Notes on Software

So far, I’ve mostly been reading some of the literature and seeing what various librarians who have used screen capture and video creating software think about these products. I still have to look in more detail at the information provided directly by the creators of these products on their capabilities.

Suggested criteria for evaluating software include:
• What capture methods are available (series of screenshots vs. full-motion recording)
• Quality of audio and video
• Accessibility features
• File formats available for output
• Editing and enhancement tools (textboxes, control over format, file types supported, continuous narration, ability to import into Flash)
• Availability of interactive elements
• Delivery and management options (need for plug-ins, online/offline viewing)

Although Qarbon Viewlet Builder is also mentioned in some of the older literature, by far the most frequently discussed products are Camtasia and Captivate. Here’s a summary of what folks are saying about these two software packages.

Camtasia:
• Can record video from screen, record power point slides with narration, or import media files
• Can record audio and video separately and also edit them separately
• Helpful tutorials on use of the product are available online
• Variety of video outputs available
• Can add audio tracks, transition between clips, add callouts to point to a certain part of the screen, and hotspots to particular points in the video
• Chose Camtasia because of its interactivity and ease of editing

Captivate:
• Record a series of screenshots rather than a single video recording (per 2007 article – is this still true?)
• Works better to add narration after screenshot capture, otherwise audio splits whenever a new screenshot is taken
• Captions automatically appear to explain actions, and can then be edited
• Allows frame by frame editing

Overall, both products are reviewed quite favorably with Camtasia in particular frequently noted for its ease of use.

Open source software software options that were mentioned include Screencast-O-Matic, Wink, Cam-Studio, Webinaria. I’ll look at these in more detail in Week 2 to see how they compare to the commercial options.