How do we record audio first when the "what you hear" option is not available in Camtasia?

[Dvorah Lansky]

Hi!
I'm working on recording a powerpoint - by recording the audio first and then bringing it in via the "what you hear" option in camtasia.

- I HAVE checked my sound in my control panel and all audio devises ARE Enabled.
- I checked to see if I have the most current sound drivers, I do.....
- The option to spend $300 (http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-MultiMix-8USB-2-0/dp/B000Q1MX0I) is not realistic

I sent in a support ticket to tech smith - thought I'd ask here too in case someone has a workaround.

Sounds like it could be a Vista issue - but even so... there has got to be a way to enable this option.

I'd be so grateful for any tips in this area.
Thanks,
D'vorah

[Mike Seddon]

I also record the audio seperately but I don't use the what you hear option.

I record the Powerpoint presentation with the audio playing so that I get the slide changes in the right place and then I import both the powerpoint recording and the audio into Camtasia. I then just line them up.

Done!

Hope that helps.

Of course, I think your "what you hear" option should be available but I've no idea why it isn't.

Mike

[Mike Seddon]

D'vorah,

I had a nother look at this myself yesterday.

I notice that when I have my microphone selected as my audio device then the "what you head" option is greyed out.

However if I change the audio device to my soundcard I can then select the What you hear option.

Maybe this will work for you?

Mike

[Dvorah Lansky]

Hi Mike,

I spent a fair amount of time in my control panel and device manager trying everything I could think of, including updating drivers.

No luck - so obviously I do not know how to change from my audio device to my sound card,
any suggestions?

Also - I have tried importing audio and powerpoint and have spent HOURS trying to get them to line up properly without success.

I need the timing to be precise as I use bullet points.

I'm off to Radio shack to get plugs but still would prefer to use the "what you hear" format as the documenation says that the cable workaround severally diminishes the audio quality.

Grateful for any support offered.
All the best,
D'vorah

[Lon Naylor]

Are you by chance running on a laptop? I see this issue most frequently relating to the sound card capabilities of lots of laptops...

You don't need to get an external audio interface.

There is a simple cable workaround which basically has you plug from the speaker Output into the Line Input.

Here's the link to the Techsmith article:

http://www.techsmith.com/learn/camtasia/6/faq/system-audio.asp

Hope that helps!

Lon

[Dvorah Lansky]

Extra Extra, read all about it!!!!

Ok - I am determined to make this work - Grin!
I'd very much like to be able to record my audio first and then play it back via the "what you hear" option inside of Camtasia - while recording my Power Point.

This seems to be a major problem inside of Vista - DOES ANYONE KNOW how to adjust the settings on the audio sound card as everything is currently ENABLED - not sure if there is anything else.

- UPDATE
- I purchased the Alesis 4 Channel Mixer (around $100 bucks from Musician's Friend).

Here's the udpate - as while this solution WORKS - YIPPPEEE
The sound quality is SO awful it would make a cat screech.

What I am trying to accomplish is for the audio to record "WHAT YOU HEAR" (which is one of the options in the AUDIO OPTIONS section of the AUDIO RECORDER in Camtasia.

Note - that option is Grayed out and yes, I have Vista.

I have purchased the cables and mixer that you recommend on:
http://www.techsmith.com/learn/camtasia/6/faq/system-audio.asp

- I hooked up all the cables as instructed
- the "what you hear" option of the Audio Options of the Audio Recorder are still Grayed Out.

- I WAS able to get camtasia to reording using the LINE IN Option under Audio Recorder and
I SELECTED the MANUAL INPUT selection option.

PROBLEM is.... the sound quality if horrible and Very distorted.

Any words of wisdom and specific suggestions would be so gratefully appreciate!
All the best,
D'vorah

[Paula Jo (PJ) Elson]

I made a video in Camtasia showing how I was able to get this to work for me.

See if it will help you.

It is attached below.

[Dvorah Lansky]

Thanks everyone!

Paula Jo, I could not hear any volume on your video.
Is it my computer or is this a visual only video?

I am determined!!!!

Thanks again,
Dvorah

[Paula Jo (PJ) Elson]

My video definitely has audio.

Are you able to hear audio on some of the other videos posted at the Ning site in the videos section?

I'm in my office working today if you want to call and we'll brainstorm: 916/660-7822

[Dvorah Lansky]

Hi Paula Jo, I was finally able to hear the audio.

Unfortunately I do not have that feature in my audio choices, even when everything is enabled.

I decided to be brave and made a Camtasia of my audio journey.
It's a humbling experience and I know I'll learn by sharing my process and feedback.

You see, I followed ALL of the advise on the Camtasia site.
Went to Radio Shack and got the cables and Y splitter
Came back, set everything up, created a PowerPoint as a project exercise.
Recorded the Audio of my story which

HERE is the moment of truth.... the Video story I told would have been the IDEAL outcome, unfortunately my "TA DA" came before I listened to the recording playback.

SO - here is what I did next.... again - these several hours were focused time for me to learn how to meld
- Camtasia
- PowerPoint
- Audio

SEVERAL times I thought I should take up another hobby, OR jump off the nearest bridge.

LEARNING MOMENTS and areas that I need to LEARN because CLEARLY I do not have this figured out.

STUMBLING BLOCKS

1. I could NOT get the audio to record in Camtasia
2. In PowerPoint - when I adjust the SIZE so it is NOT full screen, the MOUSE function to forward the slides does not work.
3. When recording in FULL screen from INSIDE of camtasia - it records EVERYTHING on my computer, including the DESKTOP - NOT just the powerpoint presentation - AND then it does NOT save the file, even though I click SAVE and save it to the folder it is opening up to.

WHEW - do I get a gold ribbon for effort? I SO want to learn this and thought I had it figured out....

SO - I humbly share that I:
- created a powerpoint
- recorded it at Full Screen from CAMTASIA
- imported it into Camtasia
- imported the audio into camtasia
- did my very best to line up the timeline
and recorded it.

For me - LEARNING that I do NOT know how to accomplish the above was also a gift.

I know these things can be accomplished, just not sure how as the above was WAY time consuming.

For now, I will have to record the audio at the same time as the Video.

I am hopeful that others in the forum will be able to share some light on these issues.

I'll still submit the video EVEN though my "TA DA" at the end was not realized.
Perhaps the TA DA could be for diving in!

I'm a brand new Gold Member so a month from now I imagine I'll be somewhat of a Camtasia "expert".

Hmm, not sure if I can post a video here - I'll try posting the embedded code just in case, otherwise I'll post it in the video area.

All the best,
D'vorah

[Paula Jo (PJ) Elson]

Dvorah -

I loved your PowerPoint! Too Funny.

See my video below for help with your Stumbling Block #2.

I do not like the quality of the audio that is recorded with Camtasia - so I use Audacity to record my audio.
Then I play back that audio as I demonstrate, and RECORD whatever it is I want to show using Camtasia. I then save the Camtasia recording - unlink the audio from the video, and then delete the audio. Then I import the Audacity audio. Generally - since I am recording and demonstrating at the same time the audio is playing, things line up pretty well. But wherever the audio and video don't match up - I just make splits and adjust the clips slightly until they line up the way I want.

(Note: On the video below, I recorded the first part of the audio using Camtasia - the middle parts with Audacity, and the ending section with Camtasia.)

PJ

[Dvorah Lansky]

PJ, you are so kind to share your expertise, this was hugely helpful.

What I'm having a challenge with in recording separately and then lining things up is...

I feel like an octopus with 7 arms tied behind my back.

- I open audacity and have the float control buttons to the bottom right of my screen
- I have camtasia recorder open
- I have powerpoint open.

Questions

1. HOW do I get the power point to begin recording at the same time as the audio recording AND click the camtasia record button at the same time.

What usually happens is that my recording begins before my power point.

2. I also notice that when I show text on my screen (not power point - like a website or newsletter) the text is very blurry and can't be read.

What would you advise?

I greatly appreciate your support and look forward to being able to share
from my end.

From,
Soon to be Camtasia / Power Point Wizard
D'vorah

[Paula Jo (PJ) Elson]

I put about 5 seconds of silence on the front of my Audacity recording. I click the Camtasia record button and wait for the 3 second warning. Then I click the Audacity Play button. Then I quickly minimize Audacity which leaves Powerpoint displayed on the screen. Then I quickly click to start the PowerPoint show. If you put enough silence on the front of the Audacity recording - you should have enough time to do all this and get to the PPT.

Once the Camtasia recording is done - I just delete the beginning part which shows Audacity and the minimizing of it's window.

I also have problems with some text on the screen being blurry. When that happens, I use the Zoom function in Camtasia to zoom in so I can read the text. It's not perfect, but it's usually good enough.