It is possible to build a functioning teleprompter with your home computer, some software, a cable and a monitor to be similar to the teleprompters used by professional television news anchors and politicians. The only notable difference is that your teleprompter screen will be next to the camera, while a professional teleprompter screen uses one-way glass and is actually placed in front of the camera.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
- Teleprompter software
- Monitor with VGA input
- VGA cable
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1
Download or buy teleprompter software. This is a program that will scroll your text up the screen so you can read the words while you appear on camera. There are several programs for sale, but why pay for one when you can download a free teleprompter program called "Prompt!"? A link is provided in the Resources section.
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2
Install the teleprompter software on your computer, and enter the text you wish to read off of your teleprompter. Write your text in a conversational tone with short sentences and active verbs. Many texts that sound just fine when you read them to yourself don't sound so good when you read them aloud.
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3
Find a monitor with a VGA input. This can be a television or computer monitor. It should be on the large side, at least 13 inches wide. Place this monitor just below the camera. If you are using a small hand-held video camera and a large monitor, you can actually place the video camera on top of the monitor.
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4
Get a long VGA cable that can stretch from your computer to the monitor. If your computer is next to the monitor you will still probably need a 6-foot VGA cable. Plug one end into the VGA output on your computer and the other end into the monitor. It is possible to use a laptop computer to both run the teleprompter program and act as the monitor. This will save you the trouble of setting up a monitor and using a cable. However, laptop computer screens tend to be small. If the words are too small for you to see, then the teleprompter does you no good.
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5
Position yourself at least 10 feet away from the teleprompter and camera. Because the teleprompter is located below the camera, you are not actually looking at the camera when you are recording. This will be noticeable if you are too close to the teleprompter. The farther away you are, the less it will be noticed.
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