Overview - Recording lectures with Universal Capture software
Learn how to screen record content on your computer PC or Mac, tips to review before you record, and how to use Universal Capture Personal for ad-hoc captures whether they are for asynchronous or synchronous teaching. If you have a Chromebook or Netbook, we recommend to launch the web app, Browser Capture.
Article Sections
Please click the links below to take you to a specific section in the article.
Recording Lectures - Basics
Before you record your lecture there are some tips and best practices that will improve students viewing experience. View the tips below:
5 Tips Before You Record
- Prep your screen, clean it up. Do not have unnecessary apps and programs running. Tidy up your desktop, only keep open programs and windows you plan to show during your screen recording.
- Turn off notifications. Disable notifications, email, apps, etc. before you record your screen.
- Check your microphone. Make it a point to check your audio levels before you record your lecture. Do review the volume levels:
- Ensure the microphone is selected/on it is especially important if you have more than one microphone input.
- If you have a headset ensure that your microphone arm is positioned next to your mouth.
- Have a good pace. Don't go too fast with your speech (its easier to trim/cut out mistakes) or screen actions.
- Practice. If you can practice it, do it. Having a script or outline can help a lot.
IMPORTANT NOTES WHEN PLANNING A VIDEO RECORDING:
- Keep the video short so your editing tasks (if any) are minimal and your students will be more likely to be engaged and watch them.
- Using a script makes it easier to make edits to your transcript where it is needed, and for disciplines that do not have common machine-learned language.
5 Tips for a PowerPoint Presentation
Your PowerPoint Presentation can be recorded and shared with students. Presenting a PowerPoint manually in a classroom is completely differs from a slide by slide video lecture. Be mindful of the content and time spent on a slide. In addition PowerPoint slides used for video lectures should be made accessible to all learners for color and information.
Best Practices for a PowerPoint
- Widescreen: Use 16:9 widescreen format for your PowerPoint.
- Consistent Look. Use a PowerPoint template to create a consistent look for your headings and body text. Get design ideas with Designer to create professional layouts for your slides.
- Color is visually appeally. Ensure the background and text does not distract from the content and its readable.
- Use quality images so they are not blurry when students are watching your video lecture. If you need to scale your images ensure you do it proportionally to avoid distortion of them, view how to "Change the size of an image in PowerPoint."
- Avoid unnecessary animations and transitions on and between slides, if you do use them take notice that they will not be dynamic if uploading a PowerPoint to a Echo360 course class, the content will be static (no movement). However, you can add interactivity to your PowerPoint, by embedding polling slides, media slides, and blank slides. View this how to add a presentation to a class.
Access and Launch Universal Capture: Personal
When Universal Capture Personal (software application) is newly installed, you will need to log into the software with your SVSU email address and password.
Access Universal Capture Personal software
No matter how you access Universal Capture on your computer the interface is identical whether you are on a PC or Mac, view the various methods in the list below:
- Windows PC: Search or click the Start menu of your Windows PC.
- Mac: Access from Finder or Applications. On a Mac, you may need to allow permissions for your camera and microphone.
- In your Internet Browser: Log into your EchoVideo account, echo360.org.
- Enter your SVSU email address,(example username@svsu.edu).
- Choose "Saginaw Valley State University" from the drop-down menu (if prompted).
- Enter your password
- If you forgot your password (it is not synced with your SVSU password) you can reset it here.
- Access the software from your EchoVideo user account. Click the Create button (top-menu), then click New Software Capture.
Did you know you can record lectures, supplemental lessons, and more using
Browser Capture (no software to download, use it while your online
), launch it from the available from the
Create button when logged into EchoVideo, here is our knowledge article that provides great overview of
Getting Started with Browser Capture.
Quick Start Guide - Universal Capture Overview
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The Universal Capture has an identical interface on a Windows PC or Mac.
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Prepare Universal Capture Before Recording
Before recording your video lecture, you should configure the inputs you want to record (screen, audio, or other video source) and the video details.
How to: Configure Universal Capture (screen, audio, or other video source)
When the Universal Capture software launches you should use the drop-down list to select the needed inputs for your screen, audio, and second video source.
- Audio: Select the microphone you'd like to use. If you do not see a green progress bar moving up and down as you talk you will not have audio in your recording.
- Display: Select your Display from the drop-down menu either from the right or left panel.
- Another video source (optional): Can be internal or external webcam (we encourage you to use an external webcam), another screen, or document camera. If neither applies, select "No Input" to turn off the second video source.
How to: Edit the Capture Details for your Video
Once you have selected your display, microphone, and/or webcam. You are ready to record your lecture or supplemental content for your course. You can record, pause, and stop your video in one click; all videos are automatically published to the EchoVideo server. The time it takes to process depends on the length of your video and where your video is on the server. You will always receive an email notification when it's available in your library.
IMPORTANT NOTES BEFORE RECORDING A VIDEO
Multiple screens? If you have multiple screens EchoVideo Universal Capture Personal provides the ability to record two screens. You can record with or without system audio just be sure to select the appropriate display.
Recording system audio? Beware of copyright. Please be aware of media that you are recording from websites and other media when you are not the owner. You must abide by copyright laws. Learn more on recording/capturing system audio with Universal Capture. Videos and other media can be shared without violating copyright laws by using media slides within EchoVideo. Learn more about creating a media slide in EchoVideo. These slides make it simple to share resources while also providing analytics on who has viewed the content on your Instructor dashboard.
Recording with a webcam? You won't see yourself talking as your recording but can see it during playback in your library or course. Students will see you during video playback using the EchoVideo Classroom Player, they can change the media layout, playback speed, and more.
Poor Internet Connection? You can record offline as a backup plan for a slow/spotty Internet connection. You must have ~5GB of space on your computer. UC Personal will delete recordings starting with the oldest ones if you have not uploaded them to EchoVideo yet.
Live Streaming for the first time? run a speed test.
Edit Your Capture Details (title your video, describe, select the publish to location)
When you open Universal Capture Personal your video is named Untitled, and its default publish location is your Library (upper-left of your screen), view sample image and the list below, which doubles as your checklist.
- Type in your video video title by clicking the pencil icon (upper-left) this opens the Capture Details page which contains fields and configuration options for your video.
- On the Capture Details page fill in the details for your video, going from left to right.
- On the Left side of the screen:
- Title: Type in a short and concise title such as the topic you lecturing on. The title you type will display to students.
- Description (optional): The description will be seen by students.
- Tags (optional): The keywords you enter will help filter your search inside of your Library
- On the Right side of the screen:
- Quality: High is the default recording quality. We recommend to leave at its default setting, a selection of Highest Quality will likely not stream well particularly for users with low internet bandwidth.
- Publish To... (drop-down list) select where your video will publish to:
- Library is selected by default.
- Course: You can choose to publish directly to your current enrolled Course(s), select the drop-down menu, and type the name of the course you are publishing to or use the scroll bar. When published the video is immediately available for students to watch once it's fully processed.
- Click Save
Creating an Ad Hoc Capture using Universal Capture
You are ready to record, at this point you still have the ability to confirm or change your input selections; if needed.
- The software does remember your last input selections.
- In the example image below, on the left Display 3 is selected, on the right, my webcam is turned off.
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Need to retitle your video? Click the found in two locations in the preview window. You will also see a visual badge of the type of capture you are creating.
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Starting an Ad Hoc Capture
When you are ready to launch the capture, click the red Record button in the center of the screen.
- Click the red circle Record button. Your screen will minimize. If Live Stream was checked you will see a LIVE (red) badge in the upper-right corner of your screen. It could take up to 15 seconds before you go live.
- The capture will record until you click the Stop or Pause button.
- The video is automatically uploaded to your Library or to your Class (new or existing) when you stop recording.
- You will receive an email when your video is available in EchoVideo.
Do a practice recording: It is strongly advised to complete a test recording for, a minimum of 15 seconds to ensure you are satisfied with the audio and video quality.
During a Recording: Helpful tips
- If you make a significant mistake, start the narration of a segment/slide over again. Make a mental note of when it happened so you can edit the video later.
- If you pause your speaking, then restart where you made a mistake you can easily cut it out of your recording, the trim/cut will not interrupt the flow, it is seamless.
- If there are many mistakes it will be quicker to record a new video rather than time to edit a video.
Check Live Stream Capabilities
Upload speed is the most important. Visit https://www.speedtest.net/ it is imperative to choose a server close to (your city).
- ~ 2MB of available upload speed to Live Stream your screen and audio
- ~ 3MB is advised for computer screen, audio, and webcam.
Turn on Live Stream in Universal Capture: Personal
Once you have determined your bandwidth speed meets streaming requirements. You can enable your class for Live Stream from your computer.
Article: Live Streaming with Universal Capture
- In the Capture Details page, you must click your course from the Publish To... drop-down menu.
- Then click the checkbox, Live Stream, click SAVE.
- Click the Record button (red circle), it can take approximately 15 seconds or more (depends on your bandwidth) before your recording goes LIVE. You will see a LIVE red badge in the upper-right corner.
- In Canvas, your students will see a LIVE (green) badge and open the Class. They MUST click Show Live Stream in the bottom left corner to view the live class. View the EchoVideo Student Guide.
Stop, Pause, and Cancel Your Recording
Click the EchoVideo icon to launch the software, where you can control your recording. Click Stop, Pause, or Resume as needed.
STOP ⏹️ (finalize and publish to the selected location)
PAUSE ⏸️ (your recording will pause)
DELETE (cancels your recording, it cannot be recovered)
Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Control a Capture to have more streamlined and professional-looking results, using keyboard shortcuts.
How to Share Content to Canvas?
From the Capture Details page if you selected your course in the Publish To... drop-down menu; your video will be published to your EchoVideo course (uses the Active Learning Platform, fosters student engagement accessible from Canvas's course navigation via the EchoVideo tab), and will also be found in your Library.
If you had Library selected in the drop-down menu instead, your video is not accessible for your students. You must choose a method of sharing so students can view our video(s), view the instructions below:
Need IT Help?
For technical assistance, call the Support Center at 989.964.4225 (x4225), or by email at support@svsu.edu
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