By Ellen Finkelstein
I get lots of requests for information on how to post a presentation as a video to YouTube. Here are four good options:
1) Use PowerPoint 2010. It outputs to WMV format. Use the commands Choose File> Save and Send> Create a Video. Then choose from a couple of options, as you see here. You can use existing timings for each slide or assign a timing. This is the absolute easiest method.
The video output will include sounds and narration, and even embedded videos!
2) Use Techsmith Camtasia Studio. For longer presentations, and when you want editing capabilities, Camtasia is a great tool with lots of features. I use it a lot. Camtasia is video-recording software, so you run through your presentation and Camtasia creates a video. You can record your voice as you go.
For presentations under 5 minutes, Techsmith’s Jing is easy to use. Jing Pro (an easy-to-afford $14.95 per year) lets you quickly share to YouTube. Jing is also a video-capture program and you can record your narration as you go.
3) CamStudio is free, open-source video-recording software. I’ve only tested it once. It doesn’t let you edit your video.
4) Authorstream, a presentation-sharing site, lets you convert up to 5 minutes to video and upload it to YouTube. They have paid versions that will let you convert more time.
To get the best results, you’ll need to know about slide timing and perhaps narration. On my website, go to Create a video effect for information on slide timing and to Secrets for successfully narrating a presentation for information on narrating.
When you have your video output, you just upload it to YouTube the same way you would upload any other video.
About the Author:
Ellen Finkelstein is the author of How to Do Everything with PowerPoint 2007 (and 2003), 101 Tips Every PowerPoint User Should Know, 101 Advanced Techniques Every PowerPoint User Should Know and PowerPoint for Teachers: Dynamic Presentations and Interactive Classroom Projects. Her web site, www.ellenfinkelstein.com, offers the free PowerPoint Tips Newsletter, a PowerPoint Tips Blog and many ideas that help PowerPoint users create more effective presentations.
