How to get the best from your video conferences
Our Innovation team has put together the following tips (in order of priority!) to support video-conference calls. With many meetings moving online, have you considered all of the below?
1. Check the Internet Connection
Before your call, use a speed test tool, like Fast.com or Speedtest.net, to test your internet speed. We would recommend at least 10 Mbs for video calls. If you’re not getting enough speed, move closer to your Wi-Fi router or use a hardwired connection.
Top Tip: If possible always use a wired connection, rather than Wi-fi. You can use ‘broadband over mains’ devices (known as powerline adapters).
2. Test the Video and Audio and use a Quality Audio Device
Before you start a call, make sure your video and audio devices are connected and working properly. Most video conferencing tools have a test call service. Look under the options or settings menu in your video conferencing app and check the sound and video.
Top Tip: Most inbuilt laptop microphones and speakers are not optimized for video calls and can cause those awful ‘echoes’ that we have all experienced. This can ruin the effectiveness of a VC and cause frustration. The use of a good quality headset or echo cancelling speaker microphone will usually eliminate this. We have found the Jabra ‘Speak’ range to be particularly effective but others are available. If all else fails, try the heaphones from your smartphone (but check they have a microphone). This will help ensure a stress free call.
3. Check Lighting and Background
Position yourself with light sources (sun, lamps etc) in front of you, rather than behind. A bright window behind you will swamp the camera and you will become a silhouette! Use curtains or blinds if an alternative location isn’t possible. Also, be aware of what is in the view of your web cam behind you. You may wish to do some housekeeping before the call!
4. Close Other Apps for Best Performance
Before you start your call, take time to save your work and close any apps you won’t need. You should close any programs that contain personal data or use too much CPU power. Too many open apps will slow down your computer on a video call and affect quality.
Top tip: You may find a reboot of your computer speeds up the connection significantly. Always shut down your computer every evening using Windows. Don’t just put it into sleep mode. Do this at least an hour before the call in case those dreaded updates appear!
5. Allow only one person to speak at a time
When two people speak simultaneously on a video conference both speakers will actually be muted, meaning no one can actually hear what is being said. Try to give the speaker time to finish their point, or make use of the ‘raise hand’ feature if it is available.
6. Mute Yourself When You’re Not Speaking
When you’re in a video meeting with a lot of participants, we suggest keeping yourself muted when not speaking. This eliminates any background noise on your end and any potential disturbances or unwanted interruptions. Be aware of outside sources of noise.
7. Screen Sharing
When you’re in a video meeting with a lot of participants, we suggest keeping yourself muted when not speaking. This eliminates any background noise on your end and any potential disturbances or unwanted interruptions. Be aware of outside sources of noise.