Oral History Handbook

MSU's standard video oral histories face the camera toward the narrator so they are fully captured in the frame. The interviewer situates themselves next to the camera, so the microphone records their questions, but they remain out of view of the camera during the interview. The video recording should capture only the narrator.

The framing of the interview shot should follow one of three shot sizes detailed below. These guidelines are excerpted from the Standards for MSU Library Oral History Content (document linked below) to ensure quality and consistency of the recordings.

Shot Size: Single subjects must be framed in one of three shot sizes: Medium, Medium Close-up, or Close-up.

• Medium: from the subject’s belt-line to just above the top of their head.
• Medium Close-up: from the subject’s chest to just above the top of their head.
• Close-up: from the subject’s collarbones to the top of their head.

Camera Angle: The camera should be at the same level as the eyes of the subject. It is acceptable to have the camera slightly higher or slightly lower than the eye line of the subject, but by no more than 6-8 inches. Additionally, the camera should be fixed in a single position and should be free of any shaky movement. The subject should not be looking in the lens, but rather to the side in one direction or the other.

Framing: The subject should fill the frame in accordance with the chosen shot size. The eyes of the subject should be in line or slightly higher than the imaginary line that creates the upper third of the frame. This helps eliminate excess unused space at the top of the frame. Subjects should line up vertically with either the center of the frame, the left third of the frame, or the right third of the frame.

Brightness: Subjects should be well lit, allowing the viewer to clearly see all facial features and expressions. Very bright or very dark backgrounds should be avoided.

Video Quality:  Videos should be shot at a resolution of 1080p (Full HD) or higher resolutions like 4K (Ultra High Definition). If shot at a higher resolution, the final edited version can be reduced to 1080p for easier streaming and access.

File Format: Videos should be saved in a video format like MPEG-4 (.mp4) or Quick Time File Format (.mov) with a H.264 video codec.

For Audio-only kits, sit at a close but comfortable distance from the narrator and make sure microphones are close enough to both the interviewer and narrator to capture clear audio from each.

Default audio settings are at 75 for receiver volume and 75 for headphone volume. Use these settings as a baseline but use your headphones to confirm that these levels work for your recording environment.

Use headphones to test whether the audio levels are appropriate for your setting and that the recording is working properly before beginning the interview. It is not necessary to use headphones for the entirety of the interview.

Photos: If you are recording an audio only oral history, it is good practice to include a photo of your narrator. Be sure to get their permission before taking their photo.

File Format: WAV (.wav) container using LPCM encoding (or other lossless or uncompressed format) at a sample rate of 48000 Hz (or 48 kHz) and a bit depth of 24-bit stereo.