Recently, one of my students asked me about using a picture-in-picture video to create a narrated walk-through of a particular topic. She was curious as to whether she should use Replay or if she should use Storyline 2. It really depends on what kind of functionality you want your “tour” to have. After experimenting with several methods, the following should provide some good guidelines.
Replay or Storyline 2?
The big question to ask is whether you need the learner to see step-by-step slides or whether a simple video walk-through will work. If the answer is the latter, you can create a video project in Replay and then insert that as a video on a slide in your course. This is the first method we will look at.
Method #1 – Record a Screen Recording Using Replay
Once you have set up the software you want to record, make the screen recording using Replay, being sure to utilize your webcam, microphone, and screen. Upon returning to the main Replay desktop, edit your video by adding various elements such as transitions between sources and lower thirds.
You can also choose the picture-in-picture position of your webcam video.
After all those elements have been decided, publish your video to MP4.
Finally, import your video into Studio ’13 or Storyline 2 as a video on a slide and enhance as you wish. You might want to add entrance and exit animations or perform simple edits using the video editor.
The second method we will discuss is definitely a more robust design that builds on previous video you recorded in Replay. It does require more steps, but it can create a nice effect for the learner. Although it is not necessary, having a second monitor is helpful.
Method #2 – Using Replay and Storyline
You may find that you have a need to further enhance each step of your video walk-through. This may involve placing zoom regions on slides for emphasis, adding additional layers for items such as background music, adding additional buttons, or other enhancements.
If you decide to go this route, you will first want to start again with Replay. Record a video of you walking through the individual steps for the software you are recording. Be sure to speak at a slower, measured pace. You will be using this video to guide you through the actual screen recording that will be done in Storyline 2 later, and you don’t want the steps to be so fast that you will be unable to follow along with them.
Set the Replay video project to be focusing on you only. For me, I made sure the “B” source was the only source being displayed.
Publish the video project to MP4 as before, but save with a different name. Then, open the new video you created and set it aside, possibly to a second screen. Again, you will be using the video to serve as your guide in the next step.
Set up the software you will be recording in the same way you did in the previous method. Now, perform a screen recording using the screen recording tool in Storyline 2. You will not want to record any audio during this step, so turn your microphone to the off position or choose “No Audio” in the screen recording options.
This is where the video you created may come in handy. I actually opened mine and placed it on my second monitor. I then played the video and immediately started my screen recording. I was really using the audio from the video to guide me through my onscreen actions, to help with consistency.
Once the screen recording is complete, you can insert it into your course using Step By Step slides, which will eliminate any unnecessary audio.
Now, adjust your individual slides as needed. You can change the verbiage on the captions, change the colors, caption position, etc.
Finally, insert your new Replay video in the corner of each desired slide in order to achieve the picture-in-picture effect. You will want to use the Storyline 2 Video Editor to trim the video for the piece that is appropriate for that slide. For example, for the slide that discusses the Insert Tab, I only used the section of the video that discusses that topic.
Each piece of video now serves as the narration for that individual slide. You may need to adjust the timing of objects on the slide to match what is being discussed on the video.
Tip: To have voice-over only on a slide, using the audio from the video, simply move the video to the gray area off to the side of the slide. The video will still play, but the learner will only hear the audio.
Choose the Method that Works Best for Your Learners
Again, either of these methods will work, it just depends on how you need your screen recording to function. If all you need is a guide through a single video, using Replay may be the best solution. If, on the other hand, you want to break up your screen recording into step-by-step slides and add additional elements to enhance the course, using the Storyline 2 method may serve you better. You may want to experiment with additional enhancements such as zoom regions to make your course even better!
Take a look here at how both of these methods look in action. You can also download a copy of the project file at this link.
As always, good luck in your future builds, and let us know if you have any additional comments or questions. Remember, if you build it–they will learn!
~John
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