Back when the lockdowns first began in early 2020, did you ever sit at your computer and think “I really love working from home?” Or did you think the complete opposite and were itching to get back to the office and socialize again with your co-workers? Whichever way you were feeling we have all ended up in the same situation now, Hybrid working, a perfect mix of the two. With some employees working from home and others going back to the office the days when everyone is in the same room at the same time are gone. This means that we rely heavily on video calls!
Video calls are essential when not all your employees are in the office. Having poor-quality video calls is frustrating for everyone. Here are three easy upgrades to help you invest in your video call setup.
Numero Uno (Webcam):
The first is about improving your picture quality. Most people just use their built-in camera on the laptop. It works and it does the job but it's not the best quality or the most flattering for you. So, if you’re spending a lot of your day on video calls, you can instantly make yourself look better with a decent camera. The easiest option is to use an old smartphone. The cameras in most modern phones are great and give you a much better picture quality than the laptop cameras. And it’s easy to link them up to your computer using a free app, like Iruin. If you have a bigger budget and wanted to spend some money you could also invest in a 4K webcam for the ultimate professional look. Most people find that a 1080p Full HD resolution webcam is more than enough.
Duex (Sound System):
Next up, the most important part of your video call, and the one most often neglected, is the sound. Most people use their built-in microphone. Think about how well you can hear the other people on your calls, and how well they can hear you. Most video platforms allow you to do a test call to check your quality. If your sound is poor quality and your built-in microphone isn't doing the job, check out a USB desk microphone. Another option is to buy a headset with a microphone. If your office is usually noisy or you have lots of background noise going on at your home office this may be the best option for you. Not only will people be able to hear you more clearly, but you will be able to hear them better too, resulting in a better video call!
Three (Lighting):
And lastly, think about your lighting. Even the best camera will struggle to make you look great with poor lighting. Natural lighting is always the best, try facing a window while you're on calls. But when that's not an option you could invest in a ring light. This will boost your lighting and give you an overall glow. You may even look like you're on a glamourous photoshoot! This doesn't have to be a big investment; you can purchase a great ring light without spending a small fortune. If you wanted to get crazy you could consider two LED lights, this will give you full control over all your lighting. These can be adjusted to light the whole scene. And with some, you can adjust the colour temperature of the lights to match the natural daylight coming through your window. That will give you a consistent look day and night.
Finally, here’s a thought. If you don’t want to have lots of accessories cluttering your desk, consider a webcam with a built-in microphone AND ring light. What you lose in control you gain in convenience.
The best part about all these solutions is you don’t have to be an expert to set them up. You can get them all working with minimal technical knowledge and make your next video call look more professional. Give us a call if you have any questions on how to better your video call quality.
Until next time, keep fit and have fun!
(TYYV) The Yada Yada Version:
With people now working from the office and from home video calls are essential to everyone and yada yada yada if you want to look amazing, sound fantastic and have the best lighting possible, try these tips to improve your video call quality!
