It’s no news that small, budget-friendly cameras like the Flip series from Cisco have made a splash in education and professional development. Mobile devices like the iPod nano and iPhone also pack video recording features, as do many consumer-level digital cameras. While these cameras are easy to pack and pay for, they don’t provide the same level of quality you’d get with a larger, more expensive digital video camera. Yes, there are tradeoffs, but you can still get good results from cheap cameras by paying attention to a few details:
1. Audio
The top issue I hear about from people using Flip cameras is audio–everything is too quiet! Unfortunately, it’s hard to pack a professional-level microphone in a device as small and inexpensive as a Flip, but there are several things you can do to get the most out of the Flip’s microphone. Some Flip competitors such as the Kodak Zi8 support external microphones, but unless you spend a few hundred dollars at the minimum on your external mic, you’re liable to experience similar problems.
For classroom settings, perhaps the best things you can do are get the camera as close to the subject as possible and keep it pointed at the subject. This isn’t as convenient as setting up the camera in the back of the room, but a necessary tradeoff for better quality.
You can also boost the audio volume in your recording after you’ve saved the clip to your computer, using Windows Movie Maker in Windows or iMovie on a Mac. Be aware, however, that this will also amplify any ambient sound your camera’s microphone picked up during recording.
2. Composition
Here’s a low-tech solution that will help make your video look more professional–apply the Rule of Threes (or Rule of Thirds) to your shots to help tell the story you’re trying to convey. This short video explains this rule:
3. Lighting
It’s common practice to dim the lights in a room when someone’s presenting, in order to make the screen projection as visible as possible. Be aware that this may adversely affect your video recording of the situation. Most cameras try to compensate for low-light situations, but they don’t always do a very good job.
The best way to address this is to take a few minutes prior to the class (or whatever you’re recording) to experiment with different lighting settings. Look for a happy medium between a visible projection and a tolerable video recording. If recording what’s being presented is the most important thing, consider using screen recording software like Camtasia, ScreenFlow, or Jing to capture the presentation. (If you want to get fancy you could record the screen activity and the room activity separately and paste them together during editing, but that’s another topic for another time.)
4. Stabilizing
Use a tripod. The Flip-branded tripod is super-portable and great if you’ve got a desk or other nearby flat surface on which to set the camera. You can also use a standard camera tripod with most small video cameras–check your favorite electronics or camera stores; there are good, lightweight tripods to be had for around 30 dollars. For even more flexibility, check out the Gorillapod lineup.
If you’re using your iPhone or iPod nano to record video, you’ll need to buy an adapter to connect it to your tripod–search Amazon and other online retailers to select from several options. If you’re crafty you might even be able to build one yourself!
5. Editing
Although Flip cameras come bundled with basic editing software, chances are you already have more powerful editing tools installed on your computer in the form of Windows Movie Maker (Windows) or iMovie (Macintosh). It’s relatively easy to import your video clips directly into either of these tools to add titles and effects to your videos, or add clips to larger video projects.
When recording video, you can make things easier on yourself when it comes time to edit by breaking your recording into smaller segments. For example, say you’re recording three individual presentations within a 60 minute timeframe. Rather than pressing the record button and sitting back for the hour while the camera rolls, record each presentation individually. This will cut down on editing time and make it easier to locate the individual clips.
Your tips are appreciated!
What tips do you have for using small, cheap video cameras? Please share them in the comments below. Have a great weekend!
Photo: mastermaq on Flickr
