3 ways to improve a video made with a laptop
You might have to use what you've got, but don't settle for poor quality
Good morning!
Sometimes making a video is easiest when you use the equipment you already have, even if it’s not the greatest quality. If you use a laptop, you can improve it with these easy steps:
1. Lift up the laptop
The webcam in the laptop is going to be builder-grade at best, and the specs will be less than desirable if you choose this camera over a stand-alone webcam or a phone. Plus, the location of the camera on the screen might not give you the best angle, so raise the laptop up by stacking it on a few books.
The best height would be high enough for the laptop camera to be at your eye level. For my 2018 Acer laptop I use to type this, that is enough books to be 8” off the table.
2. Light location
That built-in webcam needs plenty of light too. A laptop webcam tends to focus on the brighest spot in frame. Let’s make sure that’s you and not a bright window behind you.
Fix this by facing or sitting in front of a window and turning on an extra lamp behind the screen. Anything to shine more light on the subject, in this case, you.
Once a well lit spot is picked, the key is to make sure the lighting in frame is even. Another lighting trick is to add a small light in the background for a pop of color.
3. Use a microphone
This is a cheat on the idea to use what you have, but in this case, the laptop microphone should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Assuming you can find it, it is most likely located somewhere between your mouse pad and space bar. This is not an ideal location. The mic on my laptop is about the size of a pin hole. It makes my voice inaudible and picks up all sounds in the room.
Instead, use a headset or ear buds. This will take some setup time to make sure the mic on the laptop is selected as the correct mic when recording, but it will improve the quality of the sound. Bad, tinny sound can make a video unwatchable.
Now record it!
A good video should have a good story, message, or interesting xmnmsndmnx. While using a laptop is not considered a valuable piece of video making equipment, good light, decent sound and a good camera angle can be enough in a pinch to get your video started.
Good luck! 🎉🎊
I’ve watched plenty of videos shot on a laptop here on Substack. If