Media Recording Resources

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.

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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

DIf you're in a quiet room or your home office, you can use the microphone on your laptop. Best practice would be to use a 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 
• Microphone only: Blue Yeti USB Microphone
• Headphones only: Polsen HPC-A30-MK2 Closed-Back Studio Monitor Headphones

Body Position is Important

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.

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. Looking at the camera when you're talking makes the experience "human" as if you are looking directly at the students.

Room Lighting Options

You should be facing the window or source of light so that there isn't glare on your screen. To reduce eyestrain 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
• Photography Photo Table Top Studio Lighting Kit (2 lights)
• 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 may include additional cost. Average size is 10x12' backdrop. Or use the Virtual background option in Zoom!

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.

1. Open any browser page (such as Chrome) and go to the SpeedTest Website 
2. 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.
3. 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, audio or a dropped call
3 mbps	5 mbps	Adequate Speed
5 mbps	10 mbps or higher	Great Speed

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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. 

Computer and Web Browser Recommendations

A slow computer could cause choppy video/audio and dropped calls.

• An internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
• Speakers and a microphone – built-in, USB plug-in, or wireless Bluetooth
• A webcam or HD webcam - built-in, USB plug-in, or

View the recommended equipment and browsers for  Zoom.

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 utilizing iOS Screen Mirroring, or you can connect your iOS device to your Mac computer with a cable to share.

• Sharing your Screen - Step by step instructions

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.

It only takes a few steps to get started recording engaging instructional content.

1. Insert a Flash drive into the record hub.
2. Press the power ON button on the control panel (similar to classroom control panel)
3. Select a camera background image using the camera background computer.
4. Select the first device to be recorded (PC, Laptop or Document Camera).
5. Press the Start Record button.

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. 

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.

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.
4. USB WebCam recomendation:  Logitech C920 HD Pro WebCam with built-in microphone, cost $50
5. 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

Screen Pal Watch a Demo Video or Tutorial

• 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
• ScreenPal Teacher Pricing Options
• Free trial version has watermark, 15 minute record limit, no video editor and other restrictions.

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 means to remove the head and/or the tail of the clip
• Split or Cut means to cut the video clip into sections.
• Merge or Splice together means to join two video clips together

Edit Software Recommendation (Mac or PC)

• Apple's Quicktime software edit features
• ScreenPal built-in editing features

How to Edit with Quicktime

View the Quicktime User Guides

Topics include:

• Open and Play a Quicktime Movie
• How to Trim a Movie or Clip with Quicktime
• How to Rearrange and Add clips to a Quicktime Recording

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. 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

Create An Account

• Register with 3C Media Account
• 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.

Submit Captioning Request

1. Log into your 3C Media account
2. Upload your media to your 3C Media Account
   1. Select "Media" menu
   2. Select the “Upload a video to 3C Media Solutions” radio button. 
3. Submit Video for Captioning
   1. Locate and select the video title you wish to submit for captioning from your Media page.
   2. Select the “Submit this Media for Captioning” link from the "Tools" options.
   3. Provide the length of video in minutes (round up to the next whole minute).
   4. Enter the appropriate Section#, CRN, or Ticket from the course this media will supplement, for example, “MUS 100.”
   5. From the dropdown menu, select the applicable term.
   6. Select the “Submit” button.
4. Review the "How to Guides" for 3C Media