Embedded Files
Zoom is NYU's officially supported tool for video calls and online meetings.
It's worth stating upfront that it is not designed as a video recording tool. It's a tool for real time meetings, and many of its features are optimized for that use.
Despite those tradeoffs, because it is so common and many people are already familiar with it, it is often the first tool people use to create their own recordings.
Features of Zoom
Features of Zoom
Even though Zoom is not optimized for recording, we work with many faculty members who prefer to use it anyway. There are a few reasons someone might choose to use Zoom despite its disadvantages.
Familiarity - Most people already use Zoom for calls and online instruction, and if it's already set up on your computer, then recording can be as simple as hitting the "Record" button.
Additional video sources - One thing Zoom does very well is allow presenting from a wide variety of sources. Most screen recording software will let you select a specific window or computer monitor. But Zoom includes several other options:
A whiteboard, which allows you to freely draw and notate on your screen
iPhones and iPads on the same network, which can be an easy way to present with a touchscreen and stylus
2nd cameras
Standalone PowerPoint and Media files
Recording with Zoom
Recording with Zoom
One reason people record with Zoom is that, if you already use it for calls, recording couldn't be simpler.
Open the Zoom Desktop Client on your computer
Check your settings to make sure the appropriate camera and microphone are selected
Begin a new meeting
Share your screen if you are presenting material
From the bottom of the call window, select "Record"
When you are done, end your call or stop the recording.
NYU's version of Zoom will only record to the cloud. For information on how to access and share your recordings, see our Zoom Hosting page.
How can Zoom be improved for recordings?
How can Zoom be improved for recordings?
If you use Zoom for recordings instead of making calls, there are several changes you can make to Zoom's settings to significantly improve the situation.
Adjust your audio settings
Adjust your audio settings
Zoom gives you some control over the level of audio processing it applies. This is important, because the amount of noise reduction it applies for clarity in calls can be counter-productive when you record audio by yourself. You can adjust this in the settings as shown in the video below:
Recording separate audio and video streams
Recording separate audio and video streams
If you are making a straightforward presentation video that you don’t intend to edit, then it is often sufficient to record a video that combines your webcam and desktop recording into one file.
But if you expect to edit your video, or to hand your material off to an editor, then it's important to set up Zoom so it records your separate sources as individual files. The video below describes how this works and where you can find the settings to change it.
Self Recording_Recording multiple streams in Zoom_20231106.mp4
Don't forget!
Don't forget!
Be sure to save the changes you make on nyu.zoom.us at the bottom of the settings page. You may want to switch these settings back for regular calls.
Keep in mind that even with these changes in place, the recordings Zoom generates will still be lower quality than those from the other options we've discussed. But if you're not ready to learn a new piece of software or need to make a recording in a hurry, then these optimizations will signifcantly improve your results.
After you've gained some experience, you can begin to explore tools made specifically for recording like Express Capture or Loom.
Once you've recorded with Zoom, you can either download your files, or you can use Zoom as a video host. To find out more about video hosting platforms, check out the Hosting section of this guide.
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