Record a talking-head intro EN

To record a talking-head intro, use Camera only mode. Rekorder records just your camera and microphone, with no screen. Before you start, pick a background effect if you want one and check the Mirror flip setting.

Record the intro

1. Open Rekorder from your toolbar and choose Camera only from the row of capture modes. The Overlay camera option turns off, because the camera is already the whole recording.
2. Open Settings and go to the Camera tab. If you have more than one camera, choose the one you want under Camera. Check Mirror flip (see below).
3. To add a background effect, click the Effect icon (a magic wand) in the popup. The Camera tab has the same choice in its Effect list. See Camera background effects.
4. Turn on Record microphone if you want your voice in the video.
5. Click Start. Rekorder opens its recorder tab, which shows "Only your camera is being recorded" and a live preview of what is being recorded.
6. Use Stop recording in the recorder tab when you are done.

The first time you record, Chrome asks for permission to use your camera and microphone.

Pick a background effect

The Effect window shows a live preview of your camera. Click an effect to try it, then click OK. Your choice is saved for later recordings.

• None: no processing. Best for slower computers.
• Background blur
• Virtual background: a row of background images appears. Click one to use it.
• Dim background
• Grayscale background
• Portrait lighting
• Pixelate background

Open the Effect window from a regular web page tab. It cannot open on protected browser pages.

You cannot change the effect while a recording is running or paused. If you click the effect button in the recorder tab, Rekorder tells you to stop the recording first. Choose the effect before you click Start.

The mirror setting

Mirror flip is on by default. It flips the camera image left to right, like a mirror, so your gestures and pointing feel natural while you watch yourself.

The flip is applied to the recording itself, not just to your preview. Your viewers see the flipped video too. Anything readable behind you or in your hands, such as a sign, a whiteboard, a book or lettering on a shirt, appears backwards.

If text or logos need to read correctly:

1. Open Settings and go to the Camera tab.
2. Turn off Mirror flip.
3. Check the preview in the Effect window. It follows this setting, so you can see how the recording will look.

With Mirror flip off, the video shows you as other people see you. Moving left or right may feel reversed at first.

Change the setting before you start recording.

Troubleshooting

• The effect looks rough or the video stutters. Effects need extra processing. Set Effect to None, or lower the Effects quality setting on the Camera tab. A warning icon in the popup appears when effects are running on a slow processing path.
• Rekorder cannot use your camera. Another app may be using it, or Chrome may be blocking access.

Related articles

• Record just your camera, with no screen
• Camera background effects
• Effects quality, the device benchmark and CPU fallback
• Record your voice and pick a microphone
• Camera or microphone permission is blocked
• "Camera or microphone unavailable"