Training Videos

[jnch]

Hello,

I'm creating Training videos on how to use software application that we developed.
I created the 1st version using full motion video with audio and the memory usage was very high around 1.2 GB.

Next I created 2nd version without full motion using regular demonstration recording and slides were not recorded as good as full motion. On many slides the entire web page was not recorded. So I clicked Print Screen to record slides which were not being recorded. Hence I got a large number of slides, few of which were for very short duration (print screen slides). I also need to add audio to these slides with proper timing, which makes it tough with a large
number of short duration slides.

Do you have any suggestions on how to make videos using an easier method? Should I use a combination of regular and full motion to create the Training Videos?

thanks,
jnch

[Newsgroup_User]

> Do you have any suggestions on how to make videos using an easier method?
> Should I use a combination of regular and full motion to create the
> Training
> Videos?

I think there are two general ways to do what you want, and two competing
products approach the task, each taking one of these approaches.

Non-interactive video and interactive eLearning.

Camtasia will create a single video that reproduces everything you do as a
single video file. You can add objects over the top of the video (like
caption or highlight box) and the end result is a non-interactive "watch me"
video.

Captivate *can* create a single video file, but that is not what it was
designed to do and it does it very inefficiently. Instead, Captivate is
designed to take a more granular approach of capturing individual screen
shots and occasional animations. Captivate is designed to create
*interactive* content, where the user can click through, type, roll over and
do much more that requires activity and attention.

You will have a preference for one or the other depending on how you think,
and what it is you are trying to achieve. Given your description, I'd say
you want Camtasia for your current project. It will produce a single video
file that is not so massive.

For effective learning, though, in my humble opinion the more interactive
approach is more effective. Also, if you need to edit, add to, or in some
way update your content (screen changes, new information, mistyped info or
other errors in original captures), Captivate is far more efficient than
Camtasia - at least in my experience that has been true.

Steve


--
http://twitter.com/Stevehoward999

Adobe Community Expert: eLearning, Mobile and Devices
European eLearning Summit - EeLS
Adobe-sponsored eLearning conference.
http://www.elearningsummit.eu

[jnch]

Hi Steve,

thanks for the suggestion to use Camtasia. I have downloaded the trial version and have been using it to test it for our needs. So far it has been pretty good and the memory usage is much lesser compared to Captivate using FMR.
However it is not as user friendly as Captivate and the sound quality is not that good either.

I agree that interactive videos are more effective in learning that non-interactive videos. We are planning to have both options for our clients and thats why I need to create both interactive and non-interactive videos.

As of now I plan to use Camtasia for full motion recording non-interactive videos and Captivate for interactive videos.

thanks,
jnch