General:
How long should my video be?
<4 minutes has proven to be most effective and engaging. Try to cover 5-6 key points that a learner should know in order to apply the skill. If you find you have more points to cover, consider breaking it up at logical points into multiple videos.
How can I convert my existing material into bite-sized videos?
1. Go through the existing document - highlight the 5-6 key takeaways that will serve as a cheat sheet for the learner on how to apply the skill. For >5 points, find logical places to split the content into multiple videos.
2. If required, reword some phrases or sentences to ensure they are complete without the context of the document. (If this a presentation, use speaker notes)
3. Either write down an explanation of the key takeaways to rehearse and record OR record yourself presenting them with an on-the-spot voiceover.
Protip: If you are screen-recording a presentation, an easy way to make it more engaging is to record an introduction and conclusion of yourself speaking to the camera, while for the rest of the presentation you can either record just a voiceover or a video in presentation mode.
Do I have to provide some images as well?
Images appear alongside the key takeaway text in your video and will get recapped once again as flashcards in the app after the video to aid learner recall.
i. If you are converting existing learning content such as a presentation, you can use the images from there
ii. In case you do not have images, or are unable to share them for privacy reasons, you can look for stock images that correspond to the takeaways - some useful sources are Canva and Pexels.
Audio:
How do I create an audio recording?
Use either the inbuilt smartphone/ laptop mic, a lapel mic or record audio separately on a smartphone (if you're already using your own for the video, borrow another phone for audio)
Choose a quiet room/ quiet time of day
Turn off fan / AC and other noisy appliances
Put your phone on airplane mode
Place your smartphone at least 6 inches from your mouth
Do a test recording - check that your volume is loud enough, your pace is not too fast and not too slow and that you are pronouncing each word clearly
While recording, speak with enthusiasm and energy, as if you are explaining the concept to a friend
Record in sections rather than all at one go
Record each section at least 2 times, so the editor can keep the best version
How can I improve audio clarity?
Make sure to record when there is no ambient noise such as traffic, loud voices or television noise. If there is a disruptive sound, pause and re-record that sentence again.
Note: Avoid using the mic on your earphones/ headphones as this can cause ambience/ disturbance.
Help my lapel mic is not working!
If you're recording on a Mac you may need to turn down the speaker volume as sometimes the sound from the speakers reflects back to the mic, causing feedback.
Video:
What should I keep in mind when creating a video recording?
Try to find a plain wall as a background
Prop up your phone camera or laptop at eye level
Set up a ring light or lamp behind your camera
If using a lavalier or lapel mic ensure you clip it at a distance of at least 6 inches from your mouth
Shut windows and turn off ACs and fans to control the noise
If you’re on a chair, sit straight. If you’re on your feet, stand straight with an open stance (Avoid using a swivel chair as the movement is distracting)
Record in small sections instead of in one go
To maintain eye line you can use a teleprompter app
Add a few seconds of pause at the beginning and end
Record multiple takes, the editor will keep the best
Note: Avoid using the 'blur background' setting if using Google Meets/ Teams or Zoom - even a cluttered background is less distracting than a fuzzy border around your silhouette.
How can I avoid the glare on my glasses/ spectacles?
If you have spectacles, your single light source may cause a reflection issue. To minimise this try to tilt your head slightly downward instead of straight at the camera. You can also add a V-shaped lighting set up with 2 sources of light at 45 degree angles from you instead of a single source.
It looks very obvious that I am reading out what I’m saying. How do I control my eyeline?
On a laptop, resize your talking points document to ensure the text stays at camera level or keep the laptop further away from your face so the eye-motion is not as noticeable. You can also load your talking points into a teleprompter app so it automatically scrolls for you, reducing the need to move your eyes. Some creators prefer memorising what they have to say and break up the recording into sections. So they remember what they have to say in one section, record that, then read up the next, record that and so on.
How do I create a screen recording?
For certain videos, such as product walkthroughs, demos, or onboarding videos, it may be useful, and even necessary, to add screen recordings to your video
For Mac you can use Quicktime Player
For PC you can use OBS Studio
For Android you can use the Screen Recorder app
Instructions for iPhone
In case you need any further assistance, reach out to [email protected]
Happy content creation!