Imagine that about 500 hours of video are uploaded on YouTube every minute. Chances are that Instagram, Facebook, and other media get a lot of content too. The competition for a user’s attention grows, and only the best high-quality recordings get noticed.
How do you become king of the hill? There’s a simple way. Follow our tips to record your screen like a professional in any video genre. Commentaries, tutorials, reviews – you’ll be able to master all.
1. Plan your recording in advance
Before starting any activities, make a list of what you’d like to cover in your video. The best way to deal with this task is by writing a complete script that covers actions, voiceovers, and durations. You can find a video script template in the image below.
In this case, the file is created in Google Sheets, although you can use any other approach that suits your needs best. Having such a script helps you save time because there is usually no need to create repeated recordings. Everything works out from the first attempt.
Pro tip: use a speech time calculator to estimate the video’s duration in advance. This will benefit your planning, helping you choose the proper wording and length.
2. Choose the right software
Your software determines the possibility of recording a screen & webcam simultaneously. It is also responsible for the video’s quality and frame rate. Here are the four major factors to consider:
- User-friendliness;
- Number of features;
- Screen-recording modes;
- Pricing
The best apps are simple to use, offer multiple recording options, and come at an affordable cost. You can record your screen on Windows 10, macOS, and any other device. However, not all recorders are cross-platform, so you need to check this part as well.
3. Find the best framing
When using a facecam screen recorder, do not forget to check your framing. You should neither be too close nor too far. The best option is when you are positioned in the middle of the frame with your head, neck, and partly shoulders visible.
Also, ensure you have a tidy background. Nobody wants to see a dirty room with socks everywhere. Having a wall as your background usually solves the problem. If that’s not your case, some software can blur the image, leaving the focus on you.
It is equally necessary to choose the right positioning for your webcam video. People usually place it in the bottom right corner, although you can experiment with any other corner. The best option is to ask feedback from your viewers to understand which option is the most comfortable for them.
4. Set up your lighting
Cameras love light. The more light there is, the better the quality. Even a potato-level webcam can give you a Full HD image with the right lighting applied.
Although sunlight is the best option, it’s impossible to use it in your room studio. That’s why you need a large lamp placed behind your camera on the same level or a bit higher than your head. To keep a professional effect, keep the lighting soft with minimum shadows.
If possible, use two light sources from both sides of your camera. Yes, just like in the image above. This will minimize shadows and give a clearer picture.
5. Avoid distractions
When recording your screen, capturing the whole image isn’t always necessary. Instead, it is sometimes best to focus on the details you’re talking about. Some software allows you to record certain areas of your screen, although you will usually have to start a new recording when changing areas.
Additionally, you’d also want to disable notifications on Windows and macOS. It would be very annoying if you received a pop-up during your recording, right? Thus, it’s best to avoid the problem in advance.
6. Double-check your camera and microphone
While this does sound obvious, sometimes you start recording and find out that your 30-minute film has no sound or video. If that happened to you, then you’d probably lose any wish to create the material again. That’s why we recommend performing an audio and video test.
Note that if you have an external microphone and webcam, it is better to use it instead of the built-in devices. External hardware is usually more efficient, providing better media quality than the factory tools.
7. Watch your mouse cursor
It is likely that you’ll be showing your mouse cursor during the screencast. This is a good way to show things in explainer and “how to…” videos. However, you have to consider several points to provide a powerful user experience.
First of all, do not move the cursor around unless you want to show something. This is very similar to hand gestures when people talk. It’s very distracting in videos. Move the mouse only when you want to show your viewers an important element on the screen.
Second, move the cursor slowly. Not all of your viewers have a reaction speed like John Wick. If you move the mouse too fast, they won’t be able to follow your idea and will probably get lost. Thus, don’t be in a hurry.
Finally, apply the cursor smoothing effect in your screen recorder if possible. This will help you get a smooth line when moving the mouse from one point to the other. It’s a great aid for most of your viewers as they can follow the information at a normal pace.
8. Remove mistakes when editing
Everyone makes mistakes. Most beginners usually start all over, even when they’re halfway through their recording. This approach is a huge waste of time that could even provoke burnout. A much smarter move would be cutting out the mistakes during the editing process.
Now let us imagine that you’ve made a mistake in your overlay recording. What you should do is make a short pause of about 3-5 seconds, go a few steps back, and continue recording. The pause helps you notice the gap in the editor. You’ll simply cut it out, add a transition to the second version, and that’s it.
9. Determine the platforms for sharing your video
Each video platform comes with different requirements in terms of:
- Size;
- Resolution;
- Aspect ratio;
- File size;
- Length;
- Frame rate, and others.
For example, an Instagram video could typically be an MP4 file with a 1:1 ratio, 600×600 resolution, maximum 4GB and 1 minute, and a frame rate of up to 60. If you’ve created a webcam recording for YouTube, you’ll probably have to shoot a different video for Facebook. There are many factors to consider when recording, so keep these details in mind.
Wrapping up
Now that you’ve read all the tips for using a webcam and video recorder on your device, it’s time you tried them out on practice. Don’t forget to check your hardware before recording!