Morae 3.2
Posted on January 26, 2010
Filed Under Morae, News, Usability Software | Leave a Comment
Morae 3.2 was released just a few days ago. It’s a free update from version 3—brings these new capabilities:
• Open architecture: plug-ins for Morae
Developers can now write their own Recorder and Manager plug-ins, customizing Morae to capture, integrate, search, and visualize data streams from all kinds of sources. We provide a couple of useful plug-ins and plenty of documentation to get you started.
“Morae’s new pluggable architecture will make it possible for us to integrate diverse, third-party data streams such as eye tracking and heart rate when we’re testing participant response to things like video games, advertisements, movies, and the other media stimuli we research in our program.” –Dr. Corey Bohil, Media Interface and Network Design (M.I.N.D.) lab, Michigan State University
• An improved interface for real-time task scoring
• Greater variety of transition effects for highlight videos
• Screen dimming to focus attention during automated user testing
Until next time 
Peter – Your Camtasia and Morae Guide
Camtasia 10 Years!
Posted on November 11, 2009
Filed Under Discount / Coupons, News | Leave a Comment
Our all time favorite Screen Recording / Screencasting software Camtasia Studio is growing up. Camtasia was first released at Comdex 1999. Camtasia has come a long way in these last 10 years and are now available both on Mac and PC platform.
Techsmith compiled a cool timeline below that shows Camtasia milestones, advertising and logos, reviews, feature releases and technology milestones. Check it out:
To celebrate Camtasia’s 10th birthday, SoftwareCasa has a sale on Snagit Screen Capture and Camtasia Screen Recording software!
For a limited time, save an extra 10% on already-discounted volume licenses of Camtasia Studio, Snagit, or both in a bundle. Offer ends December 7, 2009. SoftwareCasa is also doing a special price on Snagit Single user - $47.00.
You find the Anniversary Specials here:
Snagit Single User $47.00
Snagit Multi User Discount (10% 5-users and upwards)
Camtasia Multi User Discount (10% 5-users and upwards)
Until next time
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Camtasia Studio Title Clips
Posted on October 22, 2009
Filed Under Camtasia Features, Tips, Top Uses, Tutorials | Leave a Comment
Hello Friends!
As we continue to master Camtasia Studio, today I will show you a tip in producing a screencast that will surely capture your viewer’s attention and at the same time deliver your key points!
Add an extra kick to your screencast by using Title Clip. Title Clips, allow you to add graphic/text to introduce a video, set chapters or display relevant information like credits or video resources.
Here’s the step-by-step instructions on how to create a basic Title Clip:
1. Open Camtasia Studio and Record or Open and existing Video.
2. Once you’re done select ‘Title Clips’ from the Task List.
3. On the Title Clips pane, enter your desired text for the clip.
4. If you want to add background image to your clip, click on ‘Image’ option, then hit ‘Browse’ and locate your desired image to add.
5. If you want to change the background color, simply click on Color button and select your preferred color.
6. For additional texts, you can just type within the box in the pane.
- To change the size of the text box, simply drag the handles of the green rectangle in the Preview Window.
- To move the position of the text, simply drag the green rectangle in the Preview Window then click Finished!
Your title clip will be automatically added to the Clip Bin where you can conveniently use in the future with the drag-and-drop function.
How to Change Duration of Your Title Clip
Just drag the title clip onto the Timeline in your video. By default, the duration of the Title Clips on a Timeline is five seconds, to change the duration, you may do the following:
1. Select Tools
2. Go to Options
3. Click Programs Tab
4. Choose Title Clips
5. Set the amount of time for your Title Clips to display.
That’s all there is to it, I hope you find this tip very handy in your next Camtasia Studio screencast.
Until Next Time
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Camtasia for Mac Review
Posted on September 18, 2009
Filed Under Camtasia for Mac, Mac | 1 Comment
Hello Friends,
Finally I am proud to give you some great news that many of you have been waiting for or know someone who would appreciate that Camtasia for Mac has been released!
TechSmith the leading provider of screen-capture and screen-recording solutions never disappoint their clients they are always ready to listen to you and provide what you the consumer needs.
If you are a Snagit fan no worries the Snagit for Mac is in development but in the mean time we have an alternative screen capture software that works with Mac ‘Voila‘. If you would like to be updated on the development of Snagit for mac you may subscribe here.
As a Windows user who recently purchased an iMac I downloaded the 30-day trial version to try Camtasia for Mac myself and truly it offers super cool things any Mac user would not want to miss.
I will give you a sneak preview of my findings…
SmartFocus®
TechSmith’s proprietary technology that keeps track of every detail that I use when editing, details such as window size, location, typing and mouse clicks – that sure saved me a “wholatta” time!
Camera Recording
Lets me capture a video from my iSight or a DV camera connected via firewire.
Production Wizard
The Production Wizard allowed me to choose which program I want to use to share, export or upload my work. With a bunch of options to choose including – upload to Screencast.com or Youtube.com, share export to iTunes, produce it into an MPEG-4, QuickTime Movie, AVI, DV Stream, 3G, and audio-only formats AIFF and AU.
Advanced Export
It gives me option to change the settings and export it to all standard formats.
IMAGE
Familiar Timeline
Good thing, the timeline still looks and functions the way it is in Camtasia Studio for windows where I can add, rearrange and drag-and-drop videos and images. Thus, less confusion and no adjustment needed on this part (that is if you’re already a Camtasia Studio user).
So what didn’t I like about Camtasia for Mac.. it does not offer all the features that Camtasia Studio for windows offers but is still bound to create a stir among the top video recording mac software already available in the market.
Before I forget the price is another plus Camtasia for Mac is currently offered at a very low introductory price of $97.00 . Apparently its a limited offer so be warned.
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Camtasia Studio Blurry Screen Video
Posted on September 1, 2009
Filed Under Tutorials | Leave a Comment
Hello Friends,
I’m back with another Tutorial series for Camtasia Studio, answering the frequently asked questions from Camtasia Studio fans!
Have you tried recording an on-screen video and when you played it back, the video appears blurry or has poor quality?
What Causes Blurry Screen Video in Camtasia?
There are two general causes of blurry videos in Camtasia Studio, but first a little about Camtasia Studio Codec….
Codecs are the algorithms being used to compress a video, most of the time installed as a software embedded within a hardware. They are of the same idea as in compressing files using a program like WinZip.
Video codecs are categorized into two types of compression:
Lossless codecs/compression - you lose nothing, but you can’t compress much.
Lossy codecs/compression - you lose quality in return, you achieve great downsizing.
Camtasia is equipped with a TSCC video codec that is lossless, thus, compressed videos with TSCC have great quality!
Having said that there is no reason why your Camtasia Videos should lose any quality unless you are doing something wrong.
Moving on, here are the general causes of blurry videos.
SCALING YOUR VIDEO IN A PLAYER OR IN THE CAMTASIA DURING VIDEO PRODUCTION
- If you scale the video during playback to other sizes than the original size, quality will lessen.
- If you use the default setup of Camtasia Recorder and produce videos with the TSCC codec, the playback should have a very good quality and looks similar to the screen.
- If video is played in a Media Player, the quality is lessened due to the “skins” mode of Media Player causing the video to be played back at a different size than the required 100% original size. Trying to change the video size will still not work.
How to Fix Camtasia Studio Blurry Screen Videos
SOLUTION 1 – Configure Media Player to avoid videos from scaling.
For Media Player 11:
1. Open Windows Media Player.
2. Go to View.
3. Choose Video Size.
4. Fit PLAYER to video on Start.
For Media Player 9 or 10:
1. Change your Media Player’s skin mode to “Classic” mode, to do so, just press Skin Chooser button and select “Classic”.
2. Go to View.
3. Choose Video Size then set it to 100%
4. Run the player to Compact mode.
5. Select View, then choose Skin Mode.
6. Run it in 6.4 mode.
How to use Media Player in v6.4 mode:
1. Go to Program Files, then choose Windows Media Player.
2. Run MPLAYER2.EXE file.
3. On v6.4 mode select View > Options > Formats, select All > Apply > OK.
4. Select View > Options > Playback , then set the Zoom level to 100%.
SOLUTION 2 – use Camtasia Player or other player that doesn’t scale videos.
PRODUCING THE VIDEO USING A “LOSSY” CODEC
By default, Camtasia Studio will now scale the video. For you to be able to produce video with the same good quality, simply follow these steps:
1. Once you’re done with your captures screencast, click on Produce.
2. Choose your desired output, click Next.
3. Select your desired format, click Next.
4. On the Fit in field, click on the drop-down arrow and choose the largest video size, click Next.
5. Click Next.
6. Select the output location, click Finish.
That’s all there is to it. I hope this has been again helpful to you!
Until Next Time
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Camtasia for Mac v1 Launced
Posted on August 26, 2009
Filed Under Mac | Leave a Comment
The Mac version for Camtasia Studio was just launched.
Camtasia for Mac is Screen Recorder and Presentation Software for Mac ! – record your screen with audio, webcam video, and more to create presentations, product demos, training, and online lectures.
What is Camtasia for Mac?
Software for making a movie from content you record off your computer screen. There’s no easier way to create videos that are effective and fun to watch. Use it to make:
* training videos
* on-demand presentations
* marketing demos
* how-to screencasts
To celebrate the launch of Camtasia for Mac SoftwareCasa has put together a special offer. You will get $52 off the suggested price (SRP $149.00) and you will also get a FREE copy of Producers Pack 3 Royalty Free Music. This is a great addon for the videos you create. The offer is valid until midnight 4th of September 2009 on SoftwareCasa only. Check out Camtasia Mac Introduction Offer here!
(Please note: This offer is ONLY valid on SoftwareCasa)
Until next time
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Morae 3.0 Usability Software
Posted on August 12, 2009
Filed Under Morae | Leave a Comment
Hello Friends,
Camtasia Studio Guide is normally focused on Camtasia Studio. With Camtasia Studio you can connect with your audience by creating interactive video tutorials, training, software demos and presentations.
Camtasia Studio has full-motion recording capability that records the screen, webcam video and voice, so you can produce professional-quality video presentations with small file sizes to post on the Internet, burn on CD-ROM, or deliver any way you choose in all the popular file formats.
However today I thought I’d step away from Camtasia Studio for a while and introduce you to a closely related but more advanced title Morae Usability Software.
So what is Morae ? Morae is the premier software for deeply understanding customer experiences and sharing those insights clearly and powerfully.
From usability testing to focus groups and beyond, Morae helps you transform designs and marketing to make things that people will love.
Using these kind of software as an evaluation tool has been considered an essential part during the development process or even in improving a product, method, and many more, in relation to meeting the customer’s needs, wants and most importantly, their satisfaction.
What Can You Do with Morae?
With Morae 3.0 you can record exactly what customers do and say about a particular product, website, idea, etc., discover patterns in the data, key in significant moments, and build compelling presentation on how to improve the customer experience.
Doing Market Research?
Here is a clear and simple example to have a better understanding on what Morae can do:
Casts:
You – owner of a mobile device company.
Manager – the manager of the development process.
Developer – the person who develops your product which are mobile devices.
X, Y and Z – a customer/participant partaking in the testing/evaluation process.
*where a participant is someone of your target audience that you’ll be testing, interviewing, or otherwise observing.
You can then schedule a product try-out session with X, Y and Z. During the actual session, you capture the session automatically with Morae while X is using and talking about the product on a computer via webcam or perhaps right in front of you with a webcam. Meanwhile, Morae recorder is recording everything from the session and the manager and developer are watching them live using the Morae observer.
All the recorded sessions are put up with audio, computer data and notes into one file.
Using the Morae manager, you can view the recordings, do analysis of trends, gather insights and prepare to share your findings or study with others, like manager and developer.
As a result, the product goes through some changes and improvements that would eventually make X, Y and Z a very satisfied customer.
Do you still find it difficult what Morae is about and what it can do for you, your company, product and customer? Then read more about Morae 3.0 here.
Take your recording one step further with Morae Usability Software!
Until Next Time
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Camtasia Studio “No Codec” Error
Posted on July 30, 2009
Filed Under Tips, Tutorials | 11 Comments
Hi There,
As I continue to master Camtasia Studio, I will also continue to provide answers to the most the frequently asked questions.
Have you ever tried importing a video in Camtasia Studio and then it produces an error message which says, “Error: No codec available to render this file”?
Well, there are five possible causes and I have provided for you solutions for each scenario.
1. Importing MP4 file
One known cause is because of the DirectShow Filters installed on your computer.
Please use the following diagnostic tool to provide us with the information needed to resolve this problem:
Download this program called Graph Edit.
After the download and installation, do the following:
- Run Graphic Edit
- Click on File
- Click on Render Media File
- Choose the MP4 file that’s getting the problem
- No Error: It says, graph could not be created.
- Error: It creates a graph which shows the filter that’s causing the problem.
- Submit graph by taking a screenshot of it and send it to the Support Team, together with diagnostics, which can be produced by clicking on Help > Support > Save to File.
2. The codec that the video is compressed with is either not installed or its installation has become corrupted.
To solve this, you can re/install the codec by running the TSCC file. It is located in the folder where the Camtasia Studio is installed in.
3. The components of DirectShow is not properly registered.
Register qedit.dll and quartz.dll, to do so, follow the instructions below:
► qedit.dll
- Click Start button
- Click Run
- Paste this commands into the Run box:
regsvr32 “%windir%\system32\qedit.dll
- Click OK
► quartz.dll
- Click Start button
- Click Run
- Paste this commands into the Run box:
regsvr32 “%windir%\system32\quartz.dll”
- Click OK
4. On versions 4 and 5, A DirectShow filter is interfering with the recorded file.
Try to disable the recording preview so that you can see if the recording works properly.
To disable the recording preview.
Alternatively you may request an upgrade to Camtasia Studio 6.0.
5. Extracting the AVI from the CAMREC
To extract the AVI correctly , follow these instructions:
- Browse to the CAMREC file saved on your computer
- Right-click on it
- choose Extract, this will extract the AVI from the CAMREC
- Play the AVI in the Camtasia Studio
- If it won’t play in Camtasia Studio, then try playing it using Windows Media Player.
- If still, it won’t work in Windows Media Player, it could be corrupted.
- Record a new one and follow the solution provided in method 3.
That’s all there is to it, hope you find this useful .
Until Next Time
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Camtasia Videos with Chipmunks Audio
Posted on July 20, 2009
Filed Under Camtasia Upgrade, Tips, Tutorials | Leave a Comment
Hi There,
As I continue to master Camtasia Studio, I can describe it in a few words Smart, Friendly and the most Powerful screen recording software I have ever used.
One of the frequently asked questions is a problem with the sound that some of you may have already encountered after producing your videos.
Have you ever experienced this scenario?
You were recording and everything was going well until the video is produced, that’s when the audio suddenly starts to sound really weird. The sound goes faster and at times takes on a higher tone, more likely compared to a talking chipmunk.
If you have, worry not.
This problem is not related to Camtasia but by your sound device. This can happen mostly on computers running on Windows XP but can also occur in other operating systems. Some people experience the problem because the Sound scheme is by default set on “Windows default”. Thus, during a recording process whenever a button is pressed, a Windows sound is being generated.
Wanna know how to resolve this? Well, read on…..
Simple turn off the default Windows sound scheme, to do so, please follow these instructions:
1. On your desktop, click on Start button.
2. Go to Control Panel
3. Click on Sounds and Audio Devices.
4. Go to the Sounds tab, this will bring up the Sound and Audio Devices Properties dialog box.
5. Under Sound Scheme, click on the drop-down arrow, then select No Sounds. See image below to clearly follow the instruction.
6. Apply
7. Then Click on OK
Now, you are all set and chipmunk-talking-free!
As for recorded audio, sorry this can’t be fixed, you could do the recording again or if not you can remove the chipmunk-like audio and add a newly recorded sound clip.
If you have been sitting on the fence undecided about whether to upgrade your Camtasia Studio I can tell you through experience the upgrade is well worth it. You can checkout the new features of Camtasia Studio 6 that simplify alot of tasks and make you look like a pro.
To proceed and request for the special upgrade price go here.
I hope this has been helpful to you!
Until Next Time 
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
Camtasia Studio First Time User
Posted on June 29, 2009
Filed Under Camtasia Features | Leave a Comment
Hello There!
If you have just purchased Camtasia Studio or are thinking of purchasing for a friend then read on….
I decided to go back down memory lane on my first time using Camtasia Studio. I had just had enough raving from my friends about Camtasia Studio and so I decided to get my own copy.
As I was staring at the Camtasia Studio welcome screen, I was not sure what to expect. Yet, the only thing I was sure of was I’m about to embark on a trip to Wonderland.
To start off, the Welcome Screen itself was simple and clean. Its simplicity of design gives you an impression of, “Are you a newbie? Don’t worry, I’m ready to guide you.” That impression kept clinging to me while making my way on discovering the world of Camtasia Studio.
So, I tried recording an on-screen video, the Capture Area Selection window’s black background and minimal major options laid out gave me just exactly what I needed. Its visual presentation is good, that even, as a first time user, I can just simply do my own thing without having to completely depend on online tutorials.
Recording was even cooler than what I expected it to be.
Here are the 10 things which I thought 100% Cool and Easy while discovering Camtasia Studio:
1. The 3,2,1 counting before the recording takes place. Whoa! What I miss is just a stool and a megaphone, I could have shouted, “Action!”
2. The Preview Window: Lots and lots of it, that is. I love it, super! I could just go back and re-do it, go on and edit it or just produce it in no time at all. Whichever way I want it, no more questions asked.
3. With a lot of formats to choose from: AVI, M4V, MP3, etc. I can’t wait to start making one and post it to my social network groups and blogs. My friends will surely be jealous of me. Haha
4. Assist Me and Show Me: When I talk about not completely depending on online tutorials, I meant it because every function available on the task pane, gave me the Assist Me and Show Me button on their respective windows. It made my experience easy and less hassle.
5. The customizable callouts gave me a chance to emphasize and de-emphasize the things I wanted to on the video I captured. It’s so easy and fast to do.
6. Decoupling of Audio and Video: As I was editing my test video, I noticed that there’s something wrong and I wanted to edit the audio track. Good thing, I found out that I could decouple it from the video track so easily. Phew! What a relief.
7. Adding Additional Audio Track: I like this, I was able to add another track which I found relevant for the video that I was recording. Pretty easy too!
8. Adding Transitions: All I had to do was just select an available preset and Tada! As easy as that and my video moves from one scene to another with style.
9. Adding quizzes and surveys during the video was cool too. I just had to choose which part of the timeline I wanted the quiz/survey to come out and then type in questions and the correct answer and then it would appear then and there!
10. Upload to Screencast feature: Boy, this one gave me a faster way to get the URL and embedded code. It’s really fast, as in, no need to open a browser, go to the site, login, upload, and get the code. The end.
There’s nothing I found too difficult or hard to understand. With consistent use and training, I’ll eventually be a rookie or an expert (if given the chance)in video recording, editing and sharing.
For now, need to familiarize more of this Super Cool program, Camtasia Studio 6.0 especially the new features.
If you are already a novice user you can continue enjoying the super features if you don’t own the latest version Camtasia 6.0 just send your existing license to Softwarecasa Support for your 50% discount on the upgrade!
Don’t Miss the Bus!
Peter – Your Camtasia Guide
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