AuthorPoint Tutorial

Recording a Presentation

Now that AuthorPoint is installed on your computer, you are now able to record your presentation using the software. This portion of the tutorial is a guide to navigate through the AuthorPoint software, guiding step-by-step on how to record a presentation. It is recommended, like being familiar with any software, to first experiment with the software itself by recording some sample presentations so that you may get used to the controls and functions, using this guide as a mini-manual. If time does not allow this, this portion of the tutorial guides you through the process.

1. Run Microsoft PowerPoint and through PowerPoint, open up the desired presentation that you would like to record.
   
   
2. Launch AuthorPoint: You are able to run AuthorPoint through two different ways:
   • The toolbar at the top has a list of tools you can use with AuthorPoint. To launch AuthorPoint, click on the authorPOINT menu, and click on the Launch authorPOINT option.
   • You may also launch it by clicking on the toolbar item in the lower left corner of the image above. This toolbar gives easy access to launching AuthorPoint, accessing your Content manger, and Help options. If you do not see this toolbar, click on View -> Toolbars -> and make sure that AuthorGen has a checkmark beside it. You can launch AuthorPoint by clicking on the AuthorPoint button in the toolbar.

   A window titled Launching AuthorPoint will open.

3. Enter in the fields:
   
   
   1. Presenter Title: The name of the title given by the presenter/lecture recorder. Give this a brief & identifiable title, such as “Date – Course Prefix - Lecture Title”. While this field can’t be edited when you’re recording the presentation, you can change it when you turn it into an online Flash presentation, so this does not have to be precise.
   2. Presentation Folder: The name of the folder where the individual presentation will be stored. This folder is presentation-specific, so each presentation you record will have a unique Presentation Folder name.
   3. Save presentation at: The full directory where all presentations information will be stored. Click on the >> button next the field to browse through your computer for the appropriate folder. Note that this presentation will be stored in Directory for this field/Presentation Folder Entry/ folder.
   4. Show Speaker Notes While Capturing: Checkbox that tells whether your speaker notes from PowerPoint can be shown while you are recording and giving your presentation.
   5. Audio/Video Options: The selections here tell AuthorPoint where are the audio and video sources, or where are you going to record video, audio or both. If you are planning to record a presentation, please make sure that the input device is plugged into the computer. Select the media source for the file:
      
      • If you’ve selected the Live Audio option, choose the specific input device from the drop down menu.
      • If you’ve selected the Live Video option, choose your video source, such as a video camera or webcam. The audio source may come from the video camera or webcam itself, or it may be a separate device such as a microphone.
      • If you’ve selected the Pre-Recorded Audio or Pre-Recorded Video option, the prompt below will ask for the directory of the media file. The file format for video must be in wmv or avi, and for audio, wma, wav.
   6. Start Test button: Tests the audio of the incoming input. The button is found below the Audio/Video Options. This test is useful only for live recordings to make sure AuthorPoint is setting the volume level correctly. When you click this button, AuthorPoint will quickly record audio and ask you to speak in a normal, presenting voice. Once AuthorPoint finishes, the audio will be played back for you to listen, and you are able to adjust the volume accordingly. Click on this button if you’re recording any kind audio.
      
4. Click on Launch AuthorPoint. The next display will look like you were viewing a slideshow, but with a toolbar at the top of the screen.
   
   Note: This may not look exactly like what the toolbar on your computer looks like. This depends on whether the Show Speaker Notes While Capturing option is enabled or the usage of video. Please check the details of this on the next step.
   
5. Adjust the toolbar and become familiar with screens the buttons to make your recording comfortable.
   • Video Preview Window: Shows the current video or the pre-recorded video as you are recording your presentation.
   • Speaker Notes Window: Shows the speaker notes relevant to the current slide, if any.
   • Arrow Button:  Moves the bar to the top or to the bottom of the screen.
   • Pin Button:  Partially hides the bar, including the video preview screen, and speaker notes.
   
   You are able to use the following buttons once you start recording. Please make sure you’re familiar with these buttons so that your recording experience as smooth & seamless as possible.
   • Record Button:   Records a presentation. This button is the starting point for a presentation. Press this button once you are ready to start your lecture. Once pressed, AuthorPoint will record.
   • Stop Button -  Halts a recording presentation. Once you press this button, the presentation stops recording and you cannot edit or re-record a slide. The presentation ends and starts compiling the entire presentation.
   • Pause Button -  Pauses the recording of a presentation. The button acts similarly like how a Pause button works on a VCR. This can be used if you wish to re-record a recent portion of your presentation, class breaks, discussion, interruptions, and more.
   • Re-Record Button - Re-records starting from the beginning of the current slide. Once you press the Pause button, the Re-Record button appears. This can be useful if you are not in front of a classroom & errors or interruptions happened while in the middle of recording. The recording resets to when the current slide was first viewed.
   • Back Button -    Moves to the previous slide.
   • Forward Button -   Moves to the next slide.
   • Show Pointer Button:   Makes an orange pointer and its movements visible to viewers. AuthorPoint does not record the movements of the mouse icon since it may be distracting to your online viewers. Once you click on this button, an orange pointer  will appear. The button can be dragged and moved, and AuthorPoint will track and record it. You may use it when you wish to emphasize a particular idea, point out items in an image, or other uses.
   • Hide Pointer Button:  Hides the orange pointer from view. You are able to hide or show the pointer whenever appropriate and AuthorPoint will record this.
   • Annotations Button: Turns your mouse pointer into a pen. This feature is the same feature as that provided in PowerPoint alone. The pen allows to mark your slides for emphasizing and pointing out ideas. The color palate next to it  are the colors you can select from. Click on your preferred color and start writing. Note that there is no erasing feature, so if you wish to have that functionality, the orange pointer may be more convenient to use. When are finished annotating, click on this button  to return using a mouse pointer.
6. Click on the record button on the silver bar when you are ready to start presenting or start recording and use the buttons appropriately. If the live presentation halts for some reason, click on the pause button, and resume with the record button.
7. Press the stop button when the presentation ends and you no longer wish to record.
   
   If you have PowerPoint 2003, a prompt may come up asking if you would like to keep ink annotations. This prompt comes from PowerPoint 2003 itself, not AuthorPoint. It asks if you wish to keep all the notes & annotations that you have done on the slideshow. If you say yes, they will be stored along with the presentation, just as they would through PowerPoint 2003 presentation files. How you answer this will not affect how AuthorPoint works. Please choose based on preference “Keep” or “Discard”.
8. Build your presentation. A new prompt will come up, informing that the build was successful. If you are ready to export your presentation to flash at this time, click on “Open CM” to access your Content Manager. If not and you wish to leave exporting until later, your Content Manager can also be accessed on your Desktop by clicking on the Content Manager icon.

Introduction Suggested Uses and Pedgagogies Getting Started Record a Presentation Export the Presentation to Flash Upload the Presentation