There are many smartphones on the market that journalists and others can use to record
There are many smartphones on the market that journalists and others can use to record

edit and share material. In this video I am going to share with you a number of tips that could
edit and share material. In this video I am going to share with you a number of tips that could

help your recordings look and sound better. Here at the BBC many of our journalists
help your recordings look and sound better. Here at the BBC many of our journalists

are using iPhones and while this film looks at those devices in particular, a lot of the
are using iPhones and while this film looks at those devices in particular, a lot of the

principles apply whichever smartphone you're using. So, whether you're using an Android, a Windows
principles apply whichever smartphone you're using. So, whether you're using an Android, a Windows

phone or an iPhone, this first point is particularly important. Firstly, make sure your lens is
phone or an iPhone, this first point is particularly important. Firstly, make sure your lens is

clean. Use your shirt or a tissue but often glasses cloth is best. You need to make sure your
clean. Use your shirt or a tissue but often glasses cloth is best. You need to make sure your

phone is in airplane mode before you start recording. Going into airplane mode is really
phone is in airplane mode before you start recording. Going into airplane mode is really

important because it stops your device receiving a phone call. If it can get one while you're
important because it stops your device receiving a phone call. If it can get one while you're

filming, it will interrupt you and you may not get a second chance to record. Video files
filming, it will interrupt you and you may not get a second chance to record. Video files

can get very large very quickly so check in your settings how much space you have available.
can get very large very quickly so check in your settings how much space you have available.

Ideally, try to have at least half of your device's capacity spare. You can record more
Ideally, try to have at least half of your device's capacity spare. You can record more

if you can reduce the resolution of your video; on some devices, this is just a case of going
if you can reduce the resolution of your video; on some devices, this is just a case of going

into your settings and dropping the resolution down. If your footage is for TV or online,
into your settings and dropping the resolution down. If your footage is for TV or online,

then you'll want to record it horizontally. Indeed for the BBC's newsgathering app PNG,
then you'll want to record it horizontally. Indeed for the BBC's newsgathering app PNG,

that's the only orientation it will support. But vertical framing is increasingly accepted
that's the only orientation it will support. But vertical framing is increasingly accepted

and acceptable on smartphones. But the resulting footage is not so useful for the BBC's purposes.
and acceptable on smartphones. But the resulting footage is not so useful for the BBC's purposes.

The phone will automatically adjust the focus and exposure, based on what's in the scene.
The phone will automatically adjust the focus and exposure, based on what's in the scene.

But you can get better results by taking control. Tap the screen to adjust the focus and exposure.
But you can get better results by taking control. Tap the screen to adjust the focus and exposure.

Press and hold to lock in those settings – you’ll see 'AE/AF LOCK' displayed to confirm this.
Press and hold to lock in those settings – you’ll see 'AE/AF LOCK' displayed to confirm this.

You can also move your finger up and down the screen to tweak the exposure even more precisely.
You can also move your finger up and down the screen to tweak the exposure even more precisely.

Most smartphones will give you the option to zoom while you're recording
Most smartphones will give you the option to zoom while you're recording

your video but this will degrade the picture quality, so it's usually much better to get
your video but this will degrade the picture quality, so it's usually much better to get

closer to what you want to film, as long as it's safe to do so.
closer to what you want to film, as long as it's safe to do so.

If necessary, you can turn the light on
If necessary, you can turn the light on

when recording video, but be aware that this will drain your battery quite considerably.
when recording video, but be aware that this will drain your battery quite considerably.

If you're out and about shooting hand-held without a tripod, a good
If you're out and about shooting hand-held without a tripod, a good

way to ensure a stable shot is to bring your arms close in tight against your body.
way to ensure a stable shot is to bring your arms close in tight against your body.

Or if there's something suitable, lean against it to ensure that your shot is stable.
Or if there's something suitable, lean against it to ensure that your shot is stable.

And once there, keep filming each shot for about 10 to 15 seconds. On some phones, you can
And once there, keep filming each shot for about 10 to 15 seconds. On some phones, you can

record video and take a photo at the same time: here, tap the white circle in the bottom
record video and take a photo at the same time: here, tap the white circle in the bottom

right-hand corner. If you ever need to record a piece-to-camera using the front-facing camera,
right-hand corner. If you ever need to record a piece-to-camera using the front-facing camera,

make sure you look at the lens and not the screen to ensure you have the correct eyeline.
make sure you look at the lens and not the screen to ensure you have the correct eyeline.

Getting good audio is vital for your video and the in-built microphone on most smartphones
Getting good audio is vital for your video and the in-built microphone on most smartphones

will be fine for ambient sound but the closer you get to a guest or an interviewee the better
will be fine for ambient sound but the closer you get to a guest or an interviewee the better

the audio will be. If you can, go somewhere quieter or even ask the guest to speak a bit louder.
the audio will be. If you can, go somewhere quieter or even ask the guest to speak a bit louder.

Outdoors, wind noise can also pose something of a challenge. You can overcome
Outdoors, wind noise can also pose something of a challenge. You can overcome

many of these problems or challenges by using an external plug-in microphone or a clip microphone.
many of these problems or challenges by using an external plug-in microphone or a clip microphone.

This will give you much better audio as long as you are using a mic with the right kind
This will give you much better audio as long as you are using a mic with the right kind

of connector. A cheaper alternative or emergency standby could be to use the microphone on
of connector. A cheaper alternative or emergency standby could be to use the microphone on

your headphones that come supplied with most smartphones. Plug that in and then you can
your headphones that come supplied with most smartphones. Plug that in and then you can

use this microphone to get better audio and good framing. Bear in mind though that we
use this microphone to get better audio and good framing. Bear in mind though that we

took something of a risk here by plugging the microphone in after we'd started recording.
took something of a risk here by plugging the microphone in after we'd started recording.

It's usually far better to plug your microphone in first and then launch your video recording app.
It's usually far better to plug your microphone in first and then launch your video recording app.

Make sure you know where the microphone is that records audio when you are recording video.
Make sure you know where the microphone is that records audio when you are recording video.

On the iPhone it's between the lens and the light but whichever device you're using,
On the iPhone it's between the lens and the light but whichever device you're using,

find out where it is but don’t cover it with your hands. You have another couple of
find out where it is but don’t cover it with your hands. You have another couple of

options when you're recording video: you can record slow-motion videos and also time-lapses.
options when you're recording video: you can record slow-motion videos and also time-lapses.

If you're a BBC journalist, the preferred way to record, edit and send video is to use
If you're a BBC journalist, the preferred way to record, edit and send video is to use

the internal-only app, PNG - 'portable newsgathering'. Using PNG will ensure you have got the
the internal-only app, PNG - 'portable newsgathering'. Using PNG will ensure you have got the

correct frame rate for broadcast too. You can then save and file your recording directly
correct frame rate for broadcast too. You can then save and file your recording directly

into the newsroom systems. To take a shorter clip from your video, use the trim controls
into the newsroom systems. To take a shorter clip from your video, use the trim controls

to isolate the area you want to keep and then 'save as a new clip'. The shorter the video,
to isolate the area you want to keep and then 'save as a new clip'. The shorter the video,

the quicker it will be to send. When you're happy with your footage and ready to share or send
the quicker it will be to send. When you're happy with your footage and ready to share or send

it, tap the box with a forwarding arrow to reveal the options available to you.
it, tap the box with a forwarding arrow to reveal the options available to you.

Email is a simple way to send short pieces of video direct to colleagues back in the newsroom.
Email is a simple way to send short pieces of video direct to colleagues back in the newsroom.

Another option would be to upload your content straight to social networks, or onto a cloud service.
Another option would be to upload your content straight to social networks, or onto a cloud service.

BBC journalists are currently using a number of third-party apps which can increase
BBC journalists are currently using a number of third-party apps which can increase

the quality of their video recordings and other apps with which they can edit
the quality of their video recordings and other apps with which they can edit

fully-mixed packages. A smartphone has the potential to be a mobile newsgathering device in your pocket.
fully-mixed packages. A smartphone has the potential to be a mobile newsgathering device in your pocket.

Explore, practise and get comfortable with many of these techniques and you'll soon
Explore, practise and get comfortable with many of these techniques and you'll soon

be able to record and share great material.
be able to record and share great material.