Method 1: Direct display — laptop beside the camera (no hardware required)
Setup time: under 5 minutes.
Step 1: Open SyncedCue in any browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all work. Navigate to SyncedCue and load your script.
Step 2: Set font size to 36–48pt. The script needs to be large enough to read without visible eye movement. In SyncedCue's display settings, set the font size to 36–48pt as a starting point. Adjust after testing from your filming distance.
Step 3: Enable voice scroll. In SyncedCue, enable voice scroll. The script will advance automatically as you speak.
Step 4: Position the laptop. Place the laptop directly below the camera lens, as close to the lens centerline as possible. The smaller the angle between the laptop screen and the camera lens, the smaller the gaze offset on camera. For a webcam or camera mounted on a tripod, position the laptop on a stand or stack of books at the same height as the lens.
Step 5: Record. Run a read-through to calibrate voice scroll, then record. The gaze offset from a laptop positioned 6–12 inches below the lens is under 3 degrees — imperceptible on camera at focal lengths below 50mm.
When this method is not ideal: At focal lengths of 85mm or above, the offset can appear as a slight downward gaze. For content where direct eye contact is critical, Method 2 (hardware rig) is preferable.
Method 2: Laptop as display in a hardware teleprompter rig
Standard teleprompter hardware rigs are designed for phones and tablets — most do not accommodate a full laptop. For laptop display use with a hardware rig, there are two practical options:
Option A: Use a tablet instead. If the goal is a larger display than a phone, a tablet (iPad or Android) in a standard teleprompter rig gives a significantly larger display area than a phone without the size and weight of a laptop. This is the most practical solution for display size concerns.
Option B: Use a desktop teleprompter stand with the laptop as the display. Desktop teleprompter stands — designed for use with a camera on a tripod — typically have adjustable display holders that can accommodate a laptop positioned flat on a desk, facing upward beneath the beam-splitter glass. The laptop lies horizontally, the glass is positioned above it at 45 degrees, and the camera films through the glass from behind.
In SyncedCue, enable horizontal mirror mode so the reflected text reads correctly. The laptop display faces upward; the beam-splitter glass reflects the image toward the presenter. The setup is functionally identical to a phone or tablet rig — the laptop simply provides a larger display.
Method 3: Laptop plus external monitor
For desk-based recording — YouTube talking-head videos, business video, Zoom-style content — a two-display laptop setup separates the teleprompter from the production controls cleanly.
Setup: Connect a second monitor to the laptop. Position the external monitor directly below or behind the camera lens. Run SyncedCue in full-screen on the external monitor. Use the laptop screen for camera controls, notes, or nothing.
Advantages over Method 1: — The external monitor can be positioned at closer to lens-height without the laptop keyboard being in the way — The laptop screen remains available for camera control software, script notes, or a timer — A larger external monitor provides a bigger, more comfortable reading area
The Elgato Prompter XL as an alternative: The Elgato Prompter XL is a monitor with a built-in teleprompter surface — it replaces an external monitor and positions the teleprompter display directly in front of the camera lens without a separate glass rig. For desk-based filming at a laptop workstation, it is the most integrated hardware option available.
Font size and display settings for laptop use
At 18–24 inches (close-up desk filming): Font size: 28–36pt Line height: 1.6 Background: Dark (dark background, light text reduces glare and is easier to read in camera-adjacent use)
At 24–48 inches (standard desk setup with wider frame): Font size: 36–48pt Line height: 1.7 Background: Dark or light based on room lighting
At 4–8 feet (wider shot, standing presentation): Font size: 56–72pt Line height: 1.8 This is where a tablet or dedicated teleprompter rig becomes significantly more practical than a laptop — at 6 feet, even 72pt text on a 15-inch laptop screen is small. A larger display is preferable.
Mirror mode: If using a glass teleprompter rig, enable horizontal mirror mode in SyncedCue. The text will appear backwards on the laptop screen but correctly oriented in the beam-splitter reflection.
Voice scroll on a laptop: microphone setup
Voice scroll in SyncedCue uses the device microphone to detect speech and advance the text. On a laptop, the built-in microphone works for voice scroll — but microphone quality and positioning affect reliability.
For solo desk recording: The laptop's built-in microphone is adequate for voice scroll detection. Position the laptop within 3 feet of the recording position. Enable voice scroll in SyncedCue and confirm the detection indicator responds to your voice before recording.
For recording with an external microphone: If you record audio through an external microphone (USB condenser, lavalier, or XLR interface), set the external microphone as the browser's input device in SyncedCue's audio settings. The external microphone will be more sensitive and more reliable for voice scroll detection than the laptop's built-in microphone.
For noisy environments: Voice scroll detection can be affected by significant background noise (loud fans, HVAC, outdoor ambient sound). In noisy environments, use a directional microphone positioned close to the mouth, or switch to manual scroll control with a Bluetooth clicker as a fallback.