3 Ways To Record Webcam Videos For YouTube! (2021 Update)

Today I´m going to talk about how to record webcam videos for YouTube but still get a great looking footage that can stand out.

Here´s my three step process to get the most out of your webcasting and create beautiful videos.

Let´s dive right in.

1. Choose The Right Gear

YouTube webcam capture is not as easy as it might sound.

At least not if you are trying to make your videos look really professional.

The first step towards making great content by using a webcam to record your videos is to choose the right gear.

All of these options are, for the most part, low budget and easy to use, so you won´t need to know much or spend much to get the best possible quality.

The Webcam

Webcams come in a variety of types and offer different video quality options as well as price tags to choose from.

Here are some of the most popular options most YouTubers use and get good-looking videos with:

Logitech Brio – Let´s start with the most professional choice you can make when it comes to webcam products first.

The Logitech Brio has the amazing capability to record 4K and still get smooth movement on camera, something not many webcams can offer.

It also has the ability to record really good images in a low-light environment and has an adjustable visual field if you want to capture your head and shoulders or your entire body.

Logitech C920 – Probably the most popular web camera for video recording and certainly the best one for the lowest possible price.

The main difference with the Brio is that you won´t get 4K resolution but you´ll still have great looking footage as it can record at full HD without a problem for a much lower price.

Logitech C310 – Another great affordable options that can also record at full HD resolution, it doesn´t actually have much difference with the C920 but I wanted to give a third option you could choose from.

The truth is that ANY of these three options would make your videos look good and at the standard quality most YouTube videos look nowadays.

You shouldn´t overthink this and pick one of them cause there are a few more things you and I have to do before we even get to the last piece of the puzzle.

Lighting Setup

THIS is where most people get the look they first thought of when thinking of making a video.

Webcams as well as phone cameras have evolvled in the last few years and offer a very similar quality that many DSLR have, minus the manual setting advantages of course.

So, the question one must ask oneself is:

How to go from good to great when it comes to video?

Lighting!

Now, although it might seem like an fairly easy task there are a couple of things you should consider first.

So…

…If you want to learn more on how to properly light your webcam videos you can read Best Lighting Setup For Webcam Videos where I will walk you through the best options for a webcasting light setup.

For a quick step-by-step instructions here´s what you can do:

Find the best possible source of natural light, whether that is a big window, your balcony, or simply going outside.
Shoot near golden hour, which is that time of day when the light is not too bright but not too low either, more on that in my post.
Watch out for the direction of the light, you don´t want to cast big shadows that could create a dramatic look on your video and try to diffuse the light if possible.

Better Sound Quality

Your webcam´s microphone is really bad and it won´t get match the quality of the image you are already capturing with the lens.

That difference will quickly kill the impression your videos will give to first time viewers.

Now, to avoid that, you don´t need to spend that much or even anything to upgrade your audio.

Here´s what you should do:

Use your headphones. The first thing you can do is use your headphones, earplugs, or any other mic that you can find around your house to record your audio. Although it might not sound professional it´s way better than trusting in the mic that comes with your webcam. The closest you get the mic to yourself the better sound quality you´ll get.
Record it separately. Another thing you can do is to simply record your voice separately. That way you´ll be able to use your phone or any other recording device that can capture good audio and then sync video and audio in editing software. Plus, most software nowadays includes audio and video sync features that make the entire process automatic.
Reduce noise. Finally, also with a few clicks, you can reduce any noise from the background, which is something you should always do.

What is The Best Webcam Software?

I wouldn´t say there is only one option for you to choose, I mean, there are (at least) two great ones.

The best part?

They are both really easy to use!

The first one that I want to mention is the Logitech app, it allows you to control some of the main camera’s functions.

You can change the focus, white balance, zoom and pan, simple features perhaps but ones that make the output more tailored to your desired result.

The second option would be Debut Video Capture, which is a bit more complicated than the Logitech app, and that´s because it is not only a webcam video app it also has screen record capabilities as well as more video editing features.

So, no matter what of these options you choose both are proven to be great apps that can enhance the way your videos look.

That being said, I´m going to talk about more on how to improve your video quality through software used on the third and final step, when we get to post-production.

2. Design Your Background

Another super important factor that contributes to your video overall quality is your background.

Not many people think about this because they are way too focused on their cameras, which is important, but is not the only thing you should be foused on.

Whatever background you choose (or not choose) to work with tells your viewers a lot.

Whether you shoot at your house, talking very close to the lens, showing a lot or a little of where you are at matters more than you think.

It is one of those things people don´t pay too much attention when watching one of your videos but can certainly contributes to the overall mood and “type” of video you are making.

The more control you can have on your background the better you´ll be at making your videos look and feel the way you want it in order to get your message through.

Here´s how:

Choose your angle. If you want to make a more intimate video, give a more authentic and personal feel to it then get close to the lens, show your face and shoulder and not that much of your background. If you are going to teach or show something on the screen then try to stand a few feets away and show from your waist up, it´ll be better as your audience will see your hands which are the number one teaching and expressing tool of your entire body.
Make it simple. If you are unsure about what type of background you want to use then make it simple, use a plain white wall or stand in front of a book shelf or any other thing where there´s not much else going on that could potentially distract your viewers.
Get ideas flowing. Whether you are going to shoot outdoors or indoors, at your house or office it doesn´t matter, you should ALWAYS add some creativity to it, make it real and interesting, give it your own look. Hop into Pinterest and start searching for decorating ideas.

3. Enhance Clips On Post!

Last but not least, once you´ve filmed your video and you have all of your clips ready it´s time to import to your software to make them look awesome!

No matter what specific software you use there are a few simple yet effective things you can do in order to get your footage to the next level.

This is my super-simple process to make clips look and sound great:

First I cut off any extra parts from the timeline by removing sections from each clip that I know I won´t be using for the final cut.
Then I clap them together and reduce ambient noise, most softwares have the capability to do this with a few clicks and makes a huge difference as people can forgive how your video looks but will not forget how it sounded.
Finally I start adjusting and color correcting all of the clips by adding what is known as an adjustment layer, or simply adjust one of your clips if you are using free software like iMovie or Windows Movie Maker and then proceed to copy and past those adjustments to the rest of your clips, it works great!

That final step, combined with the first two is what makes a video look awesome and gives the final touch that makes it blend with some of the best videos you see on YouTube.

If you follow all of these tips you´ll get a video that people won´t be able to see the difference with DSLR or professional looking videos on the platform.

The Digital Hustler

How To Record Webcam Videos For YouTube