Feedback for Rookie Rally videos wanted

redlinederby Thursday, 2/25/2021
Site manager

The Rookie Rally event had 7 videos at the end, 1 for each round robin and 1 for the final - plus the showcase. Excluding the showcase, I'm interested in getting some feedback on the racing videos that made up the Rookie Rally.

Any and all input is welcomed and appreciated. Here are some points to spark your thoughts:

  • Were the videos too long? Or not long enough?
  • Did the pacing of the videos feel too fast? Or too slow?
  • Was the information in the videos (names, numbers, etc) easy to read? Did you have enough time to understand them?
  • Was there anything too distracting in the videos?
  • What do you think about a lack of commentary/narration? Is any needed, or are these types of videos fine without it?
  • Did you use/notice the time codes in the description on YouTube? Did you watch the whole video or just skip to your car?
  • Were videos released in timely enough manner? There was a video every other day...should all videos be released at once? Or more time between each? The Rookie Rally videos were released over a 20-day period...too long?
  • There wasn't a lot of backstory given for these videos...is it needed? Assumptions were made the most viewers knew about the event already and what went into it.
  • What have you seen in other videos that you would like to see in RLD videos?

Those are just a few to maybe spark your memory or ideas for feedback. If you have thoughts outside of those items, I'd love to hear them.

Video production is not my forte and I'm not a big YouTube consumer in general. Personally, unless it's a tutorial video or something like that, I'm one that likes to watch whatever action and get out. I scrub a lot and look for time codes. But that's me...and thus that's what I bring to my own editing, but that might not be what the audience at large is looking for.

I don't have a ton of time to spend on video editing but what time I do have I want to know that I'm making good value video for everyone watching. I'm not trying to be 3D or anything like that, just trying to be efficient while also getting people something they can enjoy.

Feel free to share your feedback in the comments, or if you have something specific you'd like to give in private, just PM or send email.

Here's the playlist of videos for reference

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYtilr-hOLU0wDWsbiy-PSf9YO310VkUs


Discussion

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pupulesurfer 2/25/21

Were the videos too long? Or not long enough? - Seemed fine :)
Did the pacing of the videos feel too fast? Or too slow? - A little on the fast side but overall good
Was the information in the videos (names, numbers, etc) easy to read? Did you have enough time to understand them? - Easy to read, yes. Enough time, barely.
Was there anything too distracting in the videos? - Nope
What do you think about a lack of commentary/narration? Is any needed, or are these types of videos fine without it? - I like narration to tell me what's happening, especially when I watch with family that is hard of seeing and hearing what is happening allows them to follow along.
Did you use/notice the time codes in the description on YouTube? Did you watch the whole video or just skip to your car? - Nope, didn't look for them. Watched it all!
Were videos released in timely enough manner? There was a video every other day...should all videos be released at once? Or more time between each? The Rookie Rally videos were released over a 20-day period...too long? - Timely, yes! I'm impatient so all at once would be nice but then I don't have something to look forward to so I say keep it as is, it worked!
There wasn't a lot of backstory given for these videos...is it needed? Assumptions were made the most viewers knew about the event already and what went into it. - A recap/overview would be nice for viewers who just find it on YouTube or when it is proposed via the algorithm. Or for those who forget the premise lol
What have you seen in other videos that you would like to see in RLD videos? - Outside of what was mentioned above, I don't think so. I think you've done a really nice job and you accomplished exactly what you were going for based on your descriptions.


  • Cool, thanks. That feedback is very helpful. I'll be doing more video this year than previous years so it'll evolve the more reps I get in. — redlinederby
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DXPRacing 2/25/21

I watched every video.  I thought it was good overall.  It might have been a hair quick but you can go way to slow so it was fine.  I thought the quality was really good with the names clear and the close up to begin the races.  I liked the music choices too.  It was good to get a car show at the very beginning to introduce who was driving what.  I have always thought spotlighting the cars before a race was a good thing to do.  People put some time into their builds and it is nice to be recognized for it.  The one thing that got me, however, was the stuffed monkey or whatever it was in the background.  I cracked up at the beginning almost every time!  You did good Brian!! 


  • Thanks for the insight. Yeah...sorry about the monkey, LOL. Kids. It's been on my list to make a backdrop or something but trying to think up something that will look decent and not just creepy. — redlinederby
  • The funky monkey now has to stay as part of your permanent raceway. It’s in the rules. — SpyDude

The Rookie Rally was a great series.  I watched all the videos, and even went back (using the timestamps) to re-watch my own races a couple times.  As was mentioned by DXP, I thought the pacing was good, and appreciated the introductions before each race.  The information was easy-to-read, which was great on a smaller screen.  For drag races like these, I don't feel like commentary is necessary, as there's no interaction between the cars.  That said, the commentary on the entry showcase was priceless :) . 

One thing that I would find helpful, is a list of the car models for each racer, along with their respective weights.  As a rookie, I'm still trying to figure out all the variables that make a car go fast, like weight, weight distribution, wheel base, axles, canter, graphite, etc..  I don't necessarily think that this would be included in the video as it distracts from the immersion a bit, but maybe included with the results spreadsheet?

Thanks again for the great racing!

Video was fine, just a bit fast paced. Or I'm just slow, not sure which


  • Yeah, I'll try to slow the pace down a bit. Watching that final with the group was even too fast for me. I focused too much on making my workflow efficient - I made too efficient at the expense of good viewing. — redlinederby

Was still a great video. I like to look at the cars and take it all in. Some just might want the meat and potatoes. Can't make everyone happy. I appreciate anyone who puts in the time and effort.

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Big_Al 2/25/21

The length and pacing were all fine for the most part, but the videos could have a little more content.  If you had a short explanation of the event and rules at the beginning of each video I think it could add a lot for viewers who aren’t as familiar with what is going on.  Still the logos, the graphics, the video thumbnails, etc were all good and gave the videos a consistent look and pimped the brand well.  I don’t think there is much that can be said about these kinds of races as far as commentary but once again, if you had a little introduction and conclusion where you said a few things, it wouldn’t hurt anything.  I usually watch videos start to finish.  You never know what you might miss in these races if you skip ahead.  The timing of the videos was awesome.  I think I like having each group in its own video released close together like that as opposed to having fewer videos, released further apart, with multiple groups in each video.  With a new video every few days, it kept it exciting and it’s nice not waiting weeks or even months to watch your car race.  Even in Group E I didn’t find myself dying from suspense and I hadn’t completely forgotten the other cars by the time we got to the final.  All in all, I’d say this tournament was really well done.

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CrazyEights 2/27/21

I like how you do your videos. Production quality is better than most. I like your use of graphics. From beginning to end it adds a lot to your videos. I loved the music. Reminded me almost of the old school video game music.

Overall you do a great job. The events you hold, the videos of said events, and the website, you're a standout in this community. Keep up the good work. Though we may not always say it, your work is greatly appreciated. Guys like you and Robbie(D64) are the heart beat of our community. Without people like yourself, diecast racing would be nothing more than a Facebook fad.


  • Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoy the videos. With so many channels out there it's hard to tell where you stand in the mix. And ssshhhhh...don't tell anyone, it is video game music. ;P — redlinederby
  • I knew it. I grew up with 8 bit Nintendo. And its true. You guys make this thing of ours what it is. Without places like this it would be nothing. — CrazyEights
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