1. Is there a recording outline or script of the steps that will be recorded prior to the start of the recording session?

For most training developers, nothing starts without a script. I am surprised though by how many screen recording projects are unplanned and look more like rambling mouse movements without any structure or purpose. Script everything and plan accordingly – learners want short concise training steps that are easy to follow and to understand.

Rehearse the script several times before recording.

2. What video player will be used to play the videos?

• What is the required screen resolution?
• Can the video player play videos full screen? (This should be mandatory for any screen recording course)

The video player should determine the screen resolution of the screen recording. If your web team only uses a small player size such as 640×480, then record at that resolution. If there is a full screen option on the video player, record at a higher resolution such as 1024×768. Remind your viewers at the beginning of the video to enter full screen mode.

Remember the higher the screen resolution, the larger the video file size. Recording at a 1920×1200 screen resolution will not equal a higher quality video. It just means that your will have a large video size and a crummy video when it is resized to a smaller video size if your audience’s computer cannot match the screen resolution.

3. What is the minimum screen resolution on the computer recording the session or running the software?

Preview the screen of the web pages/software in the following resolutions:

• 800×600
• 1024×768
• 1280×1024

Pick the smallest size in which the web page/software looks good. There are two  reasons for this:

1. Prevents a large viewing are with a lot of sise to side movements
2. Smaller video size to stream -keeps the IT department happy and the video will play better at a smaller size.

4. Plan for Software Pop-ups during the recording

• How many are expected during the presentation?
• When do they pop-up?
• Are they movable?

Plan accordingly and allow time to edit out any unusual movements to bring pop-up screens into the recording area. Most popups are designed to be in the center of the screen. Plan your recording area in the center of the screen rather than upper left corner.

5. Please turn off  all computer notifications of computer running the web pages/software for screen recording.

Email and instant messaging notifications should be turned off during the recording. They are disruptive and difficult to edit out.

6. Please use a clean/generic desktop background.

A desktop with a 100 icons or family photos should not be part of a training course.

7. Turn off/close all computer processes during the screen recording.

Computers running screen recording software perform better with fewer process running in the background

8. Remember to do a slower mouse/typing movements.

When watching screen recording videos, your audience will need to see and comprehend important mouse movements and typing. Subject Matter Experts need to go at a slower pace for improved audience understanding.

9. Audio – Audio is 50% of the production.

A well scripted and recorded video can be rendered useless by poor audio. Your audience will tune out after a few moments. Buy a good USB microphone if the screen recording narrator is also the SME doing the screen recording steps. If the screen recording is being recorded via WebEx, GoTo Meeting or Live Meeting, use a landline phone with a headset during the recording session.

10. Use a professional or ‘better than the SME” voice over talent if possible.

SMEs have great talent and knowledge about products and services, but that doesn’t mean they should be the voice of your training video. Spend a few hundred dollars to transcribe the SME audio and record it with a professional audio talent.  Good audio will allow your audience to focus on the visual content.

Remember the goal is to provide a great training experience when using screen recording software. Camtasia and Captivate are great rapid training development tools, but plan accordingly before you start.

More screen recording tips can be found at this blog entry:

http://www.xcelusstudios.com/toddcorbettblog/10-video-tips-for-using-screen-recording-software-like-camtasia-and-captivate/

After looking at the samples from my friends Flip video camcorder and reviewing the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, I choose the Kodak Zi8 camera.  The biggest reason to use the Kodak Zi8 camera over the Flip Video camcorder is the ability to add an external microphone.

After watching video footage of my friend’s Flip camera from a FranklinCovey event at Sundance, I was impressed with the video quality, but not the audio.  I couldn’t hear the main subject due to the crowd noise and the isolated interview shots the sound was so distant that the interviewee seemed cold and unappealing. Remember that poor audio plus good video quality still equals a crappy video.  Portable video camera microphones pick up every sound in the room.

After purchasing the Kodak Zi8, I hooked up our Sennheiser wireless microphone to the camera and did some tests.  The audio was great and the video quality was great.  I also purchased a 1FT Audio Cable – Female XLR to 3.5mm Stereo Right Angle Plug from ComputerCableStore.com to use our shotgun microphones with the camera.

Another great feature on the Kodak Zi8 is the ability to choose which video format – 1080p, 720p 60fps, 720p, or WVGA.

For web video or training, the Flip and Kodak camera’s video output size is way too large for web viewing.  The video size averages about 60MB per minute in 720p mode.  This means that a 3 minute video would be about 180MB. I recommend that you use video compression software to reduce the file size before you upload the videos to your website.  We use Sorenson squeeze, but there are less expensive options available and some free online options as well.  A good web video size is ~4MB per minute.  A 3 Minute video is now 12MB vs. 180MB.

If uploading to YouTube, they will compress and convert your file automatically.  YouTube’s file upload limit is 2GB.

If you are using these cameras for interviews remember these tips for successful video:

LIGHTING – Three-point lighting is a standard method used in visual media.

1. The Key Light shines on the subject
2. The Fill Light shines from a different angle
3. The Back Light shines on the subject from behind

SOUND

1. Find a quiet location to record
2. Lavaliere microphones are preferred
3. Try not to use shotgun microphones
4. Cell phones should be completely turned off

COMPOSITION

1. Use a Tripod
2. Make sure to have the camera at the exact level horizontally as the main subject
3. Try not to look down or up on the subject with the camera
4. Use a medium shot
5. Avoid zooms

VIDEO COMPRESSION

1. 3 – 4 MB per minute vs. 30 MB per minute
2. 3 Minute Flip Cam video is 86 MB
3. Encoding Options
   • Sorenson Squeeze (Desktop)
   • Encoding.com (Online)

For reference, the cameras we use in our professional video work are the following:

• Panasonic HVX-200a with a Red Rock Lens system
• Canon 7D

1. Plan your video – What are you recording and why is it important? You are obviously creating a video to demonstrate something on your computer, but before you start recording plan your video.  Identify each step of the process and write down the narration for each step.  The narration doesn’t have to be dry and boring, but make it relevant to what is important.
2. Introduction/Closing– Remember to do an introduction narration of what you will be demonstrating and a closing summary in your video.  Using the consistant title screens and closing screens can help you build brand identity.
3. Keep it short – If your video is longer than 3 minutes, break it into segments.  Your audience will be grateful that they can view only the information they need rather than watch a 15 minute video hoping and waiting you will show them what they want to see.
4. Use a good microphone – Do not use the $10 microphone you bought at Wal-Mart.  Sound is critical to screen recording videos.  Form my experience, if the sound is bad I will not endure through a video just to see it. Please invest in good quality microphone.  There are many quality USB microphones you can find for $99 – $299 that will really make a difference to your video.
5. Choose an appropriate screen size – Screen recording videos are very tricky if you have to resize the content to stream from a web page or YouTube.  The best rule is to record smaller than 1024×768.  That is an average laptop viewing area.  Screen recording at a larger viewing area will create a huge video file that will look horrible when compressed to a smaller size.  Record at the smallest size possible.
6. Narration Pace – Speak clearly, slowly and follow your script.  Do not ramble on or feel like you have to say something all the time.  Show the process and provide clear narration.
7. Rehearse, Rehearse and Rehearse – Do several dry runs to test your script and timing.  Create a demo for feedback from your coworkers.  Use the feedback to make changes to your script.
8. Keep your Screen Clean – Turn off all reminders and popup screens.  Look at your browser’s toolbars and turn them off.  Sometimes toolbars and bookmarks reveal too much information about you!
9. Record in a quiet location – Try not to record your narration in a pod. Reserve a conference room away from the normal office traffic. Remind your coworkers that you are recording and to be respectfully quiet.
10. Start your Applications Before you Record – Some applications take some time start.  There is nothing more boring than watching an application take 20 seconds of your recording time booting up.  If it isn’t critical to your instruction on how to launch and application, have the applications ready to go and use the alt tab keys to cycle through the applications.  Make sure when you switch to an application it is loaded in your screen recording area.

Building a library of training and support videos is important to any organization.  Screen recording software is affordable and easy to use.    Keep ahead of your competition by creating quality videos rather than good enough videos.

I first started putting video on the web in 2001 using Broadcast.com and Yahoo! services for a lead generation programs.  The response was better than expected.  The technology back in 2001 was very limited and required expensive software and expertise to get a video on the web. Most companies were sending out mini DVD business card rather than posting a small QuickTime or Windows Media videos on the web and hoping their audience had DSL or better Internet connections.

It is a lot easier and less expensive now to put a video on a website. Most business and consumers have access to broadband Internet connections and the video compression technologies are inexpensive and easy to use. It is almost a requirement to have a video on your website to keep up with your competition.

Enjoy the article.

Several years ago, I took my daughter to the opening of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Fifteen minutes into the film the audio started to crack and skip (No fault to the film maker) due to some malfunction in the theater. The movie itself was beautifully displayed on the screen, but the sound was so horrible that we finally left the movie and asked for a refund. It made me realize that sound is not just one of the many components to a video, but probably the most important component to get right to keep your audience’s attention.

I asked several colleagues about the critical components of a self produced video production and rank them in priority of what is critical to making a successful video. Audio was consistently ranked number one with lighting number two. It’s clear that audio can make or break your production. The reality is that most self produced videos ignore audio completely – just look at 95% of YouTube videos.
Webcam microphones just do not cut it for sound quality. If self produced video makers would spend $35 at Radio Shack for a simple PC microphone, the production value would increase dramatically. The key being – getting the microphone as close to the sound source as possible.

Even some corporate self produced videos forget about sound. I was at a large tech company waiting in the lobby and noticed a Sr. Vice President being filmed by a small consumer hand held camera without lights, tripod and a microphone. I can imagine the audio sounded awful and only amplified the fact of a shaky camera and poor lighting. How long would you watch a video with poor sound?

Another example of poor use of audio is when companies use Captivate or Camtasia for screen recording “how to” videos. Captivate and Camtasia do a great job, but cannot make the audio any better than the microphone that is used.

On your next self produced video production, invest in a good microphone. $400 can purchase a decent wireless microphone that can handle most self produced videos. If you don’t have a $400, there are several good USB microphones that are good enough for a video blog or screen recording for under $200.

In a future post I will talk about setting up an echo free room on a budget to make your audio even better.