Remote Deposition Video Standards for Legal Videographers

ALV standards for remote deposition recording, legal videographer workflow, and video-recorded deposition quality control.

Take the Remote Video Standards with you anywhere!

Remote depositions are now routine, but a reliable remote deposition video still depends on professional standards. These Advancing Legal Video (ALV) Remote Recording Standards are designed to help legal videographers, court reporting partners, and law firms maintain a high-quality, neutral, technically sound record when handling remote video depositions, Zoom depositions, and other video-recorded depositions.

Why Remote Deposition Video Standards Matter

A remote video deposition can be undermined by preventable issues such as dropped frames, incomplete backup recordings, poor witness framing, faulty audio, corrupted files, accidental recording of off-the-record conversations, or a lack of technical redundancy. Clear legal videographer standards reduce those risks and improve the consistency, neutrality, and usability of the final video record.

For broader context on why a professionally handled remote video recorded deposition matters, see Remote Video Recorded Depositions: Why a Legal Videographer Matters and Remote Legal Videographer Westlaw Research.

Glossary of Terms

Fault-tolerant: a video file designed to remain readable and recoverable if the recording process is interrupted unexpectedly.
Recording view: the videoconference feeds used in a remote recording, such as witness-only view or witness-exhibit view.
Witness-only view: a recording view consisting only of the witness’s videoconference feed full-screen.
Witness-exhibit view: a recording view showing both the screen-share feed and the witness’s videoconference feed, either split-screen or picture-in-picture.
Primary recording: the master recording for a given recording view.
Backup recording: the redundant backup recording for a given recording view.
Native screen capture: directly capturing the contents of a monitor rather than filming a monitor with a camera.
Native application window capture: directly capturing an application’s window rather than filming the window content with a camera.

Equipment Requirements

ER01. The videographer should use a webcam with a minimum resolution of 720p.
ER02. An external microphone should be used for narration to videoconference participants.
ER03. Headphones should be used whenever deposition content could be overheard by unauthorized individuals.
ER04. Computers used for software-based recording should meet or exceed the recommended system requirements specified by the recording software manufacturer.
ER05. Lighting should be controlled and professional for the videographer’s on-camera appearance, and the background should be free of distractions.
ER06. A minimum of two computers, each receiving its own videoconference feed, should be employed to maintain continuity if one system fails.
ER07. Devices without internal battery power, including internet modems and routers, should be connected to an uninterruptible power supply, and all batteries should be adequately charged.
ER08. At least one recording computer should be hardwired to the internet if possible.
ER09. A secondary internet connection, such as a hotspot or MiFi, should be available as a backup.
ER10. The primary internet connection should provide sufficient upload and download bandwidth for the videoconferencing platform.
ER11. All equipment should be able to operate safely without overheating for the full proceeding.
ER12. Replacement cables and critical backup equipment should be readily available.

Technical Requirements for Remote Deposition Recording

TR01. All recordings should be captured at a minimum of 1080p resolution, 4 Mbps video bitrate, 30 fps, and 128 kbps audio.
TR02. The videographer should be proficient in the videoconferencing platform used for the deposition.
TR03. The videographer should also be proficient in all recording software and hardware used.
TR04. For software recordings, any recurring dropped-frame issue should be corrected.
TR05. At least one recording should be captured in a fault-tolerant format.
TR06. For all remote depositions, the videographer should make primary recordings of both the witness-only view and the witness-exhibit view.
TR07. Each of those primary recordings should also have a backup recording that meets or exceeds the corresponding primary recording’s resolution, bitrate, and frame rate.
TR08. All primary and backup recordings should be captured using native screen capture or native application window capture methods.
TR09. Meeting software, recording software, and firmware should be updated to the most recent stable release.

Professional Conduct Standards for Legal Videographers

PR01. The videographer should communicate respectfully, promptly, clearly, and professionally with attorneys, reporters, witnesses, and clients.
PR02. The videographer should aim to be the first participant to join the meeting and should do so at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.
PR03. The videographer should record only one remote deposition at a time.
PR04. When subcontracting, the videographer should represent only the hiring agency and should not promote competing services to those parties.
PR05. Business-professional attire should be worn.
PR06. The videographer should return promptly from breaks and avoid unnecessary delay.
PR07. When appropriate, the videographer should proactively help participants with technical issues.
PR08. The videographer’s webcam should be on whenever addressing other participants.
PR09. Before the deposition begins, the videographer should confirm that the court reporter can see and hear all participants clearly and is ready to proceed.
PR10. The videographer should track the total time on the record and be prepared to report it on request.
PR11. All proceedings and recordings should remain strictly confidential.
PR12. The videographer should remain neutral and impartial, with any conflict of interest disclosed immediately.
PR13. The videographer should maintain working knowledge of common legal and deposition terminology.

Remote Deposition Procedures

DP01. All assignment details should be reviewed upon receipt, and any missing, contradictory, or unclear information should be clarified with the client.
DP02. The assignment should be confirmed one business day before the deposition.
DP03. Upon joining the videoconference, the videographer should perform a video and audio recording test and retain those test recordings in case later verification is needed.
DP04. As participants join, the videographer should verify that all active participants, especially the witness and taking attorney, are transmitting audio and video sufficient for testimony capture.
DP05. The witness’s webcam should be positioned in a stationary, landscape orientation, preferably hands-free.
DP06. Reasonable efforts should be made to capture the witness’s full face and mid-torso, following rule-of-thirds framing for a talking head.
DP07. Reasonable adjustments should be suggested for poor witness lighting, backlighting, or framing.
DP08. When possible, the videographer should use available recording tools to correct lighting or framing limitations beyond the witness’s control.
DP09. When possible, the videographer should seek full meeting privileges such as host or co-host access.
DP10. Before going on the record, the videographer should confirm the witness’s current time zone, and all timestamps should accurately reflect it down to the second.
DP11. The videographer’s read-on should conform to applicable federal or state rules of civil procedure.
DP12. All narration, especially the read-on, should be delivered slowly, clearly, and accurately.
DP13. Recordings should be free of tooltips, pop-ups, notifications, platform messages, system sounds, and local cursor movement.
DP14. While on the record, the videographer’s microphone should remain muted except when speaking.
DP15. The videographer should visually monitor both primary recordings and audibly monitor one of the two primary recordings instead of relying only on the live videoconference feed.
DP16. The proceedings should be politely interrupted if a technical issue materially affects the recordings.
DP17. Only essential software should be running on recording or videoconference devices.
DP18. Off-the-record conversations should not be recorded.
DP19. The videographer should go on the record at the request of any party, but if there is a dispute, all parties should agree before going off the record.
DP20. Any out-of-the-ordinary issues should be documented.
DP21. An audio copy of the deposition should be offered to the court reporter.
DP22. The videographer should not leave the videoconference before confirming with the court reporter.
DP23. Quality-control review should be completed for all submitted recordings before delivery.
DP24. All recordings should be stored securely and made accessible only to authorized personnel.
DP25. Required video documentation should be completed before submission to the client.
DP26. When subcontracting, video files, invoices, and paperwork should be delivered promptly.
DP27. Recordings should be archived in two separate locations for a minimum of seven years if no jurisdictional rule provides otherwise.

Best Practices Summary

At a practical level, these remote deposition video standards point to a few core best practices: use redundant recording systems, capture both witness-only view and witness-exhibit view, maintain a fault-tolerant recording path, control lighting and framing, confirm time zone and reporter readiness before going on the record, monitor the actual primary recordings rather than the platform alone, and keep every part of the process neutral, confidential, and well documented.

Bottom Line

Remote deposition recording is not just about pressing record. A professional legal videographer should be prepared with redundant equipment, technical proficiency, disciplined procedures, and neutral professional conduct. These standards are meant to support a more reliable remote deposition video record from beginning to end.

For remote depositions, strong legal videographer standards help protect the quality, integrity, and usability of the final video record.

ALV Remote Recording Standards PDF.

Deposition Admissibility Handout

WestLaw Research – ALV Members Only