the firmware issue, you couldn't release your review when the embargo lifted, so you first released a (somewhat apologetic) prequel explaining the situation. At least to me, that prequel prompted me to keep an eye out for your later product video (even though I had by that point already chosen the Rode Wireless Pro!)
Good luck with your experiment in asceticism!
@@ProfGregTuckerKellogg LOL! Thanks so much. It won't be complete asceticism, I'll still buy *some* products LOL
From my perspective, I've personally received a lot of value from every one of your videos over the years and am thankful that you are willing on putting in the time to help us all out!
Well said, I can't agree more
Thanks! 🙏
Thanks Carlos 🙏
Bro, don't let trolls stop you receiving stuff. You work hard and your content is honest. I always trust you and value you. Delete the trolls and keep making great videos ❤
Curtis, you are most trustworthy audio person on whole UA-cam together with AudioScienceReview and Eric's Audio Corner. They are more into speakers/headphones and you are more into recording audio. Love you all, you all are reasons why I still watch UA-cam.
You helped me a lot to produce better videos. Not on my channel, because I abandoned it way back, but professional videos that I'm doing as a job.
❤❤ ❤
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I was hoping for the initial black screen with your take written out. Would have been funny 😂
😂
Long time lurker here..
In 2018 i was thrown into the film scene overnight and i was booked as a sound mixer on a tv commercial. I did not know anything about the gear, i did not know anything about my role on set. Hell, i hadnt even been on a film set before. The day before the shoot, the production company sent me a list of all the gear which they had rented for me to use, and i stayed up ALL NIGHT, not a single minute of sleep, vacuuming youtube and google for all information i could get on every piece of gear on that list. And here is where i found your channel.
The following day, i was nervous and on set, I was confident about the gear but i did now know what to be expected of me. Later that night, i got a great message from the producer telling me i passed the day with flying colors. I quit my fulltime job a few months later and have since worked in production sound as a freelancer and i couldnt be happier.
What i wanted to say - If you ever find yourself in sweden, i think i owe you a dinner and perhaps a beer. If it wouldnt for you, i would still be working for the airlines. Thank you curtis for everything! You do you, I will always listen to your advice, biased or not!
Great to see!
You have GOT to be the single MOST TRUSTWORTHY, straight-forward, honest, technically competent, critical-yet-kind reviewer on all of UA-cam - or even the whole damned internet. I can't believe you even have to do this video.
Okay, I gotta throw Gerald Undone up there with you. So at least you're not alone.
😂 I'm honored.
I'm driven to your videos because of your professionalism, product knowledge and depth of information provided. Your Pros & Cons section is particularly helpful so that I'm able to see the good and bad features of a product. I don't need someone opening a box because I assume we all know how to do this. I don't need flashy transitions or stylized intros. Just keep it simple. You accomplish this perfectly.
Those are great and honest points about product reviews. There are of course some creators who straight out lie to their audience and also break the law by not discolsing that they get paid to do a video. However I think that is rare. What happens more is that creators get to know personally the people at the companies that offer products for review, which makes it harder then to be harsh or critical. I know I've fallen for that where I just kept on delaying a video review and eventually never released it because the product was bad but I personally liked the people at the company and didn't want to hurt their feelings or make enemies. Since then I've actually tried to avoid to personally get to close to the people at these companies and don't accept their dinner invites or those creator retreats to exotic locations etc. It all affects our opinions. I also think a lot of viewers have personal bias without realizing it. Sometimes the viewers already bought a product and spend so much money on it that they hate to see a video that is critical of it. People often want confirmation that their purchase was wisely made. Also a lot of viewers watch a particular creator so much that they feel like they know them personally and can trust them and them. Then when that creator is caught lying they will make excuses for that creator because they "are a good person". I've seen all of that happen. Also having personally met a lot of the creators that I liked online, only made me realize that some of them are nothing like what they portray in their videos. They're either not as sociable or funny or energetic as they come across in their videos. You Curtis and your brother are exactly as cool and likable as in your videos. The only thing I remember that shocked me when we first met was how tall you are! 😊 I felt so tiny. Keep up the videos!
Thanks for sharing this comment, Tom!
It’s weird, but even though I’m a subscriber, you’ve fallen off my radar. It’s that damn UA-cam algorithm, I suppose. I see that I’ve got hours and hours of your videos to enjoy, so at least there’s a silver lining.
I think there are all sorts of bias and it’s important to distinguish what sorts of bias we are talking about. There are harmful biases and non-harmful ones. It’s true when we say “everyone has bias”, but it’s important to understand biases on a case by case basis.
Back in 2000, I worked for a company that did seminars for Final Cut Pro. We also made tutorial DVDs. We were often asked for recommendations. I owned a Canon GL-1, so when I recommended that camera, I always made sure to point out why I had chosen it, and how other cameras from different brands might better serve a clients needs.
The ethical problem came up when our company was hired to create material for Canon, which was tutorial and marketing hybrid DVDs. It was at this point that we were told to push Canon cameras and to downplay other brands. We were told to avoid disclosing our company’s relationship with Canon.
I was let go after a few months if this, but I was already on the verge of quitting. I don’t blame Canon for my boss’s questionable ethics. They might have or might not have directed him to engage in this unethical marketing (but I doubt they would have had to).
@@MarcosElMalo2 yup I've heard of a lot of similar cases like that where certain brands are conveniently omitted. I'm happy that you discovered my videos again. The youtube algorithm now only let's less than 1% of my subscribers know when I release a new video. Unfortunately the subscribers don't matter much anymore. There are only certain channels that youtube overlords prefer to promote and everyone else is left in the shadows. All my videos that get any decent amount of views get it all from new people and not my subscribers according to the youtube analytics. And the only reason why those new people discovered my new video is because it was posted on some other popular website or youtube channel.
Good points, Tom. And I can say the same about you - every bit as genuine in person as on screen.
Curtis is like 9 feet tall.
lol u approached this accusation in the most curtis-y way ever
Agree! Beyond the pale, beyond reproach in every possible way.
The key point for me is that people like you have the ability to take a step back and be as transparent as possible about their relationship with the gear companies. And I do appreciate that you actually talk about the bias matter. I've personally never perceived you as a shill.
Been watching Curtis for almost 8 years, he is my go to single source whenever I need to buy or upgrade anything audio. So many old channels have disappeared, like Dave Dougdale and maybe Tom Antos is still around I think - but Curtis is the OG of video tech UA-cam imo. Looking at that audio part 1 course too as I have a big documentary project I am working on solo this year.
Yup I'm still around 😊 still doing videos too.
@@TomAntos Hi Tom, if possible please review new Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6k. I missed your Blackmagic camera content.
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The people who "accuse" you of being a [fill in the blank] are in my opinion accusing you of something THEY would do...a.k.a. ignore those few comments as they don't matter IMO. :)
I personally love your videos and your definitely not a shill!
Honestly the way you review and just give a perspective is excellent, that is why others mention you in their videos. For example your review of the DJI Mic clearly helped me decide that the Rode Pro was a better option for my needs.
The way creators present a product even with a bias attached to it ( free product etc) goes a long way to how much credibility I give to them. Some people always seem to promote stuff from the same manufacturer over and over and always have glowing things to say every time. These are the people I don't really listen to that much. Your reviews are always fair and balanced and I don't see any reason to guestion any of your opinions or conclusions. It's up to the viewer to do a little reseach and soul searching to figure out who is worth listening to and who isn't. I would rank you up in the upper 1% of creators who consistently create good honest reviews that are worth watching. Keep up the good work.
I have never been a content creator/influencer, but I have been given free products to review. I stopped doing it, because once you review products, you start getting products to review, and it's almost like a job!
You’re definitely the last person I’d ever think was a shill. Personally, it’s always easier to make reviews with something that was just bought like a normal customer, but like you said, a lot of us would go bankrupt pretty quickly. One kind of cool thing that can happen on UA-cam is that you find people actually want YOUR specific viewpoint on something, so I figure that I’d rather work to serve those people instead of someone who assumes worst intent regardless of what I do or what the actual facts are.
Thanks Tom. That’s why I appreciate your content. What a lot of people don’t realize as well is that there comes a point, and I bet you’ve felt this, where you have no need for new gear. So there isn’t any drive to make the new products look their best, you can easily just talk about their pros and cons from your perspective.
@@curtisjudd definitely. And like you said, there is a bias in what we choose to review in the first place. My reviews tend to be positive because I just don’t want to spend time dealing with something that’s awful, so by the time a video has been made it probably means I like whatever it is.
I watch videos from reviewers for the way they are presented. I dont care about bias as long as it's disclosed. As a tuber myself who also does reviews, I can say everyone is already biased depending on their own personal preferences. I just want to see the product features, pluses and minuses, and that person's opinion based on their expertise (no matter if they are a pro or beginner). It all adds value imo. I can be a big boy and make the ultimate decision on whether I buy something or not. Thanks for all the hard work!
Ps I bought something based on one of your reviews and love it👍
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I think you are very clear on disclosures. Also you are very good at trying to be clear on your own biases, where you are coming from. I think that’s important, for example semi-pros opinion on lights and cameras might be the “wrong take” for normal pebbles who have less acceptance on complexity and weights. You, Philip Bloom, and other pros, have great professional opinions that are “the wrong take” for many of their viewers - pros accept more weight for pro performance. Like big lamps and cinema cameras, completely unusually for many non-pro use-cases where low weight and being allowed in without approvals matter more. (You moved on to your point about not being vlogger, that pretty much captured similar topics as I had in mind). As for a break in product videos, your technique / mentor videos rock so that will work perfectly!
When I refer to UA-cam reviewers, you Sir are one of the few people on UA-cam I say is NOT a shill! Can't say that about most tech UA-camrs!
I’m in awe of your videos and channel. Your channel has allowed me to grow as a creator (I work in TV). Also, your gentle humanity and unassuming nature is refreshing. You clearly review the things people are most curious about. The DJI mic 2 (recently released) being a great example. You help so many people and have taught me so much about lighting. Of course your videos influence me to buy certain things but that’s a good thing. Maybe you should consider returning some of the kit given to you after the review is finished. I think you deserve to keep it though. I’ve never questioned your integrity for a nanosecond. I flock to your videos ahead of Netflix, they are that well produced.
Fantastic video Curtis, I appreciate you sharing your open and honest opinions about this topic. I have to say that I have never once watched one of your videos and thought "Curtis is being dishonest" or "Curtis is misleading us". You are a beacon of ethics on UA-cam, and the entire UA-cam platform is better because you're a part of it. Keep up the amazing work, and I'm excited to see how your experiment goes.
Hey, can I borrow some mics? 😉
@@curtisjudd For you, anything.
The quality of your reviews speak for themselves. You have nothing to prove to the naysayers.
I find that you are always honest in your assessments of gear and I learn a ton from you, so I do not mind a bit if you make money through affiliate marketing or even sponsorship - just ignore any negative feedback, I never worry about your ethics Curtis. All the best to you and your family. Cheers!
This is a great take on implicit bias which I've had many trainings on and apply daily at work. Do I think you're a shill no because of your notifications about the gear you review and end the end I can choose to accept or reject your shillness if that's a word lol. Keep up the good work, I look forward to the next 3 months and what it brings.
Great video, cool experiment as well. And great points around making sure that, as viewers, we explore different perspectives. Even BEFORE receiving free gear, we all have a bias in even choosing what topics and products to create videos about. It's excellent to see you proactively reminding fans not to get stuck in too small of a bubble 🙌
You are clearly not a shill. I learned so much from your videos always well balanced and precise. Thank you.
As a reviewer, you are dammed if you do - dammed if you don’t. Keep doing what you are doing Curtis. And YES, every reviewer is biased. There is no such thing as a truly objective review.
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I really appreciate your reviews, your honesty and overall your very valuable opinions on products! Don't get caught up in stupid comments.
MR JUDD IS NOT A SHILL IN EVEN 1 ATOM OF HIS BEING. Do I know him? No. Am I an audio expert? No. However, my job is to understand what people are telling me and figure out who is dying and who isn’t. Their lives and my livelihood depends on it. Based on 20 years of experience, I have 100% faith in Mr Judd and his objectivity.
CuJu ⁉No way man. And Emma she's no shill, and neither is Danni. All are shining examples of _truth_ in live streaming, with full disclosures, citations and notes. It's all there at the beginning/end of any review.
You’re not a shill, Curtis. I understand the cynical perspective of someone who may use that label, but it is definitely overly harsh and unjust to throw such vitriol your way. I suggest that anyone who did throw it your way has an unbalanced viewpoint.
Fine business on your decision to step back from reviews for three months, however the downside from my perspective is the lack of a Curtis Judd review for a piece of gear that I am particularly interested in.
I have no problem with you receiving goods to review. I've compared your reviews with that of many others and you are always fair and accurate. Keep up the great work.
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Perhaps consider free loans of products from resellers or distributors, rather than the manufacturers? B&H, Adorama, and the rest are far less invested in the success of any given product.
Kudos for being so patient with the vocal minority. I usually tell them to go find something else to do.
LOL!
Curtis you are definitely the most honest reviewer on UA-cam!
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You're not. Your reviews are always thorough and trustworthy.
Been following your reviews for years, and I can confidently say that all your reviews are fair and never shady.
All the reviews are very subjective and straight up show the pos/neg/opinion in the first slide, literally!
I personally don't think you should stop receiving anything, since those free products give you a chance to review stuff ahead of them hitting the market and help us the viewers make a judgment on how we would like to move forward with our purchasing.
so thta's a huge loss for us.
Thanks! This is just a 3 month experiment 👍
@@curtisjudd let's see how it goes. you are the best judge in this case after all :)
You are one of the LEAST shills of most youtubers.
Ignore the garbage accusations, Curtis.
Will do. Just checking to make sure I don't have any major blindspots and taking a little breather from product reviews.
My gosh, you are the anti-shill.
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For some reason I felt like I was back at college, because this was so well explained lol
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IMO, if you fully disclose your relationship to the product (or company), you aren't "shilling" at all.
IMO, if someone is calling you a "shill" on this platform, it's most likely from someone who has a poor self image of themself, and can only feel better by tearing someone else down.
IMO, you don't need to prove anything to any one. You have always been honest with your viewership (as best as I can tell. I watch many, but not all your videos) and presented in an educational as well as practical perspective.
Let's face it the troll can't get a sponsorship themself and is simply jealous of your acumen and skills.
I'm looking forward to the next video. I'll learn something.
When I get a product for free, I'm always biased, no matter how much I try. I believe everyone is biased. Thanks for a great video again, Curtis.
No, you aren't
I have made full-on sponsored paid videos and others where I've been given free devices. I don't describe them as reviews, they are things I would buy if I could afford them, and I'm a shameless fanboi about them. I leave the objective reviews to review channels.
To many haters out there. Keep doing what your are doing and how you are doing it.
I certainly don't think so!
Any more courses on the way? I'm hoping you'll put together a color correction/color grading course for DaVinci Resolve one of these days.
Yes, but more likely lighting and audio related courses.
As a reviewer myself (for Amazon Vine), I have always enjoyed your reviews, your layout of content and information and your presentation. I firmly believe as a reviewer we just offer an insight, but ultimately we are offering a perspective and choice and should be one of several voices someone takes into account when they are looking whom/what to spend their money on. You do you, but I hope you don't change to much after your 3 month experiment (unless its to become more awesome).
My perspective is to have Emma interview you and grill you on if you’re a shill. 😂😂😂
I would join, patreon it up if that was a direction we wanted to see. 👍
I’ve been watching your channel for 6 years now and have learned so much from you. You are an inspiration to all.
You’re like the least shill-y of anyone I watch. You and Gerald
Mister Judd - you helped me a few years ago with some advice. You proved to be a complete scholar and a gentleman - you took the time to give me the benefit of your advice, which I was amazed at given how busy your life must be.
Not only are you generous with the time you give others but you are down to earth and pragmatic (which I reckon saved me thousands on buying the wrong equipment - whether buying gear that's wayyyyy beyond what I need (deminising returns) or experimentation until I finally found the sound quality I needed). More importantly, you saved me hours / months / years of time and potential frustration.
You have always struck me as humble, honest and hard working. And I also love the family and social values that we discussed at the time.
So please don't have any self-doubts: you sir, are not a shill but a valuable contributor to society. Keep doing the great work you do 👍👍👍
I personally like your approach to the tech you cover. Comes across as always trying to cover both sides as best as possible but focusing more on the technical side of things.
Nowadays you’ve always gotta listen to a range of peoples opinions to your exact point of ‘perspective’.
Keep up the great work as always
I'm here because I know you'd win a 1v1 with Toneh
im a shill for Curtis
I've never thought of you as biased, or a shill. I appreciate what you are doing and it's an interesting experiment. But as yet, I've seen no reason not to trust your reviews.
I completely agree that everyone has biases of some kind. Some of them may simply come from tastes and preferences. Some may come from certain life experiences or other factors. And of course, money and such can come into play. And to some extent, biases can be a good, or at least a neutral thing. A person with a certain "bias" may bring a unique viewpoint or perspective to a review. But there's definitely a line between holding personal biases (even subconscious ones) but still being open and honest, and putting out glorified ads.
It will be interesting to see the results of your trial period. If you decide your path forward is to stop accepting review samples moving forward (beyond the three-month period), I just hope you're doing it because it's the right thing for you. If so, that's great. But bear in mind, these companies are going to find folks to send products to for review. Not all of them will be as thorough and objective as you.
Cheers!
👍 I'm pretty sure I'll go back to accepting gear as long as I retain full editorial freedom. Just checking to make sure I don't have any major blindspots and taking a bit of a breather. Reviewing week after week is like running constantly on a hamster wheel.
Nah, I don't think so.... IMO
You've been instrumental in helping me improve the quality of my content. Thanks so much for doing what you do!!
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Curtis, you are the most impartial person I have come across for gear reviews.
Thanks!
Shill! Shill! SHILL!!!!! - But seriously, I'm wondering what has prompted this turn of events? Has there been questions about the veracity of your reviews of products? I've been watching, and relying upon the expertise shared in, your videos for quite some time now. I've always found your review videos to be of high quality, excellent information, well thought out and balanced. I think a hallmark of your videos is your comment screens sharing technical details, pros, cons and your thoughts on the product.
As defined in the dictionaries, a shill wouldn't disclose that he is an agent of the manufacturer. You've always been open about how the product in the videos is sourced. I don't see a conflict there. Of course, we all have our own biases. If we're open about those biases the video is improved because the viewer can judge for themselves if/how that bias is coloring the review.
No you're not a shill. Your videos provide tons of information that's helpful to the community. And if anyone watches your videos carefully your version of 'this isn't good/skipit/thisisbad/notgoodsound" is when you say, "This is not my favorite" rofl. But overall anyone in a video can say what they want but when you put mic comparisons in there the video doesn't lie, it shows how it really sounds and everyone who watches can draw their own conclusion. I can review a mic and say this mic sounds great (but if it sounds bad, the facts are in the video). So TLDR, nope, you're credible in my book! :P
My perspective......., I use you as a quality sounding board ( pun intended ) for making purchasing decisions for gear. You come off as genuine and for the most part unbiased. So if you don't accept free gear, and therefore do less videos about said gear, your value for my purposes does down, and therefore my viewership to your channel. Now that's not to say that I will unsubscribe or that I am judging you for this decision, its just as a viewer, you mainly get my views for product reviews.
Great transparency Curtis! It's so hard to trust most UA-camr "reviews." Getting free products, paid or not, there will be bias if you want to continue to get free products. Especially before the product is available to the general public.
I’ve watched many of your videos and I’m quite knowledgeable in the audio world. I know immediately when someone is full of it. You have always been upfront and quick to point out pros and cons about the products you discuss.
Also you give sound examples too give the viewer an opportunity to make their own judgement.
When I want a detailed review of something I come here. When I want to feel like I need to buy something I go to a schill lmao!
Given life is relatively short and creating video content with cutaways, b roll, structure and a reliably systematic purpose, takes a decent chunk of time, there is no harm whatsoever in accepting free gear in order to be able to review it. I think people by now have in-built bias filters anyway and what's more, prior decades of magazines and newspapers reviewing products, always came with significant favourable bias for advertisers. The commercial world is what it is. That often means that products aren't as good as they could be and mass-market offerings are typically constrained in some way. I've always respected your attention to detail and honesty with issues - e.g. you mentioned, the Roadcaster Pro 2 had begun delaminating so I returned it for a repair, etc. I'd say you are on the very conservative side of induced bias. Not the happy clappy cheering everything beyond belief type.
Your reviews are based on facts, like testing the noise floor of a mic etc... I know at times you have not recommended a product for certain situations. That makes you very honest IMO.
Your product reviews are professional, educational and helpful. Keep them coming. Don't worry about this shill silliness. Everybody can see how the product leads to your reasoning.
PewDiePie and Linux TechTips, I don't go to them for reviews or HowTo anything,... as they live/die by their numbers and how many ads they clear each week/month/episode.
Curtis, I value your product videos and fully understand the bias in each other's point of view. Your background and experience is a valuable "bias".
What??!! That’s silly, you show just as much if not MORE bias by only reviewing products you felt attractive enough to spend your own money on. Maybe review on loan is best?
You always offer a balanced and in-depth opinion. Don't worry about any negative comments that suggest otherwise. You're a breath of fresh air compared to all the shallow UA-cam "content creator" / "Whaaaats up guys!?" tech bros who have no professional experience.
Gosh, I wish I had a criticism just to add balance to all the positive comments here! I can't think of a single one. You are a go-to source for me, and your reviews are spot on, the most objective out there. Every now and then I wonder why I wasted money on a piece of gear, and I think of all the glowing reviews I watched. Your reviews are never among them. You exude sincerity, kind of like an Abe Lincoln. You're probably from the Midwest.😂
Very well thought out and communicated video Curtis! You are still the go-to for me in terms of audio - even if most of it is over my head
Thanks!
Transparent state of mind. Apparently not into longing for sexiness or fast bucks, but honesty.
As least the way this resonates to me. Appreciate that.
Thanks, Curtis and greetings from Nuremberg, Germany.
To echo many of these other comments, I hold you in high regard with you reviews as you always provide any bias context before you give real world opinion and POV on whatever is your review target. If you come to the internet for buying advice, like your audience does, prolly 90% of purchase decisions are baed on reviews I bet. Keep on 'shilling' as you do, 'cause ...you manage expectations so well.
As long as you're objectively giving the pros and cons from your perspective without holding back I think it is absolutely fine. I haven't seen a video of yours where I would have named you a "shill". Your reviews are very professional and I've bought quite some gear after watching them.
Curtis, I have never thought of you as a shill. You are up front about the products that are given to you for review. I feel you judge them fairly-listing both Pros & Cons. Of the items I have purchased after seeing a review of yours: I've been very pleased with all of them. Your reviews let me decide if I'm okay with the cons. I trust your reviews & I feel you are honest in them. Thank you!
1) I trust Curtis’s reviews as honest and as objective as possible. Of all the different reviewers on UA-cam that I watch for all the categories of products that I am interested in, I trust Curtis the most (ok and Bandrew too).
2) if I’m interested in a product and Curtis has reviewed it, I won’t purchase it without watching his review in full.
Two points. Firstly, I love your videos, and I have received a lot of useful information from them, bias or no bias.
Secondly, how does buying a product with your own money make you less biased. If you buy it you have a vested interest in feeling that you were justified in your purchase decision.
Keep making balanced, interesting and useful videos, for those of us who don't have an opportunity to try before we buy.
My perspective is simple, I prefer not to purchase a piece of audio or lighting gear, until I have seen Curtis’s review. I do not always agree with the Pros and Cons but I always value your opinion because you work in the industry and are not just a UA-camr.
There’s harmful bias and non-harmful bias. Let’s say that a friend loaned me a piece of equipment so I could review it without buying it. There’s no harmful bias there. Compare that with accepting loaner gear from a company. In that case there is a potential for harmful bias, but we cannot automatically assume it. In the case of Curtis, I find him trustworthy, so I’m not going to give the potential harm much weight, but other people might have a different opinion.
I am curious about one thing that doesn’t really have anything to do with bias. Is it ethical to buy something for a review and then return it? I’m of two minds on this. I think it is perfectly ethical if I might not return it because I am honestly reviewing a product to see if it meets my needs. In other words, I am buying it, testing it (and the testing is the review), and I might keep it if I like it or return it for a refund if I don’t. However, I’m not so sure I would be acting ethically if I never intended to purchase a product, but just to review it. In that case, I’m forcing others to cover the costs of shipping, stocking, etc. The product would have to be sold as an open box, affecting profits of the vendor. These costs are often pushed on to the consumer, i.e., everyone else.
I think a good rule of thumb is “What if everyone did this?” Does the social benefit of doing a review balance the cost?
I don’t know how common the practice is of “buy, review, return”, but I think it should be disclosed. I’ve seen a few reviewers who are open about this practice, and I’ll give them points for honesty.
In regards to vlogging the fact that your videos are NOT vlogs is high up on the list of reasons why I like your videos. They are no nonsense videos that are not trying to be trendy and appeal to a younger audience. I've grown really sick and tired to all the 20 and 30 something year olds that cover camera, photo, lighting and sound tech but also try to make it super trendy with filler and buzz words and made up words and flashy set ups and all the rest. I just want information delivered in a professional manner. It's the same reason I like Gaffer and Gear. No BS.
eh... I wouldn't worry about these accusations. Your videos are worth watching and incredibly helpful.
YYou said what i want to say always. I support you. I always satisying to watch your reviews and I feel your opinions are fair enough.
Hey Curtis. You provide some of the least shill-y product reviews on this platform. You tell us the deal right off the top every time. I wouldn't change a thing.
Hi Curtis. I appreciate your videos and perspective, whether they are reviews or technique videos. I think any long time viewer will know what your channel is about and they accept that. If we wanted to learn how to vlog, we'd go elsewhere. :-) Please keep up the good work. Cheers JC
Crazy that you had to make a video like this. Your awesome! I feel like you just review gear and tell it how it is! Will be an interesting test though
My opinion about my 7k € sony alpha 1 is far more legitimate that all those influencers that reviewed the product for free. Each default, each dificuty you encounter, you swallow it for every dime you have puted in it.
Still , I believe in honesty of most of people lile you that have understood the limitations of getting something for free.
Your knowledge, how educational are your videos, and the fact that you've tried so many products to put them in perspective of each other.... it is far more superior than the bias you are describing.
Thanks for all the work you have put to share your knowledge with us. Keep on, we need more people like you !
Curtis, you are definitely not a shill for anyone. I have always thought of you as the most trusted reviewer in the photo/video industry for years. If people are calling you that they’re just some lame Internet trolls. There are many others in the photo/video industry on UA-cam definitely heavily influenced by the manufacturer. keep doing what you’ve always been doing!
Great video and great topic Curtis. Hope you’re well.
Thanks Jem and great to hear from you!
You are one of the few reviewers whose opinions I trust and can validate with my own testing and reviews.
👍
Are you trying to cancel yourself? 😆 🤣 😂 You are as straightforward and honest as they come. Love your content.
Hey Curtis, very thoughtful talk and courageous decision to put yourself through this self test that most wouldn’t think is necessary. I am an engineer and a hobby filmmaker if there’s such a thing and I have a lot of respect for you and your work. I’ve always felt as if you must have some kind of teaching and/or engineering background because I feel the things you do seem to come from genuine need to satisfy curiosity to understand things and let alone the question of trust or honesty I actually enjoy the aspect that your scientist like personality will bring out truth from things in ways that’s applicable to a variety of people and with the knowledge and satisfaction that you’ve done enough leg work, the quality of your tests is amazing I feel very confident sometimes I check your videos out just to see if you also think what I think about something like a reality check with a trusted friend.
The sad thing about being in public domain and has been that way since time immemorial is that criticism and often cruel, unfair criticism is absolutely unavoidable, I’ve seen it up close nobody is spared and just everybody have to find their own ways of dealing with it and I have no doubt yours will truly reflect your soul in it. Love and respect always!
No man. That's just a misspelling. It's chill. You be chill.
As far as I'm concerned, as long as a reviewer is honest about their relationship with the manufacturer, and doesn't outright lie about the product, all else is fine. The whole 'shill' thing is about honesty more than anything else. Of course we all have our own biases, which may mean we skip over potential problems that wouldn't impact the way WE work, and that's why it's always good to find many different reviews of a product, and pay closer attention to those reviews by those who have a similar workflow to our own.
It's a shame that you can't watch your videos without bias. I think that you'd find that you are as fair as any reviewer for any product. I just wish you did reviews on reliable late model used cars and internet bank accounts. You don't need to do any reviews on audio equipment because I bought that stuff a week ago. You've been a huge help not only with strengths and weaknesses, but with helping me understand just what features are important and why. Thanks!
why did this video need to be made? your explanations are fairly self-verifying. one of my top favorite reviewers, especially because you cut to the chase in the beginning.
Appreciate the video, although i appreciate your perspective on all the products you review. I trust your balance.