Lab: Recording on a Phone or Tablet

Lab: Recording Video and Audio on a Phone or Tablet

Many participants in WiM programs use a smartphone or tablet as their main recording device. This lab covers how to get the best possible results from the camera and microphone you already have.

Watch first: This short video demonstrates framing, lighting, and microphone placement for mobile storytelling in real-world conditions.

Framing and stability

• Hold the phone horizontally (landscape). Vertical video looks awkward on any screen larger than a phone. Turn the phone sideways before you start recording.
• Use the rule of thirds. Imagine a 3x3 grid over your frame. Place your subject at one of the four intersection points rather than dead centre. Most phone cameras can display this grid in settings.
• Stabilize your shot. Rest your elbows on a surface, lean against a wall, or use a small tripod. Even a stack of books helps. Shaky footage is distracting and makes editing harder.
• Leave headroom. Do not cut off the top of a person's head. Leave a small gap between the top of their head and the top of the frame.

Lighting

• Face the light source, do not stand in front of it. If a window is behind your subject, they will appear as a dark silhouette. Move so the window is in front of or beside the subject.
• Avoid mixed light sources. Mixing daylight from a window with a yellow indoor bulb creates uneven, unflattering colour. Use one type of light or turn off the indoor lights when shooting near a window.
• Cloudy days are ideal for outdoor interviews. Direct sunlight creates harsh shadows on faces. Open shade (under a tree, beside a building) or overcast light is soft and even.

Audio on a phone

• Get close. The microphone on a phone is designed for voice calls at arm's length, not for filming someone across a room. Stay within 1 to 1.5 metres of the speaker.
• Use a plug-in microphone if possible. A basic wired lapel (lavalier) microphone costs under $20 and dramatically improves clarity. Clip it to the speaker's collar, about 15 cm below their chin.
• Point the microphone toward the speaker, away from noise. Phone microphones are omnidirectional - they pick up everything. Shield the phone from wind and background noise.
• Do a test recording before the real interview. Play it back with headphones. You will catch problems you cannot hear with the naked ear in the moment.

Transferring files to your computer

• Connect your phone with a USB cable and transfer video files directly to a folder on your computer.
• Or use a cloud service (Google Drive, iCloud) to sync the files wirelessly.
• Most phone video is already in MP4 format and imports directly into DaVinci Resolve without conversion.