Iopho Recording Checklist

iopho-recording-checklist

Generate a shot-by-shot screen recording guide from a video storyboard.

When to Use

• Before recording screen captures for a product video
• When handing off recording tasks to a team member or designer
• When the storyboard is final and you need to plan capture sessions

Input

Reads from the project directory:

1. Storyboard — storyboard.md or any .storyboard.md (scene descriptions, durations, visuals)
2. Context — context.md (brand, product info, platform specs)
3. Audio Plan — audio-plan.md (to know which scenes have VO → affects recording approach)

How It Works

Step 1: Parse Storyboard

Read the storyboard and extract every scene that requires recorded footage:

Step 2: Determine Specs

For each recording, determine technical specs from context:

Desktop recordings:

• Resolution: Retina display → record at 2× then downscale, OR match target (1920×1080)
• FPS: 30fps (standard) or 60fps (if showing smooth scrolling/animations)
• Browser zoom: 125-150% if content is small on high-DPI
• Terminal: Specific font + size for readability (some projects require specific terminal aesthetics)

Mobile recordings:

• Use device screen recording (iOS/Android) or simulator
• Resolution: Native device resolution
• Frame: May need device mockup frame in Remotion (DeviceFrame component)

Tablet recordings:

• Landscape for productivity apps, portrait for reading apps

Step 3: Define App State

For EACH recording, specify the exact state the app should be in:

• What screen/page to start on
• What data should be visible (real or demo data)
• What user account to use
• Any feature flags or settings to enable
• Theme: dark/light (from brand guidelines)

This prevents wasted recordings from wrong app state.

Step 4: Generate Checklist

Output recording-checklist.md using template at templates/checklist-template.md.

Each shot entry includes:

• Scene reference (number + title from storyboard)
• Duration (recording time = storyboard time + 5s margin for trimming)
• Resolution + FPS
• Device type
• Detailed action steps (what to click, type, scroll)
• The key moment (the specific thing the viewer needs to see)
• Special notes (cursor position, scroll speed, timing)

Step 5: Recording Tool Recommendations

Output Example

For a CLI tool project (e.g., exp/{project}/), the checklist would have:

### Shot 1: Terminal Install (Scene 2)
| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Duration | 8s (record 13s) |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Device | Desktop terminal |
| App state | Clean terminal, dark theme, ~14pt mono font |
| Action | Type "npx {tool}" → watch install scroll → "{N} peers connected" |
| Key moment | The peer count appearing after install completes |
| Notes | Type at natural speed, not too fast. Pause 1s after completion. |

### Shot 2: ASCII Globe (Scene 3)
| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Duration | 7s (record 12s) |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Device | Desktop terminal |
| App state | {CLI tool} running, main command ready |
| Action | Run globe command → watch nodes light up → slow rotation |
| Key moment | The globe fully populated with node indicators |
| Notes | HERO SHOT — ensure terminal fills entire screen |

Tips

• Record longer than needed — trimming is easier than re-recording
• Multiple takes — record each shot 2-3 times, pick the best
• Cursor discipline — move cursor deliberately, no jittery movements
• Clean desktop — hide all non-relevant windows, notifications OFF
• Consistent mouse speed — match the energy of the video (calm video = slow cursor)
• Demo data quality — no "test123", no "lorem ipsum", no empty states unless intentional

Related Skills

• /iopho-video-director — calls this at Phase 2, Step 2.1
• /vsl-storyboard-writer — produces the storyboard this skill reads
• /iopho-product-context — provides brand/device context
• /remotion-best-practices — recordings feed into Remotion compositions