Modes of Video

Camera Image

Traditional video.  Use a camera to record the action.  For teaching purposes, this could be you simply speaking into the camera, perhaps with a whiteboard behind you.  Or, you might be recording yourself performing a procedure.  For most people the camera in their mobile phone is more than adequate for this.

Webcam

Record whatever a camera attached to a computer is seeing.  

Handwriting, or Manual Procedure.  

It's possible to record something taking place on a tabletop, using a rig that suspends the camera above the workspace. 

Screencasting

Record what is happening on your computer screen, with a voice narrative. In this category we include video recordings of narrated slideshow presentations.

Audio

You may have an assignment where you record only audio

Recording Options

Laptop or Desktop Recording

Both Microsoft Windows and Apple OS have tools for recording webcams or through other attached cameras.  If recording specifically for a course, Panopto may be the preferred option.  

Other (Simple) Options on Mac

Quicktime for Mac will record using your webcam, screencasts, and even audio-only clips.  

iMovie is available for Mac users, for free.  This is a powerful video builder or editor tool.  You can either edit clips you record (with your iPhone camera, or Quicktime, for example) or build videos using still images, video clips, and your voice as a narrative.  

Other (Simple) Options on Windows

Microsoft Windows' built-in Camera App will record using your webcam.  

Windows has a simple on-board Video Editor that can allow you to make simple cuts, without having to download any additional software.

Powerpoint for Windows allows you to export a narrated presentation as a .mp4 file. This is probably the simplest method for recording something like a lecture or slide-based lesson.

ClipChamp

Clipchamp is a freemium software (i.e., free software with some "premium" features behind a paywall) provides a more robust video editor than Panopto.

Check out our tutorials on ClipChamp or their Ultimate Guide to Making Videos with ClipChamp.

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio

OBS is a downloadable, lightweight, and open source recording software. OBS allows you to record multiple screens, audio (like microphones) sources, webcams, and more all at once.

Note: OBS is only a recorder. It does not have editing tools. For editing the video, you will have to use another software, such as iMovie for Macs, Video Editor for Windows PC, Clipchamp, or one of the other browser-based editors. Other alternatives include DaVinci Resolve, which Faculty, Staff, and Students have access to, and Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects, which Faculty and Staff have access to via Adobe Creative Cloud and students can access these programs via lab computers. However, these last three software are "professional-grade" tools and take time to learn.

Check out our tutorial page for OBS or check out the OBS Quick Start Guide.

Other Web-Based Options

Canva - Another freemium web-based suite of tools mostly touted for the ability to quickly make posters and other graphics, you can also record (webcam only) and edit videos with Canva. While the editor is not as robust as Clipchamp (i.e., less options/features), it is a lot easier to quickly edit videos.

Adobe Express - Adobe Express is a lightweight, web-based version of Adobe's suite of products (like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, etc.). Also based on the freemium model, it only allows you to record a voice over, so you will have to use another tool to screen record if you need that. It has similar controls to Canva. The editor is lacking in some features when compared to ClipChamp, but makes up for it with other features, particularly where text is concerned.

Scenery - Another freemium, web-based, video editing tool, Scenery offers collaborative video editing as well as other advanced features.

Camera Recording: Hardware and Setup 

Any digital camera can potentially record video.  These vary widely in form and quality, so that it's too much to cove here, beyond noting that these are perfectly good options.  Plus, if you own this hardware, you probably know how to use it for video!  For example, if you use a DSLR for still photography, the steps are mostly the same as those for static images.   

See the Media Center guide for some basic, easy-to-implement tips for recording with your own camera.

Video Hosting

Video needs to be hosted somewhere so it can play back ("stream") for viewers. You have many options.

Panopto

Increasingly, professors set up Panopto to collect student video assignments, or facilitate student video sharing in D2L discussions.  

Google Drive.

This video shows you how to log into your Canisius Google Account. Many know this already, but it's good to include it so all of your students are aware: https://youtu.be/SsXjLwnkaKo

If your professor created a sharing folder for a course: https://www.youtube.com/embed/tt0JVTc8Oa8.

If you simply must share with a professor (or anyone else): https://www.youtube.com/embed/0qPeBcwj9u4.

If you need to specifically share a Google Drive-based video in a D2L discussion: https://www.youtube.com/embed/f8UnC_UOhsg.

You can add the Google Drive app to your mobile device (phone or tablet), which can make it easy to get video you record with that device into your Canisius Google Drive.  Using the tutorials above, you can share with your professor or class.

• Add (and upload content to) Google Drive on your iPhone or iPad.
• Add (and upload content to) Google Drive on your Android phone or tablet.

Additional Tutorials

If you are using any video capture or recording through your web browser (such as in Google Meet or Panopto Capture) you may need to switch cameras.  

Step-by-step written tutorial: Changing Webcams in the Browser