Chris Brockhurst's YouTube Video Production Workflow: Gear, AI, and Backup Strategies

Chris Brockhurst

Introduction to the Workflow [0:00]

Chris Brockhurst provides an honest, "raw" look at his entire video production setup, including all the gear on his desk, hard drives, backup methods, and the use of a secondary screen. His goal is to share tools and techniques that make his content creation process more efficient and potentially assist others.

Camera and Monitoring Setup [0:43]

• Primary Camera System
  • The main camera used is a Sony FX2 [0:59], though he notes that most Sony cameras from the past five years are excellent for content creation and B-roll.
  • He emphasizes comfort with the camera brand as the most important factor.
• Monitoring and Control App
  • A key feature for Sony users is the "Monitor & Control" app [1:25], which connects tethered via USB-C or wirelessly to his iPad.
  • This app provides a live view of the camera feed and allows full control over camera settings, including starting and stopping recording, directly from the iPad.

    

Tripod and Vertical Shooting [2:04]

• Manfrotto Tripod Features
  • He uses a Manfrotto tripod, highlighting its ability to quickly switch between horizontal and vertical shooting orientations.
  • A specific button on the tripod allows the camera and teleprompter to rotate 90 degrees instantly, facilitating quick transitions for different video formats like reels.

    

• iPad Mounting
  • The iPad monitor is attached via a 1/4"-20 screw using Mafage magic arms and a DJI iPad mount.

    

Portable Power [3:26]

• EcoFlow Portable Power Bank
  • A small portable power bank (EcoFlow) is attached to the tripod via a super clamp.
  • This provides a power solution for both the camera and iPad when their internal batteries run low, allowing for extended recording times.

    

Teleprompter for Scripting [4:01]

• Elgato Prompter
  • He recently acquired the Elgato Prompter, which costs approximately $400.
  • Unlike traditional teleprompters, it has a built-in monitor that connects directly to the computer via a single USB-C cable for power and video feed.
  • It displays notes or scripts directly in front of the lens, enabling him to maintain eye contact with the camera while referencing content.
  • The monitor acts as a window from his computer, allowing him to drag any application (e.g., ChatGPT for notes) onto it.
  • It integrates seamlessly with his rotatable tripod setup, allowing vertical or horizontal display as needed.

    

  • The teleprompter notes can be scrolled using a mouse wheel for easy navigation.

    

AI Tools for Pre-Production [5:41]

• Leveraging AI for Efficiency
  • He heavily utilizes AI tools to streamline pre-production, saving significant time.
  • ChatGPT is used for:
    • Generating video ideas and concepts.
    • Assisting with scripting and outlining content.
    • Crafting video titles and descriptions.
    • Generating tags for videos.
    • Creating chapter markers by analyzing video content.
    • Acting as a voice recorder for mind-dumping ideas while on the go, which can later be compiled into notes or scripts.
  • He also mentions another app, Manis, for research, finessing details, and fact-checking.
• AI for Visuals
  • AI text-to-image generators, specifically Artlist's Nano Banana Pro, are employed for creating high-quality YouTube thumbnails.

    

  • He uses ChatGPT to generate specific prompts based on his video content, which are then fed into the image generator to produce multiple, slightly different thumbnail options.

    

  • The Nano Banana Pro model also allows for image-to-image creation, enabling users to modify specific aspects within an existing image without extensive Photoshop knowledge.

    

  • This process is crucial for quick turnaround times without needing a graphic designer or extensive Photoshop skills.

Notebooks for Idea Generation [10:17]

• Field Notes Books
  • He uses Field Notes books for traditional note-taking and "mind dumping."
  • These small notebooks fit easily in a pocket, providing a portable way to jot down ideas, project notes, and "close circles" (i.e., externalize thoughts to reduce mental clutter).

    

Data Storage and Backup Strategy [11:00]

• Importance of Data Management
  • Emphasizes the critical need to invest in reliable data storage and backup systems upfront to protect content in the long term.
• SD Cards
  • Relies on ProGrade SD cards and CompactFlash cards (CFexpress Type A and B) for camera recording, citing their long-term reliability.
  • Uses a multi-card reader (Optex Black) with a built-in USB-C cable for on-the-go data transfer.
• Editing SSD
  • Edits directly off a fast external SSD, specifically an 8TB ProGrade SSD with USB 4 Thunderbolt support.
  • This allows for a smaller internal computer drive, as the editing performance comes from the external SSD.
  • The drive is magnetic, allowing for stacking or attachment to a computer.

    

• Cloud Backup (Backblaze)
  • All data from the editing SSD and other connected drives is automatically backed up to Backblaze.
  • Backblaze offers unlimited cloud backup for any drive attached to the computer at a low monthly cost.
  • It functions as a remote server, allowing access and download of files when away from the office.
  • Provides options to download files or have a physical hard drive shipped in case of major data loss or corruption.

    

• OWC RAID for Archival Storage
  • Uses an OWC RAID system for long-term storage of completed videos.
  • The RAID setup (e.g., RAID 5) has 80TB raw capacity, providing 60TB of usable storage, with the remaining 20TB dedicated to redundancy.
  • If one of the four spinning drives fails, the system can rebuild the data using the remaining drives, preventing data loss.
  • This RAID is also backed up to Backblaze.

Battery Charging and Portable Carry [16:30]

• Tilta Battery Charger
  • Uses a Tilta charger for Sony Z batteries, which has four slots and charges quickly.
  • LED indicators show charging status (green for charged, orange for partial, red for uncharged).

    

• EDC Pouch
  • A Cordback "Ninja Turtle" zip bag serves as his Every Day Carry (EDC) pouch.
  • He uses it to transport his editing SSD and necessary cables between his office and home for flexible work.

    

Editing Software and Workflow Enhancements [17:32]

• Editing Software
  • Primarily uses Final Cut Pro for YouTube videos and reels due to its speed for cutting and exporting.
  • Also uses DaVinci Resolve, especially for its powerful coloring capabilities, but finds Final Cut faster for typical YouTube content.
• Secondary Vertical Monitor
  • A secondary monitor, oriented vertically, significantly speeds up his workflow.
  • During editing, it's used for playing back vertical reels.
  • When not editing, it displays productivity apps like WhatsApp, messages, and email, allowing him to separate work tasks from creative editing.

    

• Tourbox Editing Console
  • The Tourbox is a custom controller that assigns keyboard shortcuts to its buttons and dials.
  • This tool dramatically increases editing speed by allowing him to perform complex actions with single presses, streamlining the cutting and export process.

    

Streamlined Video Upload Process [19:22]

• Efficiency from Pre-Production
  • The video uploading process is much easier and faster thanks to the pre-production work done with AI tools.
  • Tags, title ideas, and thumbnail concepts are already prepared, minimizing the effort required during upload.

Office Ambiance [19:41]

• Lighting Preference
  • He expresses a preference for lamps and warm ambient lighting in his office, combined with cooler front lighting, to create a comfortable atmosphere.