Video Abstract Guidelines

The Subject Librarians can help you planning and compiling materials for your script.

Length: Video abstracts are usually 1 to 5 minutes long.

Format:

• The author(s) can be on-camera describing the paper and why it is important and impactful (1-2 minutes). 
• Or, the author(s) can structure the video abstract like a short presentation (3-5 minutes), with their own voice, or with an expert voice-over, explaining slides and videos that illustrate points from both, on and off-camera.

Storytelling Components (not extensive):

• Author(s) on camera introducing their work.
• Interesting footage explaining the need for doing such a study.
• Graphics (with basic animations, opposed to static graphics) describing the research method and findings.
• Context footage (labs, main features of the study) to further illustrate some details in the research process.
• General footage of people, places or actions within the context of the benefits of the paper.

Script Writing: You need to prepare a script to narrate the story of your research paper.  

• Script structure includes:  problem,  research methodology, findings, and research breakthrough. 
• Start by telling a catchy story, news, or statement that will hook your viewers within the first 30 seconds.
• Be clear. Video abstracts aim to engage people outside your field, so use clear and jargon-free language.
• Include visual content such as images, animations, and relevant footage to best demonstrate your research.
• Get written permission from any copyright holder for ant content included in your video.
• Provide a clear verbal narration of the visual content.
• Avoid adding small text or obscure graphics that will be difficult to read or understand.
• Keep in mind that 120-150 words roughly translate into a minute of video. 
• If you’re creating a lightning-talk screen cast video, consider getting help for voiceover narration. 
• Remember that the video abstract is an addition to the article, try to be innovative and not redundant.
• Keep the viewers interested and wanting to read the full article. 

Visual Illustrations

• Use one slide or large graphic to summarize research
• Gather key findings or conclusions into as few words, numbers and graphics as possible
• Readable from top to bottom or left to right
• Include a link to the paper, perhaps using the DOI
• Include "FirstAuthor et al." if not listing all authors and the journal and year of publication
• Include your institutional and/or publisher logo
• Use a minimum 531X1328 pixel size with at least 300 dpi
• Save as PNG, TIFF, JPG or PDF

The Digital Scholarship Services Department  can assist you in recording your video.

Video Recording:

    Set-Up

• Choose a neutral, flat, still background to avoid distracting viewers.
• The light should come from in front of you, not behind you.
• Eliminate any potential background noise.
• Position yourself as central in the camera’s viewfinder/screen and sit an appropriate distance away so that your upper body fills the screen.
• If you choose to use cue-cards or read from a monitor, place these at eye level behind the camera so that you can read them while maintaining natural eye-contact with the camera/viewer.
• Use a tripod or place the camera/recording device on a flat surface to avoid shaking or swaying.
• Ask an assistant to start and stop the recording.

    Before recording, make sure:

• Your microphone is on. Most computers and webcams have built-in microphones.
• Your webcam is properly connected.
• Conduct a test recording to ensure your microphone and webcam are working properly; your background looks good; and you are happy with the position of the camera and the volume level.

    Go!

• Look directly into the camera (the viewer’s eye).
• Try to relax so the recording feels natural and engaging.
• Take your time! Speak clearly and slowly. Remember, you can record as many versions as you like!
• Remember to breathe.
• Don’t be afraid to stop and start over.

Technical specs for videos (BMJ)

Do’s and don’ts of video (BMJ)

Music   

Make your video entry and ending stand out: add intro and outro music that’s licensed for reuse, which you can find on dig.CCmixter, or simply run a search from Creative Commons on both ccMixter and Soundcloud. If you’re unable to find music among all the openly licensed options. You can also purchase music from AudioJungle.

• Follow the instructions of the publisher who is requesting the video abstracts to submit your video abstract.

• At AUB Follow instructions to deposit your work in AUB ScholarsWorks 

AUB ScholsrWorks will keep and provide access to a copy of your video abstracts in the AUB ScholarWorks is the Institutional Repository of the American University of Beirut. It is a digital showcase of the research, scholarly and creative output of the institution's community. It centralizes, facilitates and encourages the preservation, exploration, dissemination, promotion and use of the University's academic and research activities using open access publishing model.

The Digital Scholarship Services Department  can assist authors in using any of the following tools.

Equipment and tools: 

You may use your laptop, webcam, and microphone to record your description of the paper.  You can also use a desktop computer with a standalone webcam and microphone if need be. And if you plan to do a simple video abstract, a smartphone that can record videos will do the job.

Video recording software: there are great resources online to help you make the best of your footage and storyboard. You might already have movie-editing software on your computer and there are numerous websites that offer advice on how to make the most of these resources: 

• Microsoft: Movie Maker
• Apple: iMovie
• Go! Animate
• YouTube: create videos
• WeVideo
• Microsoft Windows Camera App
• Mac Photo Booth or Facetime
• Filmic Pro Quality video recording for mobile
• PowerPoint Show

Screen Recording

• Screencasting Tools or both Windows and Mac options
• Screencast-O-Matic
• Camtasia

Images and Graphics

• Pixabay Free images and videos.
• Canva Infographics, templates, and more.

List of free video editing software

List of free animation software

Video abstracts must meet minimum standards of quality for both video and audio components. In creating a video abstract, you are asked to meet the following specifications:

• Frame rate: 25–30 frames per second
• Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 4:3, square pixels, deinterlaced
• Frame size: (minimum) 320 × 240 pixels
• Format: .mov, .mpg, or .mp4
• Video codec: H.264, mp2, mp4
• Video encoding: 2 pass H.264 preferred
• Keyframe: at least every six seconds
• Video bitrate: 480–2672 kbps
• Audio bitrate: 16-bit AAC audio at a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz
• Bitrate of 192 kbps
• Maximum file size: 100 MB
   

Technical specifications

We do ask for (and check) all video abstracts for quality, to ensure they are watchable. Below are our technical specifications:

• Format: .mov, .mpg, or .mp4
• Maximum file size: 100 MB
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, square pixels, deinterlaced (landscape format is best)
• Frame rate: 24, 25 or 30 fps
• Frame type: 1080p (min)

Please include a written transcript (a written version of the material you have presented) when sending in your file. This is to ensure that your video is accessible to all.