Panopto: Tips for Screen Recording
On this page, we provide a list of tips for an optimal screensharing experience.
Create a quick script
This can be word-for-word or just a bulleted list of topics and important information you want to share. Word-for-word will sound a bit more stiff and formal while a bulleted list will sound a bit more natural. Both will prevent awkward pauses and make editing the video easier later.
Make sure to print it so you can have it off to your side if you are not using a second screen!
A slideshow will work too, but we recommend using a script or bulleted list in conjunction with it. This way, we can focus on putting important information on the slide rather than cluttering it with too much.
Open the necessary websites in a new browser window and/or programs before recording
This will make it a lot easier to navigate to the appropriate website/program while recording and also help prevent awkward pauses.
Run through the presentation once or twice before recording
Running through the presentation can help prevent long periods of silence. It can also help the us find sentences that while reading makes sense but may not make as much sense when we speak it out loud.
If we are also doing a webcam recording
avoid having windows in the background. Sunlight fluctuates often and webcams tend to over-compensate for the unexpected extra light.
Optimally, we want as little natural light as possible, this way we can control the amount of light.
Try to get your webcam at least eye level or a little higher. This will prevent us from “looking down” at the viewer and also help force us to look up.
Also, it’s just better for back/neck posture.
Use whatever you have-- cardboard boxes, books, etc. If we want to spend some money, a Laptop stand will also work.
If we mess up, do not fret!
Very few of us can actually run through a script perfectly the first time (not even professional actors! Look up blooper reels of your favorite movie). When we do mess up a word, it’s fine. No one will notice if we cut a part out (it may be a bit more obvious if we use a webcam). Take a few minutes to pause and figure out how far back we want to go (we recommend at least repeating the start of the sentence, though it may be more optimal to go back to the start of the previous sentence or bullet point). Then, do a quick clap to create an audio spike. Then take the recording from there. When we are done, we can use Panopto’s Editing Tools to trim the bad parts out.
Familiar with another screen recorder or video editor?
You can use Panopto as the host to share your video; no need to use the recording tools nor the editing tools
Other tips
The laptop webcam and microphone are probably good enough in most cases. However, if we want optimal video and audio quality, we should be a dedicated webcam and microphone. Logitech makes a wide range of both, with varying price points, and is a great starting point. The Library also has several podcasting kits for great audio and of course there is the Digital Media Laboratory Podcasting Room which has high-quality microphones already set-up.