Video & Podcast
Production Guideline
Best Practices for Professional Content Creation
Executive Summary
This guideline establishes professional standards for video and podcast production, ensuring consistent quality across all deliverables.
Strategic Objective
B2B authority building, lead generation, and executive thought leadership positioning
Platform Coverage
YouTube, LinkedIn, Company Website, Events, PR, Podcast Platforms
Quality First
83% of marketers prioritize quality over quantity in 2025
Content Philosophy: Produce fewer, higher-quality pieces that represent the brand professionally across all touchpoints. Every asset should be optimized for mobile-first consumption.
Content Architecture
Each production generates multiple assets from a single source, maximizing content ROI.
| Format | Specifications | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Longform Video | 16:9, 4K, 8-15 minutes | YouTube, Website, Investor Decks |
| Episode Series | 4-8 episodes, 2-3 min each | Same as longform |
| Vertical Highlights | 9:16, max 60 seconds | LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok |
| Micro Clips | 9:16, 10-15 seconds | Social, WhatsApp, Sales |
| Audio Podcast | Stereo MP3 320kbps, 20-60 min | Spotify, Apple, Google |
| Video Podcast | 16:9, 1080p, 20-60 min | YouTube Podcasts, Spotify Video |
Video Production: Camera Setup
Technical Specifications
- Resolution 4K UHD (3840×2160) minimum
- Frame Rate 25fps (PAL) or 24fps cinematic
- Color Space Rec.709 standard, Log available
- Dual Camera A-Cam wide master, B-Cam detail angle
- Focus Continuous AF with face detection
Safety Framing Rule
Frame subjects center-weighted — keep within the center 60% of frame. This ensures safe conversion from 16:9 to 9:16 for vertical formats.
- Headroom 20% of frame height
- Movement Static tripod or slow controlled moves
- No handheld shake
Video Production: Lighting & Audio
Lighting Setup
- Key Light Soft diffused, 45° angle to subject
- Fill Light Reduce contrast to 3:1 or less
- Background Evenly lit, no hot spots
- Skin Tones Natural, no color cast
- Eye Light Small catchlight for professional look
Audio Requirements
- Primary Lavalier within 20cm of mouth
- Backup Boom mic or camera onboard (required)
- Monitoring Headphones during recording
- Environment Quiet, no echo, no HVAC noise
- Levels Target -12dB to -6dB, no clipping
Recording Protocol: 5 seconds silence before and after each answer. No graphics, music, or effects burned into source footage. Record 30 seconds of room tone.
Podcast Production: Audio Standards
Recording Specifications
- Format Stereo WAV, 48kHz / 24-bit
- Loudness -16 LUFS integrated (±1 LUFS)
- True Peak Maximum -1.0 dBTP
- Noise Floor Below -60dBFS
Microphone Technique
- Distance 6 inches (15cm) from mouth
- Angle 45° off-axis
- Pop Filter Required at all times
Best Practices
🔴 Critical Rules
• Record locally to SD/computer — NOT via Zoom/Teams
• Each speaker on separate track
• Use treated room with soft furnishings
• Dual recording for critical content
Podcast: Post-Production & Distribution
Processing Chain
- 1. Noise Reduction Gate and remove background hum
- 2. EQ High-pass 80Hz, presence boost 3-5kHz
- 3. Compression 3:1 ratio, -18dB threshold
- 4. Normalization Final output to -16 LUFS
- 5. Editing Remove filler words, clean cuts
Distribution Requirements
- Export MP3 320kbps CBR stereo
- Metadata Complete ID3 tags (title, artist, album)
- Cover Art 3000×3000px, under 500KB
- Transcription SRT/VTT file for accessibility
- Show Notes Detailed description + timestamps
2025 Accessibility Standard: Transcripts are mandatory. They serve accessibility requirements and improve SEO discoverability across podcast platforms.
Vertical Content Strategy
All video content must be "vertical-safe" — shot with safe framing for 9:16 extraction.
📱 Vertical Highlights (60 sec max)
Structure:
- 3-second hook (strong statement)
- One clear business insight
- Strong closing line
- Logo end frame (2 seconds)
Platforms: LinkedIn Feed, Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts
⚡ Micro Clips (10-15 sec)
Structure:
- Immediate impact — no intro
- Bold quote or data point
- Standalone clarity
- Optimized subtitles
Platforms: LinkedIn, Instagram Stories, WhatsApp Business, Sales sharing
16:9 Safe Zone Principle: Keep subject in center 60% of frame width. For 9:16 extraction, the vertical crop must capture full face and upper torso with sufficient headroom.
Post-Production: Editing Guidelines
Video Editing Style
- Style Executive corporate — clean, minimal
- Transitions Clean cuts, subtle dissolves only
- Pacing Natural conversational flow
- Graphics Lower thirds, end screens
- Captions Burned-in for all social formats
- Color Match cameras, natural skin tones
Audio Editing
- Clean-up Remove mouth sounds, breath noise
- Leveling Consistent across all speakers
- Filler Removal Edit "um", "ah", false starts
- Music Licensed only, -18dB under voice
- Mix Dialogue-forward, clear and present
🎬 B-Roll Integration
Use B-roll to cover jump cuts, illustrate key points, and maintain visual interest. All B-roll must match the color profile of main footage and use steady shots only (no shake).
Delivery: Codecs & File Formats
| Asset Type | Codec/Format | Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Editing Master | ProRes 422 HQ or DNxHR HQX | 4K, 24/25fps, highest quality |
| Delivery Master | H.265 (HEVC) 10-bit | 4K, 25-40 Mbps |
| Web Delivery | H.264 High Profile | 1080p, 8-12 Mbps |
| Social Vertical | H.264 | 1080×1920, 8 Mbps, square pixels |
| Audio Master | WAV | 48kHz/24-bit stereo |
| Podcast Audio | MP3 CBR | 320kbps, stereo, ID3 tags |
2025 Recommendation: H.265 (HEVC) is now standard for delivery masters — it provides 50% better compression than H.264 at equivalent quality. ProRes/DNxHR remain standard for editing intermediates.
Delivery: Folder Structure & Naming
Folder Organization
- 01_RAW Original camera files, audio, room tone
- 02_EDIT Project files, proxies, assets
- 03_FINAL Approved 4K masters, audio mixes
- 04_SOCIAL 9:16 vertical exports per platform
- 05_MICRO Short 10-15 sec clips
- 06_AUDIO Podcast MP3s, WAV stems, transcripts
- 07_IMAGES Stills, thumbnails, cover art
- 08_DOCS Call sheets, releases, notes
Naming Convention
Format
CLIENT_PROJECT_YYYYMMDD_SUBJECT_FORMAT_VERSION
Examples
AERAS_INTERVIEW_20260224_CEO_LONGFORM_V01
AERAS_PODCAST_20260224_E01_AUDIO_V01
AERAS_INTERVIEW_20260224_CEO_LINKEDIN_V01
Quality Control Checklist
Verify all items before final delivery to ensure professional standards.
Quality Assurance: Review full playback on target devices (phone, laptop, TV). Listen to audio on headphones, earbuds, and speakers to ensure universal compatibility.
Delivery Protocol
Transfer Method
- Cloud Link WeTransfer, Frame.io, Dropbox Pro
- Compression ZIP large folders
- Verification Confirm transfer completion
- Manifest Provide list of all files
What to Include
- RAW Files All original camera & audio
- Project Files Premiere/Resolve/Final Cut
- 4K Masters Approved final versions
- Social Exports All platform-optimized files
- Audio Stems Separate tracks if applicable
Key Reminders
📦 Complete Package
Deliver everything needed for future editing or repurposing. Missing source files create problems for revision requests.
🏷️ Documentation
Include call sheets, release forms, and any notes about the production. This protects both parties and provides context.
✅ Approval Process
Obtain explicit client sign-off before considering the project complete. Document revision rounds.