Video Collector Customization FAQ
You can change almost everything a respondent sees on your video collector: every line of text, the tips on each question, the step numbers, the incentive, your branding, and the information you ask for at the end. You can even translate the whole collector into another language with AI. Most collectors work well with the defaults, so change only what you need to. If you haven't built a collector yet, start with How to Set Up a Vocal Video Collector.
In this article:
- Where to find collector settings
- Customize any text
- Translate your collector with AI
- Welcome page
- Questions
- Incentives
- Step numbers
- Recorder text
- Branding
- Attribution
- Can I…?
Where to find collector settings
Open a video collector and use the menu on the left: Setup, Requests, Responses, Integrations and Settings. The page-by-page content (intro, branding, questions, attribution and thank-you page) lives under Setup. The switches that change how the collector behaves live under Settings:
- Accept audio responses: Let respondents record audio only. Switch it off if you only want video.
- Enable background blur: Let respondents blur their background while they record, in supported browsers. See Background Blurring and Removal.
- Show "How it Works" info: Show or hide the short explainer on the welcome page.
- Show Help & FAQ links: Show or hide the "Have questions?" and "Need help?" links that open the built-in FAQ.
- Show step numbers: Show or hide "Step 1 of 3" above each question. See Step numbers.
- Force horizontal video on phones: Ask respondents on phones to turn their phone sideways and record in landscape.
The same page is also where you'll find the collector's Customize or Translate Text options.
Customize any text
Every piece of standard text on your collector can be rewritten, from button labels to the messages respondents see while they record.
- Open your collector and click Settings.
- In the Customize or Translate Text box, click Customize Text.
- Expand the section you want to change: Welcome Page, Question Pages, Attribution Page, Custom Video Release UI, Video/Audio Recorder, Desktop Camera Permission Overlay or Miscellaneous.
- Type your wording in the Current Value column. The Notes column tells you where each field appears and how long it should be.
- Click Save Changes at the top of the page.
Watch out for variables. Some fields contain placeholders in double curly brackets, like {{step_number}} or {{formats}}. Vocal Video fills these in automatically, so change the words around them but leave the brackets and the text inside them exactly as they are.
Made a mistake? Every field shows its Default Value next to your version, so you can copy it back at any time.
Translate your collector with AI
If you want your whole collector in another language, let AI do the translating, then fine-tune anything you like.
- Open your collector and click Settings.
- In the Customize or Translate Text box, click Translate. (You'll also find a Translate with AI button at the top of the Customize Text page.)
- Choose a language and click Translate Now.
Translation covers your collector title, questions, tips, welcome and thank-you messages, video request emails, and every field on the Customize Text page. It replaces the current text. When it's done, review the result, fine-tune anything you like, and click Save Changes. You can also click Undo translation, or Reset to English to go back to the English defaults.
A few things to know:
- Each successful translation uses 10 AI credits. If a translation fails, no AI credits are spent.
- The built-in Help & FAQ text stays in English. If that matters for your audience, switch off Show Help & FAQ links in Settings.
- Video requests you've already sent or scheduled keep the text they were created with.
For transcripts and captions in other languages, see Localizing Video Collectors, Transcripts and Subtitles.
Welcome page
How do I customize the "How it Works" blurb?
To hide it, go to Settings and switch off Show "How it Works" info. To keep it but change the wording, go to Settings > Customize Text and edit the fields in the Welcome Page section.
How do I customize all the text on the collector's welcome page?
The title, spokesperson, welcome video and welcome message are set under Setup on the Intro step. Everything else on the page, like the Let's Go button and the "Have questions?" link, is in the Welcome Page section of Customize Text.
Questions
How do I edit a question's tips, or pre-load a script or talking points?
Go to Setup > Questions and click the small sliders icon at the top right of the question. This opens the question's settings, where you can:
- Write your own tips under Custom tips for respondents.
- Add a Preloaded teleprompter script or talking points that appear on screen while the respondent records.
- Set a Max recording length (Pro plans and above).
- Make the question Skippable. The first question always has to be answered, so every response includes a recording.
Tips and scripts are set per question, so if you want the same tips on several questions, add them to each one.
How can I ensure that respondents leave a shorter response?
Open the question's settings (the sliders icon) and expand Max recording length. On Pro plans and above you can choose anything from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Five minutes is the longest a single response can be, so if you think respondents will need more time, add a follow-up question. On any plan, you can also just ask for a shorter answer in the question's custom tips.
Incentives
How do I turn off the $100 prize drawing?
Go to Setup > Intro, open Incentives, and switch off Vocal Video Prize Drawing.
How do I give my own incentive?
First, switch off the Vocal Video Prize Drawing. Then, under Custom Incentive, choose Giveaway, Contest or Donation and describe your incentive in 140 characters or less. With a custom incentive, you handle notifying the winners and delivering the reward.
Step numbers
Step numbers show respondents where they are in the process ("Step 1 of 3") and how quickly they're moving through it. We like them because they tell people what to expect. The count includes one step for each question, plus the attribution page at the end.
How can I turn off the step numbers?
Go to Settings and switch off Show step numbers.
How can I change the wording of the step numbers?
You can replace "Step" with a word that fits how you're using Vocal Video, like "Question", "Exercise" or "Business Challenge". Go to Settings > Customize Text, open Question Pages, and edit the Step X of Y field. The default is Step {{step_number}} of {{step_count}}. Change the word "Step", but leave the two variables in their brackets as they are. Then click Save Changes.
Here's what a customized step title looks like:
Recorder text
How can I change the text on the recorder, like the Start Recording button?
Go to Settings > Customize Text and open Video/Audio Recorder. Here you can edit the messages, labels and buttons respondents see while they record, including the start and stop recording tooltips, the countdown's "GO!" message, the teleprompter controls, the redo button, and the messages shown while a response uploads. Respondents on computers and tablets who are asked for camera and microphone access see the text in Desktop Camera Permission Overlay.
Branding
How do I change the logo, colors or fonts on my collector?
Go to Setup > Branding. The Logo switch shows or hides your logo on this collector only. Everything else here (the company name, White background behind logo, text, button and background colors, background gradient, background image, and heading and body fonts) comes from your workspace's Brand Kit. Changing it here changes it for every collector in the workspace. See How to Set Up Your Brand Kit.
Pro, Scale and Enterprise plans can choose from the full font library.
Attribution
How do I ask for things other than name, email, job title or company name?
On Pro plans and above, you can add up to three Custom Form Fields for respondents to fill in. Go to Setup > Attribution and click Manage next to Custom Form Fields.
Name each field, switch it on, and decide whether respondents have to fill it in.
Use Custom Form Fields when you want the extra information shown to the respondent on the attribution page, so they can check or edit it. If you use personalized links, you can prefill these fields. See How to Personalize a Collector Link.
If you want to attach data to a response without showing it to the respondent, use Custom Data Fields instead. They add up to three extra identifying parameters to your personalized collector links. See Adding Custom Data Fields.
Are the name and email fields required?
Yes. Every respondent has to give their name and email. Job title and company name are optional, and you can switch them on or off.
Can I…?
Can I make a question optional?
Yes, any question except the first. Open the question's settings (the sliders icon) and switch on Skippable. See Questions.
Can I limit how long a response can be?
Yes, on Pro plans and above. Set a Max recording length in the question's settings. See Questions.
Can respondents share their screen?
No. Respondents record video or audio with their camera and microphone; screen recording isn't supported. If a video needs a screen recording, record it separately and upload it as a clip.
Can I embed a collector on my website?
No. A collector opens on its own page rather than inside yours. Link to it instead: a button or link on your site, a QR code, or a personalized link. The videos and galleries you publish can be embedded; see Adding Vocal Video Embed Codes to Your Site.
For more information see:
- How to Set Up a Vocal Video Collector
- How to Set Up Your Brand Kit
- Localizing Video Collectors, Transcripts and Subtitles
- AI Credits
Still need help? Contact Support at support@vocalvideo.com