Multimedia Support

Guide for Self-Recording

Microphone 

If you have any kind of external microphone I would suggest using that to record. This could even be the microphone built into a headset or earbuds. Just make sure the mic hangs freely and is not rubbing against your clothes/hair. 

Setting up 

From there, I would find a quiet spot with decent lighting. You want the light source to wash evenly over the front of your face, rather than the back of your head. Next to a window is good, backlit in front of it not so much. It can help to bring a shaded lamp into the room if you have one and power it on a few feet away. 

Text and Rehearsal 

Next, if needed, you'll cue up the text of your script on screen to read like a teleprompter. As far as the text, I find it helps to increase the font size for legibility and delete any "notes to self" that won't be read aloud. 

Reading the script aloud once or twice before recording is the best way to nail the delivery catch any errors that may have slipped through to this point. Use a stopwatch to time yourself during these read-throughs to get an idea of how long the final video might be. 

The more familiar you are with your script, the more you can look straight into the camera and the less you will appear to be reading. If you can manage to memorize your presentation or deliver it from brief notes or an outline, that’s even better. Even if you can memorize your presentation in chunks of a few sentences at a time, the pauses in between can be removed during the editing process. 

Readying up the Camera 

If you can, try to prop the computer up on a stand or some books so it is as close to eye-level as possible. Make sure you are plugged into the wall charger, close all other applications except for the script text, and then open up Quicktime Player if you are using a Mac. For Windows 10 users, open up the "Camera" app. 

Starting the Recording

If using QuickTime, select "File--->New Movie Recording" in the top menu. If using the Windows 10 "Camera" app, switch to video mode by clicking or tapping the video button on the right side of the app window. 

Check your frame one last time to make sure there's nothing distracting in the background, your face is not cut off at the top, etc. 

Before you push forward with the full thing, you might want to record and watch a just few seconds just to make sure the sound and video are ok. 

Once everything is centered and ready, go ahead and hit the record button. Once the recording is going, you can minimize Quicktime or just swap the script text to the front window and begin reading your script. 

Reviewing the Video 

Before you break down your setup, it's a good idea to watch your video all the way through and make sure you are happy with it. If not, it will be easy enough to adjust and re-record. 

Once satisfied, save the file with a descriptive title. Try to call it something like "Sociology 101 course intro" instead of "Screen Recording" or "My Video". 

You are now ready to edit your video, send it to someone directly, or upload somewhere like YouTube.