Recording software demos (screen captures)

Recording software demos (screen captures)

Document number: 18295

Before recording streaming media, ensure that your computer meets the hardware requirements listed in Eureka! document 18297 — Hardware requirements for streaming content creation. For additional information about creating streaming media, see Eureka! document 18291 — Creating streaming content.

You can create a low-bandwidth narrated software demo (like a Camtasia, Hypercam) that’s in streaming format for training, Web tours, sales and marketing demos, and support-style self-help. The suggested tools are: Hypercam (or Camtasia Studio) recording software; Microsoft® Encoder; suggested external microphone or headset. See Eureka! document 18289 — Recommended headsets for streaming media creation for more information.

Follow the steps below to narrate your demo or walkthrough while recording it to an .avi movie, convert it to streaming using MS Encoder, then publish it.

This technique should work for capturing just about any application on your desktop (e.g., how to use MS Office applications, Lotus Notes, Psynergy/FSCM, etc.). The example here uses Camtasia, but depending on your machine, Hypercam may work for you as well. Refer to the Section 5, PowerPoint, to see how to record this using Hyercam.

Camtasia and MS Encoder

Bring up Camtasia and configure it to record properly.

Options/Preferences menu:

AVI tab: ensure the video and audio on auto and default settings.
File tab: designate different Output Folder if desired.
Program tab: check Minimize before starting, Boost priority during capture, Disable display acceleration during capture; optionally consider checking Pause before starting and Report dropped frames.
Click OK.

View menu: Select to see the Audio Toolbar; click the microphone icon on to enable audio capture.
Capture/Input menu: Select ‘Screen’ to capture the full screen on your desktop. Note: You can substantially reduce the size of your file and the strain on your machine if you choose ‘Region’ or ‘Fixed Region’ to capture just the are you’re interested in.

Record the demo—bring up the application; Click the red Record button or choose the Record selection under Capture to begin recording. Use the Stop selection under Capture to stop the recording. Caution: In Camtasia, the F9 pause/resume key on some machines can cause the tool to fail. Test it first.
Check the .avi movie—Once you stop the recording and name the file, you can review the file in Windows Media player (double click on the file name in Windows Explorer). Full screen view (ALT + ENTER) in Media Player should be the best view.
To convert your recording to low-bandwidth, use Encoder’s Wizard—you can get Windows Media Encoder 9 Series from Microsoft’s site (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp). For more information about low-bandwidth, see the low/high bandwidth section of Eureka! document 18286 — Streaming Media FAQs.

Start Encoder and choose Convert a File under the Wizards tab in the New Session dialogue box; click OK.
At Source File, browse for your recorded .avi file.
Check the Output File location and the name and change it if you like; click Next.
Choose Windows Media Server for the content distribution type; click Next.
For Encoding Options, leave it as it is because you’re going to change this to the PeopleSoft custom profile in Step H below.
Enter the Title and Author in the display information dialogue (the rest is optional); click Next.
On Settings Review, make sure the box to begin converting when you click Finish is unchecked. You don’t want to start encoding yet. Then click Finish.
Click the Properties button in the toolbar, select the Output tab, and uncheck the Pull From Encoder box if it’s not already unchecked. Then check the Encode to File box and make sure the proper file location and name is in the File Name field if it isn’t already. This will be the name and location of your encoding.
Select the Compression tab and then the Edit button, and then click the Import button.
Select the custom profile, PSFT Screen Capture Low Bandwidth.prx.

Note: To ensure that as many small-office and dial-up users as possible can view the material, it’s PeopleSoft’s standard policy that all content recordings should have a low-bandwidth version at a minimum. There’s no improvement in the audio or video quality with the high-bandwidth profile, and it could limit the number of concurrent viewers in smaller offices. See the high and low bandwidth section of Eureka! document 18286 — Streaming Media FAQs for a more detailed explanation of high and low-bandwidth systems and their coverage.

Click OK. The Details window on the Session Properties screen should show the proper information now.
Click Apply and then the Start Encoding button in the toolbar.
Review the .wmv file by clicking the Play Output File button and make sure it looks/sounds right and has the correct bit rate (shown at the bottom of the viewer). Full screen mode (ALT + ENTER) in Media Player should be the best view.

Note: If you plan on doing this process regularly, it will make the process easier to save this configuration in the Windows Media Encoder as a .wme file so you can use it in the future rather than recreate all the settings each time.