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3 Tips for Recording Interviews Over Zoom

Writer's picture: John ClintonJohn Clinton

Updated: Oct 5, 2023


Smiling old couple looking at laptop computer and waving at the computer's screen

There's a lot that goes into recording a great video interview. If you are looking to capture some of the important people in your life on camera without worrying about the technical aspects and dynamics of conducting an interview, feel free to reach out to us at Posterity Media to schedule a session.


If you're not quite ready for the full Posterity Media experience, but would still like to capture a few clips of your "personal celebrities" sooner rather than later, I whole-heartedly encourage you to give it a go! Regardless of where you and your interview subject are located, Zoom is a great (and free!) way to record a basic interview. To help you get started, I've included my top 3 tips for conducting interviews over Zoom below. If you're up for digging into the details and/or want to get your Zoom interview to look and sound as awesome as possible, you can also reference my Complete Guide to Recording Interviews Over Zoom.


(Note: If you are both in the same location, you may want to try using your smartphone to record the interview. Take a peek at our 3 Tips for Recording Smartphone Interviews and Complete Guide to Recording Smartphone Interviews for more.)


1) Use Zoom on a laptop or desktop computer


It is common for people to access Zoom with smartphone or tablet, but my recommendation for reliably recording a quality interview is for anyone joining the session to do so with a laptop or desktop computer. Not only will this make it easier to position and stabilize your camera, but if you're using the free version of Zoom you only have the ability to record the session if you are using a computer. I also highly recommend installing the Zoom app (also called the "Zoom Desktop Client") on all computers that will be joining the session. If you need it, you can find an entire archive of support Getting Started with Zoom Meetings.


2) Ensure a fast and reliable Internet connection


Your and your interview subject's Internet speed is the most important factor in ensuring a smooth session. The minimum recommended speed for video calls is typically 10 megabytes-per-second, though honestly, the faster the better. You can check your speed by clicking the "Go" button on SpeedTest.net. If you are using Wifi, and find your speed is too slow, try moving to a different location closer to your wireless router. You could also try plugging your computer directly into that router using an Ethernet cable. If your speed is still too slow, try restarting your router, or even getting in touch with your Internet service provider to troubleshoot further.


3) Add a touch of formality


When I take an interview session with my family members just a tad seriously, they tend to give better interview answers. If you assemble a question list (such as our Posterity Media Question List for Interviewing Married Couple), send it over in advance, schedule a date/time for the interview, and work to optimize both of your Zoom setups, it will add just enough formality to inspire your subjects to be more thoughtful in their responses. Above all, you want to come away with a great performance from your interviewees - if they think you're doing this "for real" they will be more likely to rise to the occasion.


I hope these tips are helpful! And for the best results I definitely recommend doing a test run (with someone other than your interview subject) before your actual interview - this will help you work out any kinks in your setup. Good luck with your interview and let me know how it goes at john@posterity.media.

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Haris
Dec 23, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Hello, I would like you to supplement your article with programs that allow you to record your screen. It would be great if you could tell us about some Movavi Screen Recorder and attach a link to it. I think this will be useful to many readers of this articl

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