University Libraries Learning YouTube: Preparing Your Surroundings

It is important to consider your surroundings when recording content. On campus, the Media & Design Center in the R.B. House Undergraduate Library has access to a variety of equipment that can be useful in video creation. If you're recording from home, your options may be more limited. You'll still want to consider how you can optimize your recording setup for the content you are recording. The Media & Design Center can assist with recommendations for optimizing your home set up as well, and can be contacted by email at mediadc@unc.edu.

If you are recording sound with your video, you'll want to consider how your environment might impact your audio. 

• Use the best possible microphone available. For some that may be the built-in microphone on your laptop. Others may have a headset with an attached mic. Whatever you have access to, make sure you're using the tool that will give you the clearest possible audio.
• Consider the location of your recording and possible sources of background noise. Does your office face a busy road? Are you recording next to a room where the television is on? Finding a quiet place to record with minimal to no background noises will help your audio come through clearly.
• Speak clearly and enunciate. No matter how good your microphone is, if you don't clearly enunciate your words, your users won't understand you. Make sure that your speech is slow enough to allow users to process the ideas as you present them. 

If you're only going to be recording your screen, you won't need to worry about lighting. But if you're recording a video that features yourself, you'll want to think about lighting and your background. 

• Try to record yourself in front of a neutral background. Often this can be a blank wall, or a bookcase. Make sure you examine what is in the background of your surroundings prior to beginning your recording. You want the focus to be on you, not the objects in the room you're in. 
• Make sure that your face is evenly lit and doesn't have unwanted shadows. An easy lighting trick is to place your webcam in front of a window and record with natural light on your face. You generally want to avoid overhead lighting if possible.