Six Seconds to Glory: How to Make a Great Vine Video

Like Twitter in its early days, Vine confuses before it enlightens. The new 6-second video-sharing app is in the same kind of frontier position Twitter once was: populated by pioneers trying to figure out what it can do. So far, very few Vine users have managed to garner mass followings, and the network remains like most things on the Internet: overrun with cats. On the plus side, you still have a chance to seize the day from the felines and become a Vine superstar.

The trick is figuring out how to make Vine's ultra-limited features work for, not against, you. A combination of hardware accessories and sharing strategies could help elevate these abbreviated, looping smartphone videos to viral status.

Still and Sturdy

One of the biggest problems with Vine right now is camera shake. Twitches from handheld devices make otherwise cool effects distinctly amateurish. And because the Vine app requires you to tap the screen each time you want to stop and start the camera, it exacerbates the problem. You can fix trembling videos a bit by adopting a wider stance or by resting your elbows on a flat surface. But an even better solution is using a small tripod.

A good option is the Joby GorillaMobile Tripod. Joby's bendy tripods, like this one for the iPhone 4 and 4S with a plastic bumper-style case that can be used in portrait or landscape position, are a hit with point-and-shoot as well as DSLR photographers. Wrap the flexible legs of the tripod around any surface to get that otherwise impossible angle for your Vine video.

Alternatively, those who already own the regular GorillaPod can buy an the Studio Neat Glif to make it work with your iPhone 4 or 4S. If you're an iPhone 5 owner, this Joby GripTight Mount will work with the regular GorillaPod, and it will also work with any other smartphone (though Twitter has yet to launch Vine apps for Android and Windows phones).

Minimize or Enhance Sound

Vine records ambient sounds while your finger is on the camera button, but the iPhone's built-in microphone is weak and often muffled. Since Vine doesn't let you separate audio and video tracks, it's best to get close to your subject if you want to actually be able to hear anything. If you're outside and it's windy, or if there are unavoidable ambient sounds, static will overwhelm and swallow your words.

If you're really intent on giving your Vine videos legitimate audio, try an external microphone. The Apogee MiC is one of the best iPhone mics for use with Apple's GarageBand software. A cheaper alternative is the slick-looking iPhone Boom Mic, which has gained popularity among iPhone-toting YouTubers. It won't do much for audio mixing, but it will help your phone record clear, crisp voices.

Go Where Others Haven't

Unlike Instagram, Vine doesn't offer fancy filters and effects to enhance humdrum videos. It's up to you to make your Vine look different from all the rest. We're sure you can do this with optical illusions and tricks of the light, but here are three products to help make some highly original Vines.

LifeProof Case for iPhone: The next wave of Vines is underwater Vines. Now's your chance to create a video that makes you look like you've hosted a lengthy tea party at the bottom of your swimming pool, without scuba gear. This case features a sensitive touch screen and is submersible to 6 feet.

Photojojo Bikepod Mobile: Mount your smartphone to your bike for smooth panning videography action. Granted, it might be tough to keep your eyes on the road while stopping and starting the Vine app every half a second, but the resulting montage of your neighborhood will be breathtaking.

Olloclip 3-in-1 Lens Kit: All you've got is a camera, so why not spice things up by changing what your camera captures? This snap-on iPhone lens kit features three lenses: fisheye, wide angle, and macro.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/tips/how-to-make-a-great-vine-video-15264979?src=rss

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