Internet

• Stop any programs that use internet data such as Dropbox, Google Drive or any other cloud storage system.
• If you can connect to your Router through a wired Ethernet connection, this will provide the highest bandwidth and most stable/reliable connection (unless you have a WiFi 6 enabled setup).
• If a wired connection is not possible, please consider disabling other devices and also other processes/applications on your system, to allow for more available bandwidth during your stream. Please also get as close to your WiFi router as possible.
• For those with unreliable internet connections – consider purchasing a 4/5g USB dongle as a failover device for your main internet connection. These can be setup to kick in automatically if your connection drops.
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Computer

• Please use mains power where possible.
• Make sure to only open the applications and windows that you will need for your presentation. This will reduce the load on your computer and reduce the chance of video/audio issues.
• If you plan to share your screen consider disable desktop notifications for the duration of your presentation.
• Make sure to also close any unnecessary programs, especially any that can give you notifications (e.g Slack).
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Video

• Webcam:
  • Minimum 720p.
  • We highly recommend using a third party webcam rather than the built in webcam on your laptop (at least for older or lower end laptops). The added flexibility of a USB attached webcam can be hugely valuable when trying to set up an effective recording environment. We highly recommend the Logitech C920 series.
  • It’s recommended to disable auto exposure & focus where possible and set these manually ahead of your pre-recording. This will prevent the video image from fluctuating due to small changes in lighting or refocusing due to movements.
• Remember to look at the camera, not just your presentation/notes. You could add a prop to the camera that will allow you to easily focus on it (googly eyes on your webcam or a stuffed animal next to the camera that you can pretend is your audience). This is especially important if you have a built-in webcam that is at the bottom of the screen.
  
  

Presentation

• Tablet/Phone – Consider using a tablet or phone as a companion device for your presentation. Most presentation software applications now come with a mobile app where you can view your speaker notes more conveniently.
• Software – If you are It’s recommended to get familiar with the Zoom controls ahead of time, particularly the options for screen sharing and switching between shared applications.
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Audio

• If you have an external microphone, this can provide much better audio quality than built in laptop mics – USB microphones provide excellent quality whilst being very easy to setup and use.
• Try to reduce any background noise to the bare minimum. Turn off things like Air Conditioning, Computers, Your Phone and other features of your location that might contribute to additional noise levels.
• Consider closing windows and doors to reduce noise from outside.
• Move to a room away from any louder sources of noise.
• Rooms with hardwood floors, minimal soft furnishings or lots of glass (or other resonant materials/objects) can be a poor location for recording or broadcasting audio, due to increased reflections, echo and noise. Consider recording in a room with lots of soft furnishings, carpeted floors, curtains and other non reflective surfaces to provide the best quality audio for the recording. You can ‘treat’ a reflective space by adding additional blankets, cushions, pillows, towels, etc and placing these on the hard surfaces to reduce any reflections.
• If you have audio in your presentation, please consider using headphones or earbuds so that the audio output from your laptop is not picked up by your mic.
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Lighting

• Plugin any external light sources, if running on batteries, consider reducing brightness for a longer battery life
• Choose a space with minimal backlight (no windows or other bright light sources behind you).
• Sit facing the brightest source of light you have available, a darker background is preferable as this will make it easier to distinguish you from your surroundings.
• Ambient light can vary due to changes in weather, clouds, and time of day, so it is recommended to use a continuous lighting source if possible. Close curtains and any other sources of light if possible.
• A darker overall environment will mean the camera has to work harder to boost the light levels artificially, this will lead to a loss of quality for your feed. Position a lamp or other light source off to one side of you (but out of shot of the camera) this will provide a consistent light source throughout your presentation.
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