Here are some quick and easy webcam recording and video encoding tips that will improve video quality, reduce file size, increase playback performance, and ultimately enhance your video's perception:
Simplify Backgrounds
File size (and the corresponding Internet bandwidth) increases as there is more detail or motion in each video frame. It should then go without saying that a video frame with a subject in front of a solid color compresses more than a video frame with the same subject in front of moving machinery, traffic, blowing trees, etc. However, a subject in front of a static field is possibly boring to watch and may lack key ethnographic details.
Bottom line: When recording questions, simplify your background with a nice, clean backdrop.
Good Exposure and Soft Lighting
Bright white window backlighting or direct sunlight is not ideal for video encoding. These lead to washed out images, hot spots, and so-called “ringing artifacts”. Footage with soft, even light compresses better than footage with hard edges created by shadows or overbright light values. Soft light can be achieved by applying diffusion material to the lights, a soft box to the key light, or even shining the light indirectly against a wall.
Important video information can also be lost in dark exposures because compression will most likely throw out any detail in dark areas. So make sure you have good secondary fill and back lighting as well.
Bottom line: Do not use your monitor as your light source. Use a desk lamp softened with a piece of paper and a back light.
Camera Setup and Position
Try to mount your webcam even with your eye-level or slightly higher. Most models come equipped with monitor mounts which are ideal to avoid the dreaded “up-the-nose” or “big brother from above” shots. Also most cams have super wide-angle lens, which tend to exaggerate the bulbous-head effect. This can be minimized by not getting too close to the camera and avoiding extreme camera angles.
The microphone built into most webcams is not professional-grade, but there are some things you can do to bring out its best quality. Some systems allow you to attach an external microphone, but for our purposes, let's assume that you have a standard webcam with a built-in microphone. Bearing in mind the information above, remember that the closer you are to the microphone, the better you're going to sound.
Another crucial audio tip: turn off any music playing in the background, and mute the sound on the television. Any extraneous audio will distract from the sound of your voice, and sensitive microphones on webcams tend to amplify background noise.
What To Wear
There's no need to dress up for a webcam recording; after all, it's not a performance, it's like a simple telephone call with video. However, there are some colors and patterns that work better with video. For instance, a noisy shirt or patterned top will draw attention away from your face. When considering what colors to wear, remember that red is the most difficult color for video to reproduce, while blue is the most easily rendered color for video and is usually the most flattering choice for most people. A white shirt or blouse will make your face look darker, and conversely, wearing black will make your face look lighter.
Also, if you are experiencing color swings and variation within your video, try this: wear an article of white clothing. The webcam’s auto-exposure/white-balance is automatically attempting to lock on to any white level and adjust all other levels based on this baseline value. You simply need some variation of white in frontal light zone to achieve uniform balance, so wear a white shirt if possible.
Also if you wear glasses, adjust the monitor brightness and/or contrast down to a level where you can just barely see the screen’s contents comfortably. You only need to do this while you are using your webcam, but this, along with a diffused light source, with eliminate eye glass reflection allowing others to actually see your eyes.
I hope this article helps your webcam recording experience, and I look forward to seeing your video.