So many speakers want to know how they can economically video record speeches and share them with others.  I was one of these speakers!  After over a year of trying everything from VCR cameras off EBay, to costly DVD recorders that are a royal pain, I have found a solution that works extremely well, and is quite inexpensive!  I present this to you in a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Choose Your Weapon

Before you record anything to video, or as us "old folks" (yes, I am only 35 years old) say sometimes -- "videotape", you must choose the device in which you will use to record.  Here are some of the options and my personal opinions on each:

• 1980's VCR Camera: This seems like a good solution since one camera can be used for multiple speakers -- each speaker can bring their own video tape and have their speech given to them on video.  Despite the fact that you will feel like a moron carrying the thing around (kind of like seeing someone talking on a cell phone the size of a shoe), if you can find one of these gems that work, it is not a bad solution.  These are VERY hard to find -- even on EBay.  I tried twice to get them when I did find them and neither one worked when I got it.  Another con, forget about sharing the speech with others unless you want to deliver the video tape to the via pony express... digitizing a video tape is like trying to make a CD out of an 8-track.
• Modern Day Video Camera: Thanks to the open market and free economy, there are like a dozen video formats used today for cameras ranging from 8mm tapes to digital-mini's.  This is fine if it is your camera and you are not sharing your video with others.  But this does not work in an environment where there is one camera for many speakers, because rarely will all the speakers have the ability to play the media.
• DVD Video Camera:  Now were getting somewhere... DVDs are to the early 21st century live videotapes were to the early 90's -- just about everyone can play them.  But recordable DVDs are not as common and still, in 2007, MANY DVD players have problems playing homemade DVDs.  The biggest pain in the butt, is the process that one must go through when recording, saving, and finalizing a DVD.  The cost, incompatibility, and process make the whole process just not worth it.

Enter Digital Video.  Just about any modern day digital camera has the ability to record Internet-quality video (know as MPEG4).  Digital video is recorded on memory cards that fit right into most modern PCs, or if your PC is not that modern, you can use your camera adapter or a $9 adapter to access these files though your computer.  The device (or "weapon") is relatively inexpensive and common, the media can be easily viewed and easily shared -- but I don't want to get ahead of myself.  This makes digital video the ideal solution.

The Panasonic DSNAP pictured here is just one of the many cameras that will work just fine.  I own another version of the DSNAP line and am very happy with it.  The one pictured here goes for about $200.

Step 2: Share Your Video

In a public speaking club, if one person does all the recording and five speakers had their speeches recorded, how can you get these recording to the speakers?  The Internet.  In the old days (like before 2006), Internet video was not very well accepted by the average user because of dial-up connections and lack of a web browser based video player that did not require downloaded software.  But today with DSL and Cable taking over and dial-up becoming history, and with Flash technology that allows videos to play right from any web browser, sharing videos via the Internet is easy and well accepted (don't believe me? Ask YouTube -- now part of Google).

So why not use YouTube or something like it to share video?  Do you really want the world to access your speeches?  Probably not.  These are for you to see, some colleges and friends maybe, but not the world.  This is why iGrOOps is ideal -- any uploaded video can be private, or seen only by other members of the group.  in this case, the Public Speaking iGrOOp.

To share your video:

1. Access your digital media through a computer connected to the Internet.  Do this through an adapter or just insert the memory card from the camera into your computer (assuming there is a place for it -- no hammer should be needed).
2. Upload your video(s).  As a member of the Public Speaking iGrOOp, enter the Video / MP3 Gallery after you are logged in.  Click the Add Video/MP3 link at the top of the page. Click the "Add Files" (you may need to click twice) to open the window to your local PC where you will select the digital video file.  As long as you select the correct drive letter, it should be fairly easy to find the video files based on the date (see figure below). You can tell by the size what the video files are and what the info files are... you want the video files with the larger size.  There are many extensions for video files used, and just about all of them will work just fine.
3. Once the file upload is complete, follow the instructions in the right menu to select, categorize and name your video.

Step 3: Watch Your Video

You are now ready to watch your video on-line through any web-browser!  Not only that, you can share your videos with other members of the Public Speaking iGrOOp and ask for their feedback!