How To Record An Asynchronous Video Using Echo 360 and Add It To Your CourseWorks
- Former user (Deleted)
- Basem Aly
This article is intended for use by faculty or staff in order to create asynchronous videos and add it to a course on CourseWorks by using the Universal Capture application.
Choosing the Video Platform
The two main recording methods we recommend are:
- Recording with Echo360's Universal Capture (UC) software, either by downloading its desktop app or using browser capture via the blue Create button->New Browser Capture.
- Recording with Zoom and then uploading the MP4 file to Echo using the blue Create button->Upload Media.
Please see below for more on alternative video recording options.
Differences:
- Zoom enables you to show your face on the screen (as you're technically in a call, albeit, with you as the sole participant), superimposed over any document or application you may be sharing on the screen.
- Echo360 Universal Capture hides itself from view so that you can focus on the content you are delivering to the viewer.
Recording with Echo's UC creates two video streams (camera + screen capture; the player allows you to see both simultaneously or alternate between them), whereas the Zoom video is a single stream with the presenter's face superimposed over the upper-right corner of the main image (the shared screen), which some presenters prefer.
- Echo360 UC adds important disclaimers and copyright messages at the start and end of all recordings
Echo360: Launch the Application
Log in to CourseWorks and navigate to the desired course.
Find the course menu on the left and click on Echo 360.
At the top, click on the Create button.
Choose New Software Capture.
If you have not downloaded Universal Capture, click on Mac Download if currently using a Mac device or Windows Download if using a Windows device. Do not close the tab since you will return to this page.
The application installer will be downloaded, please run the installer and follow the prompts on the screen. For more information review the article on Installing Universal Capture.
In your web browser, click on the Launch Universal Capture button.
Set the Recording Details
You may be prompted to log in with your Columbia University credentials.
Once logged in, at the top of the application, click on the pencil icon in order to set the details for your recording.
Enter your course details:
Enter the unique name in the Title section.
Ensure that the Publish to field is set to your desired course.
Description, Tags, Quality and Class can be left at their default settings.
Ensure that you click the blue Save button on the bottom right.
Record Your Video
Select the inputs you want to capture by clicking on the dropdown arrow. You will see a preview below the menu options.
You can select to capture any combination of available inputs desired such as your screen displaying your Powerpoint or desktop along with your web camera.
You can select only your web camera or screen.
Select your Display
Display is any content being shown on your screen
Display with System Audio is any any content being shown on your screen along with any sounds made by your device. Note this is not audio from your youtube video but chimes made by your computer system.
No input does not record anything except your microphone audio.
After choosing your inputs, click on the red button to begin the recording. There will be a 5 second countdown before it begins and the recorder will minimize.
When you are finished with your recording, click on the square button to stop the recording.
The next screen will state that the Upload is in Progress. Leave the window open until it is complete.
When it is finished uploading, you will see Capture Complete.
Alternative Video Recording Options
You can use any software you feel comfortable with to record your videos. Here are a few popular examples:
- Zoom (Mac or Windows):
A few professors preferred this method over having to learn how to use Echo360 Capture. The other reason for using Zoom is its ability to show your face on the screen (as you're technically in a call, albeit, with you as the sole participant), superimposed over any document or application you may be sharing on the screen. In contrast, once you hit the Record button in Echo360 Capture, its interface hides itself from view so that you can focus on the content you are delivering to the viewer, but this means that you're effectively staring at your presentation for an hour with no sense of what you look like at any moment. Lastly, recording with Echo360 Capture creates two video streams (camera + screen capture; the player allows you to see both simultaneously or alternate between them), whereas the Zoom video is a single stream with the presenter's face superimposed over the upper-right corner of the main image (the shared screen), which some presenters prefer. - ShareX (Windows):
If you are looking for a completely free and open-source screen recording tool, ShareXshould be your choice. It offers tons of features that you will expect from the tool, which also means there is a substantial learning curve because the menus are not exactly familiar on the first go.
It can record the screen, share the screen with others, and customize many aspects of the program. The software allows you to configure what will happen once the capture is complete or the upload is complete. It is perfect for those scenarios where there is s workflow to follow. It also supports hotkeys to get things done quickly.
- Mac Built-in Video
macOS has tons of features built-in the OS, including the screen recorder tool. If you press Shift-Command (⌘)-5 on your keyboard on your MacBook, it will instantly launch the built-in editor. It offers onscreen controls for recording the entire screen, recording a selected portion of the screen, or capturing a still image of your screen.
Post recording, you can choose to save videos instantly or let the video float as a thumbnail, which you can immediately open in edit mode. It is handy when you want to edit right away or see a preview. The timer allows you to add a delay before starting the recording.