AU Studypedia

Aarhus University Seal
 Front page Technical guides Video recordings

Video recordings

Video recordings are particularly suitable for conveying academic content with a audio and visual component. Recording video may be achieved in many different ways and in many formats. When you make video recordings, you take into consideration the purpose of the video. Pay attention especially to the video format and its content. This guide will help you through planning your recording beforehand and advice you on how best to practice the video’s content beforehand.

To make a video is often to master the art of self-constraint! Make sure that you know what you want to convey in advance, then select the most important focus points you want to address. The focus points will help you to structure in your video. This is important because it makes it easier for you to record the video, and because it makes it easier for the audience to follow your messages.

Good advices on recording video

Plan ahead

  • Write a manuscript, noting the content, which angle and approximately how long time each shot should be.

  • Make sure to test your equipment. To see if everything works as it should, make a test run of scenes with the participants/subjects.

Equipment

  • Whether you are using your smartphone or a dedicated video camera, you should always set your equipment to record in the highest possible image quality. You can always reduce the quality in post production, but you cannot improve it. Make sure that your frame rate is set to 25fps (some Smartphones will only allow you to record at 24fps).

  • Use a tripod or a stable surface to stabilize your camera, so that you avoid ruining your video with shaky footage.

  • If multiple people are set to appear at once, it is a good idea to use an external microphone, that may be placed near the speaker. This will greatly improve your audio quality.

Conditions

  • Find a place with plenty of light. Natural light is preferable, and if it still is too dark a couple of well-placed lamps can contribute to a better result. Try to light your subject from the front or at an angle, and never from the back.

  • Make sure to reduce background noise. If possible, always use an external microphone; Find a quiet place, and if this is not possible, placing a microphone as close to the subject as possible will help to reduce background noise.

Tools

Exam preparation

Know the rules

AUs exam rules

Revised 28.06.2023
-
Pernille Risør Elving