Video Recording Guidelines

Table of Contents

This page outlines our recommendations and some best practices for shooting asynchronous videos for your course.

Equipment  #

  • We recommend shooting your videos using Camtasia. You can purchase the software here.
  • If you want Rotman Digital to help with post-production (e.g., editing, adding interactive elements, etc.), do not render the video. Share/send the video to Rotman Digital as a Camtasia project file.

Video #

  • Please shoot in the 16:9 aspect ratio *AND* horizontal. 
  • When shooting a video, make sure you are facing a natural light source (e.g., a window) or a soft light source so that your face is evenly illuminated. If your light source is too strong or uneven (e.g., LED, light bulb), you can put a piece of white cloth over it. You can also try turning up the brightness of your laptop screen if you are shooting with a built-in camera. 
  • The camera should be at eye level. If you are using a laptop, the screen should at a 90- degree angle or tilted slightly towards you. 
  • If you are planning on overlaying a PowerPoint presentation, motion picture or text, etc. over a video of you talking, set a framing guide to designate areas of the screen for your face and the overlay elements so that they do not overlap. 
  • There should always be a little breathing room at the top so that the top of your head is not cut off. 
  • If there are always graphics on the side or bottom, keep that in mind when framing. 
  • Try and keep backgrounds behind you simple and not busy (but avoid pure white) 
  • You should not have a wall right behind you when shooting a video. Leave at least 3 feet between you and the wall or any background. 
  • *Highly* recommended: you should make a short test recording and send it to Rotman Digital so that they can provide advice on how to optimize video/audio quality before you start shooting your instructional videos. 
  • When sending media files to Rotman Digital, name your files by specifying the course ID, module number and subtopic number, then the date of production: i.e. courseid_M1S1_20210101.mp4. • When shooting your video, verbally slate the file i.e., this is lecture XX or whatever information you need before you start. 
  • If and when you make a mistake in the video, pause for a beat before starting again so it can be edited. 
  • Provide as much verbal editing instructions as you can, i.e., keep this, scrap that, etc.

Tip: Shoot the introduction video last  #

  • By the time you have finished shooting all the content videos, you will be more familiar with the content of the entire course. You will also feel more comfortable in front of the camera.

Audio #

  • To minimize echo, try to record in a room with as many soft surfaces as possible i.e., carpet or a bed.
  • Use a microphone (head-mounted recommended) when possible.
  • Try to stand/sit away from air vents or other sources of white noise.
  • Consider using a noise cancelling software such as Krisp