From business meetings to large virtual family gatherings, the need for Zoom video calling is not going away any time soon. Professionals had to adapt to the world of frequent video calls fast to communicate with their teams last year. This didn’t leave much time to think about whether the technical quality of these calls matched the quality of their content. If you’re still fumbling your way through a Zoom video call, here are a few tips to help them run smoother.
Find a Quiet Room
Wherever you decide to take your video call, make sure that the background volume level is minimal. Consider where noises can occur inside your home due to family members, pets, or electronics. Take notice of outside noises as well, such as sirens or construction. These background noises can be picked up by your mic and cause a distraction.
Optimize Your Home’s Bandwidth Usage
Route as much of your bandwidth as you can to your computer by minimizing any activity on your network. Pause any larger file downloads or uploads along with any high quality video streaming. If anyone else in your household is using gaming or video streaming apps, you may have to ask them to pause their activity until the meeting is finished. Check for any extraneous apps running in the background on your device that are not being used for the video call itself, and close them.
Ensure a Stable Internet Connection
Keep your computer as close to the router as possible, where the Wi-Fi connection is the strongest. Another option is to buy a signal booster that can boost a weak Wi-Fi signal to improve reception. If possible, simply connect your computer directly to the modem or router with an Ethernet chord.
Upgrade Your Video Call Equipment and Environment
Invest in a USB web camera for both a higher quality video feed and camera angle. If placed correctly on the top of your computer, this can ensure your camera is always elevated to eye level. This angle is the most universally flattering and mimics the way you would be talking in person.
For your environment, put a source of light, like a window or a lamp, behind the camera. The lighting should be facing you and illuminating your video feed. Do not sit with windows behind you, as this leads to overexposure, which can obscure your face and turn you into a shadow. To further minimize the possibility of interruptions or distractions, make sure there are no doors or hallways where someone could walk by behind you.
Enhance Your Audio Quality
Shy away from using the built-in microphone and speakers in your device. The microphone is often too far from the mouth and won’t pick up your voice consistently. Using the built-in speakers to play audio out loud can cause echoing and feedback for the whole call. Opt for headphones or earbuds with an external microphone. Keep the microphone a good distance away from your mouth as well so that it won’t pick up noise interference when you breathe.
ZMBmedia can help elevate your virtual events and presentations even further. By helping you manage the behind the scenes logistics, we’ll make sure your livestream goes as smooth as possible. ZMBMedia invites you to utilize the resources at our new studio located in Baltimore, Maryland, designed specifically for livestream productions. Contact us today at www.zmbmedia.com.