Panopto – How to make a Panopto recording: Audio and Whiteboard / Blackboard

This page will explain how to use the Panopto Recorder for Windows for capturing whiteboards in lecture theatres using cameras.

Important: Please check our help page to see if the room you will be using is capable of capturing the whiteboard.

If you have not used Panopto before, please look at one of the following pages and have a go using Panopto before trying to use this feature: Audio and Screen or Audio and Video .

Starting on the lectern computer load Panopto from the desktop, waiting for the Panopto Pre-launcher to show.

Agree to the terms and conditions to the use of Panopto as normal, but instead of clicking on the normal ‘Launch Panopto’ button, click on the button for ‘Launch with Camera Control’.

This will now load a webpage for the camera control, followed by the normal Panopto recorder. On the camera control page you will see green buttons at the top for each possible position to move the camera to, clicking on one of the buttons will instantly move the camera. Below that is a set of preview images to help you decide which would be the best area to capture the whiteboard.

Once the Panopto recorder has loaded, sign into the Panopto recorder as normal and do the normal folder and audio checks. However this time, under ‘Primary Sources’ ‘Video’ make sure it is set to be ‘None’. Then click on the blue the blue button for ‘Add Another Video Source’.

Once clicked you should now see at least the option for ‘Axis Streaming Assistant Default Video’, or the camera name as a location ‘B54 R8031 Dome Camera’. Select either one of these options.

Next increase the slider for the camera ‘Resolution’ to be 15 fps and check that the kbps is around 1500, this will maximise the capture quality without overloading the recording PC.

The camera can be repositioned, going back to the camera control page, select the camera position that looks to capture the best area. You will then see that the camera feed on the Panopto recorder instantly repositions itself to the new view as you select an option.

You are now ready to record your session as normal on the Panopto recorder. You may wish to close the camera movement page, or if you keep the page open you can reposition the camera to any other preset you like as often as you like.

Primary Source: Audio

Panopto videos must have a primary source. Otherwise, they will never finish processing after the video has uploaded.

From the ā€œAudioā€ drop-down menu select the microphone you wish to use. If you have just connected a USB headset (or another microphone), it should be pre-selected.

Panopto primary source window with a microphone selected, quality standard, level at 60% and 4 green bars lit up

The most important step in Panopto is to ensure that your microphone a) works and b) is set to the correct volume.

Speak into your microphone and adjust the recording volume slider so that your voice fills the green bar when speaking at a conversational volume and doesnā€™t light the last red square when talking loudly.

Level meter with arrows drawn on showing it moves left and right

If you wish to capture the sound coming out of the computer (e.g. capturing the words said by a speaker over Skype), also tick “Capture Computer Audio”. Leave it unticked unless you have a particular reason to capture the audio from the computer.

Choose your recording folder

Click on the drop-down “Folder” list near the top of the Panopto Recorder.

Session Settings, Folder and name. Folder is highlighted.

Select a folder in one of these three ways

  • If you have recently recorded in your course, select it from the Quick Access area
  • If your course isn’t in the Quick Access area, select it by navigating through the folder list
  • Search for your course by typing in the first few characters of its name

If you wish to record into the BIOL3048-20500-16-17 Blackboard course you’ll need to click on the arrows next to “BIOL” then “BIOL3048” then click on the name “BIOL3048-20500-16-17: 16-17-Neurodegenerative Disease-20500”.

Choose folder at top. 4 quick access folders below. All folders below. Biol, BIOL3048 have arrow highlighted to the left. BIOL3048-20500-16-17 highlighted

If you do not have any Blackboard courses to record into, choose “My Folder” from the Quick Access area.

Recording and Pausing

Recording

When you are ready to record

  • Press ā€œRecordā€ on Panopto
    Record red circle
  • Start the slideshow in PowerPoint (if required)
    PowerPoint buttons for starting. From beginning and From current slide are clickable
  • Once you have finished your recording press the Stop button
    Stop button (red square) next to a pause button
  • You will then be given the opportunity to rename your session or add a description
    Recording complete, session name (text box), Located in folder (in this case Panopto training) Enter a description. Two buttons: Upload and Delete and Record again

Pausing

Pressing pause does not stop Panopto from recording. Instead it automatically tells the editor to remove the paused section before making the session available to students.

Uploading

The progress bars show the recording uploading to Panopto. Once the bars disappear, the recording is being processed by the server.

Two progress bars on one line. The top is at 95% and the bottom at 0%.

If your material is confidential, you may wish to wait until the upload has completed and select ā€œDelete Localā€ to remove the local copy of the presentation from computerā€™s hard drive.

Two buttons. Delete Local and Set Offline

If using a lecture theatre PC, Panopto will continue to upload the presentation even if you log out of the computer, although you should not turn off the computer. If you are not on a lecture theatre PC, you will need to wait for the upload to finish before logging out.

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