Video and Audio Best Practices

To ensure you are delivering the best quality of your lecture online and that your virtual meeting is most effective, follow these audio and video best practices:

General Notes and Tips

  • Place yourself in a quiet room with good lighting.
  • Be sure to test your camera and microphone before getting started. Record video and audio to make sure they have been captured.

For more tips, visit the College of Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services' DIY Solutions webpage.

Video Tips

Prepare Your Environment

  • Dim or turn off lighting behind you (i.e. close window blinds, turn off lamps)
  • Use overhead lighting or the lighting behind your webcam
  • Remove distracting decor that is visible in the webcam
  • Turn off your phone ringer
  • If connecting from a laptop, plug in to wall power, as battery usage can effect video quality
  • Set up your devices (speakers, microphone, camera)

During Virtual Meetings

  • As a host:
    • Test your audio/video connections
    • Mke sure to select "Enable HD" in your video settings (this may be turned off by default)
    • Position your webcam
  • Ensure all participants can see and hear
  • Have participants mute their microphones if locations have excessive background noise or if they will not be speaking
  • Provide an agenda to participants
  • Make sure all participants have access to content by sharing content with your video conferencing tool

In-Class Notes

For delivering and recording in-class notes, your options are:

  • Use a stylus and tablet, which can integrate with Canvas and Zoom
  • Use a web camera to film notes using pen and paper
  • Use a web camera or laptop camera to film yourself at a whiteboard or blackboard

Audio Tips

When hosting virtual meetings or recording or teaching classes live, it is recommended that you use an external microphone (a desktop or clip-on microphone) instead of your computer's built-in microphone, but if one is not available, be sure to run a test session to make sure your audio is intelligible. 

  • Be sure to place yourself in a quiet space.
    • Bedrooms and personal home offices are the best locations, as they typically contain soft objects that soak up the sound in the room and minimize reverb.
    • If you have a window AC unit, floor/portable heater or loud ceiling fan, do not have them on when you are teaching live or recording. Microphones will pick up those noises.
  • If you are using a clip-on microphone, wear it above your collarbone while recording.
    • Do not sit the microphone on the desk while you record. The closer it is to your mouth, the more effective it will be. The farther you are from the microphone, the more room noise is picked up, causing white noise.
    • If you have facial hair, be aware that it may rub against clothing and create a loud static-like sound.
  • If you are using a desktop microphone, always be aware of its location while speaking.
    • The closer you are to the microphone, the better it will pick up your voice.
    • Try not to move front and back when speaking. The goal should be to have neutral, pleasant and even audio levels.
  • Minimize your interactions with objects, such as flipping through lecture notes. The microphone will pick up these noises.
  • Before you start your virtual meeting or click "Record," test your audio. Speak a few sentences while looking at the audiometer to make sure you can see it fluctuating. The goal is to keep the levels green and avoid them going to red. You can adjust the input slider for assistance.
  • Speak loudly and clearly as you address your class. You do not have to yell, but project confidently so that students can hear you clearly.
  • Monitor audio levels as you are speaking. You want to make sure to be heard at all times.
  • If your throat feels dry, drink room temperature water. That is the best way to moisturize your throat and loosen your vocal cords.