Video Guidelines

Formatting guidelines

• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: at minimum, 720p (1280 x 720px)
• Codec, container, frame rate etc.: Follow the recommended settings for YouTube upload. We also allow settings other than the recommended ones as long as they are accepted by YouTube.
• Video type: We accept regular videos but also other video types accepted by YouTube such as 360 videos, or 3D videos. However, these videos need to be formatted so that they are ready for upload.
• Video length: While we do not require a specific video length, we recommend that your video is around 2-3 minutes to allow for a sufficient introduction of your work and that the video does not exceed 5 minutes to avoid overly long introductions (you’re welcome to point to a longer video available elsewhere).

Required video content

• Title slide. Please download the IEEE PES editable marketing templates and update the title page with the applicable introduction details – including the video year and title.
• Good quality voice-over or background music. Sound quality is crucial for the overall impact of a video recording. If you’re going to do voice-over, we recommend that you:
  1. Find a quiet room to eliminate background noises – whether people in the room, the air conditioner, snack bags rustling, etc. If you run into a noisy situation, pause the recording, and address the issue before starting over before the point at which the noise started.
  2. Sound check. Plug some headphones into your camera so you can hear what the camera is hearing and adjust the volume as necessary. Do a quick sound check before starting to set the sound levels in advance.
  3. Microphones. If you can afford one, a lavalier microphone that clips on the speaker’s lapel and runs straight into your camera is a great option to hear only the subject, rather than everything else that’s going on in the background.
• Closed captioning (subtitles) to improve accessibility. You should include subtitles or captions to your video to guarantee that it can be consumed by hearing-impaired individuals or where turning on sound may be unacceptable. A close-captioned file needs to be submitted with the video. You can create this file with many freely available tools. An easy option is to upload your video to YouTube, use its captioning tools, and download the generated .sbv file. Afterwards, you can delete the video from your YouTube channel and submit the original file with the .sbv file.

• Any images, sounds, or music for which you do not hold the copyright or the rights to use. You can, however, use Creative Commons content such as music available at YouTube Studio, ccMixter or Newgrounds.
• Sensitive, private, or proprietary information that cannot be disclosed at publication time.
• Language, viewpoints, or imagery that may cause offense to any individuals or groups.