I have almost figured out how to make videos using CamStudio and Powerpoint.
After much frustration and digital pulling of hair, I have figured out the following steps.
HP Pavilion Laptop and Samsung Monitor
I have a HP Pavilion dv7-1285dx laptop running Vista 64-bit with a Centrio 2 Duo Core P8600 with 6 GB of RAM. I use two monitors – the laptop is open on a notebook stand, and I have a Samsung SyncMaster 2333 hooked up as a second monitor. I have the monitors configured separately, so the desktop is spread across both monitors. I can just drag windows or programs from one monitor to another.
Once you use two monitors, you can’t go back to a single monitor.
Here is the software I am using:
- I am using CamStudio 2.5, not Camstudio 2.0. This records the video and audio, and creates an avi file.
- To convert avi to flv (flash) or mpg4 (Quicktime) files, I am using ImToo FLV Converter 6 software. I did a search on Google, it looked legit. Downloaded the trial program, which worked well, then paid $29 USD to register the software. After I bought it, I found that it supports converting mp3 audio files into flash files… sweet!
- To play the flash files, I am using the JW Flash Player pluggin for WordPress. The documentation is not real clear. After installing the plugin, you have to go to the website and download a zip file containing the player and two other important files. Then you have to upload those three files to a folder on your WordPress blog website. Not real clear. Maybe I’ll do a short video showing how.
And that is it!
Convert an article to a text file without periods. Import into PowerPoint. Create slide show and cleanup slides. Narrate slide show and record using CamStudio 2.5. Convert the .avi file to a .flv file. Log into your WordPress blog. Upload video into post or page. Done!
Here are examples of the same CamStudio and Powerpoint video presentation. The first is a flash using the JW Player. The second is a mpeg-4 file.
And here is the same video, in a larger resolution and in MPEG-4 file format:
Click Here to view MPEG-4 file at resolution of 640×480
I have found that the best recording resolution is 640×480. I have also found that it helps to reduce the resolution on my monitor before trying the screen capture.
CamStudio and PowerPoint – they were made for each other!
