This guide provides you with instructions on how to record yourself talking to the camera while using a teleprompter that displays your script. Depending on what you have available, there are different ways to set this up.
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Setup #1: Computer with built-in webcam
This setup should be relatively straightforward and at a low cost as almost all computers have a built-in webcam. However, please keep in mind that built-in webcams generally don't offer the best video quality compared to a dedicated camera.
This setup requires you to have one of the following:
- A laptop with a built-in webcam
- A desktop or monitor with a built-in webcam
With this setup, you will be using your monitor as the teleprompter as you record yourself with the built-in webcam. You will need a teleprompter tool that is compatible with your computer's OS. There are many free, web-based options, such as TeleprompterMirror, which runs on a browser and requires no software installation.
For other teleprompter options, please see our teleprompter comparison guide.
How to set up
This is what the setup could look like:
Setup #2: Computer with separate camera
This type of setup allows you to capture higher quality videos because you can use a camera that's better than a laptop's built-in webcam, but it requires more effort and higher cost.
This setup requires you to have one of the following:
- A computer, a separate camera (phone, mirrorless etc), and a tripod
- A Mac (Ventura or later) and an post-2018 iPhones (iOS 16 or later)
With this setup, you will be using your monitor as the teleprompter and a dedicated camera, like your phone or an interchangeable-lens camera, to record yourself. You will need a teleprompter tool that is compatible with your computer's OS.
2.1 How to set up: computer + separate camera
This is what the setup could look like:
In the photo:
- A camera that records videos onto its own storage (e.g. an SD card)
- A tripod
- A laptop with a teleprompter app
2.2 How to set up: Mac + iPhone
If you have a Mac running Ventura or later and an iPhone released after 2018 running iOS 16 or later, your Mac can natively and wirelessly use your iPhone's back camera as a webcam, without installing extra software. Because an iPhone's back camera is better than the built-in camera in an iMac or MacBook, this setup allows you to capture higher quality videos without purchasing extra equipment.
You can learn more about Continuity Camera on Apple's support website.
If you are using an Android phone and want to use it as the webcam of your Mac/Windows computer, installation of third-party software is required for both the phone and the computer.
This is what the setup could look like:
In the photo:
- iPhone released after 2018 running iOS 16 or later
- Magsafe Continuity Camera mount
- Mac running Ventura or later with a teleprompter app
Setup #3: Phone only
This setup is the simplest, smallest and most flexible one compared to the others above. However, because this requires the use of the phone's front camera, which is typically lower quality than the ones on the back, the video quality you get from this setup might not be the best.
This setup requires you to have the following:
- A phone with a front camera
- A phone holder or tripod of some sort to mount the phone
With this setup, you will be using your phone as the teleprompter and your phone's front camera to record yourself. You will need a teleprompter app that is compatible with your phone's OS.
How to set up
This is what this setup might look like:
In the photo:
- Phone with a teleprompter app that allows users to see the scrolling script and record with the front camera at the same time
- Phone holder
- Tripod
Example: A video recorded with a teleprompter (with bonus tips!)
You are done. Great job!