Released July 11, 2008

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The amazing growth of the Internet has caused an explosion of video on the Web. Evidence shows that internet users expect and seek out Websites rich with video and other media

Web sites such as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook have popularized amateur Web videos. Even Web-savvy businesses, non-profit organizations and colleges and universities are realizing the value of using video on their Web sites to sell their products, to enhance their image and to deliver their ideas.

Sadly for viewers, much of the video streamed over the Web is low quality and looks amateurish. The typical Web video has three strikes against it. It's usually dark, pixilated and difficult to hear. This is unfortunate because, with just a little bit of forethought, Web videos could be dramatically improved without buying expensive new equipment.

The first way to improve your Web videos is to address lighting. Bright, but indirect light, is best for digital video. If you're recording inside, open up the windows and let the sun shine, and turn on all the available lights in the room. Make it as bright as possible in the room being careful not to create glare. Don't to shoot directly into a window or other bright light source.

If you're shooting outside, your best bet is to shoot on an overcast day. The clouds act as a natural diffuser and cast an even light over the subject. Avoid bright, sunny days, especially midday sun. If you must shoot outside in the bright sun, keep the sun behind the camera so that the light falls onto the subject. The goal with lighting digital video for the Web is to bathe the subject with bright, but indirect, diffused light.

The second way Web videos can easily be improved is paying attention to pixilation. Pixilation means poor, unclear and noisy picture quality in digital video most often caused by camera shake from hand-held recording. Pixilation can also occur when there is an excessive amount of action being recorded.

The cure for pixilation is simple: Use a tripod or set the camera on a table or other secure structure. If possible, do the same for the subject; sit the subject down to minimize the action within the frame.

Sound quality is probably the most overlooked aspect of video production.

As a result, the audio on most Web videos is poor and often inaudible. While all digital camcorders come with built-in microphones capable of capturing good sound, video producers often place too much distance between the sound source and the camera.

The best way to get good sound from a digital camcorder is to place the camera as near the sound source as possible. Some models of digital camcorders allow for external microphones to be mounted on the camera, which improves the quality and range of recorded audio. Higher end digital camcorders can record sound using a wireless microphone system. Wireless microphones are especially useful for isolating and accentuating speech from an individual subject.

So, before you hit the record button on your next Web video production, think "light, sound and action!" to create the best and most professional looking video possible.

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http://www.uaex.edu/news/july2008/0711videotips.htm

Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu