Pre-recording guide
This guide points to resources and software you might use to pre-record your presentation. This might be of use if you plan to present online but are unsure of your bandwidth on the day and so require a backup solution for the panel to use; or where conferences ask delegates to watch recordings in advance. If you upload your recording to YouTube/Vimeo you can provide that link to the conference organisers. If the conference uses NomadIT's abstract management system then you can enter the link in the paper-edit page (when logged in) so as to make your video available to logged-in delegates on the website.
Pre-recording presentations
Whether preparing for an NCN (nearly-carbon-neutral) panel within a face-face (F2F) conference or a fully virtual conference, delegates may consider pre-recording their presentation - either for posting within the panel page in advance (asynchronous delivery) or for playing during the synchronous panel (deliberately or as a backup if bandwidth issues prevent a live talk), perhaps followed by a live Q&A.
Recording your presentation is neither technologically complicated nor expensive! Recorded presentations may be simply a head-shot, or a video feed overlying a slideshow, or a separate narration for your slides, or something more visually complex. There are several online resources already available which can help you to prepare your recorded presentations. We acknowledge the excellent work done here by colleagues in the US, particularly the Society for Cultural Anthropology (SCA) and Society for Visual Anthropology (SVA) as well as the Disability Research Interest Group (DRIG) (part of the Society for Medical Anthropology) - all within the AAA.
For resources on how to create your recorded presentation, please read this guide but also see the Distribute website (and its excellent videos with full guidance on what to consider) and bear in mind that such formats should also try to be as accessible as possible - also see our accessibility policy.
We’d suggest the following options for pre-recording.
1. The talking head
The simplest option is to present without showing slides, while talking into (facing) one’s webcam. You require a webcam connected to your computer and some software to make the recording. Think about the quality of your audio: this might be enhanced by the use of a headset. Think about lighting: you need to be well lit in order for the video to be ‘lively. Do watch the #Distribute video guides as they cover this so well.
Probably the simplest method is to record yourself in a solo online meeting (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Big Blue Button, NextCloud Talk, Jitsi, etc). Enter your meeting, start local recording, and begin talking. You can record just the video feed, and the recording is nicely compressed by most meeting platforms.
Software alternatives
The output should be an mp4 video file.
Windows: if you do not wish to use online meeting software, the pre-installed app ‘Camera’ records your webcam feed, is very straightforward, saves recordings in the Camera Roll folder in the user’s Pictures folder.
The free VLC media player can enabled to record - see: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-record-your-webcam-with-vlc/
Mac: Quicktime can record.
2. Slides together with your camera feed
This is also straightforward. The recording will show the slides taking up most of the screen with a smaller window of your face presenting, alongside/superimposed. You require a webcam connected to your computer and some software to make the recording. Again, make sure you watch the #Distribute video guides as they cover this so well.
Again the simplest approach is to use online meeting software (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Big Blue Button, NextCloud Talk, Jitsi, etc). to record your presentation: start a meeting (alone), share your screen with your slide show, and set the meeting to record to your computer. You can then present with slides and webcam captured in a nicely compressed mp4 video.
The most recent version of PowerPoint gives the option of recording a narration AND your webcam along with your slides. Once you've saved the finished file, export it as an mp4 video file.
Software alternatives
The output should be an mp4 video file (see specifications above).
If you do not wish to use Zoom, etc, various free options record both screen and webcam. We outline two we’ve made use of, one simpler, one more complex.
Windows (simple): Navigate to https://www.apowersoft.com/free-online-screen-recorder in your browser. Click the ‘Start recording’ button on the left side. The first time you do this you will be prompted to download and install a small piece of launcher software. Once installed your browser will display a prompt to open the Launcher. Confirm and a toolbar will appear which allows you to decide what you will record, sound settings, whether to record your webcam (and which camera), and the file settings to use (see above). When webcam is enabled, you can drag and drop and resize the camera window to wherever you think it works best. Close the toolbar to close the programme.
Mac (simple): Quicktime can record both screen and camera feed simultaneously (see this straightforward guide; or you might utilise mmhmm which provides a fun way to achieve the same ends, easily.
Windows or Mac (more complex): use Open Broadcast Software (see below).
3. A recorded narration over your slides
If you don’t possess a webcam or don’t wish to be seen while presenting, you could record an audio file instead. The recording can be played while displaying your slides.
If someone else is going to be running the files, record/provide instructions (e.g. ‘Next slide please’ prompts) so they can keep slides and narration in sync when presenting them. Again, think about the quality of your audio: this might be enhanced by the use of a headset. Watch the #Distribute video guides as they have good hints.
The simplest approach is to use your smart phone which has an in-built voice recorder (most can output mp3 files). So put your headset on, set your phone to record and work your way through your slides (Next slide please) and your presentation. No complicated software required!
Software alternatives
Provide the recording as an mp3 audio file along with the slides file.
You can make an audio recording using your mobile device or your computer.
PowerPoint gives the option of recording a narration along with your slides - then export the finished file as an mp4 video file.
Windows: the pre-installed Voice Recorder app - see this page - saves as m4a format, so you’ll then need to convert this using a free online audio converter (Zamzar or Audio converter - there are many others). Alternatively this Free Sound recorder can record directly to mp3, and also works on Mac.
Mac users can use Quicktime to record audio. Or this Free Sound recorder also has a Mac option and can record directly to mp3.
4. A slightly more complex visual production
While it undoubtedly requires more time and more complicated software, recording your presentation allows you to bring in more than just your voice, face and slides: you can mix in photos, audio and video files.
The software we’d recommend for a more complex output is free - Open Broadcast Software (OBS) - and works on both Windows and Mac. Search the web for brief tutorials. If reasonably computer literate it may take 60-90 minutes of research and testing to become sufficiently proficient in OBS to make an interesting production.
OBS advice
The output should be an mp4 video file.
In OBS you can specify which sources to capture (desktop, applications, webcams, etc.), set it to simply capture your screen, your screen and webcam (arranging these as you wish), or set up a variety of ‘scenes’ each of which captures one or more sources (video and/or audio).
With no scenes configured, and one or two sources selected, start recording in the main view. If using a set of scenes then use the Studio view to setup and preview your transitions. There is an audio mixing deck which allows you to adjust levels.
Remember to check output settings (as per above). Do not record directly to mp4, but to OBS's native format (more robust if there's a crash); and then use the Remux feature within OBS to convert this to mp4 once it's finished.
Post-production
Adding captions to video
If you are recording your presentation or utilising video within your presentation we would suggest/ask that where possible, you enable or add captions to widen accessibility. See the captions section of our accessibility guide for guidance. This is not as complicated as it sounds.
What do I do with my pre-recorded files?
This will depend on the instructions from the conference organisers. In some cases you may just share the files directly with the panel convenor, who will be responsible for playing them during the panel. In other cases you may be asked to upload them either into the abstract management system, or another centralised conference cloud store.
If using the NomadIT panel explorer: PDFs of slide decks can be uploaded in advance of the event via the paper-edit page (requires login), so they can be seen within the panel explorer by panelists/delegates. Audio/video files can also be made available on the panel page, in advance/during/after the conference. This suits both where this is the intended mode of presentation, or as a back-up in case of bandwidth issues with a live presentation. First upload to your own YouTube/Vimeo account (do not set to private, although unlisted is fine), then enter the video URL in the paper-edit (requires login). The video will then be embedded in the paper/panel page on the website, below your abstract. To see what this looks like see this guide.
