What is an autocue? Autocue vs teleprompter explained

An autocue is a teleprompter. Both words describe a device that scrolls a script in front of a camera lens so a presenter can read while looking at the viewer. "Autocue" is the common term in the UK and parts of the Commonwealth; "teleprompter" is more common in the US and internationally.

Where the names come from

Both started as brand names. TelePrompTer was the name of an American company whose prompting devices were used in US television in the 1950s. Autocue is a British company founded in the 1950s, and its name became the everyday word for the device in British broadcasting. Like "hoover", both trademarks drifted into general use. Today "teleprompter" is the generic term almost everywhere, and Autocue still exists as a manufacturer of professional prompting systems.

How an autocue works

1. A monitor lies flat beneath the camera lens, facing up.
2. A sheet of beam-splitter glass sits above it at 45°, directly in front of the lens.
3. The glass reflects the monitor's image towards the presenter, who sees the script floating in front of the lens.
4. Most light passes straight through the glass, so the camera records the presenter, not the text.
5. Because it's a reflection, the script must be mirrored to read correctly. See the mirror teleprompter.
6. An operator, or the presenter with a hand or foot controller, adjusts the scroll speed to match their delivery.

A related setup, the "presidential" or conference prompter, uses two glass panes on stands either side of a lectern, so a speaker can read while turning to different parts of an audience.

Autocue software

The device needs software to scroll the script. In studios this is dedicated prompting software connected to the monitor. For everyone else, the same job is done by:

• An online autocue in your browser: the free Tuzu online teleprompter scrolls at a set words-per-minute pace and includes mirror mode for glass.
• A phone or tablet app: Tuzu for iPhone and iPad shows the script over the front camera and records at the same time, no glass needed.

Do you need glass?

Not to get started. Glass gives the most precise eye contact because the text is literally in front of the lens. But for webcam videos, calls and selfie-camera recording, a teleprompter placed directly under the lens, or overlaid on the camera view, is close enough that most viewers won't notice, especially if you sit a little further from the camera. Our guide to using a teleprompter covers both setups.