Pelican is converting all their DIY articles to "videos"
 

https://www.youtube.com/c/pelicanparts/videos

Good to know

Videos are good for some procedures, not for others. There are 2 important things to get right when doing this, and 99.9% of wannabe procedural video producers get them horribly wrong: narration, and camera work. A recent trend that I absolutely fooking hate is using YouTube to show IT-related topics - the concept just doesn't work. Listening to some inarticulate computer nerd drone on while he clicks around the screen, and the pastes in some huge regex is utterly useless.

That is going to suck. I can scan through a post, ot a printed set of instructions and find the information or a drawing of what I want is seconds. Watching a video of someone do a task is great for total beginners, but I don't need a step by step instructions on most tasks. Common sense mechanical practices can get me through the process.

Recently I had to replace the pully end seal on my 911. Lots of steps involved, and getting one particular nut off required a trip to buy a new socket and ratchet. The only thing that I opened up my Bentley manual for was the tightening torques of various bolts. Those always suck to find in a video.

They might be good for watching before hand on a task I have never attempted, but it is almost never a video about the exact same car or model I have so things are different.

I will check a few of them out, but YouTube certified mechanics are everywhere. Maybe it is the new trend.

It’s the way forward. If they are smart, they will use augmented reality videos.

Videos are so ‘5 years ago’...

That's disappointing. Video should be used to augment written instruction (not replace it).

Maybe the subject is too complicated for you? Millions of people absolutely love learning coding from videos. Clearly, it works.

Wrong. If you have a live action DIY video, you do not need anything written. This forum is stuck 20 years in the past, since no one here knows how to use a video camera. Most other cars do not having people typing walls of idiotic text directions. They have live action videos. Written DIY's are so 2008.

If you want to see how to do something, most people look on YouTube. AR takes YouTube style videos to the next level.

Pelican is converting all their DIY articles to "videos", and this guy is going to host them.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1606068158.jpg

Yup, I had this idea about five or so years ago, but I got outvoted quite a few times on it. My idea was to take all of the tech articles and use a computer with a synthesized voice to read the captions as the photos were cycled through "Ken Burns" style. This is pretty similar, but looks like Steve is doing the voiceovers...

-Wayne

It's logically equivalent to the articles, which are no match for a real video. But, that is another paradigm entirely. At least people searching Youtube may come across some of these tech "videos" they may not have otherwise ever seen. Most people, at this point, only search Youtube for DIY info, not Google. Text based photo DIY is totally obsolete 2008 style.

And pole vault videos... don’t forget the pole vault videos...

Another one for printed instructions over Video. A video is a 'one size fits all' solution.

Why? I don't feel like rewinding, listening to cute BS nonsense (like most YouTube DIY vids) or hassling with a video screen when I work on a car. A printed sheet works fine for me.

rjp

Sugarwood - Different people learn different ways. A combination of written and visual instruction covers the majority of those attempting to learn a new procedure. (And I most certainly do know how to use a video camera...)

There are some really long threads on the tech site. I hope the idiots that reply with bad information or just bizarre opinions are edited out. A few of the epic AC threads are quite long, and one guy in particular has no background at all in AC, yet he argues for page after page when the real professional AC technicians all tell him he is wrong.

One of the skills necessary in the 911 tech site, and all of on-line forums really, is to figure out who is knowledgeable, and who just likes to argue and is just a troll. It is part of any open forum, and learning who can give good advice and who is off in left or right field is vitally important for your sanity.

Threads on cruise control are helpful and someone will post that cruise control on a 911 is stupid, and should be removed. If you have a track car or a canyon carver, cruise is worthless. If you actually drive your 911 on the highway for long trips it is wonderful and I will never be without it.

The video may will be a great idea. I just hope the original text and photos threads remain. I can ignore the video as well as a post from a troll.

Glen,
You just listed out exactly why DIY in a forum is a terrible waste of time and totally outdated 2008 paradigm. With a video, there is zero bull****. You see the guy fixing the car. Exactly. Step by step. There is no interpreation or debate. Just how to fix the car. There simply is no comparison. Go to Youtube sometime and see for yourself, and then see what a joke text narratives are in fixing cars.

that's why all the factory service manuals are in video

They are for professionals.
Books are cheaper to make.
Publishers are clueless and 20 years obsolete.

uncalled for

there are benefits and deficits to each

I find a lot of answers to my mechanical dilemmas on You Tube, and it is often quicker and easier than trying to search on some GMC forum, and have to wade through all the disagreements and
insults, if you take my meaning.

Some people learn from reading, some learn by watching. BTW, most videos are a lot more palatable at 1.5 or 2X speed. I tend to skip over the anecdotes anyway, so it takes a lot less time to cut to the chase. I can learn to make a stone knife by watching a video. Not so much by reading about it. OTOH, I still have workshop manuals for most of the cars I have ever owned and worked on, so clearly there is a place for many forms of instructional materials.

Video is just another tool, but I think the best solution for many would be ''Why not both?'', and let the user choose. You guys have a lot of input here, which makes live forums unique, BTW. What a fabulous resource, and how great is it that people keep trying to add more value.

If you genuinely used YouTube videos to fix things you would not make the statement that they put narratives to shame.

Like the written articles so I don't have to scroll through minutes of bs and "check my site, link, etc" out just to find out the poster didn't record it right, film it right, or had no elfin clue on what they were doing. I can print out an article with pictures and crawl under the vehicle without trying to hold my phone or damage it.i can print it, then throw it away. also, don't need internet connection if I print it.

Great idea, but I'm sure the pre/post-roll and interstitial ads will get old fast.

I think a hybrid of the written procedures and videos would be great. Just don't follow today's "YouTuber" format of:
- 3 minutes outlining what the project is, sprinkling in "don't forget to like, subscribe, and click that notification bell"
- "Today's video is brought to you by RAID SHADOW LEGENDS/WIX/COVE/etc"
- 10 minutes of unrelated footage
- Jump right into the main content, but be sparing of actual details of what is being done or how
- "Again we would like to thank today's sponsors..."
- "If you liked this video, don't forget to like/subscribe/click that bell"...

Nets you about 28-35 minutes of video, which 11-15 is actually the subject matter you wanted.

"Hey guys, wat up?????
Brad here from Big Brad's Brass Balls to brag about the Biggest Baddest Ballacious Bull**** from Nut-butterzzz customz. (insert audio of ferris beulers "bom bom- oh yeah-chicka chicka")

Massive Video graphic: A flaming pair of "Big Brads Brass Balls" logo lunges across the screen

Cut to Big Brad shredding his stratocaster.
Cut to Big Brad's girlfriend partying in the back of Big Brad's Bassboat.
Cut to Big Brad spray can painting his Lamborghini Gallardo wheels with krylon in his parent's driveway
25m views - must be good.
ad #1 "you can skip ad in 5...4...3...2.." (me- cool- I can click on skip):rolleyes:
ad #2 "video will resume after ad" (me-crap- out of luck- have to watch this one):mad:

gratuitous safety disclaimer about eye protection (because Big Brad is all about safety)

me- scrolling through crap

me seeing potentially good stuff (but scrolled through most of it while skimming the bs)
me- *rewind*

me- GET TO REWATCH "new" ad #3 in 5...4...3...2...to get back to good stuff -which- STILL didn't have nugget of info I wanted- darnit! :rolleyes:

me- Open up another window and google other sources of info to get what I need.

While looking at google search images, I finally find a pdf schematic of what I need.

meanwhile, in my first window- thanks to autoplay (which likes to turn itself back on when you revisit everytime)

Scotty Kilmer starts yelling at me.

Ahem .... sometimes I just read your posts and giggle... this one made me LOL :)

Don't forget the $**tty Techno house music played too loud all thru the presentation.

This!

And then you finally get to the point of them working on whatever and you find they are actually working on a thing or car that is not related to what you wanted to know.

The scroll wheel on my mouse gets lots of use on most articles as I scroll down to the real core of what I need to know.

It takes a special level of willful ignorance to insist that reading about car repair is more effective than live action video.
Did you learn to fix cars by someone showing you, or by talking on the phone?

Shocked some guys even learned how to use the internet in the first place.

Yea, this medium terrible for someone learning about cars.
I'd rather read about it. You can't make crap up.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vsLZFxO5c2M" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Good morning, Sunshine.

Exactly. I can scroll through an article more way effectively than I can fast forward with video. This is especially a problem where the camera is pointed at an engine block for 15 minutes. What's he talking about? At which point does he mention what I'm interested in? Minute 3? Minute 14? Did he even mention it? Can't tell unless I listen to the whole thing.

Most ;) people here have a very strong mechanical aptitude. After a lifetime of doing this, we know how to spin the wrench, we just need a torque value, or an electrical code clarification. I think this was even mentioned earlier in the thread.

Last weekend, I needed just that- an oil plug drain torque value for my wife's car.
I quickly perused several sites looking for a no nonsense consensus answer. Several quick thread scrolls got me several answers of varying quality, eventually leading me to the volvo factory manual pdf, which had it listed right in my face. Early searches lead to different answers/dead ends/and multiple volvo shops. There was some wading, but I didn't have to wade through multiple DIY videos to see if Scotty even uses a torque wrench.

Finding good info is a skill in itself.

Not that videos are bad-videos/tech articles/threads will all have their strengths- and people also have their preferred method of learning- listening/visual learners etc. I think we all use a combination of them all to a degree, but in the end, I want the info as quickly as possible. There. Bam. In my face. The youtube format can be very effective, but you have to wade through it just like any thread here on pelican to get to the nugget.

I do find videos for things ( like how to remove an interior piece/plastic shroud without destroying it) sometimes helpful, there is a lot of wading.

That being said, I'd love to make pp type videos for a living.
Short 15 sec intro of topic/scope
Detailed table of contents with hyperlinks in the comments section to get you to desired subject matter.
Multiple tables/ scanned documents/whatever listed in toc/ which you could link to immediately.

I think the "ultimate youtube format" was discussed here before a while back.
I would review that before making anything.

Right back at ya.
It takes a special level of delusion to insist that pages of words are better than live action video.
Best of luck being stuck in the past for your remaining days, confused and angry at the world that has passed you by.

That is a good quality video you posted.

I use videos all the time, every day. I use text every day. Mostly searching forums for the one guy that has the answer to get through a tough passage.

What's better is what solves your problem.

Nice touch.

“First, start by loosening the 13 mm bolt. Later models might have a 14 mm. It is located behind the uma Thurman valve.” Are you Positive you are loosening the correct valve or bolt?

Sometimes a video with a clearly pointed out loosen this bolt voiceover is priceless.
Location descriptions and identification of parts will always work better in video/photo.

It's behind the frammitz valve, not the UT valve. The UT valve is located slightly downwind of the frammitz.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...leys/freak.gif

Here's a vid that helped me a lot on a recent job. No words, no torque values, just a video. When I need torque values I'll find the text. I did not do it exactly like him but it's what I needed to get rolling.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/50HRrnW1IeY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

+1 The obnoxious guitar riff intro. Always a treat for an old man simply living out his final days.

Better sites:

Briansmobile1
South Main Auto Repair LLC
The Car Doctor
A1 Auto
EricTheCarGuy

Plenty more but so so many that are useless. All of that takes time to weed through but if you find a good set of words, it's more than adequate to do a job.

Videos are only as good as the people making them and YouTube has lots of yodelheads who think they are experts giving (sometimes) bad advice.

But having written six how-to books, I’m probably biased. :)

Wayne

So the best solution is a hybrid. This is the idea that we tested a while ago at Pelican. It was great, but too expensive. Basically a “Harry Potter” style of tech article where the photos and captions were mini videos. This is the best of both worlds - the entire sequence could be viewed as a video if the user preferred. The technical info like torque specs and such were listed in the text. If you wanted to see a specific sequence, you’d just click on the video and it would play the scene for 30 seconds. Quick, to the point, and able to serve grey hairs who like to read and millennials that don’t. Once again, it was so expensive to set this up it didn’t make sense (like million$ expensive when you consider all of the time and work involved).

Wayne

Jeez, sometimes I regret opening a thread.

This is one of those times.

As long as we get to see some bloody knuckles as it’s all fake without them...