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Convert WebEx Recordings on a Mac

Using WebEx to conduct webinars and trainings is excellent – lots of collaboration and sharing features, including video of your presenters.  One of the best features for this kind of session is the ‘network based recording’ feature – the ability to record on the fly, and then share your recording from a simple URL link.  For most people, streaming from your WebEx site/account is convenient enough that we don’t do anything other than slap the link out on our website, or in emails to customers and colleagues, and forget about it.  For others, we want to take that recording (which is basically a video) and pull it down, convert it to other formats, and share elsewhere.  WebEx offers a converter – but it only works on Windows.  That’s really painful as a Mac user- even running a VM, it’s just slow and resource-hogging. 

I recently had a customer who had some recordings that she wanted to convert and use elsewhere – but since I only had a Mac to work with, I was stuck.  I went looking for a screen recorder utility in the Mac App store, and ended up choosing Screen Capture-Pro – it was around $5.  Screen Capture Pro lets you recording what’s on your screen – either choosing a selectable portion, or the whole thing – and even choose to record audio either from your mic or the computer audio.  This was key – I needed the audio from the voiceover & discussion in the recordings as well as the images.

Positives

-lets you create an MOV from your ARF

-perfect if you want to edit your results later using FCP or other Mac editing utilities

-great for mobile playback on iOS devices (we have a lot of ipad and iphone users)

-easy to use

-slick interface, simple set of options

-good quality results

-no loss of quality; I usually expect some artifacts when using a format-to-format conversion utility

-reasonable file size

-some of the PPT slideshow-recordings I did were in the 1 hour range, and only about 120mb

-can be used for LOTS of other applications

-recording general walkthroughs for training purposes, screencaps for placement in other videos, etc

also...  It's SEVEN BUCKS.  

Downsides

-minute-by-minute recording – if your Wx is 1.5 hours, you have to let it go for 1.5 hours

-does not let you select something on your 2nd monitor

-I put all my “current” work on the 2nd monitor while recording – email/im/etc 

-even still, be careful- popup windows on monitor 1 will show up in your recording

-time consuming, and you can’t fully use your computer while recording

-crashes if you select the “show in folder” option at the start of recording

-maybe not every time, but often for me

I would also consider using this to do iPad screencaps – by using the Reflection app and displaying my iPad tab-top on the Mac, I can then use SCP to record whatever apps or tools I’d like to show there.  This is HUGE for any of us who have to do customer demos, showing how our different tools work.  

Screen Capture-Pro is completely worth the $5.

HDMI Cameras in WebEx - Update

Cisco/Tandberg PTZ Camera

I have a demonstration that I conduct every couple of weeks – and in this demonstration, I have to show a variety of our Collaboration tools, including a variety of Telepresence Video Endpoints, UC phone-related features, and our mobile apps for the iPad and the iPhone.  We conduct these demonstrations and the related presentations over WebEx – this lets us invite as many interested parties as necessary, and offer them the ability to see not just our slides, but video of my demos.

Originally I was using a simple webcam – moving the camera around to point at different pieces of gear that I use in the demonstration – to show everything off.  This was difficult, because the cameras have a limited field of view, short cords, and are a fixed focal length (they have no zoom).  What I really wanted to do was to use one of the Tandberg Telepresence units in our conference room, with its PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera, remote control, and programmable positions, to make my demo more “free ranging” and the units easier to see. 

BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle - USB 3.0

I’m not alone in wanting to use a higher quality camera in my webinars, so after speaking with contacts at different customers, I found out about the BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle capture device.  This is a USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt accessory (only for the Mac, at this point - and make sure you have USB 3.0!) which allows input from composite, S-Video or HDMI – they have other units with more & different connectors, but for me HDMI was the desired connection. 

Most of the Tandberg Codecs have a 2nd monitor HDMI out – but if you use one that doesn’t (a C20, perhaps) then you can connect the HDMI from the camera directly to the Shuttle, and then go out from the Shuttle to your VC Unit’s monitor.  It’s useful to have an extra HDMI cable or two handy, just in case you need to move things around.

I did have to update the Thunderbolt driver on my Macbook to make this work.  Also, the Thunderbolt cable does NOT come with the Shuttle- so you’ve got to buy one (around $50) – and you want the longest one you can get.  The 6’ one I have is about 6’ too short – being able to really use your VC Unit’s screen as a “selfview” or confidence monitor is nice. 

Cisco/Tandberg C40 - note the outputs!

When you connect the Shuttle, you’ll notice that WebEx “sees” about 15 different “camera” options – all different resolutions.  With the HDMI connected, I use the 720p 29.97 10 bit option.  While you can use this “directly” in WebEx (just like choosing between multiple USB webcams) I have found that using ManyCam for Mac is a good idea.

For one thing, I have noticed that the image seems dark – ManyCam lets you crank up the brightness/gain to get a brighter image – make sure to increase the contrast level as well to keep the image sharp and clear.

I am also a BIG fan of having some “content in my back pocket” – a few recordings to show just in case something goes amiss.  With ManyCam, I can play other video files into the meeting – although without sound – to use as filler material.  Sometimes it even makes sense to show video of a location or device that you don’t always have access to – or, if you’re traveling, it can lighten your load by allowing you to leave those extra devices at home if you have good quality video to share.  That said, I do record videos with my Canon 7D- I will be trying a capture using the Blackmagic at some point, though.

Here is a screenshot from our presentation just this week.  That's me in the top right and bottom left, in the iPad video (calling a TP unit) and the desktop IM video.

Video Conference Cameras in WebEx

I found an HDMI capture device that can send video through WebEx-  it’s Mac-only, called a Blackmagic Design Intensity Shuttle.  It’s about $300, and requires USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt – I have the Thunderbolt device, and you really want to be careful in ordering one to make sure you have the right connectivity!

Why is this useful?  I’ve got a Cisco Tandbberg C20 connected to it at the moment via the HDMI input.  The C20 has a Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera, with a remote control that lets you program pre-set positions for the camera - amazing in a classroom setting when you're moving from demonstration/display items to whiteboard to instructor to students asking questions.  You know this already, there are a lot of things you can do!

The screenshot below is displaying the 'self-view' only of this 12x zoom camera - but I've used this to (pretty) good effect in some larger product-focused webinars, and it's a "geeks delight" to say the least.

That said, the Shuttle appears as about 15 different “devices” – all with different resolution, fps and bit options.

It seems to work on the “HD 720p 60 – 8bit”  or “HD 720p 60 – 10bit” setting. 

Sharing an iPad in WebEx

A Quick Note-

I’ve had lots of people ask about sharing from a tablet (iPad) into WebEx sessions. While this is easy to with Telepresence using the iPad HDMI adaptor, I’ve been looking for something easy & powerful for sharing into a WebEx.

I’ve created a 10 minute recording showing off this app, which I think many of us with iPad 2’s and 3’s will ABSOLUTELY ‘have to have.’

Review my WebEx recording here:
https://welcome.webex.com/welcome/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=58256377&rKey=41cc052dddbe492a

Requirements…

- Mac running OSX

- iPad 2 or 3 (supporting Airplay)

- Reflection App - $15 for 1 machine license, $50 for 5

- iPad and Mac must be on the same network (Airplay)

- Mac shares desktop to show Reflection mirroring

- Awesomeness Happens

NOTE: You can already do this with Telepresence Video– Dr. Lance Ford uses Airplay to display iPad content via his Apple TV w/ HDMI out plugged into a Codec. Also, our EX series supports both HDMI & DVI in, so it’s not difficult to bring in tablets for sharing content- but sharing from an iPad has been a ‘big deal’ for many of us using Web collaboration tools.

This will also work with Jabber desktop share as well…

OK, now returning to your normal scheduled programming.

the Acting Coach

More to come...

Working on a couple of new videos...

Which I hope to post soon.

Thanks!

Social Networking Intervention

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CYP - SCIENCE!

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Cooking - Shadiah Sigala Style

Shadiah Sigala is an actress I've been working with for almost a year now. She's super talented, funny and a very hard worker.

This is her entry for the Food Network YouTube competition:

iMovie on iPhone 4

So far, I'm pretty happy with the iPhone 4.

It takes reasonably good "HD" video (god, if we could get people to stop saying "is that in HD" or "it's HD" or "I love it in HD" etc etc).

The iMovie app on the iPhone 4 is very well priced at $4.99. As an app it's really basic, with good icons and a pretty slick/simple interface.

Creating a new project is done by selecting a "theme" which will determine the transitions and title text that are offered while you edit.

Editing together different clips is pretty simple as well- you just click the "drop in" icon to sort through your shot videos and then select the clips that you want as part of the project.

Transitions are represented by small "bowtie" icons, which when double-tapped are adjustable. Either leave the theme transition as-is or remove them (I prefer to remove), and then keep working through your clips.

Individual clips can be trimmed in size by clicking on the clip, then using the familiar "copy/paste" goalposts to drag the clip to be longer or shorter. Titles can be changed by double-tapping the individual clips as well.

I have found that trimming your clips to get the "right part" of your video is finicky- in some cases you trim one clip, and iMovie will also trim others that are to the right or left of it. This is super-frustrating.

Zacuto Critics Videos...

One of my favorite items on the web is Zacuto's "Critics" series...

Getting the opportunity to watch two industry veterans really critique Vimeo content is worth the price of admission alone.

I personally find it challenging get a) real, truthful opinions from friends, (more on this here), b) good critical ideas that go beyond 'the sound is messed up' and more deeply into ideas of composition and concept... I think that online video is kind of cheap, there is so much of it that unless you're really dialed in with other content producers, it's hard to get eyes and minds on what you're up to... then again, I'm not great at networking...! and finally c) advice from people who are higher up on the foodchain! This is really the thing I like the most about Critics- it's an opportunity to watch two smart people talk through ideas, concepts, and technique without a lot of BS...

Why Do I like DSLR Video? I dunno...

Why DSLRs and Video? from josh dolby on Vimeo.

Boston 2010 48 Hour Film Final Cut

Bad Talent from josh dolby on Vimeo.

Zoom H4N

Zoom H4N Audio Device Comments from josh dolby on Vimeo.

Storyboarding...

Storyboarding is something that I find tedious... but critical.

Lenses/7D Conversation

Lenses and 7D... from josh dolby on Vimeo.

Jon Merz

Evasion from josh dolby on Vimeo.

Kingston Station... Roughcut, no titles.

A fantastic Boston restaurant, Kingston Station is located right in Downtown Crossing.



Bistro cuisine, great bar, and cool spot- check it out!

Corporate Video

This is an office video I put together for teams I work with and for. It is a parody bit- all meant to be in good humor.

Thanks to all of the folks who helped out!