21 Tips to Record Video Interviews Professionally + Free Checklist

Want to record video interviews remotely? 

Whether it’s a podcast, business interview, or customer testimonial, recording a great interview comes down to solid prep, smart questions, and the right tools.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best ways to record remote video interviews and 20+ tips to help you look polished, sound great, and avoid common mistakes.

Preparing for your interview recording

Tip #1: Even a basic setup can go a long way

You don’t need much to record a good video interview. A simple setup can still deliver high-quality results, but if you want to come fully prepared, here’s what you’ll need: 

• Camera: You can go all-in with a DSLR, mirrorless, or external webcam for sharper resolution, or keep it simple and just use your laptop. You can even use your phone as a webcam. 
• Microphone: Clear audio makes all the difference. An external mic will give you that crisp, professional sound without breaking the bank.
• Headphones: Even a basic pair of headphones will help you monitor sound, improve mic technique, and avoid annoying echoes and audio bleeds.
• Remote recording software: This is the virtual space where your interview happens. The right platform (hint: Riverside) handles the tech so you can focus on the conversation.
• Lighting: Good lighting instantly levels up your video quality by keeping your shot clear, and free of weird shadows. If you can’t afford a 3-point lighting system, natural light can still do the job—make sure the room you’re recording in is bright enough and face a window if you can.

Read: Check our full guide on what interview equipment to get.

Tip #2 Choose the right way to record a remote video interview

If you’re worried about glitchy internet, dropped calls, or losing quality, you’re not alone. But with the right software, remote video interviews can look and sound just as professional as in-person recordings. Here are 4 of the most common options:

Video conferencing software (the easy way out)

A popular, but less-than-optimal, solution for recording a remote video interview is to conduct it as a regular Zoom or Teams call. Most people are familiar with these software, but the quality of your audio and video will be inconsistent since you’ll have to rely on cloud recording.

Record a phone call (when everything else fails)

When you're interviewing someone who isn't tech-savvy or you’re capturing an interview on the go, a phone call can be the answer. 

Audio quality will be much lower than any other recording method, though. This is suitable for a casual interview, but not as effective for a more professional production.

Use asynchronous separate recording (maximum control, minimum convenience)

To record an interview asynchronously, you’ll need to send your guests your questions in written form and ask them to record themselves responding. This is a solid option for people who can’t align their calendars. But, be prepared for lots of post-production work to sync tracks and stitch them together.

Use remote recording software (the best of both worlds)

When you need to record a remote video interview, remote recording software like Riverside is the easiest and most practical solution. 

Remote recording allows all participants to enjoy a real conversation, no matter where they’re logging in from. But, unlike on Zoom, each participant's audio and video is captured in high quality, and recorded locally on their own device before being synced in the cloud. This ensures excellent audio and video quality, even if your internet connection has a few hiccups.  

All these features are designed to allow you to focus on the important part: creating a great video interview.

There are tons of remote recording software available, but with Riverside, you’ll get:

• High-quality recording: Record in up to 4K video and 48kHz WAV audio for studio-quality interviews. Record locally in multiple tracks.
• Easy, text-based editor: Edit your video by removing words from your transcript. AI-powered tools streamline your editing workflow.
• Progressive upload: No waiting around for your recording and no losing your data - your recording is uploaded as you record so it’s ready in minutes. 
• Easy live streams: Include a live audience in your remote video interview by live streaming to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or all of them at the same time. 
• Automatic transcriptions: Automatically transcribe your video for instant captions and easy repurposing.
• Magic Clips: Quickly repurpose your content into short, shareable clips you can use on social media.

Learn more: Check out our full guide on how to record interviews remotely.

Tip #3: Set up a recording space

Ahead of recording your interview, you’ll need to set yourself up with a suitable recording environment. 

Keep in mind the following tips:

• Try to record in a quiet environment to ensure clean audio and turn off noisy devices nearby (phones, fans, notifications).
• Record in a room with soft furnishings to absorb echo. If you record often, invest in sound panels for even better results.
• Choose a plain, non-distracting background. Simple props like plants or warm lighting can help set the tone.
• Check your lighting—natural light is great, but a basic softbox or ring light can go a long way.

Tip #4: Test your setup

Avoid hiccups and check that your setup works as intended before your actual recording session. Test your camera and microphone beforehand, check out different lighting sources and familiarize yourself with the platform you’re recording on. 

Based on availability, you could also ask your guest to record a mockup session a few days before the interview.

Tip #5: Prep your guests

Can’t go without someone to interview, can you? 

Send out your invites and set the date as early as possible. This way you can prep your guests ahead of time to make sure everything is smooth on the day of the interview. 

Start by talking them through the recording process and what you expect of them. 

If you’ve the budget, consider sending your guest a recording equipment kit to maintain consistent quality on both ends. 

If not, then share tips on how they can improve results based on what they have. Even using a phone as a webcam can still get you up to 4K quality. 

Free checklist: Download your full checklist on prepping your guests.

Tip #6: Prepare your interview carefully

The more prepared you are for the interview, the more professional your recording will be. Read up about your guest, their area of expertise, and their experiences. Then, go through some previous interviews they’ve done to make sure you’re bringing a fresh perspective to the table.

Take your time to properly research the topic you’ll be talking about so that your questions are relevant and the conversation flows smoothly. You don’t want to fumble with data or statistics halfway through the conversation.

Managing the interview effectively

Tip #7: Give yourself enough time 

Try to book a comfortable recording slot so you don’t feel rushed on the day. There’s nothing worse than cutting off your guests or feeling like you don’t have enough time to cover anything. Also, giving yourself ample time will ensure you’ve got time to deal with any unforeseen logistical or technical issues. 

Tip #8: Stay in charge of the flow

As the host, you’re in charge of balancing the momentum of the conversation. During the actual interview, try to control the pace and don’t let guests talk too much or too little.

Don’t feel too tied to your script, though, and don’t be afraid to ask different questions. Follow the flow of the conversation – being too rigid can mean you miss out on organic moments or exciting snippets. 

Tip #9: Get straight to the point

Don’t make your listeners wait too long before diving into the main conversation. If they have to sit through 20 minutes of chatter before the real interview begins, chances are they’ll leave much earlier. A little small talk at the start is great for breaking the ice with your guest, but make sure you start tackling the main topic as soon as possible.

Tip #10: Ask questions your audience never heard before

If your guest is well-known, chances are they’ve done a ton of interviews—and your audience has probably heard most of them. 

Do your research and find out what they’ve already been asked. Then, come up with fresh angles to make your interview truly stand out. Even better: ask about their latest work so you can be the first to cover something new.

Tip #11 Get a recording producer 

Depending on the scale of your operation, employing a producer who can toggle the settings and monitor your recording during your interview can make a huge difference. 

Using Riverside, you can give your producer all the controls over your recording behind the scenes using Producer Mode. They’ll join your sessions, but their audio and video won't become part of the recording. 

Tip #12 Opt for local recording 

Local recording means everyone records directly on their devices. This is better than relying on your internet for recording, as connectivity issues can ruin your audio and video quality. If you’re using Riverside, this is an automatic part of the recording process. If you’re not, you should use a platform that offers it or a manual workaround. 

Tip #13 Record separate tracks for each participant

Make sure you’re recording a separate audio and video track for every guest. You’ll thank yourself during editing because you’ll have more flexibility. With separate tracks, you can cut crosstalk and adjust one track without affecting any of the others. 

And if you’re not sure how, then we’ve got a full guide on recording separate tracks. But the easy way is with a platform like Riverside. You record as usual, and you’ll get separate tracks automatically. 

Want to learn more? Check our video on producing remote guest interviews:

Steal These Podcast Editing Tricks from the Pros  

Polishing your interview recording

Tip #14 Set the right pace

Give yourself enough time to do the interview justice and to properly edit it. 

Start by creating a recording that moves at an engaging pace and doesn’t drag. Cut out the fluff, trim the tangents, get rid of the small talk, and keep the flow tight. 

If you’re using Riverside, the AI Producer can help make everything much simpler by removing filler words, fluff and long silences with a single click.

Tip #15 Mute the noise

One easy way to polish your recording is to mute any tracks where people aren’t speaking. Like we suggested above, you’ll need to record each guest on a separate track to do this easily.

In interviews, it's common to hear background taps, overlapping laughs, or quick “yeahs,” or people talking over each other. Instead of manually hunting for these distractions, look for software– hello Riverside– that automatically silences anyone not talking.

Tip #16 Focus on the story, not the sequence

Don’t feel tied to the exact order of the conversation. 

If you and your guest jumped around between topics, that’s totally normal. But in post-production, you have the power to shape it into a story. 

Rearrange sections so related ideas flow together—a compelling narrative beats a strict timeline every time.

Tip #17 Add media and brand it right

Start your interview by adding a solid intro to hook your audience right away, then finish it with a strong outro that makes it memorable. 

Layer in b-roll, overlays, and sound to make your content look and sound more engaging. Put your brand front and center, but don’t just toss on a logo on the corner. Use your colors, fonts, and backgrounds to create a branded look that’s unmistakably you.

Publishing and promoting your remote interview

Tip #18: Create a Buzz

Want your interview to get noticed? 

Build hype by sharing teaser clips on social media to give your audience a taste of what you discuss in the interview. It’s one of the easiest ways to boost reach and engagement. 

Use Riverside’s Magic Clips to instantly turn standout moments into shareable, scroll-stopping content with just a few clicks.

Tip #19: Tap in on your guests’ network 

Your guest isn’t just bringing their voice, they’re bringing their audience, too. After the interview, encourage them to share the episode with their followers. Make it easy by sending them a few ready-to-post clips or quotes they can drop on social media. It’s a simple way to boost your reach and get your content in front of a whole new crowd.

Tip #20: Design your cover art around your guest

On social media, people do judge a book by its cover. If you want clicks, your content needs to look the part. 

Design your thumbnails, snippets, and previews around your guest—they’re the star of the show and the main reason people will stop scrolling. Make it eye-catching but clear, and maybe add a quote from your guest that will make them want to hit play.

Tip #21: Use chapters and time stamps

Make your interview more digestible by adding time stamps for key topics or questions. 

It’s a small touch that makes a big difference for viewers who want to jump around—and it makes your content feel more polished and professional. 

With Riverside, you can generate timestamped chapters as well as short takeaways, show notes and SEO keywords automatically.

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FAQs on best ways to record video interviews

Still looking for information? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.

How do podcasters record remotely?

Most professional podcasters use dedicated remote recording platforms that capture separate audio tracks for each participant and record locally. This method ensures high-quality sound regardless of internet connection and gives them separate tracks for easier editing. 

They also favor platforms that record uncompressed, studio-quality audio and video. Did we mention that Riverside checks all these boxes? ;-)

How can I record a remote interview on my phone?

If you’re looking to record a remote interview on your phone, you can easily do that with the Riverside app. It captures everything locally in up to 4K resolution, so you don’t have to worry about glitches or poor quality. And everything is automatically uploaded to the cloud, so you can easily edit the recording on the browser-based app from your desktop pc.

Can you legally record an interview?

Yes, but the legality varies by region: some places require all parties to consent (two-party consent), while others only need your permission (one-party consent). As a rule of thumb, it’s always better to get explicit permission from your interviewee before recording.