Let’s go over these elements one by one. It’s a good time to note that all of this advice can be extended to any lecture recordings or virtual meetings you will likely be doing.

You likely have a space in your home already carved out to do your work. Generally, you’re looking for a spot that has good lighting (or potential for good lighting—more on that later) and is well defended from excessive or sudden, loud sounds, such as cars and buses from the street; ambient noise, like an old refrigerator; or noisy neighbours and more likely… noisy housemates. The ideal space for your recording will have some visual interest behind you. A brick wall, or some interesting art. Possibly you have a plant or tree on a bookshelf. You can help your viewers to better understand you by placing yourself in an environment that speaks to your personality. Otherwise if you don’t have that environment set up already, you can add bits and pieces behind you that help non-verbally tell your viewers who you are. Think of it like you are the set designer for your own TV show.

In this section, we will look at how you can create your videos by using either a smart phone or tablet; or by using a computer.

 

Smart phones and tablets:

 

 

Computers:

 

Most computers that are five or six years old or newer will have a webcam and a microphone built into it. All laptops from that time period will definitely have varying qualities of webcam and built-in microphones already in them. Apple iMacs and MacBook laptops have built in cameras and microphones for over the past 10 years. Depending on the brand and style of any Windows computer, your results may vary. If you have a desktop computer, or an older (but still capable) laptop that does not yet have a webcam and microphone, or if you simply want a better quality video, then you can research online to find a USB webcam that can do 720p HD recording at around 5 megapixels. Amazon and Staples (to name two) will sell these items. The price can go from forty dollars, all the way to over two-hundred dollars. If you are only doing introductory videos and meetings, then you’ll be more than happy at the lower end of the spectrum. For example, the Logitech C310 HD Webcam costs around $70, and is a great overall webcam for this application. Both Logitech and Microsoft deliver good quality webcams with a broad range of support for both Mac OS and Windows (and Linux). Likewise, if you want to—or you need to—get a better microphone, then you can look into USB microphones that will provide you with a better-quality sound. Much of this will be either due to a better-quality microphone with built-in software that will provide noise cancellation or, it will be due to the fact that the USB microphone can sit closer to you. Cost for such devices can range from a fifty-dollar USB headset/microphone such as a Logitech headset, up to the Blue Yeti. Overall, USB microphones from Blue will be a great addition to your home recording experience. One other tip for better quality sound would be to use headphones with a microphone built into it. The older wired headphones that used to come with cellphones are great and can be plugged in to the auto-sensing headphone/microphone jack on any contemporary laptop or desktop system. Another option is to use Bluetooth headphones (provided your computer has Bluetooth functionality). The Media is rife with talking head interviews speaking to each other over Zoom or Skype with Apple’s ear pods or other truly wireless earphones. These devices will work great for your introduction video as well.

Video recording software on your computer

We need to look at this process in two separate steps.

First, we need to record your webcam video. To do this, we will look at the built-in software available in Windows and Mac OS: Make your recording using either the Camera App (Microsoft Windows 8 and 10) or with QuickTime (Mac OS). Instructions on how to use these applications to record your video are below:

Next, we have to share these videos with your class. To do this, we recommend that you use YouTube. If you do not yet have a YouTube account, follow these steps to create one. Once you have a YouTube account, you can quickly and easily upload and publish your videos. Doing so will provide you with a link that you can then share with your class wherever you like. Take a look at the Instructions on uploading and publishing your video. Most often, you will want to share your videos on YouTube as Unlisted videos. If you do not want to publish your content to YouTube, you can opt to use Zoom @ York’s conferencing software to make an introduction video. This option has the added benefit of allowing you to use the Virtual Background setting in Zoom. For Zoom, you will need to have a Zoom Pro account. Given the fact that everyone is teaching and learning remotely, there’s a good chance that you have Zoom installed, and that you’ve been introduced to it already. If you haven’t, then you can go to https://yorku.zoom.us to get started. Recording yourself in a private Zoom meeting is as easy launching a new meeting in Zoom. Once you’re in the meeting, click the Record button, and choose Record to the Cloud to start capturing your introduction video. Once done, click the stop button. Zoom will convert the video, and then provide you with a link that you can share wherever you like. Another option would be for you to leverage Zoom for its Virtual Background capabilities but use YouTube to share your video. To do this, choose to Record on this Computer when you click the Record button. Once you’re finished recording your video, you will click the stop button. This time, Zoom will convert the video into an MP4 format on your computer. You can take that video and Upload it to YouTube by following the information provided above.

We mentioned previously that your space should have some good lighting… or potential for good lighting. The best recording space in the world will look terrible without good lighting. Here’s a basic rundown of what you likely have, and how to make it work for you. The most important things to consider when recording video (or even just for meetings) is to face a window, or to sit at approximately a 45° angle from it. Ambient light is much brighter than your eyes can tell. Even on a cloudy day, you may find that the light may be too much. To that end, you will likely want to use a (preferably white) curtain to cover the window. A curtain will also diffuse the light and provide you with softer, more complimentary lighting. Unless the room you are in is very bright with only the ambient light from outside, then you’ll likely also need to use indoor lighting. Normal desk lamps can be used to provide this extra light source. There are many tutorials online that will show you how to do this.

Here are a few:

 

Much of what was covered in the previous links works exceptionally well for rooms with no windows because you have the unique advantage that you can control 100% of the lighting. This is great if you plan on recording multiple videos and you want some consistency to the overall look and feel of the recording.

One of the biggest issues with being in front of the camera is clothing and jewelry. There are some basic rules that you can follow to ensure that you will look your best for your video(s). Patterns can be problematic (See: What NOT to Wear on Camera, link below). Generally, it’s the very small patterns such as hound’s tooth that make the most trouble. This has to do with how the camera sees the pattern. Very much like optical art, tight patterns will seem to be moving when played back on screen. If you have to wear patterns, make sure they are big and definitely not black and white. If you’re not sure, then don’t wear any patterns. Make sure that you don’t choose attire that matches the background of your space. If your background is very busy with patterns, etc., then balance that out with a flat, bright colour. Conversely, if your space is muted and devoid of interest, then you can wear clothing that has some interesting designs and/or colour to it. Play with contrasts and see what works the best for you and your comfort. The key is to have contrast so that you don’t get lost in the background.

Finally, jewelry is fine, but you will want to avoid any jewelry that will make noise as you move about your space in front of the camera. For example, multiple bangles on your wrist will add unwanted metal clanging noises. Necklaces and earrings should follow the same rule. Whatever you wear, you will want to ask yourself if it will make noise through your movements. If the answer is yes, then consider a different piece.Some good references are found here:

You will want to come up with a plan of what to say and in what order. Much of this will fall under your own style of delivery. There is no real, correct way of doing this, and this will be your best opportunity to show your students your personality, while also getting them excited about embarking on a journey of learning from you for the duration of the course. You will want to include: