Audio/Video/PC Record Resources
Guide to Setting up an Online Teaching Space
- Video Webcam options
- Audio Voice Recording options
- Room Lighting options
- Background options
- Zoom meeting Internet Connection requirements
- Zoom meeting Computer and Web Browser recommendations
- How to use a Smartphone or Tablet as a Second Camera with Zoom
- Your body position to your camera is important
Video Webcam Options
The following webcams will provide a better quality image than the one built into your laptop. A Webcam offers improved video clarity, sound and colors compared to a built-in laptop camera.
- Webcam: Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam
- Webcam: Logitech C270
- Webcam: Razer Kiyo Streaming Webcam
- Webcam: Microsoft Lifecam HD-3000
- Webcam: Logitech BRIO
Audio Voice Recording Options
During your online classes you want to be heard clearly. If you're in a quiet room, you can probably use the microphone on your laptop. Otherwise, it's a good idea to use a microphone that's closer to your face. A decent pair of earbuds or headphones that are equipped with a mic work fine, especially if they enable you to talk at a normal, conversational level. Another option is a dedicated microphone to capture your voice as you lecture and reduce unwanted background noise.
- Headset with built-in microphone: Logitech USB Headset H390
- Headset with built-in microphone: Logitech USB Headset H110
- Microphone only: Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
- Microphone only: Blue Yeti USB Microphone
- Headphones only: Polsen HPC-A30-MK2 Closed-Back Studio Monitor Headphones
Room Lighting options
To reduce eyestrain, you'll want to set up sufficient lighting in your workspace. Choosing a sunny spot near a window helps. You may need to add additional lighting if you are using overhead lighting, consider a floor lamp or table lamp to create a well-lit space. A ring light provides even lighting with the webcam positioned in the center. Panel Lights attached to tripods can be positioned around the room to allow greater flexibility.
- 8" Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand & Cell Phone Holder, UBeesize Mini Led Camera Ring light
- HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit, Single light kit
- Linco Lincostore Photography Photo Table Top Studio Lighting Kit (2 lights)
- Ledgo Bi-Color Flood Shoot-Through LED Ring Light
- GVM 800D-RGB LED Studio 2-Video Light Kit
Background options
Your background should not be too distracting, you want students to focus on you, not on what's behind you. A plain wall is a good backdrop. Hanging a backdrop is a higher cost option.
- Background option 1: Westcott 9 x 10' Backdrop
- Background option 2: Impact Muslin Background - 10 x 12' (Black)
- Background option 3: Westcott 9 x 10' Backdrop (Hi Key White)
- Support stands: Impact Background Support System - 12' Wide
Internet Connection Recommendations
Internet speed is not only based on internet connection plan, but other factors such as how many other people are using the internet in your household, region, or nation. To figure your base internet speed follow the instructions below.
- Open any browser page (such as Chrome or Edge) and go to the website www.speedtest.net/
- Press the GO button. Speedtest will Test your Download and Upload speeds. Write the results down along with the date and time of the test.
- Sending or receiving video, especially live video from Zoom, takes up a lot of bandwidth. Even though these programs are designed to work with consumer-level bandwidth, some find that choppy video and audio, dropped calls, and very slow file upload times are directly connected to low-bandwidth issues.
| Upload Speed | Download Speed | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mbps | 3 mbps | Choppy video and audio and perhaps a dropped call |
| 3 mbps | 5 mbps | Right on the edge of good |
| 5 mbps | 10 mbps or higher | Great numbers |
You may need to:
• Plug your computer directly into your modem instead of using a Wi-Fi wireless signal.
• Limit the number of simultaneous users on your internet connection.
• Upgrade your internet connection speed. Consider contacting your dean at De Anza, the campus may be able to help with the cost to upgrade your
home internet connection.
Computer and Web Browser Recommendations
A slow computer could cause choppy video/audio and dropped calls. Zoom recommmends the
following Computer Processors: Dual Core 2GHZ or Higher (i3/i5/i7 or ADM equivalent)
with 4GB RAM
Supported Zoom Browsers: Windows: IE 11+, Edge 12+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
Mac: Safari 7+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+, Linux: Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
How to use a Smartphone or Tablet as a Second Camera with Zoom
Zoom allows for iOS screen sharing from iPhone and iPad, using the Zoom desktop client. You can share your iPhone or iPad wirelessly form both a Mac or PC, utilizing iOS Screen Mirroring, or you can connect your iOS device to your Mac computer with a cable to share.
Your body position to your camera is important
Not too close and not too far
Position yourself so that you can be seen from the shoulders to the head, or from the waist to the head. Anything closer may be overwhelming; anything further might make your face too hard to see.
Keep your camera at eye level
It is important that your webcam be at eye level. You can have a separate camera or you can raise the laptop. If you're using a separate camera, it should be as close to your screen as possible. Try to look at the camera when you're talking, if you look at the camera, you will seem to be meeting the eyes of the students you're talking to. But if that feels wrong, or makes you self-conscious, then simply positioning the screen and camera at eye level will be enough.
Faculty Self-Record Studio
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The "Faculty Self-Record Studio" offers high quality recordings using a overhead hands free microphone, PC computer, PC or Mac laptop connections, a document camera and pan/tilt video camera.
Its only takes a few steps to get started recording engaging instructional content.
- Insert a Flash drive into the record hub.
- Press the power ON button on the control panel (similar to classroom control panel)
- Select a camera background image using the camera background computer.
- Select the first device to be recorded (PC, Laptop or Document Camera).
- Press the Start Record button.
Click Here to view the complete Self-Recording Studio Step by Step User Guide.
We offer a short personal orientation on your first scheduled reservation.
Self-Record Studio Key features:
- Camera: Select camera full screen, picture-in-picture camera box or do not use any camera image.
- Timer: The timer displays the current length of your recording and resets when you stop recording.
- Picture-in-Picture: Turn the P-in-P box ON/OFF or select P-in-P position, top/right or bottom/right.
- Lights: The lights turn ON and OFF when you press the power ON/OFF buttons.
- Annotation User Display: This display shows the current selected device without any camera images. Annotation over your instructional content. Note: Annotation feature only works with built-in PC.
- Record Display: This shows the final record image.
- Camera Control buttons: Press HOME button to move camera to default position. Use other camera movement buttons to fine tune your camera shot.
- Laptop Connection Cables: Connect your Mac or PC laptop VGA or HDMI ports. Remotely control your laptop keyboard and mouse will master keyboard/mouse.
Audio Only Record Cart
Need to record high quality voice or sound effects? Our Audio Record Cart is the right tool for the job. We use a professional microphone, a digital audio encoder and Quicktime record software to produce high quality m4a audio files. To reduce outside noise interference the audio record cart is located in our recording sound stage.
We offer a short personal orientation on your first scheduled reservation.
Click Here to view the Step by Step Audio Record Cart User Guide.
Record at Home or Office
The "Home or Office Record" option recommends easy to use software to convert your desktop or laptop computer into a record station. No need to drive to campus to record your instructional content. Just review the recommendations below and select the components that best matches your recording features and budget. Mac and PC computers options are available .
Record at Home or Office - Camera and microphone options:
#1: Use laptop with built-in camera and microphone - Lowest cost and average video/audio quality.
#2: Use USB webcam camera ($50) with webcam microphone - High quality video, good audio.
#3: Use USB webcam camera ($50) with external microphone ($50) - High quality video, high quality audio.
USB WebCam recomendation: Logitech C920 HD Pro WebCam with built-in microphone, cost $50
USB High Quality Microphone recomendation: Blue Yeti, USB Microphone, gain control, mute button, Mac or PC, Includes stand, cost $125
Record at Home or Office - Recording Software recommendation:
Option #1: ScreenCast-O-Matic Software: Watch a Demo video, click HERE
Simple screen/video/audio recording and editing software (PC or Mac).
- Screen/video/audio MP4 recording, pause and resume during a recording session
- Web Cam video window (picture in picture) or full screen
- Trim beginning and end of recordings or use built-in Video Editor Suite
- Cursor Halo
- Zoom in/out and highlight areas of your video
- Record the whole computer screen or just a part of the screen
- Solo Deluxe teacher plan $1.50/month x 12 months = $18 yearly subscription
- Website:https://screencast-o-matic.com/education
- Free trial version has watermark, 15 minute record limit, no video editor and other restrictions.
- Click Here to go to ScreenCast-O-Matic's software tutorials
Option #2: Ink2go Software:
Simple screen/video/audio recording with annotation software (PC or Mac).
- Screen/video/audio MP4 recording, pause and resume during a recording session
- Web Cam video window (picture in picture) or full screen
- Screen Annotation, 8 pens, 4 highlighters and 3 erasers
- Record the whole computer screen or just a part of the screen
- Whiteboard/Blackboard
- Use Hotkeys to quickly switch among different tools
- On-time software purchase, single license $19.90
- Website: http://ink2go.org/
- Free trial version is full features with watermark and 7 day expiration period.
Record with a Smartphone
Smartphone Accessories Recommendation
Shure MOTIV MV88 Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone for iphone - $149
Joby GripTight GorillaPod Action Stand with Mount for Smartphones Kit - $37
Manfrotto Stand for Universal Cell Phone, Short Tripod or Stand - $29
Trim, Split and Merge your Recordings
- Trim - Remove the head and/or the tail of the clip
- Split or Cut - Cutting the video clip into sections.
- Merge or Splice together - Join two video clips together
Edit Software Recommendation (Mac or PC)
- Apple's Quicktime software edit features
- Screencast-O-Matic built-in editing features
How to Edit with Quicktime
Click Here to view the "Open and Play a Quicktime file" User Guide.
Click Here to view the "How to Trim a Movie or Clip with Quicktime" User Guide.
Click Here to view the "How to Rearrange and Add clips to a Quicktime Recording" User Guide
Closed Caption
California Community Colleges system funds 3C Media Solutions a technology service that provides faculty, staff, and administrations resources to store, share, and distribute educational media to students and each other. 3C Media Solutions services include:
- personal account for uploading and storing media
- ability to share media privately or publicly (embed, email link, or post to the 3C site)
- option to create a 'group' for joint access
- request captioning for your media in a few short, simple steps
Don't have a 3C media account ? Click here to Create an Account. You must use your faculty/district email. Check your faculty/district email for a reply from 3C Media to complete your account registration. If you do not receive an email within a day or two, contact 3C Media support for setup assistance.
How to submit a captioning request for your 3C Media files
- Click here to Log into your 3C Media account
- Upload your media to your 3C Media Account
- Select "Media" menu
- Select the “Upload a video to 3C Media Solutions” radio button.
- Submit Video for Captioning
- Locate and select the video title you wish to submit for captioning from your Media page.
- Select the “Submit this Media for Captioning” link from the "Tools" options.
- Provide the length of video in minutes (round up to the next whole minute).
- Enter the appropriate Section#, CRN, or Ticket from the course this media will supplement, for example, “MUS 100.”
- From the dropdown menu, select the applicable term.
- Select the “Submit” button.
- Using 3C Media in Canvas (Click here for pdf)
Other Video Captioning Resources
- Academic Services and Learning Resource Video Captioning webpage
- De Anza Web Accessibility Policy webpage
- De Anza Disability Support Services webpage
Copyright and Fair Use
When using video materials in the classroom, always be attentive to copyright and "fair use" issues. Visit the U.S. Copyright Office website and look for their Fair Use Index.
Outlook Reservation Calender
Outlook Reservation Calendar: Check room availability and make a reservation using Outlook Calendar
Email: Send an email reservation request to: onlineeducation@deanza.edu
Phone: Contact the Online Education Center office: 408.864.8969
Accessing Outlook Calendar
- Log into your fhda email and click Calendar
- Find the day/time you'd like to book the room in your calendar and double-click.
- Adjust the length of time (we recommend 2-3 hours per recording session)
- Click on the Scheduling Assistant tab.
- Under Select Rooms, click "Add a Room"
- Type MLC, then press Return/Enter on your keyboard. MLC-224 Self-Recording Studio will appear for you to select.
- Verify that the room is available in the lower right corner of the window. If not, adjust your date/times.
- Send the appointment request. Someone from the Online Education Center will confirm your appointment within 24 business hours.
Contact Us
Email: onlineeducation@deanza.eduPhone: Contact the Online Education office: 408.864.8969Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm
Other General Information
USB Flash Drive
We recommend an 8 GB or larger flash drive with a built-in LED activity light. Most newly purchased USB flash drives will come in the required format of FAT32. We can confirm your flash drive is formatted in FAT32 format during your orientation meeting. If your flash drive LED has an activity light it will blink when the drive is busy starting up or recording the video file. Do not remove flash drive until activity light has stop flashing.
Bring presentation materials.
Bring USB Flash drive and any presentation material you plan to use during your recording. If you plan to use your laptop, please bring your adapters to connect to the VGA or HDMI connection cables.
How to Share your MP4 recordings
Faculty have the option to share and caption their recordings using 3Cmedia Solutions on Demand video servers. You will need an 3C Media account to uploaded videos. (Click here to setup a 3Cmedia account)
Need assistance? Please email onlineeducation@deanza.edu