Frequently Asked Questions | Instructional & Information Technology Services (IITS)

Are there guidelines for recording options?

Recording and Distributing Video

First you need to record - this may include what’s on the screen of your computer, video of you yourself, and of course your spoken words. Secondly you need to be able to manage your recordings, to get them to the persons that need them in a format that works for them.

There are a variety of ways to record and distribute video. Which one you choose depends on what kind of videos you want to record, who needs to record, and who needs to view. Some of the options include:

Things that record

Mediasite Desktop Recorder - desktop recording app that is the front end for distribution via Mediasite, campus’ private media media system. All campus users (fac, staff, and students) have access to Mediasite. To get started go to: https://www.csusm.edu/mymediasite.
Camtasia Studio - a fully featured desktop application for Windows and Mac. This is what you want for more complex recordings. Available for fac and staff. Go here to download the free trial versions: https://www.techsmith.com/download/camtasia/. To get the passcode to authorize use go here: https://www.csusm.edu/tss/software/index.html.
Zoom - although it’s primarily a web conferencing tool, it can record what’s happening on the screen. We have a campus license for all fac, staff, and students.
SnagIt - a simple desktop recorder for Windows and Mac. Go here to download the free trial: https://www.techsmith.com/download/snagit/. To get the passcode to authorize use go here: https://www.csusm.edu/tss/software/index.html.
Quicktime Player - a simple desktop recorder for Mac only. Comes already installed on your Mac.

So which recorder is right for me?

Let's look at some scenarios:

I want to record some short lecture portions that I can place online in Cougar Courses.

Mediasite - is designed for just this kind of work.

Use the Mediasite Desktop Recorder (MDR) to record on a computer.
Use the MyMediasite portal to manage your recordings and share them.

Zoom

Start a Zoom conference.
Click to Record to the Cloud.

When you’re done use the Zoom admin portal to manage your recordings and share them.

I want my students to record presentations and upload to Cougar Courses for peer review and grading.

Mediasite - students use the same process described above and can share links to their recordings with one another and their instructors.

I'm doing live sessions in which there is information that would be good for students to review later on.

Zoom - use Zoom to web conference and choose Record to the Cloud. Use the Zoom admin portal to manage your recordings and share them. Zoom’s record feature allows you to pause and restart recording during a session.

I want to do some really fancy videos that will require editing and graphics.

Camtasia Studio is one of the top screen-recording products available. For that reason it is more complex and can take some time to get used to.

I am a Mac user and I have upgraded to OS Catalina.

Mediasite won't work for you at the moment as it is not compatible with the most recent Mac operating systems. Instead try the Quicktime Player.

Things that stream the recorded media:

Mediasite - our private media distribution system.
Google Drive - you may already have a Gdrive account. Lots of folks don't know that you can easily stream videos you put into it. There are limitations.
YouTube - the worldwide standard for delivering video online. We won’t bother linking to resources here, since there are so many - on YouTube.

How do I register Mediasite on a new computer?

When you register Mediasite Desktop Recorder (MDR) with Mediasite, your credentials are saved. Each time you launch MDR, these credentials are used to automatically log you into Mediasite. To upload recordings, a Mediasite connection is required.

NOTES:

Registration is done in My Mediasite on the MDR download page and is step 3 of the MDR installation process. You will receive a notification indicating that MDR has been successfully registered with Mediasite.
If your user profile is not validated, MDR registration will fail. If this occurs, contact your Mediasite administrator for more information.

Registering your recorder Registering your desktop recorder with Mediasite

Multiple Mediasite connections

MDR allows multiple connections on the same computer:

Multiple connections to the same Mediasite using different credentials, which allows different users to use the same machine. All users must register MDR from My Mediasite to save their connections.
Connections to different Mediasites. Once again, you must register MDR with each Mediasite to save the connection.

How do I unregister Mediasite on a computer?

To remove a connection, select (Login name) > Forget a Connection and click the X next to the connection. When the confirmation message appears, click Forget.

Forget a connection Forgetting a Mediasite connection

How do I record using the Screencast + Video option?

Select the Screencast + Video option to record your desktop as video with slides extracted as well as an additional video input from a camera with audio from a microphone. Once you finish, you can upload the recording to a presentation on the connected Mediasite.

NOTE: Screencast + Video includes the mouse cursor in the final output.

This help includes the following sections:

Getting started
Setting up for recording
Recording the presentation
Pausing the recording
Finishing and uploading the presentation

Getting started

Start the recording process by doing one of the following:

Click Record/Record Now on the home page.
Click Record in the navigation menu, which is available in the upper left of all pages.
Click Record next to a recording on the Recording Management page.
Click Make New Recording on the Recording Management page.

NOTE: When MDR is launched from My Mediasite, Record Now is one of the recording options available on the home page.

The Recording Wizard launches. Follow the prompts to navigate through the wizard and record your presentation. Click Cancel Recording at any time to exit the wizard.

NOTE: On any page in the wizard, you can click in the Presentation Name field to update the recording's title.

On the Select Type page, select Screencast + Video.

Recording Wizard > Screencast + Video

Setting up for recording

On the Set Up Hardware page, select the following and then click Next:
- Camera input.
- Camera size (the video resolution that will be used by the camera). Select the highest quality the camera supports.
- Microphone input. Use the audio meter to verify the audio levels are suitable. Click the "Open Sound Control Panel" button to adjust the microphone level and other options related to sound input devices.
Recording Wizard > Set Up Hardware

NOTE: We highly recommend that you do not add or remove display devices or change the resolution while the Desktop Recorder is recording. If you need to make such changes, do it BEFORE you reach the Capture Area stage.

On the Capture Area page, select the recording's capture area using one of the methods below. Make sure to select a region that is at least 320 x 240 pixels (width x height).
Once you have made your selection, click the check mark to accept your selection and move to the next page.

Entire desktop: Click Desktop to capture the entire desktop. If you are using multiple monitors, select the desktop you want to capture from the drop-down list.
Select a window: Click Window and select the window you want to capture.
Freeform rectangle: Click Region or click the arrow next to Region and select Capture Freeform Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture.
Select a 4:3 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 4:3 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Select a 16:9 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 16:9 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Recording Wizard > Capture Area Options

On the Summary page, verify the settings are correct.

Recording Wizard > Summary

Recording the presentation

After setting up your presentation, click Record. MDR will begin a five-second countdown before recording begins. Click Stop at any time during the countdown to return to the Summary page. The selected capture region is highlighted with red corner indicators and the MDR control panel is displayed as the countdown begins and throughout the recording process.

Video Control Panel
MDR Control Panel

WARNING: If the MDR control panel is in the capture area during your recording session, it will appear in the final recording. To avoid this, if you are recording the entire desktop, make sure to hide the MDR control panel. If you are just recording a certain region of the desktop, simply make sure the MDR control panel is not within the capture region's boundaries. If you do not want to display the control panel, clear the Show recording control panel check box.

Pausing the recording

To pause the recording, you have a few options:

Click Ctrl+F8. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options (discard recording, resume recording, or finish recording). This is the recommended method.
In the MDR control panel, click the option (discard, pause, or finish) you want. When you pause your recording, a page will appear with additional options.
If your computer's notification area is visible, click the MDR pause button. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options.

NOTE: Clicking discard will cause you to lose your recording. A confirmation message is shown before the recording is discarded.

Finishing and uploading the presentation

Click Finish to stop recording. Once the recording is finished, it can be uploaded to Mediasite.
- Automatic upload to target presentation: If you launched MDR from My Mediasite and the "upload while recording" feature is enabled, the recording is automatically uploaded to the target presentation (the presentation from which you started the recording process) on Mediasite. Once processing is complete, the status of the presentation is updated.
- Automatic upload to new presentation: If you launched MDR from the desktop, have an active connection to My Mediasite, and the "upload while recording" feature is enabled, Mediasite will create a new presentation and the recording will be automatically uploaded to it. The presentation will be given the same name as the recording.
- Upload offline recording: If you made an offline recording, once you are able to connect to Mediasite, go to the Recording Management page and click Upload next to the recording.

When the "uploading finished" notification is displayed, click Open Presentation to view the presentation in My Mediasite. Alternatively, click the globe icon on the same row as an uploaded presentation to view it in My Mediasite.

View uploaded presentation in My Mediasite

How I record using the Screencast + Audio option?

Getting started

Start the recording process by doing one of the following:

Click Record/Record Now on the home page.
Click Record in the navigation menu, which is available in the upper left of all pages.
Click Record next to a recording on the Recording Management page.
Click Make New Recording on the Recording Management page.

NOTE: When MDR is launched from My Mediasite, Record Now is one of the recording options available on the home page.

The Recording Wizard launches. Follow the prompts to navigate through the wizard and record your presentation. Click Cancel Recording at any time to exit the wizard.

NOTE: On any page in the wizard, you can click in the Presentation Name field to update the recording's title.

On the Select Type page, select Screencast + Audio.

Recording Wizard > Screencast + Audio

Setting up for recording

On the Set Up Hardware page, select the microphone input. Use the audio meter to verify the audio levels are suitable. Click the "Open Sound Control Panel" button to adjust the microphone level and other options related to sound input devices. Click Next.

Recording Wizard > Set Up Hardware

NOTE: We highly recommend that you do not add or remove display devices or change the resolution while the Desktop Recorder is recording. If you need to make such changes, do it BEFORE you reach the Capture Area stage.

On the Capture Area page, select the recording's capture area using one of the methods below. Make sure to select a region that is at least 320 x 240 pixels (width x height).
Once you have made your selection, click the check mark to accept your selection and move to the next page.
- Entire desktop: Click Desktop to capture the entire desktop. If you are using multiple monitors, select the desktop you want to capture from the drop-down list.
- Select a window: Click Window and select the window you want to capture.
- Freeform rectangle: Click Region or click the arrow next to Region and select Capture Freeform Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture.
- Select a 4:3 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 4:3 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Select a 16:9 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 16:9 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Recording Wizard > Capture Area Options

On the Summary page, verify the settings are correct.

Recording Wizard > Summary

Recording the presentation

After setting up your presentation, click Record. MDR will begin a five-second countdown before recording begins. Click Stopat any time during the countdown to return to the Summary page. The selected capture region is highlighted with red corner indicators and the MDR control panel is displayed as the countdown begins and throughout the recording process.

Audio Control Panel
MDR Control Panel

WARNING: If the MDR control panel is in the capture area during your recording session, it will appear in the final recording. To avoid this, if you are recording the entire desktop, make sure to hide the MDR control panel. If you are just recording a certain region of the desktop, simply make sure the MDR control panel is not within the capture region's boundaries. If you do not want to display the control panel, clear the Show recording control panel check box.

Pausing the recording

To pause the recording, you have a few options:

Click Ctrl+F8. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options (discard recording, resume recording, or finish recording). This is the recommended method.
In the MDR control panel, click the option (discard, pause, or finish) you want. When you pause your recording, a page will appear with additional options.
If your computer's notification area is visible, click the MDR pause button. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options.

NOTE: Clicking discard will cause you to lose your recording. A confirmation message is shown before the recording is discarded.

Finishing and uploading the presentation

Click Finish to stop recording. Once the recording is finished, it can be uploaded to Mediasite.
- Automatic upload to target presentation: If you launched MDR from My Mediasite and the "upload while recording" feature is enabled, the recording is automatically uploaded to the target presentation (the presentation from which you started the recording process) on Mediasite. Once processing is complete, the status of the presentation is updated.
- Automatic upload to new presentation: If you launched MDR from the desktop, have an active connection to My Mediasite, and the "upload while recording" feature is enabled, Mediasite will create a new presentation and the recording will be automatically uploaded to it. The presentation will be given the same name as the recording.
- Upload offline recording: If you made an offline recording, once you are able to connect to Mediasite, go to the Recording Management page and click Upload next to the recording.

When the "uploading finished" notification is displayed, click Open Presentation to view the presentation in My Mediasite. Alternatively, click the globe icon on the same row as an uploaded presentation to view it in My Mediasite.

View uploaded presentation in My Mediasite

How do I record using the Slideshow + Video option?

Getting started

Start the recording process by doing one of the following:

Click Record/Record Now on the home page.
Click Record in the navigation menu, which is available in the upper left of all pages.
Click Record next to a recording on the Recording Management page.
Click Make New Recording on the Recording Management page.

NOTE: When MDR is launched from My Mediasite, Record Now is one of the recording options available on the home page.

The Recording Wizard launches. Follow the prompts to navigate through the wizard and record your presentation. Click Cancel Recording at any time to exit the wizard.

NOTE: On any page in the wizard, you can click in the Presentation Name field to update the recording's title.

On the Select Type page, select Slideshow + Video.

Recording Wizard > Slideshow + Video

Setting up for recording

On the Set Up Hardware page, select the following and then click Next:
- Camera input.
- Camera size (the video resolution that will be used by the camera). Select the highest quality the camera supports.
- Microphone input. Use the audio meter to verify the audio levels are suitable. Click the "Open Sound Control Panel" button to adjust the microphone level and other options related to sound input devices.
Recording Wizard > Set Up Hardware

NOTE: We highly recommend that you do not add or remove display devices or change the resolution while the Desktop Recorder is recording. If you need to make such changes, do it BEFORE you reach the Capture Area stage.

On the Capture Area page, select the recording's capture area using one of the methods below. Make sure to select a region that is at least 320 x 240 pixels (width x height).
Once you have made your selection, click the check mark to accept your selection and move to the next page.
- Entire desktop: Click Desktop to capture the entire desktop. If you are using multiple monitors, select the desktop you want to capture from the drop-down list.
- Select a window: Click Window and select the window you want to capture.
- Freeform rectangle: Click Region or click the arrow next to Region and select Capture Freeform Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture.
- Select a 4:3 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 4:3 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Select a 16:9 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 16:9 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Recording Wizard > Capture Area Options

On the Summary page, verify the settings are correct.

Recording Wizard > Summary

Recording the presentation

After setting up your presentation, click Record. MDR will begin a five-second countdown before recording begins. Click Stopat any time during the countdown to return to the Summary page. The selected capture region is highlighted with red corner indicators and the MDR control panel is displayed as the countdown begins and throughout the recording process.

Video Control Panel
MDR Control Panel

WARNING: If the MDR control panel is in the capture area during your recording session, it will appear in the final recording. To avoid this, if you are recording the entire desktop, make sure to hide the MDR control panel. If you are just recording a certain region of the desktop, simply make sure the MDR control panel is not within the capture region's boundaries. If you do not want to display the control panel, clear the Show recording control panel check box.

Pausing the recording

To pause the recording, you have a few options:

Click Ctrl+F8. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options (discard recording, resume recording, or finish recording). This is the recommended method.
In the MDR control panel, click the option (discard, pause, or finish) you want. When you pause your recording, a page will appear with additional options.
If your computer's notification area is visible, click the MDR pause button. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options.

NOTE: Clicking discard will cause you to lose your recording. A confirmation message is shown before the recording is discarded.

Finishing and uploading the presentation

Click Finish to stop recording. Once the recording is finished, it can be uploaded to Mediasite.
- Automatic upload to target presentation: If you launched MDR from My Mediasite and the "upload while recording" feature is enabled, the recording is automatically uploaded to the target presentation (the presentation from which you started the recording process) on Mediasite. Once processing is complete, the status of the presentation is updated.
- Automatic upload to new presentation: If you launched MDR from the desktop, have an active connection to My Mediasite, and the "upload while recording" feature is enabled, Mediasite will create a new presentation and the recording will be automatically uploaded to it. The presentation will be given the same name as the recording.
- Upload offline recording: If you made an offline recording, once you are able to connect to Mediasite, go to the Recording Management page and click Upload next to the recording.

When the "uploading finished" notification is displayed, click Open Presentation to view the presentation in Mediasite. Alternatively, click the globe icon on the same row as an uploaded presentation to view it in Mediasite.

View uploaded presentation on Mediasite

How do I record using the Slideshow + Audio option>?

Getting started

Start the recording process by doing one of the following:

Click Record/Record Now on the home page.
Click Record in the navigation menu, which is available in the upper left of all pages.
Click Record next to a recording on the Recording Management page.
Click Make New Recording on the Recording Management page.

NOTE: When MDR is launched from My Mediasite, Record Now is one of the recording options available on the home page.

The Recording Wizard launches. Follow the prompts to navigate through the wizard and record your presentation. Click Cancel Recording at any time to exit the wizard.

NOTE: On any page in the wizard, you can click in the Presentation Name field to update the recording's title.

On the Select Type page, select Slideshow + Audio.

Recording Wizard > Slideshow + Audio

Setting up for recording

On the Set Up Hardware page, select the microphone input. Use the audio meter to verify the audio levels are suitable. Click the "Open Sound Control Panel" button to adjust the microphone level and other options related to sound input devices. Click Next.

Recording Wizard > Set Up Hardware

NOTE: We highly recommend that you do not add or remove display devices or change the resolution while the Desktop Recorder is recording. If you need to make such changes, do it BEFORE you reach the Capture Area stage.

On the Capture Area page, select the recording's capture area using one of the methods below. Make sure to select a region that is at least 320 x 240 pixels (width x height).
Once you have made your selection, click the check mark to accept your selection and move to the next page.
- Entire desktop: Click Desktop to capture the entire desktop. If you are using multiple monitors, select the desktop you want to capture from the drop-down list.
- Select a window: Click Window and select the window you want to capture.
- Freeform rectangle: Click Region or click the arrow next to Region and select Capture Freeform Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture.
- Select a 4:3 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 4:3 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Select a 16:9 rectangle: Click the arrow next to Region and select Capture 16:9 Region from the drop-down list. Drag your mouse on the desktop to select the region you want to capture. MDR will automatically adjust the selected region so that it has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Recording Wizard > Capture Area Options

On the Summary page, verify the settings are correct.

Recording Wizard > Summary

Recording the presentation

After setting up your presentation, click Record. MDR will begin a five second countdown before recording begins. Click Stopat any time during the countdown to return to the Summary page. The selected capture region is highlighted with red corner indicators and the MDR control panel is displayed as the countdown begins and throughout the recording process.

Audio Control Panel
MDR Control Panel

WARNING: If the MDR control panel is in the capture area during your recording session, it will appear in the final recording. To avoid this, if you are recording the entire desktop, make sure to hide the MDR control panel. If you are just recording a certain region of the desktop, simply make sure the MDR control panel is not within the capture region's boundaries. If you do not want to display the control panel, clear the Show recording control panel check box.

Pausing the recording

To pause the recording, you have a few options:

Click Ctrl+F8. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options (discard recording, resume recording, or finish recording). This is the recommended method.
In the MDR control panel, click the option (discard, pause, or finish) you want. When you pause your recording, a page will appear with additional options.
If your notification area is visible, click the MDR pause button. The recording will pause and a page will appear with additional options.

NOTE: Clicking discard will cause you to lose your recording. A confirmation message is shown before the recording is discarded.

Finishing and uploading the presentation

Click Finish to stop recording. Once the recording is finished, it can be uploaded to Mediasite.
- Automatic upload to target presentation: If you launched MDR from My Mediasite and the "upload while recording feature is enabled, the recording is automatically uploaded to the target presentation (the presentation from which you started the recording process) on Mediasite. Once processing is complete, the status of the presentation is updated.
- Automatic upload to new presentation: If you launched MDR from the desktop, have an active connection to My Mediasite, and the "upload while recording" feature is enabled, Mediasite will create a new presentation and the recording will be automatically uploaded to it. The presentation will be given the same name as the recording.
- Upload offline recording: If you made an offline recording, once you are able to connect to Mediasite, go to the Recording Management page and click Upload next to the recording.

When the "uploading finished" notification is displayed, click Open Presentation to view the presentation in My Mediasite. Alteratively, click the globe icon on the same row as an uploaded presentation to view it in My Mediasite.

View uploaded presentation in My Mediasite

How do I upload a video into Mediasite?

Watch this video.

How do I get the links for my videos from MyMediasite into Cougar Courses?

Scroll down and on the right side of the screen you will see button labeled Share Presentation. Click on the button.
A new window will open:
Click the copy button to the right of the URL at the top. This copies it to the clipboard. You can now paste the link into your Cougar Course.
This can be done in a variety of ways - the simplest is to select text in the editor and right click on it. Choose Insert/Edit Link and paste the URL into the field labeled Link URL. Click on Insert:

How do I take a quiz in Mediasite?

Watch this video.

How do I edit a quiz?

Watch this video.

How do I access and manage quiz results?

Watch this video.

How do I add quiz questions to a Mediasite presentation?

Watch this video.

How can I back up a Mediasite presentation to keep locally?

Instructions.