Chapter 1: Introduction to Camtasia Studio

This chapter will provide you with a quick introduction to the wondrous world of Camtasia Studio version 4. Since you’ve purchased this book, you probably already have at least a rough idea of what Camtasia Studio is and what it does. Even if you already know the application reasonably well, you may still want to skim this chapter, because there just might be some information contained herein that you didn’t know before. To wit:

• It discusses all the wonderful, brand-new features of Camtasia Studio 4. If you haven’t upgraded yet, or if you’ve only upgraded recently and haven’t yet explored all of its new offerings, I’ve got the skinny on it here.

• It lists all the hardware and software you need to use the application effectively, including an updated set of minimum system requirements.

• We also discuss third-party software applications that can augment the built-in abilities of Camtasia Studio 4.

What Is Camtasia Studio?

Camtasia Studio 4 is a comprehensive suite of applications that center around the recording, editing, and sharing of screen video content. Unlike other software demo applications that slap together a series of static screenshots and then animate the mouse to simulate movement, a video produced with Camtasia Studio is true video. Every animation, every move of the mouse, every everything is properly represented in your footage. If you see it on your screen, you can capture it.

But Camtasia Studio doesn’t end with capture. It also sports a robust suite of editing tools. You can add callouts, quizzes, transitions, zoom and pan effects, and a host of other goodies. Combine your clips, trim them, add audio narration or camera video, and supply a title screen. When you’re ready to share it with the world, you can produce your final video in any of nine file formats, optimized for different kinds of media (web, CD-ROM, e-mail, etc.).

The uses of Camtasia Studio run the entire gamut of business and personal applications, but its utility tends to fall into three main categories:

• Training. Bringing a new hire up to speed on your custom database program or providing your customer base with tutorials on your latest software package is a snap with Camtasia Studio. Video training content is infinitely scalable (send to one person or one million), replayable (train as often as you want, on your own time), and consistent (you know that everyone is getting the same high-quality material).

• Marketing. Post a video on your site that shows off all the fab new features of your software, and you’ll suddenly have an auto- mated sales force that’s working for you all the time. When browsing your site for information about your products, isn’t it amazing how some people don’t really read? They get your number from the site, call you up, and then ask you all sorts of questions, the answers to which are plainly posted on the same web page. However, a great many of those who don’t take the time to read will take the time to watch a video. A well-done marketing video prequalifies your customers; it teaches them all the benefits of your awesome new product so that you don’t have to. Now, instead of calling you with a laundry list of questions, they’re calling you with credit card in hand.

• Demo. Rather than going hoarse at your next trade show by giving the same presentation over and over, you can automate it with a Camtasia Studio video. You can also use the video to demonstrate web applications in places with no Internet access. Demo videos (all kinds of video, actually) have the added advantage of traversing great distances; you don’t have to be there in person.

Yet even when demonstrating a software application in person, you can now ditch that boring PowerPoint presentation for something much more animated and interactive, and your audience will thank you for it.

Can Camtasia Studio be used for usability?

While this has traditionally been a use for Camtasia Studio, it has recently been supplanted by two newer TechSmith products, namely Morae and UserVue. These applications are far more robust in terms of collecting the kinds of information that usability professionals need. And yes, they too do screen recording.

Can Camtasia Studio be used to record games?

Yes, it can. You can get all the gory details about how to do this in Chapter 5, “Recording Your Screen.”

Is Camtasia Studio only for Windows? What about other platforms like Mac and Linux?

Camtasia Studio is currently designed exclusively for the Windows platform. There are a few workarounds for using Camtasia Studio to record other platforms, and I’ll discuss these options in Appendix B, “Recording Alternative Platforms.”

Is Camtasia Studio spyware?

Not really. While the Camtasia Recorder can be set to run unobtrusively in the background and record everything the user sees on the screen, Camtasia Studio does not have the features offered by the major spyware applications, such as timed captures or the capture of keyboard activity. Spying on others is not Camtasia Studio’s intended purpose.