This article provides best practices and recommended gear for using recording remotely, ensuring a professional and seamless experience - regardless of the platform.
Creating high-quality remote video recordings is important for businesses and working professionals. It's easy, fun, and endlessly scalable. Whether you’re recording a podcast, conducting an interview, or presenting a webinar, the right technology and setup can make a significant difference in how your community and audience engages with you and your subject matter. But many folks worry that quality will suffer if they’re not using professional recording equipment. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll ensure quality recordings every time.
Prerequisites
- Use Google Chrome for the best experience in MarketScale.
- While core MarketScale features remain sound, you may not experience as smooth of an experience in Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.
- Ensure a high-speed, stable internet connection, preferably with a stable Ethernet connection. Test your connection here.
- MarketScale recommends a minimum of 15mbps upload and download for web-recording and streaming.
- MarketScale recommends a minimum of 15mbps upload and download for web-recording and streaming.
Gear and Technology
Lighting: Your goal is to reduce shadows. Natural light is best - if you’re facing a window you’re probably looking sharp already.
Failing that, try a 2-point lighting system. Use two lights on either side of your monitor angled 45 degrees toward your face for even, shadow-free coverage (this also helps to avoid the ring light reflecting in your irises).
Microphone (audio input): Laptop microphones rarely make quality recordings. Opt for an external audio source, like a wireless headset or a USB microphone for clearer sound.
Speaker (audio output): Laptop speakers, on the other hand, work fine for you to hear others. Just make sure to test your setup to avoid echo and reverb that would bother your guest.
Video: If you have good lighting, then any basic webcam will probably work great (e.g. the one in your computer). But you should use the best quality webcam you can (shoot for 1080p as a best practice, and 4K if you can get it).
Best Practices for Remote Recording
Camera Positioning: Align the webcam at eye level to maintain direct engagement with your audience. Avoid low angles that focus on the chin.
Posture and Frame: Sit forward and upright to fill the frame. Maintain balanced headroom (just a little), try to stay in the middle of your window, and avoid leaning in too close or out too far from the camera.
Background: If your background is clean and tidy, your recording will look professional. But feel free to have some fun with your set dressing!
- Unless you have a professionally lit home studio and a well appointed greenscreen, shy away from virtual backgrounds.
Attire: We always encourage you to dress for success, but this part is up to you. Just avoid wearing anything with a tight pattern like checker or gingham, they don’t show very well on video recordings. Solids are the way to go.
