After you finish the planning of your video, it is time to select and test the gear you will use to record it. Here are the 3 simplest gadgets you can use (maybe you already have them in your home!) to start recording good quality videos.
The truth is that knowing how to record a good video is much more important than the gear you use to do it and you will be learning more on that in my next blog post here.
The 3 things you will need are: a camera, a microphone and a stabilizer to hold the camera. I will cover the simplest ways you can get these items so you can start your video recording journey as quickly as possible and so you can add the videos to your professional portfolio.
Camera
Because technology advances so quickly, nowadays most newer smartphones have a decent camera with good recording quality (even on the front facing camera!) and you can certainly use them to video record yourself. Another easy option is to record yourself using a good webcam, if you have one.
The important point is: using whatever you have available is better than not doing anything because you think you need to have some specific gear. With time you can upgrade your camera for a newer one with a sharper image. We upgrade electronics all the time anyways.
Of course, if you have a good camera already, and know how to use it you can make use of that too. And if you don’t have a camera or a newer smartphone you can ask if your friends and relatives have one they are willing to lend.
One very important tip to get a clear image in any camera, but specifically on a smartphone (because of all the handling), is to clean the lens before recording. There is nothing worse than recording great video content to later watch and find out that the lens was smudged and you have to redo everything. đ±
So, choose the camera you will be using and experiment recording yourself. It is better to do your tests indoors during the day. Position yourself facing a window that brings in a lot of natural light for your test, but donât let the direct sunlight show up in the shot. Record yourself and watch it to see the quality of the image and sound. How does it look? Does the image look sharp? Fuzzy?
Try it out and experiment! You can always show me your recording if you need an extra pair of eyes to analyze your cameraâs quality. Send me an email and together we can get that resolved.
Microphone
I know it sounds funny but in a good video, quality audio is paramount!
I am sure you have already watched a video in which the image is not very sharp or clear but that the audio is of a decent quality. Did the image stop you from watching the video? Think about this scenario: imagine a zoom call with a bad image or a frozen image but with good audio. Now imagine a zoom call with a good image but choppy or lagging audio. Which one would you prefer to be on?
There are many types of microphones that serve different purposes but I donât want to complicate things! Most cameras have a microphone and depending on how good they are and how far away from the camera you will be it may be just fine.
However, if you will be turning your face away from the microphone or camera, or if you are in a noisy environment, outside, or not close enough to the camera, the sound of your voice may be too low or echoed and a simple external microphone can make a big difference. A lavaliere mic (the ones that attach to your clothing) may be an easy solution or for a more informal look some people also use their earbud microphones.
Before buying anything always do a test recording with your cameraâs built-in microphone and see how you sound. Please do the test indoors as outdoors usually have a lot of competing background noises and your voice will probably have that âfar awayâ feeling. Does your voice sound crisp, clear and constant?. Check the audio recording to see how much environmental noise shows up on the recording (static, fans, etc).
If you decide to buy a microphone make sure you choose one that can easily connect with your camera as things can get much more complex in the editing process if you record your audio separate from your video.
Stabilizer
A stabilizer is anything that can hold your camera or smartphone at the ideal height and angle for your recording and that will keep the image stable and avoid tremors in the video.
For cameras a pile of books on the office table might be enough or just set it on a bookshelf that is beside a window (just make sure it is at the appropriate height and angle – check out my next blog post where I will be talking about this in more detail).
A tripod is another option, a regular or a mini one can be used with cameras and smartphones. Webcams can just be placed on top of your monitor or display screen.
If you have Lego lying around the house like me, you can get really creative and make a stabilizer for your smartphone with them to hold your smartphone straight and at the right angle.
So, if you always wanted to start recording yourself and felt overwhelmed with the technology now you know you can start this journey with simple and accessible equipment without compromising on quality. Remember to test everything and make sure the battery is full before you start recording!
If you want more guidance on figuring out the equipment that is best for you or want someone to walk you through it, you can email me here or set up a time for a call here.
