Draft preparation instructions

1 files changed, 49 insertions, 39 deletions

diff --git a/2023/prepare.md b/2023/prepare.md
index 6b9ba3bc..e8184a34 100644
--- a/2023/prepare.md
+++ b/2023/prepare.md
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ We'll bring up the web-based upload service soon. Let us know if
 you're already ready to go!
 <!--[[Already done? Upload your video and other files|upload]]-->
 
-### Guidelines for conduct
+## Guidelines for conduct
 
 Please review our [[guidelines for conduct|conduct]] when preparing your
 talk to make sure we’re all on the same page and strive to make the
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ or presentation style meets the guidelines laid out in the guidelines
 for conduct, we’d be happy to help.  You can email Sacha Chua at
 <sacha@sachachua.com> to chat more about this.
 
-### Recording your talk
+## Recording your talk
 
 To help EmacsConf 2023 run smoothly, please prerecord your talk, and
 plan to upload your video(s) by **November 4** to allow us enough time
@@ -40,42 +40,7 @@ your name, please start your video with something along the lines of:
 
 "Hi! I’m ${NAME} and I’ll be talking about ${TOPIC}."
 
-The talks will be broadcast with a resolution of **1280x720px**
-(720p), so it may help to switch to that size before you record.
-Please make sure your text will be easy to read.
-[You can change the font-size in your Emacs](https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/SetFonts#h5o-6).
-(Maybe `M-x customize-face default` and set the height to 150?) If you
-are capturing a single window, you can also resize it before you
-record.
-
-We recommend using **dark text on a light background** for your
-recording, as this can be easier to see especially for people who are
-visually impaired. Themes with more contrast are easier to read than
-low-contrast ones. If you use a dark theme with your Emacs, you can
-change to a lighter one with `M-x customize-theme` (look for those
-with a `-light` suffix). The `modus-themes-load-operandi` command from
-the `modus-themes` package can be a good option.
-
-Audio quality can go a long way in making your talk enjoyable to
-watch. Consider the background noise in the room that you are using to
-record, and see if you can temporarily turn off things for your
-recording. If you have an **external microphone or a headset**, try
-recording the audio through that so that you can reduce the sound of
-the computer itself. If you have a smartphone, that might also be a
-good way to record audio that you can then combine with your video
-afterwards. Some people find that draping a blanket over their head
-(including the microphone under the blanket) can help reduce echo,
-which can be a good excuse to make a blanket fort. (It's for
-EmacsConf!)
-
-If possible, please also record a separate video with at least **5
-seconds of quiet** in the same room as your main recording. We can use
-it to try to process your video in order to reduce noise.
-
-Many speakers prefer to record and edit the audio until they're happy
-with how it fits in the time, and then add the slides or videos
-afterwards. It might be easier than trying to do both the audio and
-the video in one go.
+### Tools
 
 To record your video, you could use any of the following pieces of
 free software, depending on your needs:
@@ -88,7 +53,7 @@ free software, depending on your needs:
 
 If you decide to use OBS, please make sure to verify the window-capture
 options.  Most notably, there is a “Swap red and blue” option that is
-necessary for some setup, and it's easy to miss it.
+necessary for some setups, and it's easy to miss it.
 
 You might find the following free software programs useful for editing
 your video recordings:
@@ -112,6 +77,51 @@ behalf.
 *Prepare recorded video in 720p (1280px by 720px) or higher, in the
 WebM format if possible.*
 
+### Audio quality
+
+Audio quality can go a long way in making your talk enjoyable to
+watch. Consider the background noise in the room that you are using to
+record, and see if you can temporarily turn off things for your
+recording. Start by recording a separate video with at least **5
+seconds of quiet** in the same room in which you plan to do your main
+recording. You can listen to it to see how quiet things are, and
+figure out if there are other things you can turn off such as fans or
+other computers. When you upload your talk, you can also include your
+latest silence recording so that we can use it to reduce noise in your
+video.
+
+If you have an **external microphone or a headset**, try
+recording the audio through that so that you can reduce the sound of
+the computer itself. If you have a smartphone, that might also be a
+good way to record audio that you can then combine with your video
+afterwards. Some people find that draping a blanket over their head
+(including the microphone under the blanket) can help reduce echo,
+which can be a good excuse to make a blanket fort. (It's for
+EmacsConf!)
+
+Many speakers prefer to record and edit the audio until they're happy
+with how it fits in the time, and then add the slides or videos
+afterwards. It might be easier than trying to do both the audio and
+the video in one go.
+
+### Appearance
+
+The talks will be broadcast with a resolution of **1280x720px**
+(720p), so it may help to switch to that size before you record.
+Please make sure your text will be easy to read.
+[You can change the font-size in your Emacs.](https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/SetFonts#h5o-6)
+(Maybe `M-x customize-face default` and set the height to 150?) If you
+are capturing a single window, you can also resize it before you
+record.
+
+We recommend using **dark text on a light background** for your
+recording, as this can be easier to see especially for people who are
+visually impaired. Themes with more contrast are easier to read than
+low-contrast ones. If you use a dark theme with your Emacs, you can
+change to a lighter one with `M-x customize-theme` (look for those
+with a `-light` suffix). The `modus-themes-load-operandi` command from
+the `modus-themes` package can be a good option.
+
 # Compression
 
 If you would like to compress your video before uploading, the following shell script may be useful: