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Video screen capture @ the MIT Libraries

Presented by Angie Locknar locknar@mit.edu and Darcy Duke darcy@mit.edu of the MIT Libraries

Camtasia Studio 5.

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Angie

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1:

• Produced by TechSmith, just like SnagIt
• Plug-in for PowerPoint, easy to convert to video
• Records screen as is, seamless
• Easy to add layers, pop-ups
• More control over how it looks when produced, type of output files
• Version for Mac being investigated

Examples of videos using Camtasia:

• Navigating the MIT Libraries System (4:40) - Capturing a PowerPoint presentation
• Knovel (2:49) - Capturing web pages

Captivate 3: 

• Produced by Adobe
• Records snapshots of screens, not as seamless.  There is a seamless option, but this makes it hard to add pop-ups or other layers
• Good for in-depth editing of audio
• Able to insert flash files in the video
• Supported on campus, IS&T offers classes - June 2008
• Hard to sync voice and pop-ups

Example of a video using Captivate:

• Using and Creating Citations (4:15)
• The Publication Cycle (5:00)

Other tools:

• SnagIt 8
• Snapz Pro (Mac)
• ScreenFlow

Free Tools:

• http://www.screencastScreencast-o-matic.com/
• Wink
• CamStudio

 What are we using it for? 

• MIT Libraries Video Tutorials
• general "how to use library services and resources"
• quick how tos (Tracy's)
• Quick how tos (Off-Campus: Quick access to Articles) (1:28)
• Also also targeted for classes
  • 3.091 - specific tools used for :Introduction to Solid State Chemistry - short videos of resources needed to complete homework assignments
  • 2.75: Precision Machine Design - captured a session while it was taught.

Darcy

Staffing/Training

• technology was implemented and has been supported almost completely by non-IT staff 
• using the software does not require extensive technical expertise, but some degree of savvy is helpful (otherwise more central support is necessary)
• limited number of staff have been given the software and trained to use it
• all involved staff received 1.5 hours of group training in the software; we also have monthly drop-in sessions where people can ask for help or ask questions
• a part-time person was hired - it was very helpful to have someone dedicated to this project to create a seed the project with initial videos to seed the project.
• to ensure a consistent look and feel we created the MIT Libraries Video Tutorials Guidelines
• ongoing coordination of technical support resides with me (as a part-time assistant to our web manager); a separate group is responsible for content

Statistics

 We use Google Analytics to gather statistics on the use of our videos:

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• Who are they? MIT or not, grads or undergrads, etc. Also, are they library staff?  There is a way to exclude internal traffic.
• Qualitative data? Do they like short videos or long ones?  Our stats imply both.  To get qualitative data we linked at the end of our videos to a survey.

Managing the files

• Camtasia can produce videos in many formats, including Flash and QuickTime.  We were advised to produce Flash videos as the most ubiquitous platform. 
• Flash files are fairly large: 1.5 minute video = 2.5MB, 10 minute video = 10MB
• We store all the files in a central location, which helps manage the special issues these files can have and to help gather use statistics.
• We also centrally store all the production files so they are available if we need to edit the videos.

TechTV 

We are also putting our videos into MIT's TechTV

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• getting our videos in MIT space (rather than libraries space), integrated with other videos of interest to the MIT community
• automatic stats collection
• ability for users to comment
• easy to create Creative Commons licenses
• can add metadata to the files that helps with Google indexing
• simple user interface to upload videos
• can upload multiple formats of the video to the same page
• provides code for embedding videos on other web sites (both inline and pop-ups)
• very helpful and eager support from TechTV staff

Costs

Camtasia licenses:
We purchased Camtasia Camtasia4 licenses though GovConnection in a bulk purchase for ~$150/each.  Our latest upgrade to v.5 cost ~$85/each.  Captivate was just slightly more when we purchased it over a year agoCaptivate3 licenses are now ~$105. 

Headsets:
We bought low-end headsets with built in mics for $10-20 which were sufficient.  Some staff had intermittent problems with USB headsets, we ended up recommending those with direct audio/headset plugs. 

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