Rockpoint: Recording Webcam Video

This tutorial will explain how to use the Windows Camera app to record video and audio with the onboard webcam. We will focus on some technical aspects of the app, framing your shot effectively, and delivering the best performance. Please review this full documentation before beginning your recording.

Technical

The native Windows Camera app is a simple but effective tool to record video from a webcam. However, there are a few quick things to set up properly before recording.

To ensure that you are using the correct audio device, right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray and open your Sound settings. Within the settings, select the desired audio device to use as the microphone. It may be your webcam’s integrated microphone, like in the image below. You can tell if you’re getting a signal by speaking and seeing if audio levels appear.

Many webcams have an integrated microphone. This is a good option.

Once you’re satisfied that the microphone is working properly, open the Windows Camera app by typing Camera into the start menu and opening the app.

Once the app is opened, you’ll know the camera is working if you can see your own image. If you do not see an image, and you’re sure the webcam is plugged in, there might be an icon to switch between other webcams if present in the upper right-hand corner.

Once you see your image, switch the setting to video capture instead of photo capture by clicking on the video icon in the right toolbar.

Ensure you are recording video.

There are a few settings you may wish to tweak for the best results. The first is making sure that the webcam is recording at the highest resolution. In the top-left settings menu, scroll down and ensure that the video quality is set to at least 1080p. Your webcam may go up to 4K resolution, 3840x2160—sometimes called UHD. This would be a good option as well.

Another setting you may wish to turn on is the Rule of Thirds framing grid. This may help you compose your shot as we’ll mention in the Composition section.

Set record to 1080p or higher and use Rule of Thirds Framing grid.

To record video, press the record button on the right. When you’re ready to stop, press the red stop button. It may be wise to record a test clip to see if everything is working properly.

The elapsed time is notated at the bottom as you record.

To view your recorded clip, click on the icon that displays on the lower right. Once you see the clip, click on the context menu in the upper right corner, and select “Open folder” to see where the clip(s) have been stored on your disk. You can record your presentation in one take or start and stop the recording as you go. There may be an advantage to recording a series of clips in the event that something goes wrong with the file.

Locate the saved clip on your hard drive.

Composition

To get the most natural-looking shot, it is recommended to make sure your eyes are level with the upper third line in the framing grid. Anything lower or higher can feel unbalanced. Use this line to find a good chair height or webcam angle that will comfortably keep you in this position. Because the webcam is at the top of the monitor, we see many shots with too much “headroom” where the subject is too low in the frame.

Too low in the frame. Move the chair height up, or tilt the webcam/monitor down.

For the team in San Francisco, because you have a ring light available, you may be able to film in front of the window blinds and still have enough light on the subject’s face, particularly if it’s not too sunny out. It may make for a cleaner composition than in front of the bookshelves.

If you’re not using a ring light, having a bright white screen on the computer monitor makes a big difference in illuminating the subject’s face. If the presenter is referring to notes, having the notes on a document with a white background can be very effective in brightening the subject’s face. Don’t worry if you are covering up the Camera app, as it is highly recommended not to have the webcam screen open while recording; it can be distracting.

Another result of having the webcam on the top of the monitor is that it is apparent to the viewer where on the screen you are looking with your eyes. We recommend putting presenter notes near the top of your screen, centered under the webcam. This way, you can refer to the notes while looking relatively close to the camera, providing a more natural experience for the viewer.

Performance

The good news is that these webinars are not broadcasted live and will be processed after the recording. This should alleviate any pressure of having to create a flawless performance. Here are some tips:

• After pressing the record button, take a moment to settle yourself before beginning to present. Likewise, prior to stopping the recording, ensure there is a moment after your final word before hitting the stop button.
• If you make a mistake in speech or you wish to rephrase something for clarity, you do not have to start from the very beginning. Take it back to the beginning of the previous thought and restart that section. You may wish to stop and restart the recording, but you don’t have to.
• Try and keep your tone of voice and speed of performance as natural as possible.
• Make sure there is minimal background noise and keep your voice at a conversational volume. The microphone is very sensitive.