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Remote work has grown a lot as a result of COVID-19 and is still very common today. Thus, remote meetings have become more frequent. In this sense, it is very important to make sure that everyone understands you clearly, to avoid confusion and miscommunication. Therefore, knowing how to improve the quality of video calls is of great help.
Video calls are widely used for various purposes. For example, there are many remote classes, online courses and even online medical consultations. And, as simple as making a video call may seem, there are several factors that can make it more difficult, such as children making noise, a bad internet connection, or even the appearance of your environment.
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Read too: Check out the best cameras for travel vlogging
How to improve the quality of video calls?
In this article, we have selected six tips so that you can participate in your calls without any problems. We've included ways to improve video and audio capture, as well as how to reduce background sound. So, keep reading and see our suggestions.
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1. Position your camera well
An essential tip for improving the quality of video calls is camera positioning. Ideally, it should be at the same height as your eyes. If the device is below the eye line, the face will be viewed from below, which creates unflattering angles. If you are above, it will be difficult to see your eyes and mouth.
Depending on the camera you have, it may not be easy to adjust it. For example, if you are using a notebook with a built-in webcam, placing it at eye level can make it difficult to see the screen. Therefore, it is recommended to use an external camera, be it a dedicated webcam, a professional camera or even your smartphone.
2. Use a good camera
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This brings us to the next point: no matter what you do, if your camera is poor quality, so will your video calls. Therefore, using a good camera is very important. In general, notebook webcams offer low quality, even if, on paper, they look good at 720p or 1080p resolution.
To do this, you can buy a webcam, use a digital camera you already have or use the camera on your cell phone. However, to use your smartphone's camera, you need to have a more advanced device. After all, there's no point in switching from one bad webcam to another. Check out some good webcams below:
3. Have a dedicated microphone
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To improve the quality of video calls, you need to use a dedicated microphone, or at least a headset with a good audio pickup. This is because the microphone built into your normal headset, notebook or most smartphones may not emit sound with good fidelity, resulting in difficulty being heard or even transmitting noises and hiss.
Meanwhile, a good quality microphone is capable of eliminating background sounds and capturing only your voice. This means that other people on the video call will be able to hear you clearly and without confusion. It is also possible to use some background noise cancellation programs, but they do not always work as well. Check out some microphone recommendations:
4. Don't forget about lighting
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It doesn't matter what camera you use; If you have a good light setup, the capture will be much better. Still, as important as this is, it is not necessary to invest a lot in this area. All you need is to think carefully about where your light sources are and adapt to that.
For example, sitting with a window or bright light on behind you will make you not appear in the video, or the background will be too bright. So, try to keep that light source diagonal from where you are. If you don't have much control over this issue, you may need to invest in another light source, be it a directional lamp or an LED panel. Check out some lighting recommendations below:
5. Make sure you have a good internet connection
To improve the quality of video calls, you need to have a good internet connection. First of all, check that your plan is at least 10Mbps. If so, do a speed test on a site like Speed test. With it, you can check if the speed you are receiving is the same (or similar) to the contracted one.
Although it is not mandatory, it may be a good option to migrate to a faster plan that uses fiber optics. Also, always try to use cable internet instead of wireless connection. If you need to connect via Wi-Fi, opt for the 5GHz network, which offers better speeds. You can also disconnect devices from the internet to get better speed during your call.
6. Choose a good environment
The last tip is to choose a good environment for your video calls, which involves two things. The first is to have a professional and organized environment. In other words, avoid showing dirt and objects that shouldn't be there, in addition to making sure you are alone in the room. After all, other people appearing in the video can be distracting.
The second is to minimize all background noise. So, if you live with other people, try to talk to them and ask them not to make noise during your calls. If you have pets, lock them in another room. Also, close the windows and doors so that noise from the house does not reach your microphone.
Make good video calls
There are many ways to improve the quality of video calls. And remember, no matter how small the tip may be, it can have a big impact on the final result. Every small change, whether it's adjusting the lighting, using a better microphone, or aligning the camera with your eyes, will help achieve a video call where everyone sees and hears each other clearly.
