Creating a professional recording of a speech or presentation can be challenging, so it’s very important to think carefully about the recording set-up well in advance of the actual recording of the speech or presentation.  Most importantly, you should test all of the factors that could affect the quality of the recording.  It is essential that you consider both the visual and audio aspects.  The following recommendations will help you make decisions about how and where to record a presentation from home more effectively.

The Setting

When choosing a location in which to record your presentation, be sure to select a space where you can control the lighting and background and minimize sound reverberation and distracting noises (car horns, ductwork fans, etc.). When selecting a setting for your presentation, consider how the following factors will affect your recording:

--Size of the space: The space needs to be big enough to accommodate you, your visual aids, and any audience members you may have.   

--Lighting:  Never choose a space with a window or bright light behind the presenter. Light sources should come from in front of the speaker, behind the camera, or above or to the side of the presenter. In other words, the light should help spotlight the presenter, but check to make sure the lighting isn’t too dark or too bright to show up well on your camera.  

--Background: Choose a quiet indoor space with a neutral, light colored background, such as a blank or minimally decorated wall in order to minimize distracting visual cues. The area behind the presenter should be plain, and a color different from the clothing of the presenter to provide visual contrast.  Any objects visible in the background should be appropriate for a professional audience. If you lack an appropriate neutral background, you may be able to create one by taping or pinning a solid colored flat sheet across a doorway or closet. Do not record outdoors.

--Sound:  Make sure that the sound quality allows a viewer to hear you clearly with no need to strain to make out what’s being said.  To be sure your particular recording device is adequate, first create a test video and ask someone unfamiliar with your presentation to repeat back words from the recorded presentation.  Be aware of (and when possible, eliminate) distracting sounds that distort the sound captured by the camera.  Traffic, ventilation fans, and sounds from nearby rooms are common noises, but there are many more.  

--Audience members:  If you will have an audience watching your presentation, your audience will need to be seated at least 8 feet away from you.  If you have access, a conference room might work well; local libraries often have small rooms available for free public use. Remember that the camera needs to have a clear view of you from at least the waist up, leaving some space above you in the frame, so you might want to create an “aisle” for the camera in the middle of the audience.  Generally, the camera will need to be about 10 to 12 feet away from the speaker. This is one of the reasons why phone cameras rarely provide a fully  satisfactory image for these purposes.

the Delivery

--Using Presentation aids: If you are using computer graphics  (e.g. PowerPoint) you can try out projecting your slides onto that neutral, light colored background mentioned earlier. If that is not possible, show your slides via your laptop screen. Check with your instructor about any requirements for submitting  your slide deck along with the advance submission of your presentation outline (or agenda)for team presentations.

--Practice and Rehearsal:  It is crucial that you work out all of these issues before you record your speech for submission to your instructor.  Making sure the technology works well is an integral part of presenting online. Test out all the important options (like lighting, noise, seating, visual aids, etc.).  Record yourself without an audience and check the recording for video and sound quality.  This will be a great way to improve your performance and check your timing, too.    

--Engagement and Rapport:   If you need to demonstrate eye contact and engagement with the audience, be sure the camera is zoomed out accordingly. Even if there is no audience in the room with you, your delivery should sound as if you are speaking TO your audience, not talking/reading "at" them.

Capturing the video

--The Camera:  Ideally, recordings would be made using an actual video cameras such as a digital video recorder (DVR) or personal video recorder (PVR). If you don’t have access to either, your cell phone or webcam can be used, but these devices are often limited in terms of their sound quality, as their microphones are designed to pick up sound only in close proximity (< 3 feet).  Make sure that the camera produces a video showing you in clear focus. Finally, you should use a tripod or related firm steadying device to keep the camera steady.   

--Recording the Presentation:  Ideally, you should arrange for a camera operator.  Have someone else who has practiced with the camera manage it. You have plenty to do as a presenter, so just relieve yourself of those responsibilities:  setting up the tripod, turning the recording on and off, framing, zooming, or moving the camera to follow you.  Practice with your camera operator to make sure they know how to use the equipment and when to start and stop.

--Focusing and zooming in:  Most video cameras have automatic focus, but make sure this is case and that you are recorded clearly.  You should also determine what level of zoom is correct given the distance the camera is from you. If the presenter is going to be using any kind of  gesturing or full body movement, adjust the zoom accordingly.

--Framing the speaker: The presenter should be slightly to one side of the center of the shot. We should see the person's body from at least the waist up to the head. Leave some space above the head in the shot.  As explained above, if you have an audience, you may need to put an aisle down the middle of the audience so their heads don’t block the camera’s view of you.  Raising the (tripod) height might help here, too since you want to have it as close to eye level as possible.  However, make sure to set the camera so it is easy for you to look at it , but also easy for you to look at your audience.

--Capturing the audience: If you need to demonstrate the presence of an audience for your presentation, here’s how: prior to starting the presentation, start recording, introduce yourself, and pan across the audience as they turn to look at the camera.  Pan the audience again at the end before turning the recording off.  If you need to demonstrate eye contact and engagement with the audience, be sure the camera is zoomed out accordingly.

--Charging batteries: Always make sure the battery for the camera is completely charged. If your camera can be connected to wall outlet, consider having a cord available just for insurance. Similar advice holds if you are using a mobile device for recording.

--Submitting the Presentation:  Recorded presentation files are large, often many megabytes or gigabytes in size.  Often, they are too big to be emailed.  Have a plan for how to deliver your presentation to your instructor. At our school, you can try using "Sharepoint/One Drive".