The World's #1 Russian, Ukrainian & Eastern European Discussion & Information Forum - RUA!

This Is the Premier Discussion Forum on the Net for Information and Discussion about Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Discuss Culture, Politics, Travelling, Language, International Relationships and More. Chat with Travellers, Locals, Residents and Expats. Ask and Answer Questions about Travel, Culture, Relationships, Applying for Visas, Translators, Interpreters, and More. Give Advice, Read Trip Reports, Share Experiences and Make Friends.

Author Topic: Advice on hardware for interviews  (Read 991 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Manny

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19927
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Advice on hardware for interviews
« on: April 22, 2022, 01:41:14 PM »
With all the Ukraine stuff going on, I've been approached recently for a few interviews. One on GB News, one on another channel and one on a blokes Youtube channel (a bloke who is a frequent panel guest on GB News).

I'm no stranger to interviews, I've done some on TV due to specific business expertise (they bring a crew so nothing tech for me to think about), and loads on radio when we did our book some years back. But that was all on the phone.

Nowadays its video over the internet via Skype or whatever. And on that 'whatever', is there one better than Skype on desktop?

So that brings me to the microphone and speakers thing. I don't want biofeedback, so I can't have the presenters voice coming out of my speakers? I don't really want to wear headphones for a video interview. Some do, but I think it looks naff. I can use my daughter's Airpods, but that means using my iPad, and that means wifi (unless I can connect them via my non-Apple desktop?), so the signal will be degraded. Too many people go garbled or freeze in interviews due to a bad wifi/bluetooth connections.

So what do I use to avoid biofeedback, so I can not wear headphones, and so I can use my desktop and an ethernet connection to avoid signal drop?

Advice please!  :biggrin:
Trip Reports: Links to my travels in Russia, Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, China and the US are >>here<<

Look what the American media makes some people believe:
Putin often threatens to strike US with nuclear weapons.

Online Markje

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8714
  • Country: nl
  • Gender: Male
  • MCMLXXIV
    • Mark's unix pages
  • Spouses Country: Crimea
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Advice on hardware for interviews
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2022, 05:48:23 PM »
I use microsoft teams for professional meetings, its actually quite good as video-conferencing software goes.
Zoom also works, it has an record function builtin which can save to the zoom-cloud (paid feature) or to a local drive.

------
On the wireless stuff: Get yourself invested in a basic Ubiquity/unifi setup. Those wifi access points perform even in busy neighbourhoods.

My home-wifi setup cost me about 500 Euro's , consisting of a switch, 3 accesspoints. The switch is not really necessary but since all access points use power-over-ethernet, the unifi switch provides that.

There's a phone app on android called 'wifi analyzer' , any reasonable computer-schooled person can use it to pinpoint where to put the access points.

Hardware audio/webcam stuff:
Any webcam above 720p will do the job. 20fps or faster (which includes most of them).

audio: Make sure you have anti-echo software or hardware. I know Microsoft teams has some echo-reduction builtin, but combine it with hardware and it will sound good. Also: take your microphone off auto-leveling the volume. Begin with 20% volume and move slowly up until you have clear sound and no echo's.



Most people forget internet access: Although video-calls should work with 20Mbit or faster, I would recommend having at least 50Mbit upload / download or faster.


OO===[][]===OO
My first trip to my wife: To Evpatoria!
My road trip to Crimea: Roadtrip to Evpatoria

Offline dorbradavid

  • Member
  • Posts: 437
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Professor and Sailor
  • Spouses Country: United States
  • Status: Just Looking
  • Trips: 5-10
Re: Advice on hardware for interviews
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2022, 07:10:14 AM »
With all the Ukraine stuff going on, I've been approached recently for a few interviews. One on GB News, one on another channel and one on a blokes Youtube channel (a bloke who is a frequent panel guest on GB News).

I'm no stranger to interviews, I've done some on TV due to specific business expertise (they bring a crew so nothing tech for me to think about), and loads on radio when we did our book some years back. But that was all on the phone.

Nowadays its video over the internet via Skype or whatever. And on that 'whatever', is there one better than Skype on desktop?

So that brings me to the microphone and speakers thing. I don't want biofeedback, so I can't have the presenters voice coming out of my speakers? I don't really want to wear headphones for a video interview. Some do, but I think it looks naff. I can use my daughter's Airpods, but that means using my iPad, and that means wifi (unless I can connect them via my non-Apple desktop?), so the signal will be degraded. Too many people go garbled or freeze in interviews due to a bad wifi/bluetooth connections.

So what do I use to avoid biofeedback, so I can not wear headphones, and so I can use my desktop and an ethernet connection to avoid signal drop?

Advice please!  :biggrin:

You are quite correct to want to put your best foot forward. I suggest Zoom but the interviewer will likley have druthers

Logitech C920 is very good. Part of your problem is not just what you want and can afford, but what if available.

https://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/peripherals/what-webcam-5-reviewed-and-rated-1027972
Dobra David


Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20902
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
Re: Advice on hardware for interviews
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2022, 12:56:58 PM »
While I am not a huge user of video communication, I bought the Logitech 920.
It gives very good images and the built in microphone is pretty good but a separate microphone can be much better.

I quite like that the Logitech makes it very easy to swap the background. But I think that your interviewers might not want you to do that.

One practical thing to look out for is lighting. I purchased an led light unit with two adjustable light sets. It is a domestic unit the kind of thing one puts behind a sofa or armchair for reading. It gives enough light to give a good image without digital camera noise and decent contrast.
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!

Offline Manny

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19927
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Advice on hardware for interviews
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2022, 12:29:00 PM »
Thanks all, I just ordered a Logitech C920 and will have a play with that and go from there.

I'll find out which platform the interviewer uses.
Trip Reports: Links to my travels in Russia, Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, China and the US are >>here<<

Look what the American media makes some people believe:
Putin often threatens to strike US with nuclear weapons.

Offline Manny

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19927
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Advice on hardware for interviews
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2022, 10:35:26 AM »
Thanks to the folks here who mentioned the Logitech camera. It's a super little thing that did the job nicely.  :thumbsup:

Just did the interview for the chaps channel, I'll post a link to it when he's published it.
Trip Reports: Links to my travels in Russia, Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, China and the US are >>here<<

Look what the American media makes some people believe:
Putin often threatens to strike US with nuclear weapons.

Offline dorbradavid

  • Member
  • Posts: 437
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Professor and Sailor
  • Spouses Country: United States
  • Status: Just Looking
  • Trips: 5-10
Re: Advice on hardware for interviews
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2022, 10:08:25 AM »
Wait 'till you get the bill  :king:

Thanks to the folks here who mentioned the Logitech camera. It's a super little thing that did the job nicely.  :thumbsup:

Just did the interview for the chaps channel, I'll post a link to it when he's published it.
Dobra David

Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20902
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
Re: Advice on hardware for interviews
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2022, 02:15:40 PM »
Glad to have been of assistance. I'm looking forward to seeing the birth of a new field of application for your punditry.
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!


 

 

Registration