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Screencasting

ScreenPal: Easy Audio-Visual Instruction.

Production Overview

Phase 2: Recording

  • Minimize distraction or noise (e-mail alerts, telephone).
  • Test equipment
  • Log on to both the ScreenPal Deluxe account.
  • Happy recording!

Saving Video Files

Phase 3:  Saving

  • Save your video to .SOM format, and save on your departmental tutorial channel.
  • Videos must be in .SOM format in order to edit them.

Editing

Phase 4:  Editing​

  • Open the .som file of your recording through your departmental tutorial channel.
  • Remove unnecessary pauses, filler words (ah, um, etc.), or coughs.
  • Use the tools available through the SOM timeline (cut, insert, insert, etc.).
  • Upload edited recording to your department SOM drive and channel.
  • Submit for final review.

Sharing Your Recording

Phase 5: Sharing

  • Inform tutorial coordinator that recording has been edited and saved.
  • Once edits are completed and the final product is approved, it can be posted!

Production - Step by Step

Creating a Screencast

1. Navigate to https://www.screenpal.com.

2. You have the option of registering for an account by selecting the "Got an account?" link. Creating an account will allow you to view all of your recordings uploaded to the site in one location.

3. To start a recording with or without an account, select the "Start Recording" button.

Recording Settings

1. Select your microphone by clicking the arrow near the microphone icon. Select your microphone input from the list that appears.

2. Adjust your microphone volume level by selecting the volume icon. In the microphone window, select the Auto Adjust Volume button and then start speaking into your microphone. Once your volume level indicator stops moving, click OK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. To select your recording area, click the arrow next to the current recording dimensions and select your dimensions from the list.  Alternatively, yosican slide the guides along the recording screen to select your recording area.

4. If you plan on using your webcam, select your webcam by selecting the arrow next to the webcam icon.

5. Once you have selected your recording settings, select the record button.

6. While recording, the following options are available:

Pause - the pause button lets you pause, then continue with your recording

Time - the time bar indicates the length of your recording

Restart - Press the REC button again to restart your recording, but keep your settings.

Done - Press the Done button when you have finished your recording

Note: If you wish to incorporate music from Computer Audio as background to your speech, you may choose that before recording, or add sounds after recording. Several suggested sources for free, high-quality music and sound effects are Free Music Archive and Sound Bible (check for public domain and Creative Commons licenses).

View these videos before editing your recording:

 

Canvas – change size of video canvas (see right toolbar in recording section)

To Trim – Position LEFT and RIGHT playerheads (there are two) at the ends of the desired segment. 

Cut - cut segment.

Copy - copy segment to use with Insert Paste

Hide - hide cursor or webcam

Insert – insert pause, new or existing recording, new video file or paste recording

Narrate – select section of video to narrate over

Overlay - see box at top right

Replace - replace video or freeze frame

Speed - speed up or slow down

Transition – add as desired when combining clips, at the beginning or end of the vidoe, or with overlays (see next box!)

Volume -  select section of video to adjust volume levels.

When recording: Use Zoom & Pan – allows you to select segments in your recording to zoom and pan. When segment is determined, click the Zoom/Pan button to bring up window and adjust accordingly.

Try these tips for hassle-free editing!

  • Make certain you have saved the original raw video (without any changes) in SOM file format.
  • Have paper and pencil ready.
  • Watch and listen to the "Preview" of the video. Pause it where needed so you can write down where to make edits
  • Mark down approximate "time" whenever you see a part that you need to edit, i.e., cut out, remove mouse, add box overlay, etc.
  • After you have finished the "Preview" of the video, open the Editing Tools
  • Go through your list of "times" and problems, and edit your video appropriately.
  • Save this revised video with a NEW NAME in SOM file format.
  • Watch and listen to the revised video, marking down the "time" and any other revisions to be made.
  • Save this revised video with a NEW NAME (or over the first revision) in SOM file format.

Remember, you can only make edits to files that have been saved in SOM file format! 

What are Overlays? When and how should they be used?

Overlays cover a portion of the screencast, and can be used to:

  • call attention to something 
    • add text/captions
    • add outline around something
    • add a highlight
    • add arrows
    • add overlay animation
    • add a logo or image
  • blur recorded information
    • obscure text or anything else in the video
    • animate to obscure text when scrolling in the video

Other Overlay Effects:

  • Fade in and fade out of the overlays
  • Show or hide the mouse during the overlay
  • Add drop shadows
  • Slide boxes to a new location
  • Increase or decrease size of an animated object
Last updated on Feb 12, 2025 10:06 AM