Podcast Terms Explained: Produce Video Like a Pro

Video editing gets way less stressful when you can clearly name what you want. We’re continuing our video podcasting terminology series by defining the words you’ll see in your recording settings and when working with a video editor, so you can make the best choices without second-guessing yourself. 

If you have a question about producing a video podcast, reach out to the Podcaster Success team by emailing support@buzzsprout.com. 

Keep podcasting!

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Welcome to Podcasting Q&A

Cara Pacetti 0:00

Welcome to Podcasting Q&A, brought to you by the people at Buzzsprout. I'm your host, Cara Pacetti, and I'm bringing you the best tips and strategies to keep you podcasting with confidence. Over the last few weeks, we've been breaking down some of the terminology that podcasters encounter. And last week we introduced video podcasting terms. We've covered the basics from breaking down an MP4 file to explaining what a B-roll is. But I didn't want to just leave you there because I feel like there are a few more video terms that are worth covering, especially once you start working with an editor or opening up a video editing program yourself. So today we're covering more video podcasting terminology and breaking down video production terms that can help you feel a little more confident when you're creating and editing your video podcast. Let's

Multicam And Split Screen Basics

Cara Pacetti 0:57

hit the ground running and start with two terms, multicam and split screen. Multicam, short for multiple cameras, means you're recording the same event or conversation with more than one camera angle. For example, imagine you're recording a video podcast with a guest. You might have one camera showing you, another camera showing your guest, and a third camera capturing a wider shot of both of you. During editing, you can switch between those two different camera angles to make the conversation more visually interesting. The goal is to give you different perspectives to work with while you are editing. Another term you may encounter is split screen. Split screen is when two or more video images are displayed on the screen at the same time. This can be especially useful for video podcasts with guests who are recording remotely. For example, if you're interviewing someone through a platform like Zoom or Crowdcast, you might want to display your video on one side of the screen and the video of your guest on the other. And then throughout the episode, you can bounce from a single shot of just you and then a single shot of just your guest and then show both of you on the screen. It's really a simple editing technique, but it can make your video much more dynamic. Now let's

Choose The Best Aspect Ratio For Your Content

Cara Pacetti 2:14

talk about aspect ratio. Aspect ratio describes the relationship between the width and height of your video. One of the most common aspect ratios for traditional horizontal video is 16 by 9. But if you've created content for social media, you've probably noticed that some platforms favor a vertical video instead. You can change the aspect ratio through the settings on the camera you're using to record or within your recording software if you're recording directly from your computer. You can also change the aspect ratio in your editing software, but this will not automatically add more video to the screen. Instead, it's going to crop the screen to match the ratio you've selected, sometimes resulting in a black box above or on the sides of your original video. Understanding aspect ratio can help you make sure your video is framed correctly for the platform where you're planning to publish it.

Keyframes For Smooth Changes

Cara Pacetti 3:12

Now, let's talk about keyframes. Keyframes tell your editing software what a setting should be at a specific moment in your video. You can use them to change things like an image's size, a text position, or audio volume over time. For example, to create a gradual zoom, add a keyframe where you want the zoom to begin and set the image's starting size. Then add another keyframe just a few seconds later and increase the size of the image. Your editing software fills in the change between those two points, creating a smooth zoom. Keyframes usually appear as small diamonds or circles in your editing software. Moving them closer together makes that change happen faster, and moving them farther apart makes it happen more slowly. Simply put, keyframes are the start and stop points added in your video timeline that tell your editing software when something should change. The

Lower Third Graphics That Clarify

Cara Pacetti 4:12

next term is lower third. A lower third is a graphic or a piece of text that appears near the bottom portion of the screen. You've probably seen these before without knowing what they're called. For example, when a video introduces a guest, you might see their name and title appear for a few seconds on the screen. That's a lower third. They're useful for identifying guests, introducing speakers, displaying a website or social media handle, or providing additional information to your viewers. And despite the name, a lower third doesn't necessarily have to take up exactly one third of the screen. It's simply a graphic element that's generally positioned in the lower portion of the frame.

ISO Recording For Flexible Editing

Cara Pacetti 4:56

Our last term is ISO. Wait, is it ISO or ISO? Okay, so this term can mean two completely different things in video production. Today we're talking about an ISO recording. ISO stands for isolated recording. It means that your recording system saves each camera or audio source as its own separate track or file rather than combining everything into one final recording. Imagine you're recording a three-person video podcast. You have a camera on the host, a camera on guest one, and a camera on guest two. With an ISO recording, you will end up with three separate recordings for each camera. That means when you're editing, you can switch between those camera angles, crop a shot, or fix something on a camera without affecting the other tracks. And here's where it can get a little confusing. ISO can also stand for ISO, and that refers to a camera's sensitivity to light. But that's for a whole nother episode. Now that's a wrap. Just a few more video production terms to add to your podcasting vocabulary. You don't need to memorize every one of these terms before you start creating a video podcast, but understanding the language can make the whole process feel a lot less intimidating. And if you decide to work with a video editor, knowing what they're talking about can also make it easier to explain what you want the finished podcast to look like. That's really the goal of this terminology series to help you understand the podcasting language so you can make decisions about your show with confidence. If you have a question about your podcast, I'd love to hear it. Send it to me using the Send Us Fan Mail link in the show notes, or you can email the podcaster success team at support at buzzsprout.com. Be sure to join us every Monday to kickstart your week. Thank you so much for listening. And as always, keep podcasting.