Hosting a webinar is the tried and true way to help your organization gain exposure and provide direct value to your potential customers. And once you’ve created a successful webinar filled with quality information, you don’t have to do it over covering the same topics again and again.
Instead, you can squeeze every penny out of your efforts by recording, enhancing and redistributing your webinar, providing plenty of opportunity for people to view it whenever they need to and wherever you want to capture them.
So how can you record a webinar easily and efficiently? We’ll walk through the tools and techniques you need to record a high quality webinar, as well as some tips and tricks to enhance your recording in post-production.
How to Record A Live Webinar vs a Pre-Recorded Webinar
When you record a live webinar you’re recording it as you host it. All of the tiny foibles and opportunities for connection with the audience are caught in the moment. This is great if it’s a particularly engaging topic.
Recording a live webinar involves setting up the experience around the event itself – recording as it’s happening, with all presenters and participants at once.
When you’re covering more technical topics or something with a particularly serious lean where audience engagement isn’t desired, pre-recording your webinar might be a better option.
When recording ahead of time, you ensure everything goes the way you want it to, with all topics and details included without interruption. You then have the opportunity to rearrange information when editing after the fact to increase understanding or flow, and it’s much easier to add graphics and smoother transitions.
Ultimately, the big takeaway of a pre-recorded webinar is more control over the editing and production process.
The best marketing strategies don’t just include a one and done webinar. Learn how to create and transform webinars into an always-on demand generation strategy for your business.
The Tools You’ll Need to Record Your Webinar for Highest Quality
Before you get started recording a webinar, there are a few tools and devices to consider that will help you create quality content. A little pre-production and post-production work goes a long way in creating something that will hold up against your competitors.
Computer / Tablet / Cell Phone
In most cases, you can use one device to record and edit your material, whether that be a computer, tablet, or phone. Each of these allows you to do the basics of setting up, recording, and editing a webinar with built-in microphones, cameras, and enough processing power. But each also has its trade-offs and advantages.
If you’ll be jumping within a presentation to multiple speakers on camera and other images, a computer may be the easiest way to handle a more complex webinar and ensure your recording turns out how you’d like it to. If you’re mainly recording a specific speaker on camera, a smartphone or tablet may be the simplest and most flexible tool.
Audio Devices for Recording Webinar Vocals
A good microphone is essential to recording a webinar. Having quality audio can mean the difference between your audience actually paying attention to your content and being distracted.
There is probably a microphone built into whatever you’re using to record, whether that’s a phone, tablet, or computer. Built-in microphones are okay for everyday use, but for something a little more professional, an external microphone, headset, or earphones with a built-in mic will be a more reliable option.
Lighting Devices for Improved Visibility
Your lighting can actually be a bigger issue than the camera you use when recording a webinar. The best camera in the world can only do so much if the subject doesn’t register on screen.
Consider a ring light or even just making sure you’ve positioned yourself to make the most of the light you have available. Lighting techniques will vary depending on your skin tone and environment so be sure to adjust depending on your circumstances.
Video Software Tools for Recording
When you record a webinar, you’ll likely want to share your screen with viewers. There are plenty of screen recording apps out there to choose from.
For cell phone capture, consider Apowersoft Unlimited. It works on iPhone and Android and there are unique features like resolution control, bit-rate throttling, framerate selection and camera configurations to ensure the quality is high.
In terms of great live streaming software from a computer, there are also many apps with robust features. These include editing suites, streaming, recording, and integrations with YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms to upload right away.
Skip a few hoops and use a virtual event platform that allows you to download your webinar immediately after it “airs.”
With SpotMe Streaming, your live video streams can be automatically published for on-demand viewing on the SpotMe platform, and then downloaded as an MP4 file that can be shared, edited or stored for future use.
Editing Tools
When it’s time to manipulate your recorded webinar, choose software that lets you edit both video and audio. For example, Flashback Pro suite for Windows makes it easy to edit background noise like clicks and keystrokes.
Depending on the device you use to record, you likely have editing tools built right into the same software.
On an iPhone, for example iMovie is pre-installed on all newer generation phones.
Editing Hack
Cut any part of the beginning of the webinar where you are getting settled and ready to start. If there are any especially long pauses or breaks you are already aware of, cut those from the get-go.
If you have a long webinar (past 1 hour) consider breaking it into smaller segments, as most looking for pre-recorded content won’t want to spend that much time consuming it.
Tips and Tricks for Recording a Webinar on Different Devices
How to Record a Webinar on an iMac or Macbook
- Choose a screen and video recorder. Many Macs have Quicktime Player as the default.
- Open the application and start a “New Screen Recording” or “New Movie Recording (to record your image) under “File.”
- Before recording, check your settings and select the preferred microphone.
- When you’re ready, hit the red record button.
- Click anywhere on your screen to start recording the whole space. To record only one window, for example, click and drag to select the area you want. Then click “Start Recording.”
- Edit your video. QuickTime allows you to perform basic editing like trimming the video, splitting clips, and flipping images if needed.
- To share your video, go to “File” and “Share” to choose how you want to export it. From here you can share it through a link, post it on social media, etc.
Pro Tip For Recording A Webinar On a Mac
On the Mojave operating system, you can just hit “Shift-Cmd-5” to access screen recording controls rather than opening QuickTime Player.
You can also use iMovie and Photo Booth to record videos for free.
Best Webinar Recording Apps for Your Mac
If you don’t like the default Mac software for screen recording or editing, there are many options available for download. Popular ones include:
How to Record a Webinar on Your PC
- Choose a screen recorder app. PCs come with a pre-installed, free option that is actually part of the Xbox app for recording game play, called Game Bar. If you want an option tailored more closely to your needs, you can download and install different software before you start.
- Open the app you want to use to record. If it’s Game Bar, first go to “Settings” and then “Gaming” to turn on “Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game Bar.”
- On your keyboard, use the shortcut “Windows-G” and click “Yes, this is a game” to get started.
- When you’re ready to record, use the shortcut “Windows-Alt-R” and click “Start recording.”
- When you’re done recording, you can find your video in the Videos/Captures folder.
- Edit your video. If your recording software doesn’t include editing tools, install software like Lightworks which allows you to trim, cut, and split your videos.
- To share your recorded webinar from Game Bar, choose the “Broadcast” icon and follow the prompts to configure settings.
Pro Tip For Recording A Webinar On a PC
With Game Bar, you can’t record your whole screen or switch windows while recording. It’s a quick and easy option but doesn’t offer the highest production value.
Consider taking a little time upfront to download software meant specifically for webinars to make recording and editing easier.
Best Webinar Recording Apps For Your PC
If you want more options than the default software, popular ones for PCs include:
How to Record a Webinar Using Only Your Phone!
iPhone
- Go to Control Center and choose “Screen Recording.” (If it’s not already there, you may have to change this in your Settings.)
- Start recording and turn on the microphone.
- When you’re done and stop the recording, your video will be saved in Photos
Android
Choose an app to record your screen. There are several free and paid options, such as Mobizen and XRecorder that allow you to record, edit, and save your video.
Pro Tip For Recording A Webinar On a Phone
Make sure you have enough memory on your phone or the cloud to record the length of video that you want. Otherwise you’ll find yourself wasting time recording a webinar you ultimately can’t save.
Quick Start: How to Record a Webinar with Zoom Right Now
Already using Zoom for your webinar? Recording and saving your webinar is as simple as hitting “Record” right in your Zoom window. When you’re ready to stop and save, you will be prompted with two ways to save your webinar recording. You can either choose a local recording or a cloud recording.
Zoom Local Webinar Recording
Before you start you need a Zoom desktop client for Windows or macOS, version 2.0 or higher. Local recording is not supported on iOS and Android.
- Start a Zoom meeting as the host
- Choose the option to “Record”
- Select “Record on This Computer”
- The Host will see a “Recording” signal
- To stop recording, click “Pause/Stop Recording” or “End Meeting”
- After the meeting has ended, Zoom will initiate a conversion so you can access the files.
Zoom Cloud Webinar Recording
Before you start you need a Zoom Pro, Business, or Enterprise account and either Zoom Desktop Client or Zoom Mobile App.
- Sign into Zoom as an administrator
- Choose Account Management, then Account Settings
- Go to the Recording tab and verify that the “Cloud Recording” setting is enabled
- Start a meeting as the host
- Click the “Record” button
- Select “Record to The Cloud”
- To stop recording click “Pause/Stop Recording” or “End Meeting”
The recording files can be downloaded to a computer or streamed from a browser. Unlike local recordings, iOS and Android are supported.
Looking for a step up from Zoom’s webinar software? Check out 5 Zoom Webinar Alternatives for Virtual Events.
Ready to Level Up Your Webinar Experience?
Now that you know how to record a webinar and all the insider tips and techniques that go with it, level up by using the best possible integrated software tools.
SpotMe’s unique and user friendly services are just what your webinar needs to give you the tools and feedback necessary to make your webinar stand above the rest. Request a free demo to see what SpotMe can do for you.
