How to Improve Zoom Recording Quality | Video & Audio Guide

Does Zoom Record in High-Quality?

HD recording is possible with Zoom, but video quality is determined by the strength of your internet connection. If you want to record in HD instead of SD, you have to have a strong internet connection and ensure you’ve enabled HD video on the platform. We’ll explain how to enable HD video below. 

What Resolution Does Zoom Record in?

Zoom is capable of recording in 360p, 720p, and 1080p. If you’re recording more than two people, your recording will be in 360p unless you have a Paid account with Group HD. Group HD allows you to record 3 or more people in 720p (or 1080p for broadcasting large-format events). You can record a call or meeting with two participants in 720p. Be aware that HD recording is available on Zoom, but the platform auto-adjusts video resolution according to the strength of your internet connection. This means if your connection isn’t great your video quality will suffer.

Zoom Recording Quality Local vs Cloud

Zoom’s terminology can be a little confusing, so let’s clear things up. Cloud recordings simply mean that Zoom captures your recordings over the internet and then stores them online. You’ll need a paid account in order to do this. 

Now, where things get confusing is with Zoom’s local recording. Local recording generally refers to any video or audio your device captures directly without using internet connection. This protects your files from faulty internet connection, which can reduce your recording’s overall quality. It’s important to mention that technically, Zoom’s local recordings are not actually like this. 

Zoom only stores your files locally on your device; all recordings still occur online. This means your recordings are still susceptible to your connection, and this could lead to lower resolution or glitchy video.

How to Increase the Quality of a Zoom Recording: 4 Ways

You can improve your overall Zoom recording quality by selecting the right settings within the program and using additional software. We’ll describe how to choose the best settings for your recordings, explain local recording, and explore screen capture software. 

1. Optimize Your Zoom Settings

The first thing you need to do to improve the quality of your Zoom recording is to check the settings you have selected. The platform can record in HD, but SD is the standard Zoom recording format. There are a couple of steps you have to take to enable Zoom HD recording. Follow the instructions in the sections below to optimize your Zoom video quality settings and improve your audio. 

Set Zoom Video Resolution to HD

Zoom has restrictions for using HD video on their platform. Currently, only Pro account users or higher can conduct calls or meetings in 720p. Additionally, these calls or meetings can only have a maximum of two participants. Full HD in 1080p, known as Group HD on the Zoom platform, is available for Business and Enterprise plans but is currently limited to large-format broadcast events. 

To turn on 720p resolution, follow these steps:

1. Open the Zoom desktop client. 
2. Click on your profile picture.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown. 
4. Click on the Video tab in the navigation bar on the left of the screen. 
5. Click HD to enable HD video. 

Follow the below instructions to enable Group HD in 1080p: 

1. Access Zoom via the web portal.
2. Click Settings in the navigation bar on the left of the screen.
3. Click on the Meetings tab.
4. Navigate to the In Meeting (Advanced) section. 
5. Click on Group HD video to enable HD.
6. Select the Full HD (1080p) option. 
7. Click Save. 

Adjust video format settings

While turning HD video on will already help your Zoom recording quality, there are a few other optimizations you can do for video: 

• Turn on original ratio for a 16:9 ratio recording. This is generally the standard for landscape recordings and will be easier to edit with.
• Record with an external camera. Under your video Zoom settings, you can select which camera you want to record with. We suggest using an external dedicated camera as this records in much better quality than a PC’s built-in cam.
• Adjust your lighting as needed: Zoom as an option to Adjust for low light. This can help if you’re in a poorly lit room. Though, we’d suggest it’s better to record unfiltered video. You can adjust your lighting by using a lighting kit, or by ensuring you’re close to natural light.Activate Original Audio 

Zoom has built-in features for echo cancellation and audio enhancement. However, many external microphones come with better audio features and produce better sound for Zoom recordings. Once you enable original audio in your settings, you can choose to conduct and record meetings with the original audio. 

Follow these instructions to enable the in-meeting option to record original sound:

1. Open the Zoom desktop client.
2. Click on your profile picture.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown.
4. Choose Audio from the navigation menu
5. Find Music and Professional Audio and click the checkbox for Show in-meeting option to enable Original Sound. 

Once you’ve enabled the in-meeting option, you can turn on original sound by following these steps:

1. Open the Zoom desktop client.
2. Join or start a meeting. 
3. Click Original Sound in the upper left corner of the desktop client. 

Learn more: How to Improve Your Audio Quality on Zoom with 7 Easy Tips

Record Zoom Meetings Locally

Local recordings will always have better quality than cloud recordings since they don’t rely on the strength or stability of your internet connection. As we’ve mentioned above, Zoom doesn’t actually record locally. Here, we’re talking about software that actually captures everything directly on your device instead of relying on your internet connection.  There are various options available, but for the best results, try software like Riverside that’s easy to use, provides studio-quality, and has all the tools you need.

Riverside is a Zoom alternative that provides quality local recordings without the limitations of Zoom. All call or meeting participants are recorded locally on Riverside in up to 4k resolution and sound is captured as an uncompressed 48kHz WAV file. You never have to worry about the quality of your recording suffering because of a poor internet connection.

Riverside includes many other powerful features to help you produce high-quality recordings:

• Separate audio and video tracks for every participant
• Studio-quality recordings with up to 4K video and 48kHz
• Producer mode so you can invite someone to adjust your recording settings behind the scenes
• Mobile app available for recording on the go on any iOS or Android device
• Automated Ai transcriptions available in over 100 languages
• Text-based editing so trimming your video is as easy as deleting text from a transcript.
• Automated background noise removal and audio normalization
• Presentation recorder that captures your slides locally
• Recording for up to 8 meeting participants

Learn more, or start recording top-quality videos seamlessly!

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Use Screen Capture Software

Screen recording software is a great option for improving the quality of your Zoom recordings. Programs like OBS allow you to record your screen and enhance your audio and video for an overall better quality recording. There are a lot of great screen recording programs on the market. If you plan to use screen capture software to improve your Zoom recording quality, there are a couple of features you should make sure the program you choose has.

Keep an eye out for these features when you’re shopping around for screen capture software: 

• ‍Localized recording: Recording directly to your device will ensure the video or audio quality of your recording won’t suffer because of a poor internet connection.‍
• Separate recording for audio and video: Recording video and audio separately produces better quality and makes it easier for you to make edits. ‍
• Built-in editing features: Be sure to select a program that allows you to record and edit video in one place. Take a look at the editing features included to see if the program has all you need to edit your videos. ‍
• Automated editing features: Some programs include automated features that streamline the editing process. If you don’t have a lot of experience with editing or just don’t have the time to edit your recordings, these features will do all of the heavy lifting for you. 

Tips to Improve Zoom Recording Quality

There’s only so much you can do within Zoom to improve the video quality. However, there are steps you can take to optimize your environment and recording equipment to get the best possible Zoom recording quality. Keep reading to find out how to make sure you’re getting the most from your internet connection and how to create a great recording setup to improve Zoom video quality. 

Maximize Your Internet Connection

Good Zoom resolution requires a strong, stable internet connection. You’ll want to make sure you have as much bandwidth available as possible before starting your Zoom recordings. 

You can improve your internet connection to get better Zoom resolution in a couple of ways: 

• ‍Turn off WiFi on other devices: Limit WiFi use on your network during a Zoom call. Turning WiFi off on other devices will free up bandwidth and provide a better Zoom experience. ‍
• Get close to your router: Unless you’re using signal boosters, your router’s signal will dwindle in strength the further you are from it.‍
• Connect with an ethernet cable: If your device has an ethernet port, you can improve your connection significantly by connecting to your router with an ethernet cord. Wired connections are much more secure than wireless connections and will provide better quality recordings. 

Create the Best Recording Setup

One of the ways you can improve the quality of your Zoom recording is to make sure you have a good recording setup. You can’t always rely on Zoom’s video resolution being good, but you can enhance the quality of your recording with the right equipment and recording environment. We’ll explain some of the ways you can improve Zoom recording quality outside of the platform. 

Lighting

‍Your lighting situation can make or break a video. Whether you’re using natural light or have lighting equipment, you need to understand how to position your body and camera correctly. Make sure your light source is in front of you, not behind you. Your webcam will automatically adjust to the brightest source of light and if that’s coming from behind you, you won’t be in focus in your recording. 

Camera

Built-in webcams are convenient and easy to use, but they don’t always produce the best quality. If you’re going to be doing a lot of recording from Zoom, you may want to invest in an external camera. External cameras have better lenses and offer advanced features that will improve your overall video quality. There are many affordable options that are easy to connect directly to your desktop or laptop. 

Microphone

‍An external microphone will greatly improve the sound quality of your recordings. The microphones included in desktop and laptop devices don’t often have the noise canceling and sound-enhancing features that external mics do. With the right placement, an external microphone will give you crystal clear audio that isn’t possible to achieve using only your device’s built-in mic. 

Location

Be sure you’re recording from a place where there won’t be any visual or audio distractions during your Zoom recording. Set up your recording space with carpeting or other soft surfaces like couches and chairs to reduce echo and reverb in your recording audio. Make sure you’re facing any windows instead of having them behind you. Try to choose an area where other people won’t be walking back and forth during your recording to limit distractions and interruptions. 

Position Your Camera Correctly 

This may seem like a no-brainer, but often video quality suffers because the person recording doesn’t have their camera positioned correctly. The position of your camera can affect your lighting and your recording will look better overall if you’re centered in the frame. 

Make sure your laptop webcam is level with your eyes to get the best quality video. You can do this using a laptop stand or even with some large books. Preview your video to ensure you’re centered in the frame. During your call or meeting, make eye contact with the camera frequently. 

Improving Zoom Video Quality 

Zoom is a great platform to easily record video calls and meetings, but the service doesn’t always have good video quality. Zoom relies on the strength of an internet connection for quality, and will automatically adjust your quality if your connection can’t support a higher resolution. To get the best possible quality recording from Zoom you have to enable HD video, create a great recording space, and optimize your internet connection. 

FAQs on Improving Zoom Recording Resolution

Do you still have questions about how to improve video quality on Zoom? Read our section of frequently asked questions to learn more about Zoom recording resolution and improving Zoom video quality.

Why is Zoom Video Poor Quality?

Zoom has limited HD recording capabilities and relies on a stable connection to the internet. The platform will adjust your video quality based on your connection, so even if you have HD recording enabled, you won’t get HD quality with a poor connection. Our article above suggests some ways you can maneuver around this.

Does Zoom Support 1080p Resolution for Recording?

Zoom only supports 1080p resolution for Enterprise or Business accounts for streaming large-format events. For regular recordings, the highest resolution Zoom offers is 720p and this is limited to calls or meetings with a maximum of two people. 

Can Zoom Handle 4K Video?

Zoom does not currently support 4K video. The highest possible Zoom resolution you can achieve on the platform is 1080p. 

What is the Best Way to Improve Your Zoom Recording Resolution?

You can improve Zoom resolution by adjusting your Zoom settings so that HD video is enabled and by optimizing your internet connection. Zoom needs a strong connection for your video resolution to be quality. Check the sections in the article above to learn how to adjust Zoom video settings and to get tips on boosting your internet connection.