Everything below is checkable in about ten minutes, and none of it is exotic. The theme: a modern browser, a capable camera, a solid uplink, soft light, a decent mic — and on the receiving side, a TV to cast or mirror to. Print it, screenshot it, run it before the call that matters.
Camera
- A modern laptop webcam works; a dedicated 1080p/4K webcam or a phone camera is better.
- Camera at eye height — stack books under the laptop before you buy anything.
- Lens wiped. A fingerprint is a soft-focus filter you did not ask for.
- Framing checked: head and shoulders, a little space above the head, product in reach.
Light
- No window or bright lamp behind you — backlight turns faces to silhouettes.
- Soft, even light in front: a window you face, or a shaded lamp behind the camera.
- If showing a product: a light aimed where your hands will hold it.
- 60-second self-check in the camera preview before the call.
Audio
- Any headset or earbuds beat the laptop mic for echo control.
- Quiet room: fans, notifications, and the dishwasher are all audible.
- If using a phone as a second camera, mute its mic and speaker.
Big screen (receiving side)
- There is no Smart TV store app — cast or mirror from the browser, or use HDMI.
- AirPlay, Chromecast/Google Cast, or a cable all work; the cable is the most reliable.
- Suggest it to your guest ahead of time: 'cast this to a TV if you can.'
- Full-screen the call on the big display; keep the source device awake.
Network
- A solid uplink matters more than download speed — video is uploaded.
- Wired beats Wi-Fi; if on Wi-Fi, sit near the router and pause the household's big downloads.
- 4K Chat is direct peer-to-peer. Free has no TURN relay, so some strict networks (hard NAT) may not connect — test the actual network before the actual call.
- Resolution follows hardware and network; 4K/8K is not guaranteed on any call.
Room & waiting room
- Fresh room per meeting from Start a Call — do not reuse last week's link.
- Waiting room is on by default; join early and admit your guest on your cue.
- Guests need no account; their camera is optional.
- Seats: Free up to 4, Pro up to 12, Cinema up to 32 — a phone-as-second-camera takes a seat.
60-second pre-flight
- Camera preview: face lit from the front, nothing bright behind you.
- Product test: hold it up, close and still — can you see the finish?
- Mic test: say a sentence, confirm the right mic is selected.
- Guest admitted, then begin — composed, not mid-adjustment.
Related
The reasoning behind each item is in the white paper, and the failure modes are in the seven mistakes.
Keep reading
Best practices for high-end 1:1 calls
The index: every guide in this cluster, in order.
White paper: Why details die on a postage stamp
What gets lost when a call shrinks you to a tile — and what brings it back.
Tip: Pitch on a 4K TV
Cast or mirror from the browser so the other side sees you life-size.
Tip: Founder 1:1 lighting
Light beats resolution. Soft, even, in front of you.
Tip: Waiting room for investor calls
Admit the right person, on your cue.
Tip: Show the object
Product, finish, texture — put the thing in frame and hold it still.
Mistakes: The postage-stamp call
The habits that flatten a pitch, and the fixes.
Compare: High-end 1:1 vs Zoom
Where direct peer-to-peer wins a 1:1 — and where it does not.