Camtasia Powerpoint Presentation Recording Tool

Summary

Here’s how to record PowerPoint presentations as video with Closed Captions using the Camtasia Studio for PowerPoint Add-In.

Instructions

Part 1: Create Your PowerPoint Presentation and Add Notes

First, create your PowerPoint presentation and enter your script into the “Notes” section for each slide. The closer your script is to what you actually say, the easier it will be to add Section 508/WCAG 2.0-compliant Closed Captions.

Your captions should provide a descriptive transcript of the presentation so be sure to describe how images are used throughout your presentation. For example, if there is a pie chart used to show 50% of one thing, 25% of another and 25% of yet another thing, be sure to use language in your presentation, your script, to describe these relationships.

After you complete your presentation and add notes, practice talking through your presentation advancing the slides. Now you’re ready to record.

Part 2: Record Your PowerPoint Presentation

First, prepare your computer for recording.
Open your PowerPoint presentation.
You may see a pop-up window: “Welcome to the Camtasia Studio PowerPoint Add-in.” You can click “Ok” to ignore the message or you can deselect the “Show tip again” checkbox and then click “Ok” so you do not have to see the pop-up window each time you open PowerPoint.
You may see another pop-up window: “Welcome to the Camtasia Relay Add-in.” You can click “Ok” to ignore the message or you can deselect the “Show tip again” checkbox and then click “Ok” so you do not have to see the pop-up window each time you open PowerPoint.
Click the “Add-Ins” tab on the ribbon to display the Camtasia Studio Add-in Controls.
If the “Auto record with Camtasia Relay” button is selected, click to deselect this option. If you want PowerPoint to remember this decision, click the “Camtasia Relay Record Options” button and then deselect “Prompt to record slide shows each time PowerPoint starts” and click “Ok”
Camtasia Studio control buttons: Record, microphone on/off toggle, camera on/off toggle, camera preview, Camtasia Studio recording options, help.
Click the “Camtasia Studio Recording Options” button to set your preferences. Note, you’ll want to select your microphone in the “Audio Source” drop-down window if it is not already selected. If you have a mic on your laptop, this mic will likely be the default audio source. If you have a webcam or other mic connected to your computer, be sure to select it here for best audio.
To begin recording, click the “Record” button on the “Add-Ins” tab which will launch your PowerPoint presentation. You should see a begin recording confirmation in the lower-right of your screen. You should see your audio levels here too. Adjust your mic levels to where the green line is almost in the red–the extreme right of the meter. Click the “Click to begin recording” button to begin recording.
When you get to the end of your PowerPoint presentation, Camtasia Studio will ask if you want to continue or to stop recording. Click “Stop recording.” You can pause recording using the <Ctrl>+<Shift>+<F9> keys and you can stop recording at any time using the <Ctrl>+<Shift>+<F10> or the <Esc> keys.
You you stop recording, you will see a “Save Camtasia Recording As…” pop-up window. This is your video recording file. We recommend that you create a new folder to save this file (.camrec), and your Camtasia Studio project (.camproj) file–you’ll save this file in step 15 below.
After saving your file, you will be asked if you want to produce or edit your recording. Select the “Edit your recording” radio button and click “Ok”.
Camtasia Studio will open and ask if you want to “Import PowerPoint Slide Notes”: Click “Yes”.
Next, you will be asked what editing dimensions to use. If this video is strictly a presentation, select “Recording Dimensions.” If you plan to add zooming or panning to your video, go with the editing dimensions Camtasia Studio recommends (the default).
Finally, save your Camtasia Studio project file (.camproj) by navigating “File > Save As” and save it in the same folder with your recording file. This makes it easy to keep the two together and remember which recording file goes with which project file. You’ll see a pop-up message that “You saved your video project with a new name.” You can select the “Do not show this again” checkbox and then click “Ok.”
At this point, you’ve recorded your presentation, imported your notes and saved your Camtasia Studio project file. You’re ready to edit your video, clean up your Closed Captions and produce and share your video.

Part 3: Edit Your Video and Closed Captions

Now that you’ve saved your video recording (.camrec file) and your Camtasia Studio project (.camproj file), you’re ready to make any edits and clean up your Closed Captions.

The Camtasia Studio tutorials on the Techsmith website demonstrate how to use the editing tools and how to add and edit Closed Captions.

Part 4: Upload Your Video

Now that your video and Closed Captions are edited, you’re ready to produce and upload your video. You can upload your video to YouTube directly from Camtasia Studio or you can upload your video to your TechSmith Relay Library account.

Part 5: Share Your Video

Get links or embed code to share videos uploaded to the Boise State Video Service or YouTube.

Teaching & Learning Tools