What is a silent video
A silent video, strange as it may seem, is not totally silent. They are videos without speech — and quite often even without a presenter themself or their face — but ambient sounds and background noise or even music are still present. Also, the recordings may be fit with subtitles.
The so-called “silent revolution” is a response to the immanent hustle and bustle of modern city life and the ever-increasing pace of life. People are tired of rat races and videos that glorify someone’s achievements. They just want to relax, plunge into slow living, and enjoy simple pleasures. Even if they can’t have such a life themselves, they love the feeling of immersion, as if they can.
The trend has appeared in Asian countries, Japan, and Korea, but it has already spread all around the world. Silent videos are very convenient for those, who are tired of loud and abrupt sounds, or just prefer visual content to audio.
This type of video content is also called “introvert vlogging”, as its main target audience consists of people who are not much into talking, boasting, and showing off.
Types of silent vlogs
They are not rigid and sharply defined, as each blog can have features of several vlog types, but here they are.
- ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response). These vlogs are all about soft sounds that evoke tingly feelings, so much loved by some people. Actually, every silent blog without background music may be considered ASMR.
- Daily life and lifestyle. Just some very common daily routines, such as cooking, reading, gardening, and other day-by-day vlogs. For example, Dailytips, Nami’s Life, HoneyJubu.
- Traveling and showing life in other countries. For example, Life With Mai.
- DIY. In "how to" vlogs the focus is on the visual part, so the audio can be easily replaced by some soft music. For example, Soften Studio is focused on sewing.
- Ambient sounds, such as rain, cafe, forest, busy street, etc. For example, Slow Forest Days.
- Music collections, for example, Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters.
Tips for creating engaging silent vlogs
Silent vlogs have their target audience and however refined they are, they will not strike a chord with those who prefer audial information. Still, there is competition amongst aesthetic YouTube channels and other silent vlog types, so here are several tips on how to stand out.
- Give the highest priority to the visual part. It should be impeccable. Make sure you don’t post raw footage, but edit video properly, and add captions and elements, if necessary. Tell a story.
- Sound does matter. As we have already said, silent vlogs are not the same as silent movies, they do have sound, and it should be flawless too. If you use music, make sure it is royalty-free and you don’t breach any law.
- Come up with some ingenious silent vlog ideas. Find your niche and be unique.
- Plan ahead. Draw a storyboard, if necessary. Silent videos have nothing to do with spontaneity.
FAQs
What is a silent vlog?
A blog without discourse and speech. It is mostly focused on calming down and soothing daily activities, such as cleaning or cooking, but there are also other types of such content.
Are slow living and silent vlogs related?
With knobs on. Silent vlogs are a response to the ideology of consumerism, overachieving, and competing.
Can silent vlogs be successful?
Of course. Not only are they convenient to watch, for example, when you don’t have headphones and can’t turn the sound on, but they are also relaxing and even “therapeutic". The most popular Japanese vloggers have millions of subscribers.
Final thoughts
The very appearance of silent blogs is solid proof that people got tired of never-ending races. Life is full of challenges and disappointments, everyone needs such a "quiet place", a shelter, where they can feel safe and calm. Even if it is just a video of someone else’s life.
