This guide is designed to help you configure your camera for optimal video recording during a meetup event, mainly focusing on manual settings to ensure consistent exposure, audio quality and projected presentation recording throughout the session.

Preparation:

Before going to the event, ensure your SD card is large enough to store a video of at least 90 minutes. A standard, Full HD video (1080p) file can range from approximately 15 GB to 30 GB per hour, depending on the bitrate. For a 90-minute event, a 32 GB card should suffice, but using a 64 GB card or larger is recommended for extra security.

We can only accept cameras with detachable lenses or camcorders with internal zoom lenses, which can take 2 cards and enable double-slot recording.

Expect for long rooms (presenter is from 5-6m / 20-25feet from the lens); hence, if you’re using a detachable lens camera, you’ll need a lens with an Image Stabiliser function somewhere between 50mm and 200mm (35mm eqv. full frame). When possible, we will send you the room dimensions days before your event so you know what lens to carry.

Always arrive a bit earlier to the venue, be polite to the speakers and clients as you are representing MEETUPVIDEO there.

Camera position and stability:

1. Find the best, stable (concrete or hard floor) spot for filming, preferably from the back of the room so that you won’t obstruct the audience’s view; however, ensure a clear picture of the speaker at all times and avoid the audience’s heads in framing.

   

2. Mount the camera on a sturdy, quality tripod with a fluid video head for smooth panning and tilting.

   Example how to follow the speaker:
   

   Try to use high profile tripod if necessary to avoid people’s head in framing.

   

3. Position the camera at eye level of the speaker to ensure a natural perspective.
4. Frame the shot so that the speaker is within the central third of the frame and watch for head room!
   Follow the rule of thirds, a classic composition technique.
   

   This is a good composition:
   

Camera Settings:

1. ISO:
   Keep the ISO as low as possible to reduce noise. Start with ISO 320 or 800 and only increase if necessary.
   It is best if you can use the native ISO or GAIN of your camcorder.
2. Frame Rate
   Always use 29.97 or 59.94 fps! (In UK too, as delivery platform is mostly Youtube.)
3. Shutter Speed:
   Set your shutter speed to 1/50th of a second in UK, 1/60th of a second in US to avoid projected screen flicker in the background.
4. Aperture:
   Adjust the aperture to ensure the speaker is in focus while allowing enough light to hit the sensor. A value between f/2.8 and f/5.6 often works well for depth of field and exposure. Avoid higher than f/5.6 !

   Incorrect values (F6.3 ISO2500):
   

   If you decrease F-stop then you can reach the same image at lower ISO value, like here:

   Correct values (F4 ISO1000):
   

5. White Balance:
   Set white balance manually to match the lighting conditions. Do not rely on auto white balance. (Venues use between 3200K and 5500K)
   
6. Focus:
   Use manual focus to lock onto the speaker and avoid the camera refocusing during the shoot. If you have camera which was made after 2017, then use Face tracking or Eye auto focus if you have enough light in the room.
7. Exposure:
   Check the camera’s histogram to ensure the speaker’s face is well-exposed without being overexposed. Adjust the ISO or aperture if the look is too bright (overexposed).

   This is overexposed (also, the white balance was incorrectly set, and the headroom is too ample):
   

   If the recorded footage is slightly darker, it’s still less problematic than overexposed!

   

More than 1 camera:

For panel session or any multi-camera recording always use the same brand and type of cameras to achieve seamless switching during edit:

Close up:

Wide:

Result:

Audio Setup:

1. Frequency: Always do a frequency search before the event in the venue. If you’re using your own UHF transmitter, avoid to use venues (probably licensed) frequency! Digital devices’ signal sometime drops in 2.4GHz and 5GHz range if WiFi is saturated.
2. Microphone choice: For two speakers always use two lavalier (lapel) microphones, record each signal as an independent channel!
3. More than 2 microphones: Use an additional multichannel audio recorder device. Use uncompressed, 48kHz recording formats. If the format is MP3, then minimum must be 192kbps per channel.
4. Levels: Set the audio levels manually. During soundcheck, have each speaker talk at their loudest and set levels so that the audio peaks around -12dB to -6dB to avoid clipping.
5. Monitoring: Always monitor the sound with closed headphones (with active noise cancellation is sometimes better) or in ear monitor throughout the recording to ensure audio clarity and quality.

Lighting and Projector:

1. Light the speaker’s face: Ensure there is even lighting on the speaker’s face. Avoid harsh lights that can create heavy shadows.
   Always handy if you have a small LED light panel with you to use it from the side. Don’t have to use it at 100% power and if possible set to the same colour temperature as room lights, or use it at 5600K for nice separation.

   Use it from angle, above head
   

   

   to avoid reflection on shiny surfaces, like LCD TVs:
   

2. Avoid projector glare: If the speaker is near a projection screen, ensure the projected light does not fall on them, which can cause overexposure on their face. Also good idea to talk to the speaker before the event to not stand or walk in front of a projected screen / display.

   

Special considerations for projector use:

If the speaker will interact with a projector, set the camera’s exposure to accommodate for the difference in light between the speaker and the projection. You might need to manually adjust the exposure when the speaker steps in and out of the projector light.

Your main focus should be the speaker, not their projected image or the audience. With 1 camera solution during Q&A, keep the camera always on speaker, not on audience.

Recording:

1. Start recording a few minutes before the talk begins to allow for post-editing flexibility.
2. If the camera has a limit on continuous recording time, be prepared to stop and start recording during natural breaks in the presentation. We prefer cameras / camcorders without recording time limits.
3. Continuously monitor the camera’s battery life and have spare charged batteries on hand, or use external power, power bank.

Final Checklist:

• SD card is formatted before you go to the event and capacity checked.
• Tripod is secure and at the correct height.
• Camera framed for the rule of thirds. (speaker is on the center 3rd)
• ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and white balance are manually set.
• Audio levels checked with the right microphone setup.
• Lighting is even and the speaker’s face is well-exposed.
• Spare batteries and storage available.

Screen capture

Projected presentation screen’s capture solutions:

1.) Capture card with HDMI pass-through feature with laptop recording, like Elgato Game Capture HD60 :

2.) Capture card without HDMI pass-through feature with laptop recording, like CAM LINK 4K , UltraStudio Recorder 3G, etc. :

3.) SD card/SSD recorder with signal pass-through feature, like ATEM Mini Pro, HyperDeck Shuttle HD, ATOMOS NINJA V, ATOMOS ZATO Connect, etc.: Use H264 or H265 file compression with 1080p recording format at 29.97fps.

4.) Recorder without signal pass-through feature:

Important: for presenter’s Apple laptops with USB-C port always use original Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter not cheap aftermarket one!

Please note, the total HDMI cable length between the presenter’s computer HDMI OUT port and projector’s / LCD TV’s HDMI IN port doesn’t exceed 10 meter / 33 feet without signal amplifier / repeater. In some cases venue can provide signal via SDI, hence SDI to HDMI converter, like DECIMATOR MD-HX or a Blackmagic Design Micro converter is useful to have.

Some recorders are stop their recording process if resolution or frame rate change happen during presentation, or presenter disconnect their laptop.
In this case you should have to restart / continue the recording manually. In ATEM Mini Pro has resolution and frame rate converter, hence record won’t stop suddenly.

Conclusion:

By following this guide, you should achieve a professional-quality video recording of meetup event with screen feed, clear audio and consistent exposure.

Always run a test recording before the event to ensure all settings produce the desired results.

Upload

Always upload recorded files onto our dedicated dropbox folder (50GB / file limit has been set!) within 24 hours after recording:

https://www.dropbox.com/request/aELThWNYpCl76CypqxNS

Do not re-convert / compress any file.