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Camtasia Tips and Tricks

Tips

Planning Your Video

  1. Microphones
    • For the price, a desktop USB microphone will provide the best quality
    • At a similar price, a standard, analog headset microphone will allow you to move your head and keep your hands free, but the sound quality may not be as good
  2. If you are recording more than one video, decide on a standard set of Camtasia options for your organization
    • For example, will your videos highlight the cursor?
    • Will you highlight cursor clicks and what color will they be?
    • Will you record keyboard sounds?
    • Will you have a watermark?
    • See the Camtasia Recorder Help menu for more information
  3. If possible, divide your main topic into smaller segments. Each video should tackle one segment.
    • Users can go directly to the segment they want, rather than scrolling through a long video
    • Videos will be smaller in file size, resulting in a faster download time
    • It is easier to re-record a segment than to re-record an entire topic
      • For example, let's say your topic is "basic database searching" and your video demonstrates how to search three or four different databases. What would you do if, four months after you complete your video, one of the database vendors decides to change their interface?
      • If you have broken your major topic into small videos, with one video per database, updating is only a matter of re-recording one short video.
      • If the entire topic appears on one long video, you have three options:
        1. Re-record the entire video for consistency
        2. Re-record only the segments you need and splice them into the old video
        3. Re-record the entire video, splitting up the topic into small segments
      • When in doubt about whether to split a topic or not, let common sense and the law of diminishing returns be your guide.
  4. Always start with an outline. After you have an outline, decide whether you will work from a script or use natural speech:
    • A script helps you to stay focused and saves you from forgetting important details
    • Natural speech, including colloquial language and humor, makes a personal connection with the user, putting them at ease while learning
    • When in doubt, go with whatever makes you most comfortable
    • If you use a script, it may be necessary to record with a partner; one of you can read the script while the other controls the computer
  5. Adjust the browser (or the application you are recording) before you record
    • Turn off unnecessary window elements
      • For example, if you have a Google toolbar installed in your browser and you do not need it during the demo, turn it off
      • The same goes for unused buttons, personal links/bookmarks, etc.
    • Optimize the size of the browser window
      1. Your goal is to set a one-size-fits-all window for the video
      2. Run through your demonstration from start to finish
      3. For each screen that you see, reduce the window vertically and horizontally
      4. Reduce vertically to a point that makes sense
      5. Reduce horizontally up to the point at which you get a horizontal scrollbar
      6. From all the screens that you went through, use the largest one
      7. Run through your demonstration again and make sure that one window size accomodates all of the screens
    • Adjust pop-up windows
      • If your demonstration involves pop-up windows, make sure that the pop-up windows appear directly over the original window
      • To be sure, run through your presentation and adjust the position of pop-up windows
      • When you record your presentation, the browser should remember
      • If your demonstration does not involve pop-up windows, make sure they are suppressed by using a pop-up blocker (for Internet Explorer) or by setting the pop-up blocking options available in both Mozilla and Opera

Tips (cont'd)

Recording

  1. Set aside enough time
    • It takes longer than you think
    • Add in the time needed to adjust the Camtasia Recorder, the browser (or application), and the microphone
    • The microphone may be difficult to get used to at first; take time to experiment with different volume levels and placement settings
    • In the beginning you will make a lot of mistakes, so leave time for extra takes
    • A one-minute video can take two or three minutes to record for an experienced user; a beginner might need 30 minutes or longer to get it right
    • Don't worry about perfection; most likely, you will have to record the same video again a month later to keep up with changing interfaces and content
  2. Record in a quiet location; even cheap microphones pick up nearby noises
  3. After hitting the record button, wait until the Recorder shows that frames are advancing before speaking; otherwise, the beginning of your talk may be cut off
  4. Think about introducing yourself with contact information if relevant
  5. Speak slowly and enunciate properly
  6. If you are demonstrating a Web site or an online database in which the information changes from week to week, try not to mention dates, numbers, or colors which could be invalid later
  7. When talking about areas of the screen, be as descriptive as possible
    • For example, "Put your key words in the Search Box at the top of the screen and then click on the Go button to the right of the Search Box." This will help the user follow along.
    • Be cautious about mentioning colors when giving directions, as some users may be color blind
      • To test your directions, print a black & white copy of the page in question and try to follow along to your directions
    • If you are giving directions or describing the screen, make sure you have accounted for screens looking different in other browsers
      • Find out what browsers your users have by looking at your server log files
      • A Web page will look different in Netscape 4.7 as opposed to Mozilla 1.4 or Internet Explorer 6
      • As a result, it may be necessary to describe the screen in several ways

Notice

The following sections on Setup and Production were created for Camtasia Studio 2. Studio 3 uses a completely different interface. Therefore, the information will not be relevant. They are left here as a permanent record. The best source for learning how to use Camtasia is the Camtasia web site and the help material available in the software.

Setup

The following videos will help you prepare the Camtasia Recorder and your desktop for recording. The free RealPlayer is required to watch the videos. You must also install the Camtasia plugin for Real Player.

  1. The Capture, View, and Effects Menus Watch Video (4:56, 3.5MB)
  2. The Tools and Help Menus Watch Video (6:15, 4MB)
  3. Setup the Desktop Watch Video (4:54, 5MB)
  4. Recording Watch Video (5:45, 4.5MB)

Presentation

  • If you are delivering the videos from your computer (e.g., for a presentation):
    • If you have the Camtasia Studio software on your computer:
      • Store the videos in a directory on your computer that makes sense to you
      • To watch the videos, simply double-click each video file
    • If you do not have the Camtasia Studio software on your computer:
      • First, download the Camtasia plugin
      • Store the videos in a directory on your computer that makes sense to you
      • To watch the videos, simply double-click each video file
  • If the videos will be delivered over the Web:

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