Webcasting Tips

With a little preparation & practice, doing live webcam presentations are easy. Here are a few simple suggestions to improve your technique and give your viewers a great experience.

First, the camera and audio:logitech-quickcam-pro3

You can start webcasting with a simple inexpensive webcam. Most laptops on the market today come with a built-in webcam and mic. The quality will vary a bit, but for convenience, a laptop camera is hard to beat. For better quality video, you might try a consumer digital video camera (with outputs via USB or Firewire). You might also want to invest in a better microphone, a tripod, a light kit and backdrop.

Webcams

Webcams range from $10 to $1000. But plan on paying $40 to $90 for a good webcam. The mid to higher priced Logitechs receive great reviews and have performed well in our tests. (see reviews.cnet.com). More expensive cams have better optics, slightly sharper imaging and work better in low light conditions. We like the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000. You can purchase webcams at most consumer electronic stores or order from many online shopping sites. Beyond the basic drivers, be cautious of the extra shovelware/software they give you with the webcam, sometimes they have goofy & unpredictable results (like motion detection, face tracking, avatars and such).

Headsets & Microphones

If you have more than one presenter, or are doing group video conference type settings - you need headsets to eliminate audio feedback between presenters. Audio feedback is the most common issue for people starting out and getting set up for the first time. Feedback occurs when the audio comes off the computer speakers and goes back through the system mic. This creates an echo. The solution is simple. Just put on a headset to bypass computer speakers. (BTW this is obviously not required for people that are only watching and listening to you.) The headset can be the same as the one you use for an iPod or any standard music player. Just plug it into your computer audio out port, and you can still use the computer's mic.

However, you may wish to use a professional microphone to improve the quality of the audio. A lapel microphone is specialized to pick-up an individual’s voice or a desk mic like this one pictured. Try to avoid too much ambient sound and/or having the subject too far from the mic. Don’t turn up the volume to compensate, as this will make the distortion worse. For a webcast, you should control the environment and prepare in advance for ambient sound issues. Of course a trial run is always a must, that way you can see if everything is working properly. 

Second, the lighting: 

One of the most important things about video webcasting is controlling your light source. Test in advance. If you are using your laptop camera, don’t rely on the light from the monitor, you will experience color shifts and it could look a little spooky. You may want to dim your computer monitor to reduce glare on eyeglasses. However, make sure you have more light on you than the background. Too much backlighting and your face will appear silhouetted. Try facing a window or put a desk lamp in the foreground and dim the room lights a bit. You can soften the light by directing the lamp to bounce off a wall or better still, clip a sheet of white paper in front of the lamp. This diffusion technique is what the pros do. It makes for more flattering faces. A light kit may be a consideration if you webcast often. This should include stands and diffusion panels or a softbox.

Third, the background: 

Go for “less is more”. Think clean and neutral, without motion behind you. This will make the camera easier to color balance and any background movement will just take more work for the system to compress. If you webcast all the time, you may wish to consider a pop-up scrim, clamped to a stand behind you. It’s a flat, lightweight backdrop that collapses for storage. That way you won’t be concerned about clutter and it pops open in seconds.

Fourth, the wardrobe: 

The dress code issues for a webcast are really only technical. The camera is going to try to color balance to white so give it some – in front, in the light. A neutral, light colored shirt or top works best. Since most webcams use auto-exposure, the lighter your blouse or shirt, the darker your face will appear, and visa-versa. If you are using an external digital video camera, it will have a manual override option for exposure/color balance that gives you more control.

Fifth, body language: 

If you are doing a presentation from your laptop, set up the camera to frame your face as you watch the screen. You want the appearance of looking into the camera and addressing the group. Usually you should attach the external camera to the top of the computer monitor. But try to set the camera angle to be at eye level, rather than looking up or down at it. Remember to sit up straight and still look comfortable. Resist the common tendency to lean too much into the monitor. But keep in mind, this is motion based content, so move – gesture naturally and act as if you were speaking to a real group. With practice, this will seem more natural. Have fun!

Many suggestions for a traditional presentation apply to a webcast.