How To Record With A Video Camera

The trend of working remotely is becoming the norm, meaning how we capture video content is adapting to include other options.

A full-blown, in-person production with a professional crew, lighting, sound, makeup, wardrobe – yous get the idea – will always produce the highest quality results.

However, there are enough of means to capture content – like partner stories, case studies, leadership spotlights, and presentations – from the comfort of your dwelling house or office with readily-bachelor equipment like the webcam on a computer.

There is more to information technology than simply hitting record, though.

This commodity will walk you through 5 steps to recording a high-quality video to make certain you lot're putting your best foot (and face up) forward.

1. Setting upwards Your Abode Video Equipment

The first pace to capturing a video on your calculator is making sure yous take the required software and audio/video equipment. This includes a webcam, whether it's a built-in feature or an external camera that mounts onto your monitor.

In general, if you tin can, use an external and high-quality webcam and microphone. While the built-in ones tin can get the job washed, a higher quality device is always recommended. The boilerplate webcam is 720p. If you want a better motion picture, make sure your webcam is at least 1080p.

External Webcam

Here are 3 external webcam options we recommend:

• Logitech C930e

This is the best option if yous need to tape from a wider bending since the camera has a 90-degree field of view.

• Logitech C922 Pro

This is the best option for most people as it's easy to use, has a 78-caste field of view, a drinking glass lens, and 2 omni-directional microphones.

• Logitech Brio

This is an expensive option but will produce the highest quality video due to its 4k image sensor, Hd 5X zoom, automatic adjustments, and more.

Software to Record Videos

From there, you'll demand the software required to record from your webcam. There are plenty of ways to do this, including but not limited to:

• OpenReel

OpenReel is a remote capture platform that allows you to record high-quality video natively through a web browser on a calculator or a telephone app. VMG Studios now utilizes this platform for our remote video productions as we believe it offers the most features and produces the highest-quality product.

• Camtasia

Camtasia is a screen recording and video editing software that'southward compatible on Windows and Mac. Camtasia, which is a TechSmith product, offers a gratis 30-day trial. At that place are individual, business organisation, education and non-profit pricing options available.

• Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)

OBS is a free and open up-source software for video recording and live streaming on Windows, Mac or Linux.

• QuickTime Histrion

This application only applies to Mac users. It has 3 different options for recording: Picture, Sound, and Screen. If yous're looking to picture yourself on-photographic camera, you'll want to do a Moving-picture show recording which utilizes your webcam. A screen recording will capture the content on your figurer monitor.

If you lot are non able or allowed to download and install 3rd-party applications, check with your Information technology department for the recommended application/method.

One time you have your recording software installed, make sure you're configuring your computer and webcam appropriately.

• Check your audio and photographic camera inputs to make sure y'all're using the correct ones/grant permission for your application of choice to access the computer'south camera and microphone.
• Plow off system notifications or any other computer sounds or pop-ups, similar the ping you lot hear when a new e-mail hits your inbox, that might play or display.
• If yous are doing a screen recording, make clean up your desktop. A messy or decorated desktop could distract from what y'all're trying to show on-screen.

READ: OpenReel Remote Capture: Definition & Benefits for Video Production

2. Recording Audio for Your Video

How a person looks on-camera is important, simply how they audio is but as, if non, more of import. Bad audio (muffled, scratchy, quiet) can lower the quality of a video.

The internal microphone of your computer captures decent audio, merely if you're looking for a college quality audio, you'll want to record on some other device.

Hither are 2 options nosotros recommend:

• Blueish Yeti USB Mic

Features include gain command, mute button, and zero-latency headphone output.

• USB Lavalier Lapel Microphone

Includes a audio card that is compatible on a PC or MAC and a born headphone jack so yous can heed to yourself in real-fourth dimension.

Effort to avoid recording where ambient noise is loud, such every bit the front room of your home or function that'south close to a decorated road or next to the laundry room when the dryer is running. Pick somewhere quiet with little to no bounce in the room.

If you're recording outside for some reason, stay out of the current of air as much as possible.

3. Location and Placement of Your Home Video Shoot

Once you have your software ready to go, you lot'll demand to find a good identify to record. Where y'all record your video can make a big deviation in professionalism.

You'll want to observe a clean, uncluttered, and pleasing groundwork to not distract from the subject area in the video. Examples of good backgrounds, in either an part space or your dwelling house, include:

• A solid wall at an angle. Annihilation that'southward in company brand colors is a bonus. Brick also looks great on-photographic camera.
• An elegant antechamber or lounge space.
• Larger spaces or rooms with soft textured décor, like throw pillows and blankets, help foreclose echo, so try to avoid really small and stark spaces.

In one case you find a proficient background, you lot'll need to place your calculator accordingly and at an advisable distance. In general, the computer should exist nearly two to iii feet away from the subject. The subject should be shut enough for the microphone to pick upward their vox but far enough away that their face isn't an overwhelming presence in the picture frame.

The camera lens should likewise be at center level, so if the webcam is on height of the estimator, be certain to prop the screen up to meet your optics.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a proficient one to follow for proper computer placement: mid-abdomen to mid-chest and up (never just from the cervix up).

• Presentation to camera rule of thirds

This is probably how you film recording yourself on-camera: framed center and looking directly at the screen. It's a conversational, talking-caput way video many of u.s. are familiar with thanks to video chats, vlogs, webinars, etc.

The host is looking into the photographic camera from the center of the screen, trunk is aligned to the center, and the eyes are on the upper third line.

Paradigm credit: AirCall

Use this framing if you are presenting. This style is also recommended if the video volition be used on social media/if you demand to export a square version.

• Off-center presentation rule of thirds

This style is like to an interview-based recording where you'll leave infinite to i side of the screen, however, you'll look into camera instead of off-camera. Your body will be aligned to the right third line, face is on the upper 3rd line, and the headroom is minimal.

Image credit: Blueleadz

Use this framing for a more casual and inviting shot, or if y'all desire to accept infinite for graphics to exist inserted on-screen with y'all.

• Interview-style rule of thirds

Interviewee is looking off-photographic camera in the opposite direction of where he/she is seated on-screen. Eyes are on the upper third line, while the body is on the left third line.

Image credit: Video Know How UK

Just use this framing if you are doing an interview-manner. It gives the appearance that the subject is talking to someone off-photographic camera (even if there isn't anyone in that location).

If you're recording like this, and there's no actual person to talk to, find a spot in the room that's at eye-level and make that your focus point so your eyes don't wander.

4. Lighting Your Domicile Video

This is where things can get a little tricky since you might not have professional lighting equipment on-paw, but lighting is extremely important when information technology comes to the quality of your video.

Here are some tips on how to best light your video when recording from home.

• Natural light

This is the side by side best affair likewise a professional person lighting gear up-up. Find a window that brings in the most natural light throughout the twenty-four hour period. It is most pleasing if this is splashing on your face at a 45-degree bending.

• Avoid backlight

This is whatever calorie-free that is shining on you from behind. It can crusade you to silhouette. Natural lighting is the all-time, but do not shoot yourself with the window (or sun) backside yous.

• Ring light

This is a uncomplicated lighting tool that yous can easily set-up anywhere. Information technology helps reduce shadows on the field of study'southward face and y'all can adjust the color temperature. Here are some that we recommend:

1. 1. Band Light Pixel 19-Inch Pro
      This includes a low-cal stand up, 3 color filters, wireless remote, Bluetooth selfie remote, and a telephone carrier.
   2. Pixel 19-Inch Bi-Color Ring Light
      This includes a light stand up, white filter, wireless remote, Bluetooth selfie remote, and a telephone holder.
   3. Inkeltech Band Light
      eighteen-inch LED band lite kit with a stand. Includes a remote control, selfie control, phone holder, and camera holder.
   4. LED 6-Inch Ring Calorie-free
      This is a smaller version and comes with a tripod stand, a prison cell phone holder, and 3 calorie-free modes.

• Neutral or slightly warm light

If you can't get practiced access to natural lite, this is a good option. Overhead lighting is not ideal as it tin can cast odd shadows and be sure to avert fluorescent lights if at all possible.

five. Preparing and Shooting the Video on Your Reckoner

Once everything is in place, you'll adjacent want to make sure you are camera ready. Dress to make an impact. Retrieve about your target audience and the message you lot want to convey, and dress appropriately.

One time you lot're ready to say action, there are a few more things to keep in mind to ensure your on-camera performance goes off without a hitch.

• Practise not impact the laptop or table information technology is sitting on

This will jostle the camera and make the video shaky

• Make eye contact with the webcam.

It's piece of cake to picture your eyes downward to your own image or to your script only try to keep your eyeline on the camera itself.

• Requite lead-time

If you're recording with some other person(s), be sure that you aren't talking over anyone else in the recording. For example, if you're the interviewee, once you've been asked a question, wait a couple of seconds before answering. This ensures the interviewer is finished talking.

• Speak clearly and slowly

Information technology's easy to get nervous and start speaking besides quickly, which can pb to stumbling over your words. Slow it down.

• Record multiple takes

As long equally it's not a live-streaming event, it's okay to record a second or third take if you stumble over a line. Just make sure you backtrack a chip so it can be seamlessly edited in post-production.

• Be conscientious reading your script

If y'all can, try to memorize as much as your script as possible to avoid reading your script on your screen while recording. Why? Because the audience will see your eyes moving since you'll no longer exist making eye contact through the photographic camera.

• Practice, practice, exercise

This is simple. Do your script ahead of time and try to memorize it as much equally possible. You'll feel more comfortable and natural the more you do.

CLICK HERE TO READ 10 TIPS FOR BECOMING Comfy ON CAMERA

Wrapping Upwardly Your Video

When you lot're done recording your video, make sure you save your projection or file correct away. The terminal thing you want is to lose all your hard work.

After you salvage your work, yous'll next desire to send your assets to your editor or video partner. A video partner, similar united states hither at VMG Studios, would walk you through how to export the highest quality video for editing.

For example, if y'all're using Camtasia, transport the raw file which is a .TREC. If you're using QuickTime, OBS, or any other application, transport the file blazon that you chose to record/encode to or the whole projection file.

Recording Your Own Video From Home

It may seem daunting to record your own video, at starting time, but the more you lot do information technology, the more comfortable you'll go. Set yourself up for success from the get-get with a solid webcam and microphone, and and then discover a spot in your abode or office with a make clean background and natural lighting.

While there may exist some creative limitations to recording yourself on a computer, there are nonetheless several ways to jazz up your video in postal service-production with supporting graphics, music, sound effects, etc. If y'all don't have the capabilities to exercise this yourself, a video production partner will surely fill the void.

Utilizing the techniques and technologies listed in this article ensures you can capture video content anywhere, someday.

Go organized and record video from your computer by clicking the paradigm below to download a free checklist

Tags: Recording video, Computer video, Talking head video, Shooting computer video

Written by Chelsea Sassara

Chelsea Sassara is a Content Director at VMG Studios. Chelsea is an Emmy accolade-winning journalist with a background in local Television news. She loves to write, her dog & cat, the Pacific Northwest, and the Oregon Ducks.

Source: https://blog.vmgstudios.com/video-recording-home-computer

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