My Tech Reflection

A screencast is a digital video recording that captures actions taking place on a computer desktop. Screencasts, which often contain voice-over narration, are useful for demonstrating how to use specific operating systems, software applications or website features. 

Screencast production requires some kind of video-capture software and a microphone. The software, which can be a desktop client or web-based service, captures and synchronizes the video and audio files and compresses the completed movie into a format that can be shared. 

Screencasts are an effective way of making  tutorial videos. These videos can be shared on a ning, wiki or blog, or uploaded to Youtube.  you could also upload your screencasts to a podcast hosting site like podbean.com or gcast.com to enable users to subscribe to any of your new content.

What do you need to make a screencast?

1. Screen capture software.  There are some free programs – these will be discussed in this post or if you are looking for commercial software, use Camtasia Studio.
2. A digital microphone and headphones.  Don’t use the computer’s built-in microphone as it gives poor soubd quality.

To produce free screencasts, here are three options.

Jing

With Jing, you can create screencast video,  take a screen capture, and share via email , url or embed code.

How Jing works

Start with Camtasia Studio
All in one Recorder, Editor, Publisher
Publish for web, CD, or DVD
Proven solution, mature product

Use a USB digital microphone

for clean, problem free audio

Affordable – prices start under $40
Plantronics USB500 or Samson CO1U

Position the microphone to prevent popping

Move microphone away from mouth to prevent popping and to avoid breathing sounds
Avoid contact with body or clothes to prevent unwanted noise

Use an enhanced cursor

Enhanced cursor helps viewers follow the action
Use enhanced cursor movement to pinpoint important information
Find enhanced cursors in Camtasia screen recorder under ‘effects’

Close Unneeded Programs

Clear the clutter from the screen
Free up system resources
Reduce problem of device or resource conflicts

Set the size the stage

Take into consideration destination (web, CD, DVD)
Reduce screen capture area to minimum size
Set capture region in Camtasia Screen Recorder
Size and place all components to fit capture region

Do a trial run

A trial run will help you compose presentation
A trial run will reveal missing elements
A trial run will help you condense your presentation

Plan to Make Mistakes

Know that mistakes are easily removed during editing
When you make a mistake, take a breath and then repeat the segment where the mistake was made

Edit ruthlessly

Editing audio and video is easy in Camtasia
Edit out mistakes
Edit out unneeded or confusing material
Edit to keep the presentation brief and interesting

Publish to flash

If primarily a screen capture, publish to .swf format
If contains video, publish to .flv format
To minimize file size, publish at 10fps, 11.025 mono

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