What makes webinars appear great? Theoretically, you only need small details – work on HD video, use quality audio, and find a good webinar platform like StealthSeminar. In reality, though, there can be a list of complicated issues behind it.
Even when you have the best topic and are equipped with the skills to convey your message, your target audience will soon leave your webinars if your audio and video keep cutting. The conversion rates will then fall, and worst, your viewers won’t even try to sign-up for your upcoming webinars. What is the best solution? A good webinar camera with a superb microphone and other video conferencing equipment.
If you are planning to create webinars and ensure only the finest content quality, this guide is for you.
Key Takeaways:
- When creating high-quality webinars, you can’t depend on a desktop or laptop camera.
- The best webcam setup entails lights, a camera, and audio.
- Your webinar platform also plays a crucial role in your webinar success.
What You Will Need
Here are the top three video conferencing essentials you must have:
1. Web cameras
You have several webcam camera brands to choose from when looking for video conferencing cameras. Here are some of the popular options:
Laptop cameras
Built-in laptop cameras can be an affordable and convenient option for your webinars. They are readily available, offering reasonable picture quality. They can also be positioned easily to capture your face and surroundings.
Smartphone cameras
The best webinar cam could be in your pocket, provided that your smartphones or iPhones are up to date.
Make sure to download and install the phone’s cam feature that allows you access to high-quality video and audio settings.
DSLR cameras
DSLR cameras are great for video recordings. It has several features you can explore to create pro-quality corporate videos.
Additionally, you can connect your DSLR camera to your laptop or computer for a professional look. You just need to get the required accessory to do so.
External cameras
In situations where tiny built-in cameras of your laptops and mobile phones can’t produce your desired content quality, consider getting an external webcam.
Invest in a high-quality external webcam loaded with features that support your video conferences and webinars. These webinar camera options are equipped with wide-angle lenses and dual microphones to deliver high-quality video and audio content.
External webcams can also recover your video lectures. Additionally, they allow for easy adjustments for diverse settings like frame rate, color, brightness, and resolution.
Qualities of good external web cameras include:
- designed with a USB plug
- support a higher number of frames each second to create classic image displays per second
- have higher image resolution, ranging from 1080p to 4K
- have higher autofocus to guarantee sharp details for all your moves
- field of view that ranges from 60 degrees to 90 degrees
2. Audio equipment
Besides good video quality, it is also crucial for you to pay attention to audio quality. How your webinar sounds will make or break your video conferences and recordings. Some viewers may also judge your business videos by how it sounds.
Here are some of your audio equipment options:
Webcam Microphone
Choose a USB webcam built-in microphone that does not distort. Even when you are presenting with a live audience laughing at your jokes or getting a bit over-animated during an essential segment, you won’t have to worry about clipping.
Headsets
A decent headset is a worthy investment if you’re doing webinars. There can be plenty of distractions when hosting virtual meetings, and headsets will help you tune out the chaos in your surroundings or background noise and focus on what must be done.
Choose headsets with high-quality audio quality and comfort since you will wear them for hours. Noise reduction is a crucial feature as it lets you hear your own voice while speaking so you do not end up shouting.
You may also use headphones to monitor audio playbacks when live streaming or hosting a video conference.
3. Video lighting
When using natural lighting or relying on artificial light sources, there are several ways to enhance your video lighting for webinars and video recordings.
Sunlight
Sunlight is an excellent source for your video lighting. It fills the room.
To get great results from natural lighting, face the window. Doing so will allow the sunlight to illuminate your face and surroundings. Avoid bright backlighting, as this can cast unpleasant shadows on your face.
But there is one problem – the sun moves!
Early morning and late afternoon sun can cast problematic shadows. To combat this, hang light-filtering curtains to diffuse the ambient light evenly throughout the room.
Man-made lighting
If natural lighting is not enough, brighten the space with artificial light. Here are some of the best options:
LED light
LED right and panel lights are great choices when searching for easy-to-use lighting options for your webinar camera setup.
Mount the LED lights on a stand or tripod and position them in front of your camera. But remember that some of these options may harm your eyes for daily use, and if you wear protective glasses, the reflection may cause some issues.
Desk lamp
If you choose a desk lamp, consider adding a color-changing bulb to easily adjust the color temperature over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Connect the bulb, download and open the app, and choose your preferred setting (such as sunlight). Like magic, your lamp’s light can match the great outdoor lighting.
Choosing the Best Webcam for Webinars
Looking for the best webcam for webinars is a long process. You need to take a lot of things into consideration before buying one. Here’s what you need to know when choosing a webcam:
- An external webcam with a USB connector. These connectors can be plugged into your laptop without any hassle.
- A high-resolution camera that ranges from 1080p to 4K. A 720p is good enough if you want to avoid a blurry video.
- A camera with a high number of frames per second (fps). 30fps is a recommended feature for webinar hosting.
- Look for a webcam with a reliable autofocus to keep a clear picture, still or during movement.
- A camera with 60 to 90-degree viewing angles for effective coverage during webinars.
What To Do
Here are the best webinar camera setup tips and tricks:
1. Strategically position your web camera
Whatever webinar camera option you choose, you must position your camera at eye level. For a flattening angle, you may place your camera above. Prop your laptop on a stack of books or stand so you won’t always look down at your attendees.
Move your notes over your screen so you’ll look more engaging on your camera. Look straight at your camera to seem more focused and confident than if you look off to the side. This small detail will make a difference if you want to keep your audience hooked.
2. Adjust the lighting
If the natural lighting is insufficient, you can incorporate some artificial lighting. Experiment with various lighting setups to check what will work best for you. You can use one light source placed to the side of your webcam or position multiple light sources around it to create a more professional look.
3. Improve your room’s sound quality
Simple DIY acoustic treatments will significantly improve your room’s sound quality. This means strategically placing your room dividers, furniture, and rugs to reduce echo. These pieces will also help in absorbing and redirecting sounds.
Once your room acoustics are in good order, pick up your external microphone and position it properly.
4. Do a Test Run
Always perform a test run before show time. Besides rehearsing what you need to present, you should also check if your webinar camera setup is perfect. From lighting to sound quality to video effects, make sure that everything is working well.
Choosing a Webinar Platform
An excellent webcam setup is only useful if you have a good webinar platform for your virtual conferences. But with plenty of options today, choosing the best webinar software can be daunting. Here are tips to help you:
1. Determine your webinar goals and objectives
Before establishing your goals and objectives, you must understand your target audience. Determine who your customers are and what you can do to help them.
Examples of webinar goals include:
- Educate customers about new technologies you’re developing
- Demonstrate how your new products are different from their counterparts
- Instruct viewers on how they can get the most out of your products and services
Your objectives, on the other hand, should be measurable achievements that will help you reach your goals. Some great examples are:
- Host 15+ virtual presentations each week for potential customers
- Achieve a 60-80% follow-up rate after hosting your webinar
- Convince at least 50% of potential clients to buy your products
2. Set a budget
Your budget will determine which video conferencing platform you can access. Establish what you want from the platform. If you have huge expectations, consider finding webinar software known for delivering great results.
3. Test out several platforms
Reliable video conferencing platforms will offer a free demo or trial. Be sure to test them out before committing to it.
Your choice of webinar platform will boil down to your video conferencing needs. What features do you need? What potential pain points and struggles will you most likely encounter?
StealthSeminar offers a free 30-Day trial. This webinar platform combines webinars and automation. It helps you play pre-recorded webinars on autopilot. Doing so will help you save time and focus on other parts of your business. Also, you can host your webinars live or do a hybrid of live and pre-recorded virtual events.
Additionally, StealthSeminar offers the following features:
- Video encoding
- Attendance tracking
- Surveys and polls
- Automated webinar email integration and SMS notification
- High-conversion landing pages
- Business apps and tools integration
Run your webinars (live, pre-recorded, or hybrid) on autopilot today. We have helped lots of businesses run their virtual events, save money and time, and scale their companies using the power of webinars. Try StealthSeminar now!
