Idea - how about recording a video of setting up the big 3 ?

[zamarky1]

Hi Ya

Had an idea. Dont know if any of you are familar with Camtasia Studio. Its a program that can record your PC screen and everything you do whilist operating your puter. You can add voice overs and explain everyting you do as you go along , add call outs ( boxes with pointers on them that have text inside the box explaining something or drawing attention to something etc) high light things , zoom the screen in and out etc etc. Its really really neat and invaluable for teaching things about programs and how to use them. If you dont know about it and want to check it out go to www.techsmith.com. There you can get the full rundown and watch the introduction and tutorials which are the actual product being used. The great thing is they have thier own codec that lets you run the recorded video and its only tiny and the files sizes are very small so its quick (ish) to download recorded videos etc.

Pheewww....long winded explanation......

anyway, i am about to get this program here at work to setup inhouse training on some highend accounting software we have here and thus i will have the full thing (read legal - yes i am a bit paranoid these days after another infamous post recently). We are setting up a room to record in as we are going to use a high quality mic and pre-amp setup to get good audio etc. |So my point is i will have all that is needed to make good quality recordings. So.......

My suggestion (at last i get to the point) is it would be great to record some tutorial videos on all the good proggies , you know CCE , scenarist , Doit4u , docce4u etc etc. Now if a guru on each one were to work with me to help me to know how what to script ( as in film making story boarding , not computer scripting) for the video i could record it and send it to the guru who could direct changes etc and then we could post a library of how to setup each proggie which would be a godsend for some(me?). I know it would be difficult in a way because i dont know the proggies myself but if as i say the expert on the subject were to give me a written list i am sure i could knock up something. So much potential on what you could do. For example a video on setting up each proggie, how to do a project from scratch ie from ripping to testing it on standalones etc. You could branch out from there to have a guide on how i backed up title xyz for example ( o.k this may take the "fun" out of conquering it yourself ) but i am sure it would help many get on the road to success and who knows reduce a lot of traffic on the forum......

I know what you are going to say ..BANDWITDH. Yup. But as a gesture i would be willing to start it off and pay for some bandwidth to say thanks for this great place. I could't do it for ever or supply half the free world with unlimited downloads but i could at least provide the trial to see if it is popular or not ......

Anyway i could go on , but wont. Let me know what you think. Yes i am sure there will be any number of posts telling me i am a total wanker and its stupid, too lowly for this forum etc but if we did just one video and someone got something out of it it would make me feel good :p and its a way to give something to the community here.....

I'm up for it if anyone wants to get involved.

Doom 9 any thoughts ?

Please i am not trying to be any sort of big shot , pushing my way in etc , just think it would be great to do , i would love to work on the project to do it, have the gear needed to do it , the program to do it, importantly the time to do it....i spend every spare minute here these days as well as sending PM's back and forth to forum memebers all day when i am supposed to be working ......so it would't be much different to what i am spending all my time on now. I am so thrilled to have found this place , i simply love it. I would love to work on something that others here could use. Yes i know i am a newbie myself and so dont undertand much of it yet but i dont need to know about it to record a tutorial that someone else gives me the instructions for.....hmmm have i sold the idea to anyone ?


Best Regards

Mark

[Beastie Boy]

I have to say i like the idea of downloading a tutorial in this format, at least for the more involved procedures like The Big 3.
I'd like to help but I don't consider myself proficient enough to be able to direct others.

Like you say, if one could be put together as a trial, it would at least show if there was any kind of demand.

Cheers, Beastie.

EDIT: Is it possible to download a free version for viewing only, or would it require everyone to purchase a copy of the software?

[Matthew]

Camtasia records to avi, so at worst you'd have to download a codec to view the files.

Personally I doubt the value of this, I like good old fashioned html guides myself, provided they are sufficiently detailed of course. Not in the least bit interested in sitting through a video.

[HyperYagami]

Given the complexities and variations of all different kinds of projects, making videos is just make the matter worse as it's not even gonna be able to cover as much as the static html version, and it's gonna be a pain to maintain.

[zamarky1]

Hi ya
@Beastie Boy : The licence for the program entitles you to send your finished work to anyone you want , the recorded "video" for want of a better description can be packaged to be self installing with the codec to view it. So its costs nothing for the recipient to view it. At the techsmith site you can download a fully functional 30 day trial version for free but you dont need anything other then the free codec to view the finnished video.

@Matthew : Yup everyone is different. We have to understand that some will like viewing such a thing, some wont. I notice the number of posts you have made so i guess you could say your an old sea dog at it (encoding) and so i can see how it would have little value for you.

@HyperYagami : Your right to a point of course on all counts. What you need to understand is all this big 3 stuff can be very daunting to a newcomer to the scene. If you have never seen the actual programs running live much less used them it would be nice to have a short(ish) tutorial , introduction ...call it what you will, to be able to see screen shots while having a voice telling you what functions of the program are grouped together under which pull down menu while watching the actual prgram on screen live with the mouse pointer moving around live etc as if it was you operating the program but all the while the voice telling you whats happening as it goes along.


@All : i am not saying its a replacement for any of the guides, just an addition. Remember you dont have to buy anything and the codec can be packaged in a video to be self installing. You can get to see new programs and the interface etc before buying the program being demonstrated. If its on a subject too basic for your level ...dont view it. But if your new to the scene and have never actually seen dif4u would't it be nice to have a visual guide to the program as well as a detailed written how to guide. As for a visual guide on doing a project , i dunno , a library on how to backup xyz title using these tools worked for me like this..(blah blah blah) could be useful but bandwidth limitations probaly sink that one. But what about nemo. So many people had so much trouble with that one that it had to be disected and the how to posted on it . So for really hard ones perhaps it has some value......


Anyway there is no doubt the idea ( which is not mine but Techsmiths)has merit. Whether or not it appeals to this community or not is a different story. Here at work we pay £4000.00 for 5 days training on our accounting package. Once the course is delivered and the teacher long gone and we strike a problem its too late to ask a question. By recording the lessons and burning CD's we are going to build a library of lessons on the program that will train new users to our accounting dept when they join the company as they will have most likely never seen the package we use. They can review a subject over and over untill they grasp a concept and the best thing is they are not reading a manual but actually studying inside the package to be used becoming familiar with the look and feel and the interface as they learn. Its a great idea and one that works.

Perhaps its more of a newbie thing and in the wrong forum here. Perhaps it needs to be in a sub section of the big 3 aimed more at novices who need to get up to speed on them so they can progress to this part of the forum to post the harder how do i questions...

As i said i need someone who is a master in a subject to do anything thou.......to layout the steps to be recorded.

Anyhow have a good weekend

Cheers

Mark

[Eyes`Only]

i think trilight already uses that for his 'insomnia guide using doitfast4u'.

[zamarky1]

Hi Ya

@Eyes Only : Hmmm , well it seems great minds do indeed think alike. I had no idea , so it seems i am preaching to the (semi) converted. Will have to go check it out. As an aside i have been studying the big 3 ALL WEEKEND and am ready to attempt my first go at it ( if my new Plex ever arrives)and so i now think about a video on it " hmm i'm a bit passed that now" and can see where most of you are at on tis within this community. BUt i still think it would be a great resource for total new comers.

anway ............

Mark

[ShaneZ]

well, it would end up varying by title... setting up the tools themselves is pretty basic.. reauthoring the project is what ppl have the most problem with. that is when knowing how to use the tools that you have come in handy and you only get that by experience. i don't think a video would be very helpful. :(

my $0.02

[SiliconSoul]

i think a walk thru with a program like WINK would be great... its a tutorial but its showing you the program and that to do directly... with text boxes that you can add. the Mouse is a moveable object. and its bacisly screenshots that motion tween the mouse around.

http://www.debugmode.com/wink/

it uses flash so it fast and free.

ITS FREE! :)