How to produce a video for the internet in good quality » Portal Insights

Nowadays it is necessary to specialize more and more and produce different materials on the internet to stand out and attract more leads and opportunities.

A growing trend on all social media platforms is the use of videos, whether for advertising campaigns or for developing a better relationship with the follower base and interested parties.

With this in mind, we developed an internal video production guide for the web and, seeing the potential of the material, we decided to share it with you. Below are the best ways to record a good video for the internet:

How to produce a video for the internet in good quality

Video recording practices must focus on good audio and image quality. To do this you need:

1. Camera with good battery for recording;
2. Lighting equipment;
3. Environment free from noise that interferes with the captured audio (as much as possible);
4. Audio capture equipment;
5. Video recording tips.

Camera and video recording

• It is necessary to record in HD, and it is necessary to check if the equipment's memory will support recording until the end;
• Film in medium shot, from the waist up, offering enough space for hand gestures and movements;
• It needs dynamic focus, ensuring that, regardless of movement, the image does not become blurred by movement and harm the recording;
• It must be placed on a stable support (tripod), ensuring that the image is level, parallel to the ground, without inclinations in any of the axes;
• It must not, under any circumstances, generate its own light to aid recording;
• The image framing must be as harmonious as possible, placing the presenter in the center of the image and avoiding elements in the background that attract attention (vibrant colors, movement, etc.).

This last tip, however, is not an absolute rule, and each production will have its own personality and characteristics.

The important thing is to develop a visual identity within the production and follow it consistently, this helps to ensure that, regardless of the moment, when people look at the video, even if quickly, they will identify who produced it.

Lighting equipment and best practices for video

All video lighting follows the basic principle of multiple light sources. Two or three spotlights are recommended. In the case of Portal Insights, we use two spotlights: one main and one fill, ensuring greater quality in video lighting and greater professionalism.

The lights must be positioned as shown in image 1, where the main light is at 45° from the video presenter, almost next to the camera, while the fill light is positioned at 90° from the presenter, on the opposite side of the main light, outside the image framing.

The main light bulb must be LED, with medium power. The video presenter must be positioned exactly under your spotlightthus ensuring greater lighting effectiveness.

The fill light bulb should be weaker, yellowishand serves only as a complement, ensuring three-dimensionality and giving volume to the presenter, highlighting him from the background.No other lights should be used.

Filming environment, position and actions regarding noise and interruptions

The environment needs to be closed, with as much isolation from external interference as possible. Windows and doors must be closed not only to prevent sounds, but also to prevent people, animals, vehicles and moving objects from interfering with the recording.

Some practices help eliminate echoes in rooms, such as:

• Add a rug to the speaking position, reducing mouth-to-floor echo;
• Cover hard surfaces such as wooden tables with blankets or cloths, reducing wall-furniture echo;
• Use egg cartons to isolate the environment;
• Fabric curtains near windows absorb both external and internal noise.

The ideal is for the environment to remain as neutral as possible in terms of decoration and ambiance, with few elements arranged on screen. This means the focus is centered on the presenter and the message is conveyed more clearly (visually).

If there is any visual or sound interruption during the video recording, it is recommended to restart the recording if the expected recording time has not yet reached 50%. If the recording is already close to 70% of the planned presentation, the ideal is to finish and produce a second version for comparison afterwards. However, I also reinforce the importance of a critical judgment for each case.

It is vital, therefore, to have a script behind the camera in a very visual way, ensuring that no information will be lost during the interruption.

Audio capture equipment for internet video

When recording audio for the video, it is important not to use the camera's own microphone, for numerous reasons.

The first is that the microphone on devices such as smartphones or even specific cameras for recording does not have adequate noise filters to guarantee clean and focused audio. Furthermore, the microphone, being inside the device, can record internal sounds and noises.

There are different models of microphones available, and each one serves a different function. We recommend using a lapel microphone because, in addition to being cost-effective to purchase, it is practical and easy to position on the screen (attached to clothing).

Its disadvantage, however, is that when creating content with more than one person on screen simultaneously, you will need a microphone for each.

When preparing to capture audio:

• It is necessary to check the equipment’s battery before recording;
• It is necessary to check that the equipment works before recording (perform a prior recording test) and, during this test:
  • Check that the microphone does not come into contact with fabric, skin or hair;
  • Check that the microphone is placed subtly on clothing;
  • Check that the distance from the microphone to your mouth allows you to speak clearly without having to shout or whisper.
• It is necessary to check whether the recorded audio is in good quality and, if not, further tests must be carried out to identify the source of the problem.

Video recording and presentation tips

A good video does not just depend on technical quality, it is essential that the content presented is good, with planning and scripting, clarity in speech and information.

Some tips for video presentation are:

• A good video presents information clearly and directly, without fluff;
• It is necessary to speak with vigor and firmness, with energy, conveying confidence.;
• Empathy is a fundamental narrative factor to maintain an audience in long videos, treat those who assist you as a known person;
• Hand and arm movements must be firm, without “doll” gestures. Train in a mirror if you prefer;
• Voice intonation makes all the difference in a narrative. Before actually starting to record, practice the text that will be said in your position, taking into account all the recording elements around you. This helps you feel more comfortable and confident when speaking;
• Didactism is different from condescension;
• Do not end sentences and speeches with: “that's it”, “thing and such”, or any language defects that do not add to the information. Opt for safe and short closings, such as: “This was today's video, I hope you liked it, if you have any questions, leave a comment and I'll respond soon. Subscribe to the channel and share this video with friends and acquaintances. Till next week”. Look for a standardized template that sounds organic when speaking;
• A single video with bad audio may be acceptable if the conditions are exposed to the public (e.g. subtitle stating that the recording's audio was corrupted), but a video with bad image will hardly be forgiven (especially for technical content).

The most important thing is to keep producing and collecting people’s feedback. Often, what works during planning falls apart when put into practice, and comments are an excellent barometer of engagement and interest.

If you want more tips on marketing, business and production of materials for the internet, access the Insights Portal and subscribe to our newsletter using the field below.