Youth Ministry Tech Stuff http://www.ymtechstuff.com Practical, Affordable, and Doable Ideas for Youth Ministry Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:01:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 iPhone Mic Tip (making video) http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/13/iphone-mic-tip/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/13/iphone-mic-tip/#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:14:44 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2520 voice-memo-app-1

I needed to shoot a quick video for an upcoming college gathering at our church. It was pretty windy and I did not have the equipment I needed to box out the wind.  In high school we tried to shoot in the wind by taking a paper plate and coning it around the mic…it was better but still really bad audio.  On this shoot one of the camera guys said, “Hey, take your iPhone and use the Voice Memo app.  Just hit record and place it in your pocket.”  I thought it might be ok but I could not imagine it would be very usable. It was actually good audio, I synced the audio and the video tracks using an app called PluralEyes 3 (this is a killer app and I think they have non-for-profit pricing but I hear you can sync multiple video tracks and audio tracks in Final Cut Pro X too).

Here is a demo of the sound…with camera audio and iPhone audio.

 

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/13/iphone-mic-tip/feed/ 0 40 Free Backgrounds!!! http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/12/40-free-backgrounds/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/12/40-free-backgrounds/#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:26:02 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2523 free-backgroundsBy clicking on the 40/40/40 link below you will be taken to Simply Youth Ministry’s website where you can download 40 FREE backgrounds !! These are great for announcement slides, presentation backgrounds, and signs.  Click the 40/40/40 image below and look for the “40 Downloads” red box link in the middle of the page.  Enjoy and spread the word!

More than 400 resources at 40% off or better

 

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/12/40-free-backgrounds/feed/ 0 SALE STARTS NOW!!! http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/11/sale-starts-now/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/11/sale-starts-now/#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:00:01 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2510
More than 400 resources at 40% off or better
Best Sale Of The Year STARTS NOW!!!!

This CRAZY sale runs for 40 hours, products are at least 40% off (More that 400 resources), and we are giving away 40 free backgrounds for you to use in your ministry.

I spent a few hundred dollars on my graduating senior s this year with this GRAD BUNDLE.  I think I am going to buy now for next year!

I was also considering the new devotional “Freshman MAKING FAITH YOUR PRIORITY” as a gift to my incoming freshmen class…There is no better time!

Don’t let any of this years budget get left behind!

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/11/sale-starts-now/feed/ 0 Apple Live Keynote http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/10/apple-live-keynote/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/10/apple-live-keynote/#comments Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:50:01 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2505 apple-keynote-wwdc13I know everyone is not an Apple fan but if you are, or if you are just curious, check out todays live keynote of WWDC 2013 online at 10am pacific time today.  (According to Apple, the stream will only be viewable through Safari on OS X, or Safari on iOS 4.2 onwards.)

Things I expect to see…
iRadio (their Pandora or Spotify)
New iOS7
New MacBook Air (it’s been a while)

Things I hope to see…
Apple Watch
New iPads (retina mini)
Steve Jobs robots

If nothing else, it is good background sound. If you are into the Apple keynotes but cannot watch check out one of these live blogs:
engadget.com
live.gizmodo.com
9to5mac.com
techcrunch.com

 

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/06/10/apple-live-keynote/feed/ 0 Small Group Summer Study? http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/30/small-group-summer-study/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/30/small-group-summer-study/#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 18:43:13 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2499 If you are hosting or thinking of hosting a summer study with you students check out “Rise Up.” With Rise up, you will get 4 junior high messages and 4 senior high messages for one price! Check the site here and watch the videos to learn more about this new resource from Simply Youth Ministry!


riseup

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/30/small-group-summer-study/feed/ 0 Giving Parents Tech Ideas… http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/28/giving-parents-some-tech-ideas/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/28/giving-parents-some-tech-ideas/#comments Tue, 28 May 2013 11:13:31 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2490 A9E3E7ABC69B509E28D4506BA4C3I saw this image on a website about a month ago, it is a clever way to get kids to do their chores. This might be a good tip to share at your next parent meeting, give them ideas on how and what to use as leverage.

Another idea comes from a New York mom.  I saw this last Christmas and ment to share it with you long ago.  She bought her son an iPhone for Christmas and created a contract for him to follow (a list of 18 things).  While I would not use some of the language on my kids that she chooses to use to her 12 year old, there is loads of wisdom in the contract that is worth sharing. Check out her contract here or watch this video about the contract from ABC News below.

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/28/giving-parents-some-tech-ideas/feed/ 0 3 Helpful Graphics Websites http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/27/3-helpful-graphics-websites/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/27/3-helpful-graphics-websites/#comments Mon, 27 May 2013 10:22:52 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2447 clipartI have a lot of “goto” sites to grab graphics for promo materials and presentation slides (I mentioned some in a S.W.A.G. post last week).  These three sites have loads of free content, click and browse…you will find some great downloads!

  • Vecteezy is a great site to grab vector images from.  It also has a great sister site brusheezy for free Photoshop brushes. They have premium content, but their free stuff is great!
  • Thenounproject started out as a kickstarter project and is not a site with some very cool free images and a great search feature.  Some of the downloads may cost a couple bucks…over all, great site.
  • Stock.XCHNG is a HUGE money saver if you are using stock photos. You can pay hundreds of dollars on stock photo memberships at places like Getty images…not here.  At sxc.hu you can create an account and get FREE, FREE, FREE high rez images for your projects.

We all love the free and inexpensive…what web resources can you share with us?

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/27/3-helpful-graphics-websites/feed/ 0 DEAL ON STORAGE… http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/24/deal-on-storage/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/24/deal-on-storage/#comments Fri, 24 May 2013 14:21:44 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2482 USB

In my deal sightings today I would a killer deal you might want to get in on.  Right now (9:20am Friday May 24) Amazon has a 128GB USB Flash Drive for under $80.  My first computer cost $650 and only had a 256MB harddrive.  If you need more portable storage this is a great deal!

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/24/deal-on-storage/feed/ 0 The Minute To Win It Novel… http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/20/the-minute-to-win-it-novel/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/20/the-minute-to-win-it-novel/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 11:24:34 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2474 minutetowinitA few years ago youth ministries were blessed with NBC’s Minute To Win It.  It was a fun show but more than that it gave youth ministry nearly one hundred fresh game ideas!  I have used several of these games the past 2 or so years but have wanted it to be easier to to grab a game.  This week I stumbled upon a PDF file with a tone of Minute To Win It Games.  Click, download, and pass on to who ever leads your game time!

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/20/the-minute-to-win-it-novel/feed/ 0 2 Graduation Gift Ideas… http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/14/2-graduation-gift-ideas/ http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/14/2-graduation-gift-ideas/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:41 +0000 Brandon Early http://www.ymtechstuff.com/?p=2467 resources-books-for-students-graduation-gift-setI have given graduation gift to graduating classes for years. It has usually been in the form of a Bible or a gift card to a local Christian book store so they could get an item they might want before they leave for college.  I have come to the conclusion that they already have a Bible, if the first Bible they get is their senior year I probably have not done a great job communicating the need for a Bible the past 4 to 6 years, and forget the gift card…I want them to have something I think they NEED. This year we are moving towards getting our graduating seniors a few books that will encourage and grow them beyond our walls. These two bundles below each have 3 great resources…$25 worth of books for under $15, you got to like that!  What do you gifting your graduates this year?

Thrive, 99 Questions Jesus Asked, and Living With Less Bundle
Graduation Gift Set 2 - PhysicalLive Large Be Different Shine Bright, Creative Time With God, and 99 Thoughts for College Students Bundle.

Graduation Gift Set - Physical

]]> http://www.ymtechstuff.com/2013/05/14/2-graduation-gift-ideas/feed/ 1