Video for Business while Working from Home
This is a vast subject so these notes will continue as a work-in-progress.
Basics Overview
There are a few basic pieces of equipment that make up a video setup. You have likely noticed this in lots of different ways but its important to call out more directly as we start to discuss each detail because we’ll be discussing them one by one and in most cases they’ve come pre-packaged for us to some extent.
Typically a home setup has a minimum of
- Computer with a monitor or screen for running Zoom or other software
- Camera
- Microphone
- Speakers or Headphones
Questions for “what kinda video setup do you need”
Are you?
- Wfh associate ($90k)
- wfh professional ($170k)
- wfh manager ($150k)
- Wfh executive ($200k+)
- c - suite 100+ employees
- mid level management / team lead 5 + direct reports
- individual contributor
- rule of thumb is 5% of monthly salary on clothing, 7% if just starting, don’t go into debt
how you hear others (return audio)
- in ear monitor - IEM/EFB (look up proper terms)
- ear phones
- airbuds
- speakers (don’t use)
- AirPods
how others hear you
mics
- microphone
- heil PR40
- Shure SMB7
- headset
- Pyle dual ear
- countrymen
- DPA 40?
- built in microphone
- AirPods mic
audio interface
- scarlet
- mixpre II 3
- Motu m2
- Sabrent
- audio technical usb-c
- tech rise
how you see others (return video)
- computer monitor
- TV as display
- tv zoom room
how others see you
Lighting
- Godex Webcasting Ambient
- Godex Light Bar
- High CRI 95+
- Larger diffused source is more flattering and looks more professional
- Plan on more than one
Lights
- falcon eyes
- aputur
- nan lite
- no ring lights
- accent lights
- rgb usb rechargeables
- low voltage string lights
- DIY LED / Custom LED
- aputur bulbs
- philips / Feit
Light Support
- manfrotto auto poles
- speed rail grid
- kee klamps
Video Cameras
- built in webcam (worst)
- usb webcam (c920, brio 4K, huddlecam hd 4K)
- hdmi camera capture card (magewell, cam link)
- ATEM Mini pro iso (if you ever intend to record anything)
- ATEM Mini Pro (if you ever present anything)
- HDMI Camera - a6500, zcam e2c, iPhone hdmi
- Sony A6400, A6300, A6500, A6600
Camera Support
- speed rail goal post
- 8020
- monoprice (iffy)
- overhead grid
- grip arms
- tripods
Multiple Video Sources
Hardware
- ATEM Mini
- ATEM Mini Pro
- ATEM Mini Pro ISO
- ATEM Streaming Bridge
Software
- OBS Project
- Streamlabs OBS
- MimoLive (macOS)
- vMix
Microphone
Monitoring Audio
Live Streaming
- ATEM Mini Pro
- ATEM Mini Pro ISO
- OBS
- MimoLive
- vMix