Improve the Quality of Your Video Calls at Any Price Point</strong>
As remote work becomes a staple for the foreseeable future and beyond, many of us are spending more time than ever interacting with our co-workers via virtual meetings. Whether you are looking to improve the quality of your audio/video on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Skype or any of the other popular video conferencing platforms, there is a lot you can do at any price point to up your game and ensure you are putting your best foot forward (virtually).
First Things First, Time to Nail the Basics
Before you even spend a dime, there are a few things you can do to improve the quality of your audio and video feed.
You definitely have a pair of headphones lying around, so use them.
Wear headphones to prevent a potential feedback loop. This can occur when the video conferencing platform’s noise suppression is unable to cancel your microphone's picking up the sound coming from your speakers. Also, using a handset (like the headphones that likely came with your phone) can often give you better audio quality than your computer’s built-in mic due to the close proximity of the inline microphone to the sound source.
Beware of backlighting unless you’re a spooky ghost.
We’ve all been in a meeting with the ominous silhouette of a co-worker who isn’t mindful of the relationship between the poor dynamic range of their webcam and the direct sunlight pouring through their office window behind them. If you don’t want to look like a confidential informant in the witness protection program, go ahead and spin yourself around to harness some of that sweet, soft window light.
Show your good side… no, your other good side.
If you’re sitting at a desk and using your laptop’s built-in webcam, chances are the camera is angled slightly upward and pointed directly up your nostrils. Or if you have a webcam fixed to the top of a large external monitor, the camera is likely pointed down at that patch of thinning hair you’re totally not self-conscious about. Either way, neither of these options presents the most flattering angle. If possible, try to elevate your laptop on a stand (or even a stack of books) and mount your external camera on an adjustable tripod that sits closer to eye level.
For those that work in an indoor pool, concrete bunker, or Hypercube made out of subway tile.
Most of us don’t have the luxury of working in an acoustically treated room, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to reduce reverb and make it easier for our colleagues to hear and understand us. If your space has hard surfaces such as tile floors, bare walls, or a ceiling made of reclaimed aluminum sheeting, try to find a more appropriate room to work in. If that’s not an option, look for ways to absorb some of that sound. This could be as simple as adding a rug or hanging some drapes. Whatever you can do to knock down some of those sound waves will greatly improve the quality of your audio.
Now That We’ve Covered the Basics, Let’s Spend Some Money!
The fact is, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get great results. The quality of your video call will primarily be affected by three things: your camera, lighting, and audio. And if I had to recommend improving only one of those three things, I would prioritize audio.
Audio is the most important factor that separates a quality video call from a terrible one, and it’s also the thing most people get wrong. The built-in mic on most modern laptops is not that bad regarding audio fidelity, but the biggest reason it’s ill-suited for this application is how far away the mic is from the subject’s mouth. Even a poor-quality microphone can sound pretty good if you can get it 6-12 inches from the audio source, which is why I recommend an external microphone as the first item you purchase to improve your setup.
Audio
The microphones we’ll be looking at fall into two categories: those that connect to your computer directly through a USB cable and those that require an audio interface to convert the analog input to a digital signal your computer can interpret. To keep things simple, let’s just say that those who are looking for a plug-and-play option should stick with USB, and those who might be looking at a more expensive mic that can be used with other audio gear might want to go with an XLR mic + audio interface.
The Budget Setup:
Total cost: $73.49
For a Little More:
Total cost: $228.99
The Premium Setup:
Total Cost: $866.99
Lighting
After audio, lighting is the next most important component in upgrading the quality of your video calls. Aside from the low resolution, the main reason your video looks terrible is due to how poorly the small sensors in webcams handle low light. You’re much better off with great lighting and a terrible camera than you are with a great camera and terrible lighting. Depending on your environment, you might be blessed with natural window light which is great if you can harness and control it. But for those of us who are stuck hiding from our kids in a dark basement office, we will need to look at other options.
The Budget Option:
Total Cost: $33.99
For a Little More:
Total Cost: $133.95
The Premium Setup:
Total Cost: $329.98
Bonus Option:
Total Cost: $1,074.36
Camera
Now that we’ve tackled audio and lighting it’s time to see what we can do to improve on the potato-level quality of your computer’s built-in webcam. For this section I will concentrate on three potential solutions—repurposing a camera you already have, buying an external webcam, or getting the highest quality possible by using a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
The Best Camera for the Job May Already Be in Your Pocket
The quality of cameras on most phones these days is leaps and bounds better than the average webcam. For this option we will look at ways you can use the camera in your iPhone or Android device as a camera your computer can select as a webcam.
Total Cost: $25.78-$56.78 (with a $39.99 cost billed each year)
Now Let’s See What Else You Have Laying Around the House That Could Work
WIth an HDMI capture card, you can use any camera as a webcam as long as it has a clean HDMI-out (i.e. the ability to display what the camera sees without any menu items superimposed on the screen). A likely candidate for this is that GoPro you had to buy but is now just sitting on a shelf gathering dust. The good news is that you can justify that dubious purchase and use it for something useful by pairing it with an inexpensive HDMI capture card.
Total Cost: $28.98
If You’re Looking for a Traditional External Webcam:
Total Cost: $99.99
DLSR and Mirrorless Cameras—The Ultimate Zoom Call Flex
If you’re a sucker for that shallow depth of field look and cringe whenever you see the fake software generated blurred background effect that some platforms offer, then it’s time to start looking for a good DSLR or mirrorless camera. The sky is really the limit as far as how much you want to spend, and there are more cost-effective options to be had as well, especially if you’re open to perusing the used market. Some popular options include the Sony a5100 (~$450), Panasonic Lumix G7 (~$600), and the Canon 80D (~$1200).
Some things you’ll want to consider when looking at DSLR or mirrorless cameras for streaming:
Does the camera provide a clean HDMI out?
Many options, especially budget cameras, will not offer a clean HDMI out, which is required if you want to connect your camera via USB or HDMI to a USB capture card. Check Elgato’s helpful Cam Link camera check resource to see what limitations your camera of choice might have.
Does the camera have any recording or monitoring limits?
Many cameras have a limit on how long they can record or display an HDMI signal. Depending on the model, the camera may only stay on for 30 minutes at a time without shutting itself off. In some cases, you can bypass this restriction by providing constant power through a wall plug, but in other cases, you might need to tap the camera shutter button every so often to keep it from going to sleep.
Is battery power sufficient, or should you invest in an AC power supply?
The last thing you want is for your camera to die in the middle of a meeting. Most camera batteries will get you through the average hour-long meeting, but if you have back-to-back calls scheduled, you’ll need to invest in extra batteries or a way to provide constant power to your camera via an AC adapter.
Don’t underestimate the importance of good auto-focus.
If you’re using a wide aperture to get a shallow depth of field, your face can go in and out of focus with the smallest shifts in movement. Consider choosing a camera that has a continuous face and/or eye-tracking autofocus to ensure you are always in focus.
My Pick:
Total Cost: $1,500.94
So, that’s my advice on a few ways you can up the quality of your video calls depending on your budget. This list is by no means definitive, but hopefully gives you an idea of some things you do to improve your setup. If you have any questions, or would like to offer your hot take on anything listed here, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email at bret@bretneuman.com.