This article would help those who just get started recording online course. There are a few ways you can record your scene or content including a talking head, a screencast and a demo. All of these scenes could include a talking head meaning you have yourself appeared in the video, and most of the online course creators would get a green screen to record themselves.
When I first starting recording courses, I got myself a green screen too, it is just a piece of big green cloth that I hang on my curtain rod. I need to make sure the cloth is smooth with an iron steamer so that it is easier to integrate with virtual background or to be removed in video editing using chroma key. Of course, the lighting in your room or house will also affect the green screen color tone that create shadow and causing bad chroma key In a nutshell, you need to make sure the green screen color is even on the surface, no wrinkle, no shadow. See below picture green screen by Chroma key in an video editor.
But do you really need a greenscreen to do the shooting? I would say it is not necessary. Having said that, if you want to shoot your talking head, you need to make sure the background is neat, in another word, you need to find a corner in your house that have a good background either plain color wall, or books shelves etc. That would make your video looks more professional compared to a messy background.
I use Zoom (https://zoom.us/download) for everything like recording, streaming, live classes, I realized the auto detection of human figure with their virtual background is super excellent. Even without a green screen you can still have a very nice virtual background to make your video looks professional. However, the drawback is when you have too much body movement, part of your body might be “chopped” or missing. Over the years, I have trained myself to be an “imperfectionist”, hence those defects wouldn’t bother me too much.
Perfectionism is a dream killer, because it’s just fear disguised as trying to do your best. It just is.
Mastin Kipp
If you are using OBS (https://obsproject.com/download), another tool for recording and streaming, you can get an oval greenscreen that hang on the wall or strap onto your chair, that makes your video looks excellent. You are just like part of the presentation as OBS allows you to have the chroma key edit in the video filter. But again, it is optional. Below picture: I bought one just for fun, only RM20, never use it because I don’t really use OBS too.
To me, I would think the most important element of recording is the audio part, this includes having a clear voice and explain your content in a structure manner so that your audience understand your are sharing. Oh ya, you don’t even need to be appeared in your course. Therefore to get a good microphone is super important than getting a green screen. Take note that good doesn’t mean expensive though. I will share with you what microphone I use to record courses in the next article. Stay tuned!
~Cheers!
