Whether you’re just looking to improve your daily virtual stand-up, gearing up for presenting at a virtual conference, or planning a new video podcast, here’s some advice about what to do to make the most of what you’ve got, or what to get if you really want to maximize your video and audio quality. There are a number of ways to up your game, however – by spending either just a little or a whole lot. That’s not likely going to change anytime soon, so why not make the most of it? The average MacBook webcam can technically get the job done, but it’s far from impressive. And it may appear to be blocked in FaceTime too, but that's not the case the feature is just hiding in plain sight.Your life probably involves a lot more videoconferencing now than it did a few weeks ago – even if it already did involve a lot. But in Messenger, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Skype, Instagram, and most other video chat apps, zoom functionality is disabled. With Zoom and Google Meet, you can zoom in using your rear camera on a video call to focus on something far away or to get a closeup view.Take photos of homework and documents. Webcam effects and filters for Photos and videos. Record video with camera online. Online camera photo booth and video recorder. This size also affects the camera’s depth of field, meaning images shot with a smaller sensor appear closer, Take pictures online and record videos with webcam. The size of this sensor determines how much of a view the camera can capture.
![]() Know your system sound settingsGet to know where the input volume settings are for your device and operating system. And if you’re living in a pandemic-induced mess of clutter, just shovel the clutter until it’s out of frame. Close doors that are in frame, and try not to film in front of an uncovered window. Ideally, you can find a spot where the background is fairly minimal, with some organized decor visible. It’s enough of a change to make it look less like I got caught by surprise with my video on, and more like I actually am attending a meeting I’m supposed to take part in.It’s definitely too much to ask to set dress your surroundings for every video call you jump on, but it is worth taking a second to spot check what’s visible in the frame. In the clip above, I used the popular Samson Meteor USB mic, which has built-in legs and dedicated volume/mute controls. But if you can get your hands on even a budget upgrade option like the Logitech C922 Pro Stream 1080p webcam I used for the clip below, it should help with sharpness, low light performance, color and more.Dedicated external mics are another way to quickly give your setup a big boost for relatively low cost. Right now, it might be hard to find them in stock, since a lot of people have the same need for a boost in videoconferencing quality all at the same time. Level 1 Get an external webcamThe built-in webcam on most notebooks and all-in-ones isn’t going to be great, and you can almost always improve things by buying a dedicated webcam instead. These are also in higher demand due to COVID-19, so the Elgato Cam Link 4K I used here probably isn’t in ready stock anywhere. In the clip below I’m using the Sony RX100 VII, which is definitely at the high end of the consumer pocket camera market, but there are a range of options that should give you nearly the same level of quality, including the older RX100 models from Sony.When looking for an HDMI interface, make sure that they advertise that it works with videoconferencing apps like Zoom, Hangouts and Skype on Mac and Windows without any software required: This means that they likely have UVC capabilities, which means those operating systems will recognize them as webcams without any driver downloads or special apps required out of the box. Level 2 Use a dedicated camera and an HDMI-to-USB interfaceIf you already have a standalone camera, including just about any consumer pocket camera with HDMI out capabilities, then it’s worth looking into picking up an HDMI-to-USB video capture interface in order to convert it into a much higher quality webcam. Big over ears models are good for sound quality, while earbuds make for less obvious headwear in your actual video image. Get some headphonesHeadphones of any kind will make your video calls and conferences better, since it minimizes the chance of echo from your mic picking up the audio from your own speakers. Rode’s Lavalier GO is a great mid-range option that also works well with the Wireless GO transmitter and receiver kit I mention in the next section. You can get a wired lav that performs decently well for as little as $20 on Amazon, and you can use a USB version for connecting directly to your computer even if you don’t have a 3.5mm input port. Get a wired lav micA simple wired lavalier (lav) microphone is a great way to upgrade your audio game, and it doesn’t even need to cost that much. How to use a windows emulator on macThis provides natural-looking separation of you, the subject, from whatever is behind you, and provides a cinematic feel that will wow colleagues in your monthly all-hands.A lav mic is great, but a wireless lav mic is even better. This allows you to add a nice, fast prime lens with a high maximum aperture (aka a low ‘f’ number’) to get that defocused background look. Level 3 Use an interchangeable lens camera and a fast lensThe next step up from a decent compact camera is one that features interchangeable lenses. Amazon offers a wide range of lighting kits that fit the bill, or you can even do pretty well with just a couple of Philips Hue lights in gooseneck lamps positioned correctly and adjusted to the right temperature and brightness. Get multiple lights and position them effectivelyLighting is a rabbit hole that ends up going very deep, but getting a couple of lights that you can move to where you need them most is a good, inexpensive way to get started. Apple’s AirPods Pro is a great option, as are the Bang & Olfusen E8 fully wireless earbuds, which I’ve used extensively without any noticeable lag. You can get some dedicated broadcast-style monitors like those Shure makes, or you can spring for a really good pair of Bluetooth headphones with low latency and the latest version of Bluetooth. Use in-ear monitorsYou still want to be using headphones at this stage, but the best kind to use really are in-ear monitors that do their best to disappear out of sight. A great option here is the RODE Wireless GO, which can work on its own or in tandem with a mic like the RODE Lavalier GO for great, flexible sound. Make Self Facing Camera Picture Bigger On Skype Code Or RunYou can set up picture-in-picture views, put up lower thirds and even fade-to-black using a hardware button dedicated to that purpose.But if you really want to make the most of the ATEM Mini, you can add a second or even a third and fourth camera to the mix. Released last year, the ATEM Mini packs in a lot of features that previously were basically only available to video pros, and provides them in an easy-to-use form factor with a price that’s actually astounding given how much this thing can really do.On its own paired with a good camera, the ATEM Mini can add a lot to your video capabilities, including allowing you to tee up still graphics, and switch to computer input to show videos, work live in graphics apps, demonstrate code or run a presentation. Level 4 Get an HDMI broadcast switcher deckHDMI-USB capture devices do a fine job turning most cameras into webcams, but if you really want to give yourself a range of options, you can upgrade to a broadcast switching interface like the Blackmagic ATEM Mini. You can adjust their temperature, meaning you can make them either more ‘blue’ or more ‘orange’ depending on your needs, as well as tweak their brightness.Using three of these, you can set up a standard 3-point lighting setup which are ideal for interviews or people speaking directly into a camera – aka just about every virtual conference/meeting/event/webinar use you can think of. The best balance in terms of optimizing specifically for streaming, videoconferencing and anything else your’e doing from your desk, basically, is to pick up at least two of Elgato’s Key Lights or Key Light Airs.These are LED panel lights with built-in diffusers that don’t have a steep learning curve, and that come with very sturdy articulating tube mounts with desk clamps, and that connect to Wi-Fi for control via smartphones or desktop applications.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJessica ArchivesCategories |