Need audio and/or video generation tool

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by jrbiz, Aug 18, 2009.

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  1. #1
    I need to develop a demo tutorial for my new software package and I am thinking of two options that I would like to get recommendations regarding the tools that I could use for each:

    Best Option #1: I would like to make an audio tutorial that talks a user through a hands-on demo of the system. I.e., I would like the person to be in front of the screen of the actual software while an audio program is talking them through each step. The trick is that I would like the audio to be in snippets that stop automatically, until the user is ready to go to the next step. (e.g., The audio says, "Select Print from the File menu and then hit OK." then the audio stops automatically while the user takes that action. Then the user hits a button to resume and gets the next instruction. Anything out there like that?

    Option #2: I would like to develop a video composed of screenshots and moving cursors, etc. with an audio narrative.

    What technology would be best for either of these options?

    Thanks.

    JRBIZ
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    jrbiz, Aug 18, 2009 IP
  2. ET Jan

    ET Jan Peon

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    #2
    I think I saw few videotutorials done like that... it was done in flash, every time you wanted to continue, you had to confirm.

    Basically it was a FLV player with an extra button
     
    ET Jan, Aug 18, 2009 IP
  3. jrbiz

    jrbiz Acclaimed Member

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    #3
    Will flash run on the desktop? I should have mentioned that I would prefer not to have the user go to the web for the tutorial; instead, using the application and the tutorial on his desktop. Thanks for your reply, by the way.
     
    jrbiz, Aug 19, 2009 IP
  4. Nigel Lew

    Nigel Lew Notable Member

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    #4
    Folks typically use Camtasia or http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

    is free and will do the trick just fine. Essentially you can screen cap what you do into a vid with audio real time or sync the audio later but that is another discussion.

    I used it for this a number of years ago. http://www.jnlew.com/media/L1Marqueetool-1.swf I think I broke the file but it works for a good bit of it. You essentially want a .avi so you can convert to what ever platform you ultimately need. Technology is much better to day so it would be easy to get in a flash player or make an executable you could send to folks on disk etc.

    Folks like to be able to stop and start things ;)

    hope that helps,
    Nigel
     
    Nigel Lew, Aug 19, 2009 IP
  5. jrbiz

    jrbiz Acclaimed Member

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    Hi Nigel,

    Thanks for the recommendations. Camtasia looks pretty pricey, so I will take a look at the MS option. Will also check out your file. Thanks again.

    JRBIZ
     
    jrbiz, Aug 22, 2009 IP
  6. tyler8541

    tyler8541 Peon

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    #6
    You can use camstudio which is very similar to camtasia for free.
     
    tyler8541, Aug 23, 2009 IP
  7. jrbiz

    jrbiz Acclaimed Member

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    #7
    Tyler, thanks, I will check it out.
     
    jrbiz, Aug 25, 2009 IP