MediaSpace: Optimizing Online Video Capture: Best Practices for Microphone, Webcam, and Lighting Setup

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

  1. Apparel
    • Dress in solid colors that contrast with your background.
    • Avoid overt non-Mines logos, stripes, checked patterns, or green apparel if you are using a green screen.
      Image of two individuals wearing appropriate attire for a video recording.

Set Up Your Recording Environment

  1. 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.
      An image of a sign that says, "Do not disturb".
  2. Organize Your Space:
    • Ensure your workspace is clean and clutter-free.
    • Position your materials and equipment so they are easily accessible during the recording.
      An image of a clean and organized desk.
  3. Background Contents
    • Avoid featuring non-Mines brands, logos, products, 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.
      A tounge-and-cheek image of overt product placement for a television show.

Optimize Lighting

  1. Use Natural Light When Possible:
    • Position yourself facing a window to utilize natural light. Avoid having the window behind you to prevent unbalanced backlighting.
      An example of a video shot with bad backlighting.
  2. 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 a pair of lights.
      A person sitting at a desk with good lighting.
    • Desk lamps work well if you're on a budget but reasonably priced lights can be purchased that are designed specifically for video recording.
      • Search for terms such as, "recording lights", "video lights", "Zoom lights" etc. on your preferred electronics retail websites.
  3. Avoid Overhead Lighting:
    • Overhead lights can cast unflattering shadows on your face. Use side lighting to enhance your appearance.

Set Up Your Camera

  1. 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.
      Diagram of proper camera placement at, or near, eye level.
    • Ensure the camera is stable to avoid shaky footage.
  2. 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.
      A person waving at the camera during a video call.
  3. Check Background:
    • Ensure your background is not distracting. A plain or professional-looking background works best.
      A simple background for recording.
    • Consider using a virtual background if your recording software supports it and your actual background is cluttered.
  4. Camera Resolution
    • Set your camera's resolution to the highest quality possible:  Ideally 1080p (1920 x 1080). 720p (1280 x 720) is also acceptable. 
      A menu listing camera resolution settings.

Ensure High-Quality Audio

  1. 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.
      An image of a high quality microphone.
  2. 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.
      Two people speaking into a microphone.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
      An image setting Microsoft Teams to Do Not Disturb Mode.
    • Arrange your presentation materials in an orderly manner for easy access during the recording.
  2. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

  1. Edit Your Recording:
    • Use MediaSpace’s editing tools to trim unwanted sections.
    • Ensure your video is concise and focused on the key learning objectives.
  2. Review the Final Product:
    • Watch the entire recording to check for audio-visual quality, clarity, and content accuracy.
    • Make any necessary adjustments before publishing.
  3. Captions & Media
    • Add captions, and include any additional media.

Upload and Share

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

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