Proven, effective software option for recording my class?

Ott

As the title says, I'm looking for a *proven* no bullshit method of capturing my class. My needs are simple - record my screen as I see it, and the audio. I'll likely getup during the lecture, so a wireless headset option is doable bit not mandatory. These lectures can go for hours on end, with breaks every 46-60 minutes.

Camtasia is a damn memory hog, and I need something that can capture 3ds Max, UDK, Photoshop etc and not die of memory overload. (Fraps doesn't work)

Does anyone have a proven method for recording lectures (as the lecturer!) with reasonably decent audio and non-terrible framefrate issues?

Thanks in advance!

Eric Chadwick

Use video out from the first machine, plug into a DVR. That's only 640x480, but you can record hours of material, and if it's a DVD recorder that makes it even easier.

Or use a Hauppage DVR.
http://www.hauppauge.com/

Lazerus Reborn

Can't say I've hit too many problems with camtasia. Recorded 8 hours straight on a 3ds modelling project with little/ no noticeable effects. Though i take it you wont have access to a work level computer?

Swizzle

I've used Camtasia before and the only complaint I have is that it doesn't record at very good framerates. There may be some sort of override for that, though.

Ott

The computers we have at the school aren't "terrible" but not amazing either. My home box is superior and I used Camtasia all the time for 3dmotive. The major issue I have with Camtasia is a)filesize and b)stability. I can't even tell you how many times I've shot a cut that went 15-20 minutes, only to have it completely crap out on me once I go to save the capture. I intentionally only shoot 8-12 minute clips because of this. For 3dm it's not an issue, but for class I can't "go back" and re-record a 20 minute segment of the class.

One question about the "Hauppage" stuff, and forgive me for being noob, but would this be an issue since the school computers already have an "out" going to the projector? I'm curious how many "outs" a PC typically has, or if it can be split, so that one goes to the projector screen and another to the DVR recorder?

I'd even be fine if it didn't capture the audio and I recorded that separately with a wireless mic or something similar. I've been teaching this class for years and students have been screaming for a way for me to record it, and I'd honestly be more than happy to if I had the right rig.

Snader

If your recorder is using an oldschool 15pin VGA, I see no reason why you couldn't use a simple splitter.

Eric Chadwick

Splitter is good. Or get a DVR that has video in (to grab from your PC) and video out (to go to the projector). Or you could go the simplest of all, video cam on a tripod. Not the greatest image quality, but it is almost foolproof.

Jason Young

You could use something like live stream as well. It'll record video and audio and I've recorded hour long animation lectures with good frame rates and no real issues. Main drawback would be resolution but it may work for your needs.

m4dcow

Ott wrote: »

One question about the "Hauppage" stuff, and forgive me for being noob, but would this be an issue since the school computers already have an "out" going to the projector? I'm curious how many "outs" a PC typically has, or if it can be split, so that one goes to the projector screen and another to the DVR recorder?.

I'm pretty sure alot of the Hauppage products are passthrough because an xbox 360 and ps3 only have one output, and you still need to get the video to the tv.

Ott

Forgive my noobness, but what do you mean by "passthrough"? Hardware stuff is beyond me.

I share the same mutant powers as Jubilee - Any electronics I touch are instantly rendered useless and void of all functionality.

Bigjohn

I believe they just mean that you'll plug your PC to the box, then the box will have another output that you will plug your projector into.

So it will pass the video through it to the projector.