SIU Medical Library

Department of Information & Communication Sciences

Carol Gordon & Karli White

Converting PowerPoint Presentations to Video with

Camtasia Studio
Transferring your PowerPoint to Camtasia is a form of screen casting: Camtasia Studio will record anything on
your screen, such as a PowerPoint slide show, and save in it in video format. You can add narration, pointer
movements, additional media, etc. while Camtasia records your screen. When your slide show is finished,
save your Camtasia project in your folder, preview, make any changes, and produce (render) your video.
What you need: Microsoft PowerPoint, Camtasia Studio, Camtasia Add-Ins for PowerPoint, microphone, also
headphones can be helpful. And of course, a quiet place to record.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Know how your video will be used.

Know where your video will be stored.
Know what file format is acceptable.
Have an outline or script of any narration.
In addition to your presentation; gather any other media you might want to add to the video (images,
sound, video clips).
Create a folder where you will save all your media and your Camtasia project.
Determine if you will add questions for your viewers to answer? (Responses sent to your email once a
day by TechSmith.com know that this option impacts where your video can be stored/played).
Know that it may take several sessions to create and edit your video.
RECORD NARRATION AND PRESENTATION SIMULTANEOUSLY

MICROSOFT POWERPOINT
If Camtasia and Power Point are on your computer, Camtasia can be included as an Add-In option on the
PowerPoint main menu.

Click on Add-Ins

Click on the Microphone to highlight the icon

Click on the Recording Options icon

Check that the mouse pointer is selected if you wish to

use it as a pointer during your presentation. Be sure the
cursor is not selected if you are not using it during the presentation.
Clicking Highlight Cursor will give the pointer a small yellow glow to make it more visible to your
audience.
Test your microphone. You should see the green indicator for volume level.
Do not capture system audio unless you do want noise from your computer to be recorded.

BEGIN RECORDING
Click on the Red Record button (this does not start the recording just sets up the screens)

Your presentation will open as a slideshow.

The Record Controls will be in the Lower Right Hand Corner
Volume level will be indicated by green.
Click Record to start the presentation.
Use the mouse click or arrow as you normally would to progress through the slideshow. Camtasia will
record everything on your screen; slides, transitions, cursor movements, and animation. These are
burned into the Camtasia movie and generally cannot be edited afterwards. However, you can
choose to add many of these effects from within Camtasia, after the slideshow has been recorded.

SAVE YOUR WORK

At the end of the presentation you will be asked if you would like to continue or stop recording. If you are
finished, press stop and save your recording. You can choose to immediately produce (render) or edit your
recording. Select Edit. This will give you the opportunity to preview your recording before producing.

Your project will open in Camtasia Studio.

Save your project to your file folder. Be sure to verify
which folder your project is being saved to as Camtasia
tends to use the last saved settings.
Camtasia Projects have the extension .camproj; The
project file is your link to your recorded presentation,
including any additional images, video or audio added to
the clip bin and any editing you have made to the video on the timeline.
Your Camtasia recorded video file will have the extension .camrec (Camtasia 8.3 and earlier) or .trec
(Camtasia 8.4 and later) file. This is the video file you recorded in Camtasia. it can only be opened by
Camtasia; this is not the file you will share for viewing.
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PROBLEMS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER

Microphone or headphones not functioning correctly - Check that the correct microphone is selected in the
add-in settings and that the headset is the default playback device in the audio playback settings.
Background noise in your recording - Its a good idea to test all equipment by first recording the sounds of
your workspace. Record for a minute and listen to the playback. If you can hear background noise you may
need to reduce environmental noise by shutting down any nearby computers and electronics. Some ambient
noise can be reduced during video editing.
Breath noises - Noises from your breath flowing across the microphone. Reposition the microphone;
frequently setting it slightly further away and slightly below your mouth is helpful.

THE CAMTASIA TIMELINE

Clip bin stores links to the

images, audio, video you add to
the project. . Drag and drop
media from the clip bin to the
tracks to add to the video.

Add tracks to
make space for
images and
audio

The vertical line

of the playhead
shows what is
playing

Click Moreto see

additional options

Play button

Playhead indicates current

position. Move and reposition
by dragging the grey portion of
the playhead.

Your recorded video;

audio split from screen
recording and placed on
separate tracks

EDIT VIDEO IN CAMTASIA

PREVIEW
The video of your presentation will open in Camtasia.
Generally, it is best to first review your video before editing.
With your video in the preview window, press the play button.

If you recorded your presentation

screen and narration
simultaneously, the video and
audio will be combined on one

Tracks can be added or removed at any

time; this is useful for arranging different
media (images, video, audio, callouts, etc.)
on separate tracks. To add a track, click on
the + in the track column.

track.

SEPARATE AUDIO FROM SCREEN RECORDING

The recorded audio or narration is represented by the waves and spikes in the Camtasia video track.
You may wish to edit the audio separately from the screen capture, for example; to reposition the audio,
remove portions or to insert additional audio.
To edit the video and audio separately, select the track by
clicking on it (it will turn from grey to blue). Right click
and select separate video and audio.

Screen recording

Audio recording

SPLIT AND REARRANGE VIDEO AND AUDIO CLIPS

Splitting the recording allows you to
reposition or remove sections on the
timeline. To split your audio or video;
position the Play Head where you wish to
split, click on the media clip to select it
(selected clip will switch to blue) and click on
the Splitter icon. You will then be able to
delete or move the sections.
It can be helpful to magnify the audio when editing.
Drag the knob left /right to minimize / magnify the
objects on the timeline.

Rearrange your media by dragging a clip from

one track to an open space on another track.
Remember that any media on the vertical line of
the Play Head (circled here in red) will play
simultaneously.
To group objects so they are locked and can be
moved in unison, select the clips (they will be
blue) right click and select Group.

IMPORT MEDIA
Keep any media (images, sounds, video) you may use for your video production in your project folder. Click on
Import Media to select each file and load it into your Clip Bin. Once in the Clip Bin, you can drag each to the
timeline as needed. The saved project file will remain after your video is produced; so you can always return
to make additional edits.

ADDING NARRATION
To add prerecorded audio to your project simply import the media file to your Clip Bin.
To add Narration to your presentation video;
Add a track for the audio recording,
Test your microphone
Click on Voice Narration (or click on the
More menu and select Voice Narration)

Click the More button to see

additional choices

Click Start
Recording. You
may wish to record
a few seconds of
dead air so
adjustments to
remove
background noise
would be possible,
if needed.

The
recording
input level
should be
green.

When you click Stop

Recording you will be
prompted to save your
new audio file. Check that
you are saving the file in
the correct folder, and give it a name that will identify the audio clip. Your audio files should appear in your
Clip Bin (or you can use Import Media). Drag and place the recording on the correct spot of the time line.
When adding narration to your presentation video you may find that the speed of the slideshow needs
adjusting in order to correspond to your narration. Some adjustments to timing can be made by selecting the
Edit drop down menu and Clip speed.

LIBRARY
The Camtasia Library holds a collection of Camtasia media files shared by all users; including some music, title
slides, and themes. Click on Library to view and explore the media files. Drag your selection to a track on the
timeline.

CALLOUTS AND TRANSITIONS

Add Callout Arrows and other shapes to
add emphasis to your video. Text and
other effects can be added to many
callouts. Click the small downward arrow
to view additional callouts and options.

Place your cursor

over the callout, left
click and hold; now
reposition or resize
the callout.

Placing a Transition between clips can

make a change in the visual presentation
less abrupt. To place a transition between
clips or images, select the transition, drag
and drop it just inside either end of the clip.

.PRODUCE YOUR VIDEO

To share your video you must first PRODUCE it. Select Produce and Share and adjust settings before you
render the video and save it to the desired format. Choose mp4 format for sharing online; in a Learning
Management System (such as D2L and Moodle) or on a webpage, and for playing on a computer. After you
select produce and share, be sure to check that the produced file will be saved to the correct folder and that
other settings are correct (Camtasia will auto fill the settings with those from the last video produced).
Produce with the Camtasia player if you have included interactive elements such as Table of Contents (ToC),
closed captioning, hotspots, or quizzing.

Select Produce and

Share to access options
for rendering and
saving your video in
mp4 format

After selecting the dimensions of the mp4, select

Next. You may receive an alert that interactive
elements (such as Table of Contents, quizzing, or
hotspots) may not work without producing with the
Camtasia player. If these interactive elements are
not included in the video select ok and continue to
produce the video.

The Camtasia Production Wizard will ask where you would like the file saved. Be sure to browse and select
the correct folder and give your finished video a name.
Click Finish.
Next the video will Render; a process of creating the final
video from the edited video and any added media and effects.
The amount of time a video takes to Render depends on the
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type of media included in the video and the size of the video file. PowerPoint presentations with added audio,
a few images and audio or music clips generally take only minutes to render.
Watch your finished video to check that it is plays correctly and as expected. Remember to save your
Camtasia project before closing.
Custom Production: When
selecting Production Options
one choice is Custom Production
Settings. This is helpful if you
want to change specific
production settings. Also,
remember that Camtasia saves
previous settings and these may
appear in your video. If this
happens you can access and
change these settings in Custom
Production Settings.

Other Production Options

INTERACTIVE VIDEO: QUIZZING

Make your video presentation interactive by incorporating questions and a space for user response. Users
can sign into the video using their email address, watch the video and respond to any questions. TechSmith
Services will email a spreadsheet of responses every 24 hours that there are new responses. This service is
independent of your Learning Management System, including Desire2Learn or Mycourses.
Select Quizzing. Place the Play head where you wish to insert a question. Click Add Quiz and complete the
quiz information remember to scroll down the quiz window for more options.
Your question can be connected to the timeline (yellow diamond: so it will remain at that position) or to a
media clip (purple diamond: if the clip is moved the questions will remain attached). In Quiz view; Click on the
Quiz thumbnail to highlight and click on the diamond to change connection properties (indicated by color).

Inserted Quizzes are not

visible when viewing the
overall video using the Play
button. You are able to view
the appearance of you quiz
by clicking on the Preview
button under Quiz options.

Complete the Quiz Reporting Options.

The Recipient email is the email address to which the quiz
responses will be sent. This email cannot be changed in the
produced video. To change this email address the Camtasia
project will need to be edited and the video rendered and
produced.
Also choose whether viewers are required to supply a name
and email address, or can watch the video anonymously.
Viewers who are required to supply a name and email
address can supply any name and email address. The name
and email are listed in the spreadsheet of quiz responses
and used to connect viewers with their responses.
.

When producing a video containing

quizzing, select one of the mp4
formats with the Smart Player

ALTERNATE RECORDING STRATEGIES: POWERPOINT TO CAMTASIA VIDEO

RECORD POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WITH CAMTASIA AND ADD NARRATION LATER

Record the presentation without audio, using the Camtasia PowerPoint add-in. When the video recording is
complete and on a track in the Camtasia timeline, move the Play head to the beginning of the presentation (or
where you wish to begin recording) and move the presentation to the right slightly this will give you a little
empty space before you start recording.

Place the Play head at the beginning of the time line.

Press the Record Narration button and the Play button.
Watch the video while you record the narration.
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When you press stop recording you will be asked to name and save your audio. Be sure to save it in
your project file.

ADD INDIVIDUAL POWERPOINT SLIDES TO CAMTASIA AND RECORD NARRATION

Open your presentation in PowerPoint.

Click on File and then Save As.

Select an image format; such as JPEG or PNG.
Choose whether you want to export all of the slides (this will save all the slides to one folder) or just
the current slide.
Place the images in your project folder. Open Camtasia and click on Import Media. Select the slide
images to import. The images will appear in your Clip Bin. You can now drag, drop and position them
on a track in your timeline.

When your images are in order, record your narration. Each time you stop the recording you will need to give
your audio file a name and save it to your file folder. Be sure to give it a file name that relates to the slide/s.
REMINDER: Speak in the same tone/loudness so that the separate recordings will sound alike.

RESOURCES:
1. The Medical Library is home to the multimedia suite; Create Audio and Video for Education (CAVE)
which includes 2 computers with Camtasia software. To schedule time in the CAVE please contact the
Library Reference Desk at 785-2113 or email cave@siumed.edu. Also, at that time, please let us know
if you might need assistance in the CAVE.
2. Watch the Camtasia Tutorial at
http://www.techsmith.com/tutorial-camtasia-record-powerpoint-prior.html
(This example is an older version of Camtasia but the basics are the same.)
3. Other tutorials for Camtasia 8 are at http://www.techsmith.com/tutorial-camtasia-8.html
These tutorials are short and very helpful.
4. A copy of the Camtasia 8 manual is kept in a binder in the CAVE in the Medical Library. A personal copy

can be downloaded from http://www.techsmith.com/tutorial-cs8-user-guides.html

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