While there are several variables to consider with videoconferencing, we have gathered our best advice for controlling what you can.
This article covers the following topics:
At St. Edward's, we support two primary videoconferencing options:
- Zoom — best for academic use or staff meetings.
- Google Meet — fine for informal meetings.
Look at our comparison guide for help deciding which option is best for you.
When you and other meeting or class participants are connecting from different locations with varying internet quality, it's crucial to know how to reduce the burden on the connection.
- A picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth 30 pictures per second. When hosting a virtual meeting, consider the various communication methods and the internet bandwidth each requires. Video is the most greedy with bandwidth, so if your connection is unstable, switch to just audio or text chat.
- Alternately, turn off your camera or microphone when unnecessary. Doing so allows the remaining bandwidth to be reallocated, improving the quality of your meeting.
- Similarly, consider using a single-sided video streaming session (just the presenter) if two-way interactivity is not a requirement or expected.
There are several ways individual participants can improve the call for everyone.
- When it comes to sound, the closer, the better. Sound levels decrease significantly the farther you are from the source, so keep your microphone close as if you were having a one-on-one conversation.
- Note: The optimal placement for audio may differ from the optimal placement for video.
- Avoid overloading the microphone, as it would cause distortion and discoloration. Placing the mic at or near your lips may distort the sound. Make sure to move the mic away by at least a few inches.
- Avoid acoustic feedback by using headphones or earbuds.
- For effective communication in meetings, a talking head composition (your head and shoulders) on camera is ideal. Avoid the "giant nose" close-up videos and far-away full-body shots.
- Use well-lit, flat-front lighting positioned slightly higher than eye level. Include some lesser sidelights and minor lighting for your background. You want enough overall lighting to avoid video "noise," while maintaining enough contrast to highlight shape and detail.
- If your lighting is less than ideal, try Zoom's Touch Up My Appearance feature for some polish.
- If possible, avoid background activity, fan noise, interruptions from pets or kids, TV volume, etc.
- Avoid "room echo." It's better for audio quality to avoid setting up in "live" rooms, sparsely furnished spaces with four hard walls and reflective surfaces. The sound reverberates too much in these rooms.
- Minimize visual distractions with a blank, bland or solid background. (Too much color in the background can reflect back on you in weird ways.)
- Alternatively, if you don't want others to see your background, consider using Zoom's Virtual Background option.
- Use comfortable seating in your video setup so you can meet for extended periods without neck or back strain.
- Keep your surroundings as still and quiet as possible. Excessive movements or sounds place a higher burden on the video and audio compression system. Meaning your sound and video connection will be more jumbled.
- Protect your meeting with these Best Practices for Securing Your Zoom Meeting.
- Take turns when speaking. Wait for a lull in conversation to insert yourself. Taking turns shows politeness but also helps your videoconferencing software manage streams and switch between sources.
- Do not eat, drink, chew gum or smoke/vape while in a meeting. This unnecessary noise will diminish sound quality.
- Dress professionally even when casual. Video meetings are still meetings.
- If possible, start the meeting at the agreed-upon time and have participants log in close to that time.
- If there's a noticeable delay, notify participants through other channels.
- Have all your meeting materials prepared and ready to present before you start the meeting.
Visit Zoom Support for more resources on Zoom best practices for meetings or webinars.