Hardware

Equipment for recording video:

• Smartphones (+ additional lenses if desired - largely catering for iPhone/iPad users but some Android compatible hardware is avialable). Clive Young has posted about using smartphones for video/audio on the ELE blog.
• DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflex) - ostensibly stills cameras, these often include video functionality. For talking head clips a prime - or 'pancake' - lens can be useful in blurring out background and fixing your subject in precise focus (this blurring is known as bokeh). Engineering & MS&I are both using Canon EOS700D DSLRs with a Canon 40mm f/2.8 prime lens. (If you're a member of Engineering staff you can request equipment loans via this form).
• If using a DSLR for video (especially outdoors in bright conditions) it can be useful to attach a loupe. These detachable viewfinders allow for better perception of composition/focus and circumvent troublesome LCD glare issues.
• iPads and Android tablets
• Kodak Playfull Waterproof Video Camera (UCL STEaPP are using a couple of these)
• A tripod. You don't necessarily need a huge, expensive piece of kit: eg Joby make a range of flexible, gripping tripods for numerous devices - including telephones & tablets.
• Laptops and desktop computers for screen captures and web cam recordings.
• Webcam - built in to laptops, smart phones, or external for desktop computers.

Equipment for recording audio:

• Smartphones (iPhone & iPad owners are able to buy additional 'professional quality' microphones such as the Tascam im2/im2x)
• Tablets
• Dedicated handheld hardware recorder (range in price from ~£50 - £1000s)
• Laptop with built-in microphone
• Laptop/desktop with external microphone (eg Engineering has a Samson USB microphone). If you need to be able to move around, USB clip-mics (eg Revolabs xTag USB) are also available and, again, vary in cost. (The Revolabs set costs ~£200).

Software

For free audio conversion software for PC and Mac see: http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ele/2015/03/16/need-to-convert-wav-files-to-mp3/

Video

Cross-platform:

• For video, voice, screen capture and streaming, Open Broadcaster Multiplatform is open source and straightforward to use (see this quick screencast introduction from Feb 2016).
• www.screencastify.com - a chrome plugin that records free 10 minute videos of Internet applications (can be saved as wmv files) with a screencastify logo in the top, right corner.

Not recommended:

• Filmora is easy to use, but the watermark goes right across the bulk of the lower 3rd of the screen, so is unsuitable for video capture unless you buy a license.

Audio

Cross-platform:

• Audacity - free cross-platform audio editor and multitrack recorder.

Free options for recording audio on a Mac:

• Audacity - free cross-platform audio editor and multitrack recorder.
• Soundflower with Audacity configured to capture the output of the Skype call:** http://www.wikihow.com/Record-Skype-Into-Garageband-With-SoundFlower-and-LineIn
• Soundflower with GarageBand** http://www.wikihow.com/Record-Skype-Into-Garageband-With-SoundFlower-and-LineIn
• QuickTime Player on Mountain Lion.
  File > New Audio Recording.
  It records your voice and the sound coming out of the computer, be it Skype or whatever. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqfog_Ve5Rc) ****** recommended! QuickTime Player is simple to use and it just works - it’s 1 channel recording though, meaning each person on the phone call comes through on the same track.

Free options for recording audio on a PC:

• Audacity - free cross-platform audio editor and multitrack recorder.
• Windows Sound Recorder - is a very basic recording application built into Windows that captures mic/line input.
• Soundleech - 
• Total Recorder - 

For either of these options to be able to capture a Windows computer's native sound output (eg Skype, Youtube videos etc  - not external audio such as a microphone) the soundcard will need to be configured accordingly. Windows soundcards vary from machine to machine, but a fairly comprehensive set of instructions for configuring them can be found on a dedicated Audacity hardware configuration page.

Options for recording Skype calls on a PC:

• Pamela(PC only) - Carl Gombrich (who runs UCL’s BASc programme) has used this
• http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/02/09/5-great-ways-to-record-skype-calls/

How to produce videos for teaching and learning

If you want to learn to how to create videos for your courses, please download the guide Producing your own teaching and learning videos