• Plan what you are going to record and have notes
• Keep it short – up to 6 minutes is a general guideline. If you have something longer, chunk it up into topics. Not only will this make it easier for your viewers but it will also keep your file sizes smaller and make your videos quicker to upload. Consider putting your videos into activities on QMplus e.g. embed your video into a quiz to give a quick knowledge check at the end of your video. Or use the editor on QMplus Media to make your video into a video quiz.
• Practice – try several test recordings with your setup. Is your audio ok? Is your video camera in the right place? You will also give yourself time to get used to whatever software you are using to record and won’t end up fumbling for controls.
• Try some facial exercises before recording – you might feel silly but it can really help to make you feel relaxed.
• Get comfortable – if you think you speak better when standing up, do that. It might present some challenges in terms of camera placement but it can work. Another reason to keep your recordings short is that you are likely to start squirming in your seat if you go on for too long…unless you’re recording from your favourite armchair, in which case don’t get too comfortable.
• Despite all of this, don’t be obsessed with perfection – while you want to create something professional, there’s no problem with the odd mistake.

Too often when creating a video people are concentrating on the image and not so much on the audio yet the audio is really important to get right. In fact, it’s probably more important than the image most of the time. You want to make sure that your audience can hear what is being said with as little interference from any background noise. How do you do that? You are unlikely to have access to a sound-proof room. Things that can help:

• An external microphone is often better than the built-in one on your computer. Your built-in microphone can pick up you typing or moving the mouse on your desk.
• If you are using a mic on a headset, don’t put it too close to your mouth
• While external microphones may be better, they can also pick up ambient noise, some microphones are worse than others.
• The room you are in will have an effect. Lots of hard surfaces will create an echo-y sound. If this is very problematic, you can use soft furnishings such as cushions or blankets to dampen the sound.
• Noise from further afield can also be an issue…the neighbours, sirens in the street. There may be little that you can do about this other than closing your windows.

You will probably have to experiment a bit with what you have to get the best results. Make a few test recordings to see what works best.

If you are recording yourself with your webcam, there are some things you should think about. Recording your face is a good way to give your students a sense of who you are and a short talking head video might be a great way to do a weekly summary or introduction. We’ve all been in quite a lot of people’s houses recently through webcams so no doubt you are already aware of some of the things that can happen…good and bad.

• Position the camera appropriately…don’t be too close or too far away, make sure your viewers aren’t looking at the top of your head or from under your chin
• Look behind you – You are likely to be in your own home. Check what will be recorded. Are you happy? Is it appropriate? Might it be distracting to those watching? An open door behind you will create a sense of tension in your audience that you might not want and everyone is fascinated by the contents of other people’s bookcases.
• Avoid having the light, particularly strong light, behind you
• You can always soften the light by sticking some diffuser over the window…like a sheet or a shower curtain

If you are recording what is on your computer screen, either because you are demonstrating something or recording a PowerPoint presentation, there are a few things you should do:

• Close any applications you are not using. This frees up memory for your recording and reduces distractions
• Turn off notifications – you do not want alerts from Microsoft Office or Microsoft Teams popping up in the middle of your recording
• De-clutter your screen – e.g. if you are recording a web browser, do not have 25 tabs open, just have the ones you need for the recording, not the ones you were using to do your internet shop
• Make sure no personal or confidential information will be recorded – this includes not only your own data but data about others e.g. student information. Have a look at what is on your desktop, should others see those documents?
• If you have the date/time visible anywhere it will be recorded, hide it. This will literally date your video but also if you want to edit, it can be very distracting for the time to jump.

Many people have an excellent video camera in the shape of their mobile phone.

• Record in landscape, your phone on its side, wherever possible
• You will need to prop your phone up in the correct position. If you are going to make a lot of recordings, you could consider getting a cheap tripod to hold your phone steady and in the position you want
• You can turn your phone into a makeshift document camera e.g. if you want to record your handwriting
• Check the quality of the audio with the built-in microphone. It might be fine but you might need to consider using a different microphone
• Download the QMplus Media (Kaltura) app on to your device to make it really easy to upload any videos you make to our media server.