Step-by-Step Guide to Best Practices for Screen Recording Lectures and Demos
Creating high-quality screen recordings for lectures and demos using MediaSpace tools involves paying attention to several best practices related to lighting, audio, and video/camera use. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to help you achieve professional results:
Prepare Yourself
- Apparel
- Dress in solid colors that contrast with your background.
- Avoid non-Mines logos, stripes, checked patterns, solid white and solid black clothes?
Set Up Your Recording Environment
- Choose a Quiet Space:
- Select a quiet room to minimize background noise.
- Place a note on your door or inform others in your department or household that you are recording to avoid interruptions.
- If you work on campus and do not have a private office, consider reserving a meeting / conference room within your building.
- Organize Your Space:
- Ensure your workspace is clean and clutter-free.
- Position your materials and equipment so they are easily accessible during the recording.
- Background Contents
- Avoid featuring non-Mines brands, logos, or Trademarks within your recordings unless they are specifically related to your content.
- Avoid featuring content that could reasonably be considered offensive.
- Remove sensitive information from your backgrounds such as graded papers, posters with private Mines data, etc.
Optimize Lighting
- Use Natural Light When Possible:
- Position yourself facing a window to utilize natural light. Avoid having the window behind you to prevent extreme backlighting.
- Supplement with Artificial Lighting:
- Use soft, diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows. Ring lights or softbox lights are excellent choices.
- Position lights straight-on if you own a ring light or at 45-degree angles to the left and right of your face if you own apair of lights.
- Avoid Overhead Lighting:
- Overhead lights can cast unflattering shadows on your face. Use side lighting to enhance your appearance.
Set Up Your Camera
- Position Your Camera at Eye Level:
- Place your webcam or camera at eye level to create a natural and engaging perspective. Use a tripod or stack books to elevate your laptop if needed.
- Ensure the camera is stable to avoid shaky footage.
- Frame Yourself Correctly:
- Position yourself in the center of the frame with your eyes about one-third from the top of the screen.
- Leave enough space within the shot so that you can speak and gesture naturally while staying in the camera frame.
- Check Background:
- Ensure your background is not distracting. A plain or professional-looking background works best.
- Consider using a virtual background if your recording software supports it and your actual background is cluttered.
- Camera Resolution
- Set your camera's resolution to the highest quality possible: Ideally 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Ensure High-Quality Audio
- Use an External Microphone:
- External microphones (USB or lapel mics) provide better audio quality than built-in computer microphones.
- Position the microphone close to your mouth.
- Test Audio Levels:
- Perform a sound check before recording to ensure your audio levels are appropriate. Speak clearly and at a consistent volume. You may need to adjust your microphone levels or adjust your microphone placement.
- Minimize Background Noise:
- Close windows and doors to block out external sounds.
- Turn off noisy appliances like fans, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. during recording.
- Silence your cell phone and other personal devices so that notification chimes are not heard during your recording.
Prepare Your Screen and Content
- Organize Your Desktop:
- Close unnecessary applications and browser tabs to avoid distractions and improve performance.
- Set Microsoft Teams to Do Not Disturb mode so that notifications and messages so not pop up in the lower right corner of your screen during recording.
- Arrange your presentation materials in an orderly manner for easy access during the recording.
- Use High-Resolution Settings:
- Set your screen resolution to the highest setting your monitor supports to ensure clear, crisp visuals.
- Zoom in on important content to make it easily readable for viewers.
Recording Best Practices
- Plan Your Recording:
- Outline your lecture or demo to stay organized and ensure you cover all key points.
- Practice your presentation to improve your delivery and timing.
- Record in Short Segments:
- Record in shorter segments rather than one long session. This makes it easier to edit and re-record sections if needed.
- Pause and resume recording as necessary to maintain a smooth flow.
- Engage with Your Audience:
- Speak directly to the camera as if you were talking to your audience.
- Maintain a conversational tone to keep viewers engaged.
- Use Visual Aids:
- Incorporate slides, diagrams, or other visual aids to enhance your presentation.
- Use annotation tools in Kaltura Capture to highlight important points on the screen.
Edit and Review
- Edit Your Recording:
- Use MediaSpace’s editing tools to trim unwanted sections.
- Ensure your video is concise and focused on the key learning objectives.
- Review the Final Product:
- Watch the entire recording to check for audio-visual quality, clarity, and content accuracy.
- Make any necessary adjustments before publishing.
- Captions & Media
- Add captions, and include any additional media.
Upload and Share
- Upload to MediaSpace:
- Follow the steps to upload your recording to MediaSpace.
- Add appropriate metadata such as title, description, and tags to make your video easily searchable.
- Share with Your Audience:
- Use the sharing or embedding options provided by MediaSpace to distribute your video to your audience.
- Provide any additional resources or materials to complement your video content.
By following these best practices, you can create high-quality screen recordings for lectures and demos that are engaging, professional, and effective.