Adapted from PyCon AU https://2020.pycon.org.au/speakers/tips
We strongly recommend watching this tech tips video from Next Day Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHGs839Y6iM
Skip to the bottom for hardware recommendations
By far, the best investment is ensuring audio quality is clear and not echo-y. This is more important than video quality. Your laptop microphone won't give good enough results to pass our tech check. A headset with a microphone is a great option, or an external microphone is even better.
In an ideal world; a external USB condenser microphone is your best bet, but you will need to practice with it to ensure you’re getting optimal audio levels, it’s positioned correctly, it doesn’t accidentally pickup your speakers/other sound during your talk, and make sure any gain or volume controls are set so it's loud and clear, without any distortion, even when you're speaking loudly into it. If you’re buying an external microphone, invest the time to learn how to use it - do test recordings, isolate yourself away from background/ambient noise (turn off any fans etc), and play it back and listen.
A condenser microphone has a specific 'direction' (it will sound much quieter/echoey if placed incorrectly), and it needs to be close to your mouth.
Many podcasting guides are very useful to read, for example: https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/mic-technique-podcasting
Dropping down from this, using a USB headset with a microphone is the next best thing (and super easy / doesn't have to be learnt).
If the chair you’re recording in is squeaky or tends to make noise when you move around in it, consider swapping this out for a hard char (like a dining room table chair). This will prevent your microphone from picking up any “office chair” noises.
Some laptop webcams work pretty well (i.e. those in a MacBook); others aren’t so good. An external USB webcam such as a Logitech C920 is a relatively affordable way to add high quality video.
That said, before you do that, make sure you’re in a well lit position - it’s surprising how much difference this makes to quality. Lighting should be in front of you (facing back towards you), with no visible lights behind you.
An easy/cheap way to ensure you’re well lit is to sit facing a window: but keep in mind the time of day when you test, compared to the time of day when you are presenting.
Make sure you are filling the frame - you don’t want your head at the bottom of the shot with lots of empty space!
If you can (especially if you have an external webcam and microphone), present standing up rather than sitting down. This may sound silly, but it will help considerably with your presence. If you do this, ensure your webcam is level or facing down at you, though, rather than pointing up (a stand may help).
If you’re feeling particularly creative, you could even consider a more professional setup with a dedicated HDMI camera and tripod, wireless lapel microphone, lighting and backdrop, but a decent external webcam and external microphone can get you most of the way there.
Having a timer displayed (on a second monitor, device, phone) with a countdown will help you keep on time.
Ensure all devices you are using are powered, and any settings such as automatic screen sleep, pop-up notifications or screen savers are turned off.
Here are some suggestions for slide design that will help you avoid a few common disappointing situations that presenters can face. (thanks to PyCon AU organisers for this helpful list).
We try to recommend hardware that's widely available and reasonably affordable.