Storyline Step-By-Step Slides: View, Try and Test Mode
As you’ve used Storyline 360, you may have noticed the Record Screen option. It’s perfect for putting together a software tutorial or explainer video quickly. But once you’ve created a recording, did you know that Storyline 360 also has three ways to automatically break that content into easily digestible steps? That’s right—Storyline 360 keeps track of all the different clicks and interactions in your recording. So if you want to transform that video into step-by-step slides, Storyline 360 can do the development work for you. You can then use the results as is or further customize the steps to fit your learners’ needs. In this article, we’ll look at how these different step-by-step modes work and when they’re most helpful for learning. Demonstrate a Process with View Mode If you need to introduce learners to a new tool or process, View Mode is the way to go! With View Mode, your video is split into multiple slides that show each step. The slides automatically animate through your tutorial, like a guided tour. And with the option to add text captions automatically, you can even include on-screen explanations of each step. Since learners are just watching the demonstration, it’s a perfect way to ease them into navigating brand new tools or techniques. Provide Hands-On Practice with Try Mode When you want learners to try out a process in a safe environment, select Try Mode. Storyline 360 automatically adds timed pauses, hotspots, and keyboard shortcuts to make your screen recording interactive. And for more guided help, Storyline 360 can also add small text captions on each screen to provide hints about what to do! Since Try Mode asks learners to do the process themselves, it’s a good fit for when they already have some baseline knowledge—either from past experience or an earlier lesson—and need hands-on practice. And since Try Mode interactions aren’t graded, they’re a stress-free way to learn from mistakes. Assess Learner Skills with Test Mode At first glance, Test Mode looks a lot like Try Mode. But where the latter is all about practice, the former focuses on assessment. In Test Mode, Storyline 360 converts each interactive video slide into a graded question. You can then use the Test Mode options and quiz settings to customize the experience further. For instance, you can set what feedback (if any) to show after a learner responds to the steps, how many attempts they have to get it right, and what counts as a passing score for the overall test. Test Mode is perfect for wrapping up a course and confirming learners can do a process independently. And since the quiz score can be reported to a learning management system (LMS), it’s also a way to mark course completion. Try Out These Modes for Yourself Those short explanations are a great introduction, but do you know the best way to understand these different modes? By getting hands-on experience with them! Want to see these modes in action? Check out this Storyline step-by-step example to see the same content shared in View, Try, and Test Modes. You can also watch the original screen recording they were all created from. Wrap-Up The screen recorder in Storyline 360 makes it easy to provide the help learners need to pick up new or improved software—whether with a video tutorial, a step-by-step breakdown, guided practice, or an interactive assessment. And since there’s no limit to how many times you can use your recording, you can even include more than one mode in your course with minimal additional effort! Interested in discovering more tips for recording your screen with the Articulate 360 apps? Then check out these helpful articles: Follow These 5 Steps to Record Your Screen in Storyline 360 How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording 5 Tips for Creating Effective Software Simulations with Storyline 360 Want to try something you learned here but don’t have Articulate 360? It takes no time at all to start a free 30-day trial. If you have any questions, share them in the comments below. And be sure to come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning.6 Software Training Examples That Will Make Learners “Screen” With Joy
Employees often come to an organization with a wide range of technical experience. But one thing is certain—software training empowers employees to perform more efficiently and confidently. For intuitive software, a simple screencast can orient your employees to an app’s layout and features. Other times, you might need to give learners a more hands-on learning experience with a simulation that creates a risk-free practice environment. In either case, if you need some inspiration for creating software training, check out our favorite community examples. From screencasts to simulations, you’ll find creative solutions to spark your next project! Rise 360: Project Management Software Training Use labeled graphics, multimedia, and interactive blocks to give learners both an introduction and inspiration for how to use new software like Madison McCartney does in this Rise 360 course. Storyline: E-Learning Heroes 101 Guide learners through the step-by-step process to create an E-Learning Heroes community profile with this helpful simulation from Allison LaMotte. Storyline: Audio Editing Simulation Get learners comfortable using audio editing tools before even downloading any software, thanks to this simulation by Josh Petermann that includes both a view and try mode. Storyline: Learn Triggers Software Simulation Safely introduce new software to learners and let them practice risk-free, like in this handy simulation by Richard Watson. Storyline: Review 360 Software Simulation Replicate the experience of using new software by taking inspiration from this helpful Review 360 software simulation created by the Community Team. Storyline: Video Editing Controls Simulation Give learners a realistic opportunity to practice interacting with video editing software just as Dan Sweigert does in this guided simulation. Wrap-Up Hopefully, these examples spark ideas for how you’ll empower learners with your next software training. Our generous community members share their projects in weekly challenges, downloads, and examples, so check back regularly for new inspiration. What type of software training do you plan on tackling next? Let us know in the comments! To learn more about creating software training, check out these articles: The Difference Between Screencasts and Software Simulations 4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360 2 Reasons to Use Storyline 360 for Software Simulations Everything You Need to Know About Creating Software Simulations with Storyline How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.Follow These 5 Steps to Record Your Screen in Storyline 360
One of the great things about the screen recording feature in Storyline 360 is that you can use it to simulate real-life tasks inside different systems and software apps. It’s a robust feature with lots of customization options and great capabilities—and it’s super easy and intuitive to use! Let’s walk through how to get started. 1.Launch the Recorder You have a few options to launch the screen recorder. One is to start a new project by picking Record Screen. Another option is to go to the Home tab, click New Slide, and select Record Screen: Finally, you can select Record Screen from the Slides tab: It doesn’t matter which way you do it. It just comes down to personal preference. 2. Set the Recording Dimensions When the recording tool launches, start by setting the dimensions for your screen recording. You have two options: 1. Choose a pre-set dimension from the drop-down list. This is helpful because it’s easy to match the size of the course you’re creating and also helps ensure consistency across multiple screen recordings. 2. Adjust the window size using the sizing handles. Not sure what size you should use for recording? Check out this article for some tips on recording high-resolution screencasts. 3. Choose Your Recording Options Next to the “recording size” drop-down menu, you’ll notice a gear icon. Click this to adjust the settings—like which microphone (for voiceover audio) you want to record. In the Screen Recording window, you’ll also find another cool feature, called Move New Windows into Recording Area. If you plan to switch between apps or windows during your recording, be sure to check this option. This allows you to show multiple windows during your screen recording instead of just one. 4. Record Your Process Once you’ve specified your dimensions and settings, you’re ready to record your screen! Just click the red Record button, wait for the countdown, and then go through the steps you want to record. When you’re done, hit the Escape key on your keyboard or click Done in the recording bar. If you make a mistake and want to start over, click the trash can icon. 5. Choose Your Insert Option After you record your screencast and are ready to include it in your course, it’s time to decide how you want learners to experience it. In Storyline 360 there are four different ways to include your screencast. You can: Insert it as a video demonstration for your learners using View mode. Let your learners practice what you’re teaching them by inserting the screencast using Try mode. Check your learners’ knowledge on the material by inserting the screencast using Test mode. Finally, you can insert the screencast as a video. The first three options break your screencast out into multiple different slides automatically, making it easier to add information to your course, whereas the fourth option allows you to add your screencast as a video to just a single slide. Once you’ve inserted your recording, you can add any information or multimedia you want, just like you can on any other type of slide. For example, you might want to add some contextual information to help learners understand why and when they’ll need to use the features you’re showing on the screen. Wrap-Up And that’s all there is to it! Recording your screen in Storyline 360 is super easy. And once you’ve recorded, it’s easy to customize the recording so it fits your learners’ needs. Want to learn more about creating software training? Check out the articles below. Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro The Difference Between Screencasts and Software Simulations Storyline 360: Inserting Screen Recordings Why Use Storyline for Software Simulations? A Useful Technique for Recording High-Resolution Screencasts in Storyline 360 How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording Have any Storyline 360 recorder tips of your own? Feel free to share in the comments section below! And, of course, if you have any questions, be sure to leave those there as well. Want to create your own screen recording, but don’t have Articulate 360? Start a free30-day trial, and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning.4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360
Picture this: you’ve been tasked with getting new hires up to speed on your department’s project management tool. Or maybe you stumbled upon a cool trick in your team’s favorite app and you want to spread the word. Where do you start? Software training is a common need at most companies, but it can be daunting—not to mention time-consuming—to create. But don’t fret! With Rise 360, anyone—even SMEs—can create software tutorials with ease! I recently found a huge productivity hack with my team’s project management tool and needed to share it with my team. Let me walk you through how I used Rise 360 to quickly create a software tutorial. 1. Use the Labeled Graphic Block to introduce people to the software Before you get into the weeds of how to use the software, it’s a good idea to make sure people are familiar with the terminology and layout of the app they’ll be using. Instead of breaking out any old screen recording software, you can instantly acquaint your learners with the software’s user interface (UI) using Rise 360’s Labeled Graphic Block. As you can see from the image above, I used a screenshot of my project management app (Trello) and placed markers over the navigation buttons and other key features. I was also able to change the default marker icon to a number to intuitively guide learners through the interface step by step. 2. Use video to walk them through the software With a basic understanding of the software’s layout, your learners are ready to learn more about how to use it for their work. I like to do this by creating a quick screencast to guide learners through how to use the software. Sometimes video tutorials can drag on—especially with a feature-rich app—so instead of creating one long video, I break it up into bite-size chunks to make sure I’m not overwhelming my learners with too much new information. You’ll find that you can upload video into many different block types in Rise 360, or embed it from popular streaming sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and Wistia. In my case, I landed on using the Timeline Block to showcase two different methods of using the software that result in the same goal. However, the Process and Tabs Blocks are also great options if you want to walk learners through a successive list of steps. Pro tip: To make sure my screencast filled my Rise 360 blocks, I recorded my screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Need help figuring out which app to use for screen recording? Check out this article for some pointers. 3. Combine audio, text, and images to show and tell While screencasts are incredibly useful for learning the ropes in a new app, you don’t always need to record a video to achieve that goal. For simple processes, written step-by-step instructions paired with simple GIF animations can be just as engaging and memorable. Rise 360 lets you add both media AND text in the interactive blocks. This means you can use interactive block types like Tabs, Process, and Timeline Blocks to take a complex process—like adding a new customer profile to your company’s customer relationship management (CRM) software—and break it out into a series of quick steps, highlighting a few key actions people need to take in each step. This is also a great way to showcase a few key software-use cases or general tips and tricks for getting up to speed on using an app. As you can see from the GIF below, I used the Process Block to show my team how to customize their Trello board using three different Trello customization features. The animated GIF shows them where to find the customization features, and my supporting written instructions explain exactly what steps to take. Pro tip: If you find yourself wanting to include audio content in your software tutorial, play around with the Timeline Block, which allows you to incorporate audio-only media alongside supporting images, videos, GIFS, and written text. 4. Provide additional resources To ensure your learners are fully prepared to use the software once they complete your tutorial, it can be helpful to provide them with additional resources like job aids, checklists, or reference materials. In my case, I wanted to give my teammates access to more helpful articles and inspiration for how they could use our project management tool to fit their specific productivity needs. As you can see below, I landed on using a combination of Rise 360’s Accordion and Button Blocks to link out to additional blogs, webinars, and more complex tutorials on using the app. Pro tip: You may find that creating a PDF summarizing key software features or functions will help learners as they start using the app on their own. The File Attachment Block in Rise 360 is perfect for this. Here’s a quick GIF showing you where to find this block in the Blocks Library. Summing it up If you’re curious to see how I used these four simple tips to create my own software tutorial, check out my software tutorial example course. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to start using Rise 360 for your own software tutorials! Have some power tips or clever ways to use blocks? Are you already creating software tutorials using Rise 360? Let me know in the comments! Want to try something you learned here, but don’t have Articulate 360? Start a free 30-day trial, and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.A Useful Technique for Recording High-Resolution Screencasts in Storyline 360
Screencasts help learners get familiar with systems and software before they dig in for themselves. In this post, you’ll learn how you can create high-resolution recordings that display every important detail using Storyline 360. The secret to pixel-perfect screencasts is making sure that you capture and play your video at around the same size. If you shrink or expand your screen recording to fit your slides, you’ll end up with a final product that’s blurry and hard for learners to follow. The screen recording tool in Storyline 360 makes it really easy to avoid this problem, since you can create screencasts at any size and customize the recording options to minimize scaling. Here’s how to do it in a few easy steps. Step 1: Identify the Ideal Screen Resolution First, you’ll want to determine the average or target screen resolution for your learners. This is important because the more your project has to scale up or down to fit the target screen resolution, the lower the resulting image quality. Obviously, there will be some variation in screen resolution among your learners, but the goal here is to choose a screen resolution that’s closest to what most people use to limit how much your course has to scale. This article provides some helpful context about screen-size trends. Do your research, talk to your learners, and make an informed choice. Step 2: Set Your Story Size Then, set your story size to the target screen resolution you’ve chosen. Since your aim is to avoid scaling, it’s important that your recording dimensions match the story size you’ve chosen. When you’re ready to record, set the recording area to the same dimensions. Note that it’s always best to define your story size before you begin creating your course. If you change your story size mid-project, you might need to adjust the size and placement of objects on any slides that you added prior to changing the dimensions. Bonus Tips Need to switch between apps while you’re recording? Want to record your entire screen without compromising on quality? Check out these bonus tips: If you’re switching between different software in a single recording, this helpful post from Tom Kuhlmann has a cool trick for making sure all your windows display at the right size. If you need to capture your entire screen and you have a large monitor, lower your monitor’s resolution (while maintaining the same aspect ratio) before you record. It might look blurry while you’re capturing your screen, but when you go back to your normal resolution afterwards the image will look crisp. More Resources There you have it! You’ve just added a new technique for creating high-resolution screencasts to your e-learning development skills list. 👏 Looking for more ideas for creating great screencasts? Get tips from the experts in this article: Tips for Using the Storyline 360 Screen Recorder Like a Pro Start Creating High-Resolution Screen Recordings in Storyline 360 Today! Start a free 30-day trial of Articulate 360 to build high-resolution screen recordings in Storyline 360, and so much more. And be sure to come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have questions or screen recording tips to share, please leave a comment below!The Difference between Screencasts and Software Simulations
If you’re new to creating software training—and even if you’re not!—you might use the terms screencast and software simulation interchangeably. But did you know they’re actually two different things? It can be easy to get these terms confused, so let’s walk through the nuances that differentiate these two methods and explore the use cases for each. Screencasts Screencasts are videos that show a recording of your computer screen. They’re often used to demonstrate the use of an application or software. They include all of your mouse movements and typically have audio narration that gives learners more contextual information about the process they’re seeing—such as the names of various software features or steps. Because screencasts are simply videos, they’re not interactive. When to use a screencast Screencasts are great for creating simple “how-to” videos. This kind of visual walkthrough is beneficial when you’re trying to explain a process that’s too complicated to explain with written text alone. And if the process isn’t something learners will be doing frequently, screencasts can be a helpful performance support resource that learners can easily reference in the future. How to create a screencast If you have Articulate 360, you already have access to not just one but TWO apps that are specifically designed for screencasts: Peek 360 and Replay 360. Learn more about when to use each app in this article: How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording. Want to see an example? Watch the “How to Add Comments in Review 360” screencast I created with Peek 360 below. This screencast provides a short overview of how to provide feedback on courses in the Review 360 web application. It’s perfect for an audience who may be comfortable with web-based technology and already have familiarity with Review 360. The screencast focuses on a simple process. It’s clear, concise, and to the point. So, how does a software simulation differ? Well, I’m glad you asked. Software Simulations While you also have to record your screen to create a software simulation, the major difference is that instead of simply showing the learners what to do, you give them the opportunity to try it out for themselves. They’re called simulations because you simulate the software’s interface by recording it and turning that recording into an interactive practice environment for learners. They can go through and click on all the buttons—like you did when you recorded it. It’s almost as if they’re using the software themselves. The advantage of doing it this way—versus simply having them use the actual software—is that you can build in on-screen explanations and feedback to guide them as they practice. Software simulations are usually the go-to for creating software training because they provide learners with a risk-free environment to help them learn a new app or process. Another thing that sets simulations apart from screencasts is that you can test your learners’ understanding by creating a simulation that’s graded. For every click in the right spot, learners can earn points. And for clicks in the wrong spots, points can be taken away. It’s a great way to ensure learners have understood how to complete specific processes within an app or software. When to use a software simulation Interactive software simulations are ideal when you want learners to physically practice using the software themselves—including entering data, interacting with drop-down menus, and identifying multiple steps in a more complex process. Software simulations give learners an opportunity to practice using the proper click-path of a specific process or software without fear of impacting the actual production environment or ruining any real-life data. With software simulations, you can put your learners in the driver’s seat so they can deepen their knowledge of a process, gain experience, and build confidence in using an app or piece of software. How to create asoftware simulation Articulate 360 subscribers can use Storyline 360 to create software simulations quickly and easily. Want to learn how? Here’s a tutorial that’ll help you get started: Creating Software Simulations in Storyline 360. Want to see an example? Explore the software simulation created with Storyline 360 below. In this example, users learn how to get started using the Review 360 web application. This simulation walks through four basic steps that you need to know how to do if you’ll be using Review 360. You’ll notice that because learners actually click through the software themselves, they must pay closer attention to each step in the process. This simulation is perfect for an audience who might not be as familiar with web-based technology or for users who are brand new to navigating Review 360. With simulations, learners can confidently navigate a new application because they’re practicing in the safety of a learning environment. View example More Resources Now you’re well on your way to identifying the nuances between screencasts and software simulations and you should be able to use these terms confidently when tackling your next project! To help you keep everything straight, I’ve outlined the differences in the handy table below. Screencasts Software Simulations Use case Demonstrate a simple, straightforward process. Train learners on a complex process through interactive practice and/or assessment opportunities. Interactive No Yes On-Screen Hints & Feedback No Yes Looking for more best practices around creating screencasts and software simulations? Check out these resources! And let us know in the comments what screencasts and software simulations you’ll be creating next. Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro 3 Methods for Recording Screencasts 4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360 Tips for Using the Storyline 360 Screen Recorder Like a Pro Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording
Since software training is one of the most common types of e-learning, it’s no surprise that Articulate 360 includes not one, not two, but three apps with screen recording features. Each of these apps has a unique feature set and is specifically designed for a different purpose. If you’re wondering which app to use for your project, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to learn more about how screen recording differs in Peek 360, Replay 360, and Storyline 360 and the types of projects best suited for each. Peek 360 Peek 360 is a lightweight app that works natively on both Macs and PCs and lives in your menu bar or system tray, so it’s always just a click away. Once you’ve recorded your screen, it automatically uploads to Review 360, generating a shareable link. You can also download the .MP4 file and insert the video into your Rise 360 or Storyline 360 courses or export it for LMS to use it as a stand-alone asset. Since Peek 360 doesn’t have editing capabilities, it’s best for recording short screencasts to share with team members on the fly or to insert into your courses as is. Check out our tutorials and user guide for more details on how to create and distribute screencasts with Peek 360. Replay 360 If you’re looking to create a longer screencast that could require some editing, Replay 360 might be a better choice. In addition to some lightweight editing options, this Windows-compatible desktop app allows you to record your screen and your webcam simultaneously, creating a cool picture-in-picture effect. You can also insert images, video clips, and lower thirds, making it easy to create a polished tutorial video that you can use on its own or insert into your Rise 360 or Storyline 360 course. For more information on Replay 360, check out our tutorials and user guide. Storyline 360 Storyline 360 also allows you to record your screen, but unlike Peek 360 and Replay 360, that’s not its sole purpose. Storyline 360 is a full-fledged authoring app that not only lets you record screencasts and build software simulations but also lets you add custom interactions, quizzes, and much more. This makes Storyline 360 the ideal choice when you want your software training to be interactive. It’s also a great option if you want to overlay text or objects—like arrows or highlight zones—on top of your video. Storyline 360 has some editing capabilities, allowing you to make adjustments to your recording after the fact. You can also easily add subtitles to your screencast—and your entire course—directly in Storyline 360, which is great for accessibility. When you’re done, you can publish to video, web, or LMS. If you want to take a closer look at the screen recording feature in Storyline 360, check out this tutorial or head on over to the user guide. The Bottom Line Peek 360, Replay 360, and Storyline 360 are all great options for recording your screen. Which app you use depends on your project requirements. If you need to record a screencast super-fast, Peek 360 is the way to go. When you want to edit your screencast or record your webcam along with it, go with Replay 360. And when you want to create an interactive software simulation, overlay additional content, or add subtitles to your screen recording, opt for Storyline 360. To make it super-easy to compare the feature-sets of the different apps, I pulled together this quick-reference guide: Peek 360 Replay 360 Storyline 360 Work natively on Macs X Work natively on PCs X X X Record screen X X X Record mic audio X X X Record webcam X X* Edit recording X X Add interactivity X Add closed captions X Publish to video (.MP4) X X X Publish for LMS X** X** X Publish to Review 360 X X X Once you’ve decided which app to use, you might be wondering how to start building your software training. Here’s an article that’ll help you get off on the right foot: Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro. Want to try out these apps, but don’t have Articulate 360? Start a free 30-day trial. And subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest product updates, e-learning examples, and expert advice directly in your inbox. *Webcam recording must be done separately from screen recording **Publish FoR LMS via Review 360Audio Basics for Online Course Design
A great way to create an engaging learning experience for your audience is to include audio narration with your explanatory text and visuals. You could narrate the entire course, use audio just for character scenarios, or include first-person accounts from learners or Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). And now it’s easier than ever to add audio to your online courses. High-quality microphones and recording software are readily available to everyone. In fact, both Windows and Mac computers ship with studio-quality recording apps preloaded. And if you don’t want to record audio in a third-party software suite, many content creation apps include their own audio recording tools. But even with easy access to high-quality microphones and recording apps, it can be tricky to make professional-quality audio if you’ve never done it before. Don’t worry, though; we’ve got you covered! By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be creating audio like the pros in no time. Write a Narration Script The first step to recording high-quality audio has nothing to do with audio equipment or software at all. Good narration starts with a script. To create a narration script, move the note text out of your course file, or wherever you’ve been compiling it, and into a table-formatted document. This way you can quickly see and read the text that needs to be recorded as well as make any changes on the fly (without losing your place). A narration script can take many forms, as long as it has these three main components: Slide number: Slide numbers let you know which text goes with which slide. It’s also helpful for naming your audio files after recording. Narration script: This is the actual text you’re recording. Narration notes: These notes provide direction for the narrator on how to read the script, including pronunciation guides, tips for emphasis, and narration pacing. Here’s an example of what that might look like: Slide # Script Notes Slide 1 Sooner or later, everyone gets a flat tire. And chances are it won’t happen at a good time. I can hear some of you saying, “Why should I learn to change my tire? I have roadside assistance.” Use a firm but friendly tone here. Pitch your voice a bit for the quote but avoid making it sound whiny. For more tips on writing effective audio narration scripts, check out this article: More Than a Dozen Tips for Writing Awesome Audio Narration Scripts. Choose the Right Microphone Now that you have your narration script, it’s time to take a look at your microphone. Whenever possible, you want to avoid using the microphone that’s built into your computer. Not only is it not made for capturing audio narration, but it can pick up mechanical noise from your computer. The same goes for microphones embedded in your earphones. They’re fine for phone calls and meetings, but shouldn't be relied on for professional recordings. For crisp, clear narration, invest in an external microphone. You don’t have to buy the most expensive one on the shelf, but with audio equipment, you really do get what you pay for. If you’re recording audio on a regular basis and want high-quality results, be prepared to invest at least $100. There are many different types of microphones out there, but the two most common are omnidirectional and unidirectional. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Deciding which one is right for you depends on what you’re looking to record. Omnidirectional Unidirectional An omnidirectional microphone picks up sound from all directions. It’s great for capturing: Ambient sounds Outdoor sounds On-the-scene sounds People speaking in a large room It works best for situations where you don’t have a specific or target audio source or when you need to capture a scene or an environment’s audio profile. A unidirectional microphone records audio sounds only from one direction (typically, the front), so it's usually the best type to use for audio narration. These do a better job of minimizing ambient or background sounds that might distract from the actual spoken words. The best ones come with enhanced pick-up algorithms that focus specifically on the narrator’s voice. Keeping all this in mind, many popular USB microphones can do double duty as omnidirectional and unidirectional microphones. Some let you control the mode manually with software, while others will automatically shift between modes if they detect multiple speakers. Consider Buying a Windscreen or a Pop Filter With omnidirectional and unidirectional microphones, you have two main options to sharpen the quality of sound you capture. Let’s take a quick look at these helpful accessories. Windscreens Pop Filters Windscreens filter the most sound and can reduce background ambient noise. You can generally find a windscreen for $20 or less. Pop filters reduce popping sounds on “p” and “b” sounds by adding a layer of protection to the microphone. They also minimize unwanted breath sounds that happen when you exhale too close to the microphone. Most pop filters cost less than $20, though you can easily make your own. Just wrap nylon stockings around a clothes hanger and place it in front of the microphone before you start recording. Again, if you're using a software-enhanced microphone, there may be virtual options for improving your sound and reducing unwanted noise. Check the settings before you begin recording and play with the different options to make sure they deliver the kind of audio output you’re looking for. Reduce Ambient Noise While a good microphone and clever software can make your audio sound great, the direct audio input is only half the story. The other part of the equation is ambient noise. Build a Portable Studio Box When you’re recording in a professional studio, the walls, floors, and overall room acoustics are specially insulated to cancel unwanted ambient noises. Since this type of setup is neither affordable nor portable for the average e-learning designer, many users build their own recording studio boxes. With something as simple as foam seat cushions, you can put together a portable recording box that encases your microphone. It cancels out a large portion of ambient noise and gives you a quick bump in audio quality. Don’t have seat cushions or you’re stuck recording narration away from home? Use pillows! For more information about portable studio boxes, check out this article: Record Better Audio with an Affordable Do-It-Yourself Sound Booth. Silence Your Recording Space It’s not possible to remove all sounds, but there are some things you can do to minimize ambient sounds. When possible, designate a particular room as your recording room and use it for your entire recording project. Your room’s layout, wall treatment, and furniture all affect the quality of your recordings. A carpeted room with furniture sounds different from an empty room with wood flooring. Here are some common ambient noises and tips for minimizing them: Air conditioning: While it might not be ideal if it’s summer, you should still consider turning it off. Air conditioning is responsible for most of the noise in your office. Computer: Computer fans and hard drives produce a lot of noise, so place your computer under your desk. The more distance you can put between your computer and your microphone, the quieter the room will be. External devices: Disconnect unused computers, printers, and external hard drives.You’d be surprised at how much ambient noise idle electronics produce. The fewer devices you have running the better. Hard surfaces:Even if you don’t have sound-dampening material on the walls like in a professional studio, you can make a big dent in ambient noise with carpet, window treatments, furniture, and any other materials that absorb sound. If you can’t make a portable studio box as described above, placing pillows around your laptop and microphone makes a huge impact. In fact, that’s what NPR correspondents do when they have to file reports from their hotel rooms! Create a Consistent Environment Even if you don’t have access to a professional recording studio, you can improve the quality of your narration by creating a consistent recording environment. Here are some tips that’ll help you do just that: Microphones:Use the same microphone each time you record. Microphones have personalities, and even if you always use a high-quality mic, you’ll notice a difference in the audio when listened to back-to-back if you don’t use the same one. Capture your recording settings: Whether you’re sharing a recording setup with co-workers or going solo, you should always capture the important settings you use for your recordings for consistency. This includes input levels, microphone settings, and any other audio settings you’ve tweaked during recording. Take a screenshot or a picture of your settings before you close out of your project. Microphone stands: Microphone stands come in both desktop and floor models. They help capture clean and consistent audio recordings by normalizing the distance between you and your microphone. Find the ideal distance by placing the mic stand in different positions, then note that in your recording settings. Record Your Audio Your room is set up and you’re ready to record, right? Almost! There are still a few things you should do before you jump into your first official take. 1. Check Your Mic Input Levels This is one of the most important things you can do when recording. If the levels are too high, you’ll pick up cracks, pops, and other digital artifacts. If the levels are too low,it’ll be difficult to hear in the published course. A general rule of thumb is to keep your input levels between -12db and -6db. Since you’re recording digitally, you’ll find all audio recording programs make it easy to identify the ideal levels. Here’s what good input levels look like: Notice how the levels are between -12 and -6? That leaves enough room for louder sounds without the risk of clipping. Here’s an example of audio that’s too “hot” and likely producing unwanted distortion: 2. Test Your Recordings After you’ve verified your input levels, record a short piece of test audio. Even with perfected settings, other recording issues can unexpectedly occur, such as a problem with hardware, an accidental audio setting change, or your voice not projecting as loudly as expected. It happens. Always take the time to record at least 30 seconds of test audio before you jump into your actual script recording. 3. Listen to Your Audio with Headphones Headphones isolate ambient noise and help you hear your recorded audio clearly. Because they’re worn over the ears, you get the closest, most realistic playback of your audio. Also, most users will listen to your courses with headphones—especially those in corporate or academic settings—so you’ll want to hear exactly what they hear. 4. Record in One Session For optimal consistency in your recording, it’s best to record your script in a single session. Even when you control your recording environment, your voice can sound different from one session to another. When you record in a single session, you’ll have more control over small but noticeable recording variables that occur. If you do have to rerecord some of your audio, record the full paragraph or slide rather than a single word or phrase. Differences in your voice are less obvious when you rerecord larger sections of audio. Summary Now that you have a basic understanding of audio recording for e-learning, you’re well-equipped to record your next project like a pro. Looking to take the next step and do even more with audio? Check out these articles: 3 Steps for Recording Microphone and System Sounds Simultaneously How to Use Audio in E-Learning More Than a Dozen Tips for Writing Awesome Audio Narration Scripts Want some hands-on audio experience? Jump into one of these e-learning challenges and share your audio examples: E-Learning Podcasts: Audio Interviews with Course Designers #266 Using Interactive Audio Soundboards in E-Learning #317 Using Audio and Sound Effects in E-Learning #242 And remember to follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any comments, please share them below.Screen Recording Basics for Online Course Design
Screencasts are a great way to explain a process or demonstrate a concept. And with today’s simple and powerful tools—like Replay 360 and Peek 360—it’s never been easier to create and share screencasts. Regardless of which app you use, here’s what you need to know to record quality screencasts for your projects. Before You Record You might be eager to get started on your video, but you’ll save a significant amount of time and effort if you prepare yourself and your environment first. These best practices will help you get started: Plan your material. Write a script that walks through the process you plan to show and use it as you record. It’ll help you stay on track so you sound professional and prepared. It can also keep you from rambling or saying, “uh … um …” as you try to recall what you’d planned to talk about next. Get a good microphone. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on equipment to record a good screencast, but a high-quality microphone is a must. Be sure to read reviews and ask for advice to find the best one in your budget. Minimize background noise. It’s hard to quiet all of life’s ambient noise, but you can reduce it dramatically. Close your door, switch off the phone ringer, and pick a time of day that’s usually quiet, so you have fewer distractions and a quiet space to record. See this article for more tips on recording quality audio: Audio Basics for Online Course Design. Clean up your screen. No one wants to see the random files, pictures, and folders on your desktop. Make sure your screen looks neat and clean before you start recording. Prepare your screens and applications. To avoid wasting recording time looking for your visuals, have them ready before you start. If you open and minimize your screens, you can launch them with one click. Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse your material so your delivery feels fluid and natural. You’ll be surprised at how your comfort level with the material comes through when you record. While You Record Once you’ve prepared yourself and your environment, you’re ready to hit the Record button. That’s great! Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you record your screencast: Stick to the point. Be respectful of your learners’ time and stay on point. Follow your script, speak directly and clearly, and smoothly transition your audience from point A to point B. Take your time. While it’s important to be efficient, you don’t want your screencast to feel abrupt or rushed. Remember to breathe and speak at a normal pace, as if you’re explaining something to a friend. Tell your learners where to look. Your learners aren’t with you in real time and can’t see you gesture to tell them where something’s located. So instead of saying, “Over there …,” be more specific and say, “Up in the right corner of your screen ….” Another way to direct people’s attention on screen is with your cursor. However, be careful not to overuse it because it can become distracting if it’s darting across the screen as you talk. Use your mouse to move and click when it relates to your point, but leave it alone the rest of the time. After You Record Now that you’ve captured your video, follow these last few steps to finalize your screencast and get it ready for airtime. Review and edit your recording. Play your video and try to look at it with an objective eye. Should you trim the ends of your recording for a crisper start and finish? Does your audio sound clear and align with your video? Does it feel too long, too short, or just right? If it’s hard to evaluate your own work, ask a friend to look at it with you. Once you’ve given the video a thorough review, make the adjustments you need to give it an added level of polish. Pick a good thumbnail. Your thumbnail image sells your video, so pick one that will pique learners’ interest. Most recordings default to your opening image, but that’s not always your video’s best moment. Choose an image that tells your story or hooks your learners into your screencast. Share your video. Embed your video in a course or upload it directly to your Learning Management System (LMS) or intranet so learners can reap the benefits of your hard work. Wrap-Up As with anything, practice makes perfect. Your screencasts will get better as you do more of them. The process will become more natural and you’ll learn your own tricks over time. Before you know it, you’ll have a library of high-quality screencasts for your e-learning audience! Want more tips on creating software training? Check out these helpful articles: The Difference between Screencasts and Software Simulations 3 Methods for Recording Screencasts 3 Steps for Recording Microphone and System Sounds Simultaneously 4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360 How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any comments, please share them below.
