Camtasia Questions..

Ron Killian · #1 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 10:18 AM

I am finally getting in to making some video, better late than never I guess.

In the process, I am trying to figure out Camtasia. For one thing, when I make a video I choose "web" format, but I noticed it only creates 4 files, which seem to work fine on a web page. But I notice other web type videos I have, some MRR and PLR and they have about 10 files. The ones I create seem to be lacking the FLV (not sure the big diff between SWF and FLV, think one is editable and the other is not, right?), another js file, css file, controller file and config.xml, are those needed? Just trying to figure out why the difference between what my Camtasia outputs compared to what others do. Or should I be using a different setting?

I made a couple video's and actually I think they turned out pretty good, screen captures and winging the talk. One thing I am still trying to figure out though is using zoom. I see other video's where people use the zoom like it's so easy. Any tricks or tips on using zoom? Like to zoom in on parts of the screen.

Also need to figure out how to output a mp3 at the same time I do video, but think that is just a production setting.

I am also going to check out the tutorial video's Camtasia has on their site, but nice to hear from others that use it also.

Thanks in advance for any input

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 11:14 AM

I've only done the default option default (SWF/FLV) option so I can't really speak on the others.

I know what you mean about the zoom. Took me a little time to figure that out. What you do is get to the part of the video you want to zoom in and click "Zoom and Pan." You will see a green box around the screen where you can drag and resize it until you are focusing on an area of the screen you want to zoom in on. Click "Finished". Let the preview video play until you want to zoom back out. Click "Zoom and Pan" again and drag the arrows back to full screen.

Ron Killian · #3 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 04:45 PM

Thanks for the input Lisa

I spent some time today checking out there tutorial video's, should have done that from the start..lol

Another alternative to Zoom and Pan, I learned, is their smart focus. I haven't tried it yet, will today, but seems to be a great feature, does the zoom pan, somewhat automatically. Plus the the smart focus points show on the time line if you want to edit them or delete them. Only drawback is they don't show while your recording. I'll have to mess with it see how it works.

Thanks again.

lisa · #4 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 10:28 PM

Yes, I like the smart focus feature but I learned if you have too much zooming that it makes your file very big. Many of my videos are over 10 minutes and some even close to 20 so I found that using the smart focus makes my file sizes so big. So I decided to just use the zoom and pan when necessary.

But the smart focus feature can be very handy. You just have to be very conscious of where your mouse is during the recording. I've had to re-do videos because I would often forget that I left the mouse in one spot too long or forgot to move it out the recording area so it will automatically zoom out.

Ron Killian · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 07:00 PM

Of course your very right, was just learning about that, how the smart focus and such could add to the video size. Thanks for the tip, yet another good tip

I do have another question, ya I'm a pest.

Is there an easy way to produce an mp3 file while doing a video, same time? I can't seem to find a setting or info on it. I was going to just have gold wave record at the same time, but might be nice to do it with one program. Would like to kill two birds with one stone, video and mp3 for pod casts.

WB Sponsors