How to...Record Audio and Video Files

"How To" documents are step-by-step explanations for performing certain common tasks. For broader and more detailed Help documentation, as well as "Quick Guides," visit the Help Main Menu.

The Task: Record your own audio and/or video content and make the files available on the Web

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Since 1996 CATE has been assisting faculty who want to record and deliver audio and video files to their students via the Internet. Recent advances in technology have made this process easier than ever, and more and more instructors are taking advantage of a few simple tools to put videos on the Web.

Here we outline five scenarios for creating your audio-video content. Note that these fall into two basic approaches (recording directly into a computer, or delivering live in front of a class full of students and then transferring into a computer) and two levels of sophistication (recording the content yourself, or scheduling Media Services to do the job for you).

For those of you ready to record your own content, you can utilize a suitably equipped computer at home, in your office, in a campus lab, or in the Center for New Media in Doyle Library. In all cases, once your content has been recorded, you can easily upload the files via your CATE account to put them on the Web.

Whatever works best for your needs, these five scenarios are all entirely feasible and should make it a snap to deliver audio-video content to your students with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

Scenario 1
Record an audio lecture directly into computer

Using a computer with a microphone (built-in or external, such as a headset mike) and a suitable application (such as GarageBand), you can deliver your lecture directly into a computer and upload the audio file for use on the Web.

Example: GarageBand podcast

Scenario 2
Record a video lecture directly into computer

Using a computer with a camera (built-in or external, such as an iSight camera) and microphone and a suitable application (such as iMovie), you can deliver your lecture directly into a computer and upload the audio/video "talking head" file for use on the Web.

Example: iMovie podcast

Scenario 3
Record narration directly into a computer to accompany demonstration of software onscreen

Using a computer with a microphone, you can capture whatever you want to show/do onscreen (such as how to use PhotoShop or Word) while you record a synchronized audio narration. Using a suitable application (such as Snapz Pro or Camtasia), this creates an integrated movie file for use on the Web which plays back whatever you captured onscreen along with your synchronized narration.

Example: Snapz Pro podcast

Scenario 4
Record narration directly into a computer to accompany PowerPoint presentation

Using a computer with a microphone, you can run your PowerPoint or Keynote presentation while you record a synchronized audio narration. Using a suitable application (such as ProfCast, Snapz Pro, or Camtasia), this creates an integrated movie file for use on the Web which plays back your PowerPoint along with your synchronized narration.

Example: ProfCast podcast

Scenario 5
Audio recording of live lecture in the classroom

Using a digital audio recorder with a small mike clipped to your lapel, you can make a live recording of your lecture as you deliver it to your students. You can then transfer the audio file to a computer and upload it to the Web. You can use your own recorder, or you can borrow one from Media Services.

Scenario 6
Video recording of live lecture in the classroom

You can provide your own camcorder and tripod (and possibly camera person), or you can arrange with Media Services to provide the equipment and camera person to make an audio-video recording as you deliver a live lecture in the classroom. The resultant video file can be transferred to a computer and uploaded to the Web.

Accessibility for all students (Courtesy of Kathleen Kraemer, Assistive Technology Coordinator in the Disability Resources Department)

As you design your course, remember to keep accessibility for all students in mind. For instance, students who are deaf or hard of hearing will need videos captioned or any auditory information transcribed into text. Likewise, students with visual disabilities will utilize screen reading software and may need verbal descriptions of images. Accessible website design is extremely important and benefits everyone!

Support

When it comes to recording audio and video files and utilizing them on the Web, SRJC resources are available from various departments:

To reserve time for a recording session in the Center for New Media: Contact John Hemenway or Rich Abrahams in Academic Computing.

To obtain assistance using the appropriate software application for a recording session: Contact John Hemenway in Academic Computing or Bill Stone in CATE.

To schedule equipment and personnel for a live recording session in a classroom: Contact Media Services.

For assistance with uploading files to the Web and making them available to students: Contact Bill Stone in CATE.

For information about accessibility issues: Contact Kathleen Kraemer in the Disability Resources Department or visit www.htctu.net/publications/guidelines/distance_ed/disted.htm.

For further instructions or related information, check the Help Main Menu.

Distance Education office Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA USA Last Modified: Tuesday, 27-Mar-2007 07:39:03 PDT	Email to CATE Webmaster