Recording Presentations

Video formats

Your video must be uploaded as an MP4 movie file. There are many ways to create a MP4 file. Three simple ways to do so are to use a video conferencing tool such as Zoom or PowerPoint, or your smart phone.

  • Smart Phone: This strategy is best to use if you are not going to use slides in your presentation. Prop your phone in LANDSCAPE more and create a recording using the “video” function.
  • ZOOM. This is an easy way to film yourself full screen, or to film yourself and a presentation at the same time. You will start a conference meeting and make sure it is being recorded. Then you can simply speak and fill the screen, or you can show a presentation through “share screen” and talk.
    Once you have the recording you can edit it to be sure it is the stated length for your presentation (to edit, use quick time and use the “trim” function).
  • PowerPoint: You can also record your narration in a PowerPoint and then save it as an MP4 file.

Note – if you record yourself PLUS a powerpoint presentation your speaker’s box will be quite small. If you record yourself without a presentation you will be full-screen as speaker. An option is to share only your data through “share screen” and to talk directly for the rest of your time.

The simple instructions are: Record narration and timings

    1. Select Slide Show > Record Slide Show.
    2. Choose from two options:
      1. Record from Current Slide – to record from a specific slide, or
      2. Record from Beginning – to record from the beginning of a presentation
    3. When you’re ready, select Record and start speaking.
    4. To record from a specific slide, go to it, and then select Record.
      (See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/record-a-presentation-2570dff5-f81c-40bc-b404-e04e95ffab33for further instructions.

Getting Started

Before you begin, quit all software not related to your presentation. Software running in the background may interrupt your recording with pop-up or sound notification. Always do a short test recording to ensure that everything is working correctly. You can make adjustments to the sound and video settings. Start a new recording session and record your presentation.

Video Presentation Best Practices

  • Remember that the audience will be viewing your presentation on a small screen.
  • Do not simply read your slides. Rather, make your slides a summary and prompt and fill in with your talk.
  • Practice your presentation a few times. Get comfortable with talking and showing your slides. You might even have someone observe and give feedback.
  • Have a glass of water available.
  • Look at the camera and not the screen. You will come across as if you are talking to the audience. Don’t watch yourself talking
  • Talk to the audience rather than looking at your notes and slides the entire time.
  • The light source should be in front of you. Face a window or lamp. A light source behind you darkens your face and body
  • Don’t lean in. Elevate your laptop on books or boxes so that you are sitting up straight and looking directly at the camera.
  • Do not use a background image. This can be distracting, and you can be seen popping in and out of them, and they prevent visually challenged viewers from correctly seeing your face.
  • Background for your recording: Double check your live background to be sure that it appears organized and clean. In newer versions of ZOOM you can blur the background (see video settings).
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