How to record video remotely (so it doesn’t look terrible)
A simple 6-step guide to getting the best out of your home video recording set up.
Zoom fatigue is real.
But video conferencing platforms have enabled us to communicate with each other at a time when in-person interaction simply hasn’t been possible.
It has also opened up new possibilities for video production.
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At Orinoco Communications, when we’re doing remote video interviews for production purposes we use a specialist platform that captures much higher quality video and audio than you can get with regular video conferencing platforms.
But it’s still going to look and sound a bit rubbish if the interviewee hasn’t taken basic steps to get properly set up.
That’s why, before we do a remote recording, we send our contributors some simple steps on how to optimize things so that they can look and sound as good as possible.
In a bid to help others who are looking to improve the quality of their own home recording setups - whether that’s for interviews or regular Zoom/Teams meetings - we thought we would share those tips in the form of a blogpost!
Check out these other posts from our Research Comms blog for more ideas about using video for your own research comms
1) No nostrils
Nobody wants to see right up inside somebody’s nasal cavities when they’re trying to engage in polite conversation.
Yet, that’s exactly what we’re subjected to when people don’t consider the height that their laptop is sitting at.
To avoid the ‘up-nose-look’ you want your camera to be positioned to match your eye line as closely as possible.
That might mean giving your laptop some extra lift by placing it on a stack of books or a box, until it’s at the same height as your eyes.
One caveat: make sure you choose something sturdy as a base. And if you’re someone who likes to bang the desk emphatically when you talk, please try to refrain!
If that camera starts wobbling you risk making your viewers feel seasick.
2) No notes
It’s pretty obvious when someone in a zoom meeting is surreptitiously checking their ebay auction or reading the news.
They may be nodding in earnest agreement but their furtive eye movements are a dead giveaway.
The same goes for remote interviews when the interviewee has got their prompt-notes up on screen during an interview.
I know it’s tempting to have a back-up so you don’t forget any of your finely crafted zingers. But it’s best to avoid that temptation.
For one thing, it’s really obvious you’re reading. And you also lose connection with the audience if you’re constantly looking away.
Besides, it always feels way more natural when interviewees speak a bit off the cuff than when read from a pre-written statement. So ditch those on screen notes!
3) What’s behind you?
Aside from your face, the only other thing that people will see in a remote recording is what’s directly behind you.
So your background matters.
People’s bookcases have become a source of fascination over the past couple of years, with so many on display during the pandemic.
So much so, that somebody created a parody Twitter account devoted entirely to judgements of celebrities’ bookcase choices.
Whether you decide to go down the bookcase route or choose another background, the important thing is that it isn’t so busy as to be distracting.
And, although it shouldn’t have to be said, do tidy up your dirty dishes/clothes before you hit record.
Finally, please don’t use the zoom blur effect for recordings. It’s very handy if you want to shield the horrors of your daily life from work colleagues but it doesn’t look great on video.
4) Lighting
The key to lighting your home video recordings can be summed up in four sentences.
Natural when possible.
Good from the front.
Better at an angle.
Never from behind.
If you’re filming at a time when there’s daylight then placing yourself next to a window is your best bet.
The ideal is to have the light coming in from about 45 degrees in front of you. That will give some nice depth and shadows to your face.
If that’s not possible then having the light source/window directly in front of you will at least mean that your face is well lit.
The one thing to always avoid is having a window right behind you, or your face will be cast in shadow.
If there’s no natural light then you’ll need some kind of light source to help.
If you’re going to be doing lots of video calls, webinars, events, interviews etc. and availability of natural light is likely to be an issue, then we would suggest investing in a little artificial light.
I used to work in a big warehouse office space with zero natural light so I had to get one and this is the one I chose.
You can stick it on the back of a laptop or desktop computer, charge it with a USB cable, it’s easy to use and inexpensive. And it makes a big difference.
If you’d rather not shell out on something like that then a regular desk lamp will do.
Don’t blast it directly onto your face though. Try bouncing the light off a white wall to make it less intense and direct.
5) Webcam
If you really want to up your video call game then I highly recommend that you invest in a little HD webcam. Like the lights they don’t have to be very expensive. This one from Logitech is good.
They do improve the quality of regular zoom or teams calls but they really come into their own if you’re going to be recording an interview via a platform like the one that we use (Riverside FM)
Because the recording is done locally, directly onto your computer, you’re basically getting a fully HD recording that’s sharp, with great contrast and colours. So much better than anything your in-built camera can achieve.
So, if you want to look your professional best it’s well worth the investment.
6) Microphone
As with the lighting and video - if you’re going to be doing a fair amount of video recording or streaming then it’s worth investing in a bit of hardware. In this case a desktop USB microphone. Again, these don’t need to cost a fortune, and they’re generally compact and easy to use.
The microphones you get on many earphones can also be perfectly adequate.
Whatever you’re using though, make sure you find a nice quiet spot to do your recording.
And remove your pets from the room! I know they’re delightful companions but you don’t want your flow interrupted by an ill-timed sneeze from your cat or
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Maybe one day soon we’ll all be meeting up as avatars in the metaverse, video conferencing will be a thing of the past, and such mundane matters will no longer be an issue.
But until then, follow these simple steps to make sure that the quality of your message is matched by the quality of your appearance when doing a video interview.
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This blog was written by Peter Barker, director of Orinoco Communications, a digital communications and content creation agency that specialises in helping to communicate research. Find out how we’ve helped research organisations like yours by taking a look at past projects…
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