DIY or Full-service: Which Strategy Should I Take for My Video Creation Needs?
Overview
There are many pros and cons in creating multimedia yourself and in contracting out to an expert. Contracting an expert will almost always be more costly. If you are planning to create your own multimedia however, the process can be time and labor intensive, and requires some training to use the necessary hardware and software.
Choosing between full-service and DIY video creation
The table below outlines some of the major criteria you might want to use in deciding whether to take your video creation project to a contractor or to try to Do It Yourself.
| DIY | Contracting |
|---|---|
| Free or minimal cost ($$) | Higher cost ($$$) (although this may not hold true for a course-related project at Pitt; see below section for details) |
| Training required | No training required |
| Time and labor intensive | No labor and less time intensive |
| Quality based on training | Quality based on cost |
Projects that may work well as DIY
It is generally recommended that DIY methods be used for smaller and simpler multimedia projects, where training, time, and labor can be invested and direct control over the end product weighs more heavily than its overall quality. Examples of this would include lecture recordings, embedding external video into online course material, and allowing students to use video tools for collaboration. You can see some of these examples covered in Asynchronous video tools: All about Panopto.
Projects that may work well as full-service contracts
Contracting is generally recommended for larger and more complex projects, where a high quality product is a heavy requirement, where money is available, and where training, time and/or labor are prohibiting factors. Examples of this would include any professional multimedia requiring a studio, high-end equipment, training, and/or visual effects, motion graphics, or any elements not covered in the above training resources. You can see some of these examples in the Academic Digital Media Demo Reel.
Teaching Center services for full-service video creation
Users at Pitt can contact Academic Digital Media to employ their services for a fee. You can also contact this team to rent any equipment that is not provided by Classroom Services.
Teaching Center services for DIY video creation
There are a wide variety of multimedia tools available to Pitt users, which can be accessed through Pitt Software Tools and Student Computer Labs. The Teaching Center has also made many training resources available to Pitt users on Asynchronous video tools: All about Panopto as well as technical training through Classroom Services.