Page 2 Unpublished-rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States. Adobe Systems Incorporated, 345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110-2704, USA. For U.S. Government End Users, Adobe agrees to comply with all applicable equal opportunity laws including, if appropriate, the provisions of Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (38 USC 4212), and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the regulations at 41 CFR Parts 60-1 through 60-60, 60-250, and 60-741.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Contents Chapter 1: Installing Visual Communicator ....9 Installation ........... . . 9 System requirements .
Page 4 Save the show file ......... . . 34 Rehearse and record a show .
Page 5: Contents
Writing a script ..........55 Chapter 8: Using the Teleprompter .
Page 6 Trim video and audio clips........78 Review a trimmed clip .
Page 7 Recording a show..........108 About flex recording .
Page 8 Summary..........138 Live streaming .
Page 9: Chapter 1: Installing Visual Communicator
If you haven’t installed your new software, begin by reading some information on installation and other preliminaries. Before you begin working with your software, take a few moments to read an overview of Adobe Help and of the many resources available to users. “System requirements” on page 9 “Install Visual Communicator”...
Page 10 When the installation is finished, click Finish. The devices attached to your computer, such as a mouse or web cam, are controlled by software called drivers. Most device manufacturers release new drivers periodically that can increase performance or fix compatibility issues. If your devices work with Visual Communicator, you do not need to update their drivers.
Page 11: Chapter 2: Feature And Control Overview
CHAPTER 2 Feature and control overview The Visual Communicator 3 main window is designed to be easy to use and simple to understand. You can resize the window to suit your preference. Visual Communicator windows, Action window, and Media libraries “The Output Monitor window and buttons”...
Page 12 Opens the Video Publisher wizard. Stop Stops the show in Rehearse, Record, or Review modes. Also stops any previewing source or effect and returns to the show. See also Chapter 12, “Rehearsing and recording a show,” on page 105. Chapter 14, “Publishing a video,” on page 123.
Page 13: The Media Libraries
The Media libraries The Media libraries area at the bottom of the interface provides access to the effects and content that you add to the show. To assemble the shows, you drag icons from these libraries into the Action window. Most tabs let you access library folders that store content that is installed with Visual Communicator.
Page 14: The Coach Area
Control Description —as thumbnails (the default), a simple list, or a detailed list. The Coach area The Coach area provides descriptions of the user interface elements you are currently using and hints about how to achieve the best results with Visual Communicator. Click Next view the next tip or description about the part of the application you are currently using.
Page 15: The Project Tab
The Project tab The Project tab provides options for creating and saving project files. From here, you can start the New Show wizard, start capturing video from a video device, and print the Teleprompter script. You can also set whether to use web or television-quality media in the shows and zoom to view the Video Safe area only.
Page 16: The Director Tab
See also Chapter 6, “Managing projects and media files,” on page 49 Chapter 3, “Making your first show,” on page 31 “Save a DV clip from tape” on page 82 The Director tab Use the Director options to run the Teleprompter and navigate the Action window while rehearsing and recording.
Page 17: The Actions Tab
The Actions tab is where you adjust timing, volume, and other settings specific to the currently selected video effect or content file. Click an effect, image, or audio or video file in an action tray to display its properties and controls. The controls that you see change depending on the type of media or effect selected.
Page 18 Still Images Video clips “Media inputs, video effects, and external events” on page 67 “Trim video and audio clips” on page 78...
Page 19: The V-Screen Tab
“The Video setup button” on page 21 “Trim video and audio clips” on page 78 The V-Screen tab If you add virtual sets or greenscreen effects to a show, use the V-Screen tab to select the background, set and adjust the key, and make color corrections. The following table describes the controls on the V-Screen tab.
Page 20: The Setup Tab For Audio And Video
The Setup tab for audio and video Use the Setup tab to configure audio and video input devices like microphones and cameras and to test their connection. Click Audio or Video to view these controls. The Audio setup button Input pop-up menu Sets which audio device is selected for setup purposes. Audio Input Device Displays the name of the audio device that’s assigned to the currently pop-up menu...
Page 21: The Video Setup Button
Mute Silences audio output from Visual Communicator so that it’s not audible from the computer. Test button Plays an audio test file on the computer’s main speakers. See also “Setting up a studio” on page 37 The Video setup button Input pop-up menu Sets which video device is selected for setup purposes.
Page 22: The Menu Bar
Properties button Opens a properties dialog box for the current video device’s driver. Visual Communicator opens this dialog box; the program does not create it. Varying from one device to another, most properties dialog boxes include controls for brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, and sharpness.
Page 23: The File Menu
The File menu The following table describes the File commands. Opens a new project. Wizard Starts the New Show wizard. Open Opens a dialog box where you can select a project to load. Save Saves the current project. Save As Opens a dialog box where you can save the current project with a new name.
Page 24 “The Coach area” on page 14 The commands in this menu are identical to the set of buttons below the Output Monitor. The following table describes the Director commands. “Review a show” on page 114 “Recording a show” on page 108 “Review a show”...
Page 25: The Hosting Menu
The Hosting menu The following table describes the Hosting commands. Login Information Allows you to reenter your login information (username and password) for your Playstream account. This option does not change your username or password, but can be used if users want to use the same computer and post to different accounts.
Page 26: Dialog Boxes
“The Application Settings dialog box” on page 26 “The Performance Settings dialog box” on page 28 The following table describes the Tools commands. Audio Mixer Displays the standard Windows audio mixer or volume-control panel. Use this panel to troubleshoot problems with the audio. Launch Advanced Title Starts the advanced title-editing software.
Page 27 Show Tip Of The Day Shows a program tip each time you start the program. Remember Folder Loads the same folder in each library tab that was open during the Directories last session. Show The Project Prompts you to set the show to either web or TV (TV quality) content Type Dialog For Each each time you create a show.
Page 28 Action Window options The Performance Settings dialog box, which you can open from the Settings menu or by pressing Alt+M, contains the following options. Standard options User interface options Preview (Output Monitor) options...
Page 29 240 version of each image for rehearsing and recording, and only uses the original version to render your final video during the publishing process. Enabling this option requires more processing power and can cause some computers to run more slowly. Input options Use Half Resolution Images During Displays still images at half resolution when rehearsing...
Page 30 Feature and control overview...
Page 31: Chapter 3: Making Your First Show
“Publish a show” on page 35 Create a show Use the New Show wizard to create a show. Start Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3. By default, Visual Communicator opens the wizard. If you deselected this option, click Wizard on the Project tab.
Page 32 Select the Contemporary Style template. When you select a style template, a description of the style and an example showing the background and lower-third caption appear in the right side of the screen. Click Next. Select the style for your opening title slates and the lower-third images, and then enter text for these title images.
Page 33 Enter the text for the closing slate of your show. You can have one or two lines. ■ Choose your theme music. You can preview the music with the on-screen audio ■ controls. Choosing your background, music, and closing slate Click Finish to create your customized titles and images, and build your new show.
Page 34: Rehearse And Record A Show
“Using the Teleprompter” on page 57 “Move trays to adjust timing and reorganize a show” on page 68 When you create and save your show, the file is given a default name. You can keep the name or change it. You can save your project to the default folder or specify a folder of your choice. When you save a project to a new folder, Visual Communicator remembers the location and makes it your new default directory.
Page 35: Publish A Show
Publish a show After you record a show, you’re ready to publish it. Click Publish. Select the publishing method. For this tutorial, click Save Video To Hard Drive Or Network, and then click Next. Select Publish a Windows Media Video (.wmv) as the video file format, and then save the show to the default folder with the default file name: My_First_Show_.WMV.
Page 37: Chapter 4: Setting Up A Studio
“About webcams” on page 37 “About camcorders” on page 38 About cameras You can use two types of cameras with Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3: webcams and camcorders. A camera is not required. You can create shows that consist entirely of pictures, titles, images, and prerecorded video clips.
Page 38 Picture quality. A key indication of quality is resolution. The resolution of most webcams ■ is either 320 x 240 or 640 x 480. In general, higher-resolution webcams produce better images. Speed. Most webcams connect to a computer through a standard USB 1.0 port, but some ■...
Page 39 For a webcam, install the latest webcam driver and connect the camera to the computer ■ using the USB, analog, or FireWire cable that came with it. For a camcorder, you might have a choice between using an S-Video cable (analog) or ■...
Page 40 Position the webcam or camcorder on top of the monitor in the center. The lens of the camera should be as close to the top of the Teleprompter as possible so that your eyes appear to look at the camera while you are reading the Teleprompter. If the webcam has a base, remove it so that the camera is not too far above the monitor.
Page 41 Configuring cameras “Configure a single camera” on page 41 “Configure multiple cameras” on page 42 “Remove cameras” on page 42 Configure a single camera Click Setup, and then select Video. The options on the Setup tab depend on which version of the software you have. Select the camera to use from the Input pop-up menu.
Page 42 Configure multiple cameras Visual Communicator supports up to three cameras, enabling you to do the following: Record interviews using a different camera for each person. ■ Switch between camera angles and zoom settings, which can help keep the audience’s ■ attention.
Page 43 To connect the microphone to the computer’s audio card, plug it into the connector labeled Mic. If a sound card is installed, use it rather than the sound card on the motherboard. When the microphone is connected, test it by using the software that came with the audio card or by using Windows Sound Recorder (Start >...
Page 44 Adjust the Hardware Level slider until the loudest parts of the audio reach the high end of the yellow LEDs but not into the red area. When you are finished, click Pass Thru To Speakers again to stop the microphone audio from passing to the speakers.
Page 45: Chapter 5: Creating A Show
CHAPTER 5 Creating a show Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3 gives you a variety of ways to create a project—from a blank slate, to a show (project) that is based on a style or topic, to an Instant Hollywood show that’s prepopulated with a script and video clips.
Page 46: Use The Wizard To Create A Blank Show
Generation X: An edgy, urban look. ■ Industrial: A metallic and mechanical look. ■ Kid Power: A soft, playful look. ■ Topic Creates a project preloaded with title graphics, images, and a format appropriate for the selected topic, such as Business Financial News or School Club News. Instant Hollywood Preloads the show with a script and video clips of a professional television host who interviews you.
Page 47 Your One-Click Video template is complete. To load the template, click the One Click Video icon on your desktop to find the template. Creating a One-Click Video template...
Page 48 Creating a show...
Page 49: Chapter 6: Managing Projects And Media Files
Managing projects and media files File management in Adobe® Visual Communicator ®3 projects can be complicated because of the media files used in a project and because audio and video content are recorded to your hard drive. To make this task easier, use industry best practices to organize media files and use the Pack and Go feature.
Page 50: Edit Project Files On A Single Computer
Video, Pictures, and Audio folders. Alternatively, you can set up your own Video, Graphics, and Audio folders anywhere and set them as the home folders for the respective libraries. To use the library bins, select Program Files\Adobe\Visual Communicator\Content. ■ Change the default path for project files By default, project files are saved to C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\Visual Communicator\My Projects.
Page 51: Save, Package, Open, And Delete Projects
Save, package, open, and delete projects “Save a project” on page 51 “Package a project with Pack and Go” on page 51 “Open a project” on page 52 “Delete a project and cleaning up your hard disk” on page 52 Save a project If the current file name and the path are correct on the Project tab, select Save or select ■...
Page 52 Include Project Recordings adds copies of recordings you made of your project. ■ To change the location where the project is saved, click Change Location and browse to another location. To begin the export process, click Start. Click Close when the export is complete. Open a project The way you open a project depends on where it is saved.
Page 53: Planning Shows And Writing Scripts
Before you create a video project, it’s helpful to organize your content and prepare for the process. Although none of these suggestions are specific to Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3, they’ll help you polish your process and produce better videos with less work.
Page 54 Closing comments from salesperson Closing image and music Collect your assets. Create or collect any assets you need, such as PowerPoint slides, ■ actors, images, and so on. An outline is a great way to communicate your vision of the video, keep track of the pieces, and make sure every detail is assigned to someone.
Page 55: Writing A Script
Writing a script When you write your script, keep the following issues in mind: Know your audience. Understanding your audience helps you manage the tone and level ■ of detail for the presentation. Be sure that the general vocabulary and topic-specific terminology is appropriate for your intended audience.
Page 56 Planning shows and writing scripts...
Page 57: Chapter 8: Using The Teleprompter
CHAPTER 8 Using the Teleprompter With Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3, you can change the pacing of the script and you can display the Teleprompter in full-screen mode. Using scripts and the Teleprompter “Enter a script in the Teleprompter” on page 57 “Rehearse a script”...
Page 58: See Also
Rehearse a script While you rehearse your script, you can adjust the scroll speed and timing of the actions. With the camera on, click Rehearse. The text in the Teleprompter and the trays in the Action window begin to scroll. Read the lines in the Teleprompter.
Page 59 Use the Teleprompter in full-screen mode You can expand the Teleprompter to use the entire computer screen during rehearsal and recording. This makes it easier to read from a greater distance, and also reduces the angle from the subject’s eye line to the lens, thereby enhancing the impression that the subject is looking at the camera rather than the Teleprompter.
Page 60 Pause the Teleprompter and Action window manually To pause the Teleprompter and Action window, do one of the following: Click Pause on the Director tab or press Ctrl+Spacebar. In the Advanced folder of the ■ Video Effects tab, select the Pause Teleprompter effect to add it anywhere in a show’s action sequence.
Page 61: Chapter 9: Adding Closed Captions To A Video
CHAPTER 9 Adding closed captions to a video Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3 lets you incorporate closed captions into your videos. The Closed Captioning feature takes text from the Teleprompter and converts it into captions that appear below the video. Using closed captions for accessibility “About closed captions”...
Page 62 Select closed captions for a video Click Publish and select the publishing method. In the Video Publisher wizard, select Publish A Windows Media Video (.wmv), and then select Enable Closed Captioning. This option is available only when Windows Media (.wmv) is set as the file type. About closed captions in a video Two boxes display closed-caption text.
Page 63 The SourceID box can contain up to three lines of text from the Teleprompter. Start a new line of text in the Teleprompter. Enclose the text in square brackets. Dynamic text appears for a limited time (the display time), regardless of whether it is followed by more text or by blank lines.
Page 64 Visual Communicator saves the SAMI file with the same name as the video file and in the same folder. You can open and edit a SAMI file in any text editor, such as Wordpad or Notepad. To control the appearance of text in the main caption box, add HTML tags to the SAMI file through a third-party application.
Page 65 You can display captions either on the web or in Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player displays persistent and dynamic captions below the video. You have some control over the appearance of the text, but no control over where the caption appears. If the captions are too far from the video, try resizing the Media Player window.
Page 67: Chapter 10: Media Inputs, Video Effects, And External Events
Media inputs, video effects, and external events This chapter covers the video effects that Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3 includes and all the types of media files that you can include in your show. You’ll also learn how to move action trays to get your timing just right.
Page 68 The trays sit in the Action window to the right of the Teleprompter. A tray is triggered when it passes through the pink action bar, so the position of each tray defines the time at which the effect runs. Place the mouse pointer over a tray to show its exact trigger time. The parts of the tray are as follows: Tray tab.
Page 69 Auto-position the next tray The Smart Position feature helps you set timing in your video. Smart Position moves the next tray to the exact position where its action will begin just as the previous one ends. All trays below the next one are repositioned to maintain the same timing between all subsequent actions.
Page 70 If the overlapped trays interfere with keeping track of what’s in the trays, you can shrink them vertically by right-clicking on the tab or frame and selecting Collapse Tray from the pop-up menu. To return a collapsed tray to full size, select Expand Tray. Overlapping trays For a single tray, right-click the tray’s tab or frame and select Delete This Action.
Page 71 When you add a media file or effect to a show, you add an action tray. You can also change the media file or effect in a tray. Drag a media file or effect to a blank spot in the Action window. ■...
Page 72 “About live video” on page 72 “Include video from your camera” on page 73 “Adjust camera and live video settings” on page 74 “About live audio” on page 75 “About still images” on page 75 “Adjust the size and orientation of a still image” on page 76 “Adjust the color of a still image”...
Page 73 After it’s recorded, live video remains locked in position within the show. Moving a ■ camera's tray does not shift its position, but instead changes the point when you transition to the live video. Likewise, moving the next transition effect up cuts off the end of the live video.
Page 74 Unlike other media inputs and video effects, the camera has no options on the Actions tab. To control the camera, click the Setup tab, and then click Video. These settings affect all shows, unlike settings on the Actions tab, which are specific to the selected instance of a media input or effect.
Page 75 When you record a show, Visual Communicator records sound from the audio source that you set up. If a microphone is connected and properly set up, its signal is recorded. Live audio is not included in the Action window. Even though this audio is recorded, it is referred to as live audio to distinguish it from recorded audio clips that you add from the Action window.
Page 76 You add still images to your show in the same way as other media types. Drag and drop the image from the Media library to the Action window or Timeline. You can adjust the default length of time a still image is displayed in your show by changing the Default Picture Duration in the Application Settings.
Page 77 Crop the image by dragging the top, right, left, or bottom border in the cropping control. The results of your cropping appear in the Output Monitor immediately. For precise cropping, you can also enter specific pixel amounts in the boxes to the right of the cropping control.
Page 78: Trim Video And Audio Clips
When you’re creating your own graphics for use in a video, consider the following: Make the resolution at least the size of the Have Visual Communicator scale down, not up published output (typically 640 x 480 pixels for local playback, and 320 x 240 for web playback).
Page 79 Use the Actions tab to trim On the Actions tab, click Trim to display the trim controls. Cropping in the Actions tab To find the point in the clip where you want the video to begin or end, drag the slider and watch the Output Monitor.
Page 80 Use the Action window to trim (video clips only) Click the icon for a video clip in an action tray. A vertical gray duration bar appears, providing a graphical indication of the clip’s trimmed and overall duration. The light gray portion of the band represents the clip’s trimmed length, or the full length if the clip is untrimmed;...
Page 81 Choose a name and location for your saved reference clip. The default location is \My Documents\Adobe Visual Communicator 3\My Output\My Trimmed Clips\. When you have saved a reference clip, you can add it to the Action window of any show by dragging it from the Media library.
Page 82 While the clip is playing, drag the Volume slider on the Actions tab. Rehearse or review the clip in the context of the show to ensure that the volume is appropriate. Set the audio to fade in or out Click the clip’s icon in its action tray to open the Actions tab. Select Fade In or Fade Out.
Page 83: Adjust The Volume Of An Audio Or Video Clip
When the tape has played a few seconds beyond the content you plan to use, click Stop. Click Done on the Project tab. If you captured the clip to the default path, it’s in the My Captured Clips folder in the Output library.
Page 84 Visual Communicator includes several types of static and animated title templates for displaying text: Have two independent lines for text and are all full-frame and Opening and closing slates opaque, so you can pair them with any type of video effect. Their file names typically start with OS (for opening slate), CS (closing slate), or Seg (segment).
Page 85 Include balloons, speech balloons, and scream balloons. In addition to the different styles, they also include the balloon in a variety of positions to accommodate the image behind. You’ll find these templates in the Pop Ups folder in the Graphics library. Popup text For showing credits, but can also be used to introduce text for other purposes throughout a show.
Page 86 Click Save As on the Actions tab. Specify a name and location for the new title file and click Save. The default location is My Documents\Adobe Visual Communicator 3\My Output\My Custom Titles. You can use slides from Microsoft® PowerPoint presentations as graphics in Visual Communicator videos.
Page 87: Video Effects: Transitions And More
When you click OK, an action tray is created and populated with the PowerPoint slide as its media source. You can also drag PowerPoint files from the Browse tab to the Action Area. Visual Communicator will create a tray for each slide and apply transitions that reflect those in the original slideshow.
Page 88 With non-transition effects, the B source appears for a specified period of time and then goes away, leaving the A source unchanged. This category includes all Over The Shoulder, Non- Transition Double Box, and Non-Transition Flyby effects. These are dual-display effects, meaning they display the A and B sources simultaneously.
Page 89 Text effects Visual Communicator has several templates for adding text to a show, but they all fall into two classes. Classes that have a 4:3 aspect ratio and are fully opaque are essentially no different from ■ any graphical source, meaning that they will work with any effect from the Video Effects library.
Page 90 The icons for most effects represent either the A or B source as filling the frame. The A source is on screen before the transition. The B source is on screen after the transition. A and B sources indicated in effect icons If the A source is full-frame, the B source will move into frame, covering the A source.
Page 91 Here are a few things to keep in mind as you select the effects for your shows: The effects you use can play a dramatic role in setting the tone for your show, so consider ■ the mood you want to set as you’re choosing effects. Effects can lend balance and symmetry to a show, particularly with regard to the ■...
Page 92 With standard transition effects that have no pause time set, the Duration value defines ■ how long the transition takes. (With this type of effect, there's no such thing as a total time because time is open-ended—the new A source remains onscreen until the next transition effect supplants it.) With transition effects that have a pause time set, the effect essentially plays twice, each ■...
Page 93 With the MegaFlyby effect, these options define the B Begin Orientation, End Orientation source’s yaw (rotation around the center point), pitch (angle to the vertical axis), and roll (angle to the horizontal axis) at the beginning and end of the effect. Drag the grid control horizontally to affect the pitch;...
Page 94 With the Pro versions of the Swap effect, this option changes the radius of the circle Radius path. (The larger the number, the larger the path the Swap effect will take.) With Mega Peel and Mega Roll effects, the Radius value defines the curl in the source that is peeling or rolling. With Mega Peel and Mega Roll effects, this option controls how pronounced Reflection the virtual reflections on the curling or peeling source are.
Page 95: About Events
Defines the edge of the wipe. With the slider at the far left, the border of wipe will Softness be a hard line; with the slider at the far right, the wipe blends across a wide swath, a gradient of transparency. Try dropping a Wipe effect in the Action window and previewing it with the Softness value at both extremes.
Page 96 Web links give you an easy way to trigger events beyond the video itself. They are most powerful when coupled with publishing to a web page, but they also work with the other publishing methods. Web links can trigger the following events: Open a web browser to display a live web page or an image stored on a web server.
Page 97 Select an option from the Target pop-up menu: Opens a web page in a separate browser window. External Browser Displays an image in a frame within the same web page as the Embedded in Web Page video. Displays the media in the bottom frame of a RealPlayer RealPlayer Browser Pane window.
Page 98 If the list of Chapter Markers is missing, check the security setting for the video player or the web browser. For Windows Media Player, ensure that the Run Script Commands When Present option is selected. This option is on the Security tab of the Options dialog box. If you are proficient with HTML, you can add custom scripting directly through Visual Communicator.
Page 99: Digitally Replacing The Background
On a webcam: ■ In Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3, click the Setup tab, and then select Video. Select Properties to open the camera control panel. Turn off all auto settings, including white balance, gain, iris, exposure, and focus.
Page 100 For optimal results, the saturation should be similar to the digital background you are ■ using. If you have a brightly colored background, set saturation higher; for a muted background, lower the saturation. If possible, adjust the camera’s frame rate to 30 or 15 fps. ■...
Page 101 Adjust the background color or change images Click the V-Screen tab and select Adjust Color. Use the RGB Offset sliders to add the associated colors throughout and the basic RGB sliders to affect only pixels that contain some of the given color. RGB sliders These adjustments affect only the initial background image.
Page 102 Find the V-Screen Bkgd effect in the top level of the Video Effects library and drag it to the Action window. Drag the new image onto the tray. You can change the background image in a show as many times as you like. “Setting up a keying background”...
Page 103 For good results with V-Screen, ensure that the backdrop is lit brightly and evenly. With the V-Screen feature deselected, look at the image in the Output Monitor. If any spots are near black (not enough light) or any parts are near white (too much light), adjust the lighting for more even results.
Page 104 The first panel of the wizard lets you display camera and lighting setup tips. If you are not familiar with setting up your camera and lighting, we recommend that you select the Show Camera & Lighting Setup Tips check box. Click Next to set the key for your video presentation.
Page 105: Chapter 12: Rehearsing And Recording A Show
Rehearsing and recording a show When the script is ready, use the features in Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3 to rehearse, record, time, edit, and then review a show. Rehearsing a show “Rehearse a show” on page 105 “Work on delivery” on page 106 “Adjust recording settings”...
Page 106 To stop while rehearsing the show, click Stop below the Output Monitor. ■ To control whether the Action window stays at the point where you stopped or scrolls ■ back to its previous position, select the Return To Last Position option in the Application Settings menu.
Page 107 Use pauses to your advantage: Pausing in the right places can also help emphasize points. ■ When planning your pauses, think not only of punctuating your delivery, but also of taking breaths where they don’t disrupt your flow. Gesture for effect: Use gestures carefully—the right gestures can make a show more ■...
Page 108: Recording A Show
Recording a show “About flex recording” on page 108 “Use freestyle flex recording” on page 109 “Use existing action trays to flex record” on page 110 “Manually controlling the script and effects” on page 111 “Altering timing in a recorded show” on page 112 “Edit dynamically”...
Page 109: Use Freestyle Flex Recording
Don’t change the camera or microphone after recording. If you change a camera or ■ microphone assignment after recording part of a show, you must clear all recordings for the show before you can record another segment. When you start recording after reassigning an input, Visual Communicator prompts you to either switch back to the original source or clear all recordings.
Page 110: Use Existing Action Trays To Flex Record
The freestyle method might leave snippets of intermediate takes that extend a few frames beyond the final insert. The following example shows such unwanted leftovers. Using trays as end points avoids this problem. Keepers from Takes 1 & 4 Unused content from 1, 2, & 3 Leftover bits from 2 &...
Page 111 These options are not available if the selected tray is already set as a start or stop point; instead, the menu shows a single entry for clearing the current setting. The flex-recording option of an action tray If a start or stop point is assigned to another tray, in most cases, you can move it to the selected tray without first having to clear the other tray.
Page 112 Flex recording and other features depend on the absolute timing of events and recorded content. If, while recording, you do anything that alters the show’s timing, Visual Communicator automatically repositions all affected trays to maintain synchronization between the action sequence and the recorded content. Keep the following items in mind to avoid undesirable consequences when you adjust timing: Don't change the timing of events at one point in a show after recording a segment farther ■...
Page 113 “Creating still-image graphics” on page 78 “Trim video and audio clips” on page 78 “Presenting live shows” on page 117 “Use the Mini-Switcher to switch from one camera to another” on page 120 Recording video fills disk space quickly. Webcam content consumes about 20 MB per minute, including accompanying audio.
Page 114: Use The Review Feature
“Use the Review feature” on page 114 “Using real-time scrubbing to review a show” on page 114 “Save an image of the current frame” on page 115 You can review an unlimited number of times while programming and recording a show. If you need to change something, you can make the changes, record again if necessary, and review again.
Page 115 Communicator saves the contents of the Output monitor as an image file. The default location for these saved images is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\Adobe Visual Communicator 3\My Output\My Screen Grabs\show name\. The image files are named Grab.jpg, Grab1.jpg, and so on.
Page 117: Set Up A Projector Or Second Monitor
“Set up an audio or video loop” on page 119 “Set up live video from a DV camera” on page 119 First, set up the second device in the operating system, and then set it up in Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3.
Page 118 Select Extend My Windows Desktop Onto This Monitor. After you set up the second display device in Windows, you can complete the setup in Visual Communicator. Click the Setup tab, click Video, and then select Enable in the Full Screen Output section. If the correct display device does not show in the Output Monitor field, select it from the pop-up menu.
Page 119: Set Up An Audio Or Video Loop
Set up an audio or video loop You can run an audio or video clip on a loop before or after your presentation. Select Settings > Application Settings, and then select Manually Stop Preview Sources in the Preview Monitor Options group. Double-click the media file to play on a loop.
Page 120: Use The Mini-Switcher To Switch From One Camera To Another
To advance to the next media source, click Next Effect. ■ To play segments normally, rather than manually (such as a rapid-fire sequence of ■ trays), click Resume to set the Teleprompter and Action window scrolling. When the segment is finished, click Pause again to return to manual control. When you’re playing the show in this manner, the Teleprompter cannot be used effectively for a complete script, but it works well as a set of virtual note cards for listing talking points.
Page 121: Dynamic Editing
Dynamic editing You can use the On-The-Fly Editing feature to add a new image or video or change what’s in an existing tray at any time while rehearsing or recording. Drag the new file anywhere below the action bar. ■ Visual Communicator adds the new file to the show and transitions to it when it moves into the action bar.
Page 122 Presenting live shows...
Page 123: Chapter 14: Publishing A Video
CHAPTER 14 Publishing a video After you’ve created a show, you turn all of your recorded content and media files into a video. This process is known as publishing. You can publish a show to your hard disk, to a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server, or directly into an e-mail.
Page 124 If you are not sure what to enter in these fields, consult your service provider or network administrator. Publishing a vlog requires you to have a video hosting account with Adobe’s hosting partner, which you can establish by using the Media Publisher wizard below, or by choosing Hosting >...
Page 125 Preparing a Visual Communicator video for a web page is a two-stage process: first, add Web Links in the course of setting up the project; second, select the template for the web page in the Media Publisher wizard. Visual Communicator embeds your video in either a Windows Media Player or a RealPlayer file, depending on the format you select.
Page 126 Click Next to select the file type (WMV or RM) and set the name and path for the output files. Using the web-page method to publish produces a cluster of files, all of which are saved in a folder with the name and location that you designate. You can upload this entire folder to your web server.
Page 127: Selecting The File Type
FLV—The compressed file format that can be embedded in a SWF file and played in ■ Adobe Flash Player. Flash Player allows the video to be streamed or used in a variety of other ways in applications created in Flash or Adobe Flex Builder.
Page 128 RealMedia Video (RM)—This file format, developed by RealNetworks, Inc. can be ■ played in RealPlayer. Only for uploading to an FTP server. Selecting a file type The default path for your output files is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\Visual Communicator\My Output\My Published Shows. To change the path, click Browse and navigate to the desired folder.
Page 129 Similar to the Send Video In An Email publishing method, Visual Communicator creates the e-mail at the end of the publishing process so you can add recipients, the subject, and a message. Click Send An E-mail With A Web Link When Finished. ■...
Page 130 Enter vlog host account information To set or change your account information, select Hosting > Account Information and fill in the necessary fields. If you plan on uploading to the vlog host and have not yet created an account, click Need A Hosting Account on the Account Information dialog box. That will open a web page through which you can either set up a limited term evaluation account or proceed to purchase a hosting service.
Page 131: Summary
The layer of security most likely to prevent Visual Communicator from uploading a file is the firewall that protects your computer or network from other computers outside the network. Firewalls are designed to block certain kinds of communications, including the file transfer protocol that Visual Communicator uses.
Page 132 FLV—you can choose from three preset resolutions and frame rates (240x180 at 15 fps, 240x180 at 30 fps, 320x240 at 30 fps) or lets you specify a custom setting for video size and quality. To learn more about the encoding settings for FLV, see “FLV video encoding settings”...
Page 133 2 Pass Encoding—Enhances the video’s quality at the file size and quality setting. ■ Encoding in two passes naturally takes roughly twice as long as a single pass, but in the process optimizes compression for better results. The first pass gathers information about the content of the stream;...
Page 134 To start the Video Publisher wizard, click Publish, and select one of the publishing methods for your video. For more information on the publishing methods, see “Select the publishing method” on page 123. Select Publish A Flash Video from the wizard. Select the Custom Size/Custom Quality option, and click the Customize button to display the Custom Encoding Settings dialog box.
Page 135 When you are satisfied with the custom video encoding settings, click OK to return to the Video Publisher wizard, and continue following the wizard instructions. The Video Publisher wizard lets you choose from three preset resolutions and frame rates when creating Real video files, However, you can also specify custom encoding settings for Real video size and quality.
Page 136 A drop-down menu that lets you choose which version of the Real video Video Codec codec to encode your video. The default is RealVideo 10, which provides the highest possible video quality and is compatible with RealOne Player and later. Lets you specify different video modes which affect the look of the video Video Mode playback.
Page 137 DV Type 2 files are compatible with a greater number of video editing applications; this is particularly true when working with older video applications, such as Adobe Premiere 6.5 and earlier versions. Consult the documentation for your video editing application for compatibility.
Page 138 If all details are correct in the summary, click Finish to start the publishing process; if not, ■ click Back to correct the setting. When you click Finish, Visual Communicator starts assembling, rendering, and compressing your video. A progress bar shows the status. When the process is complete, the progress bar remains visible—unless you chose to upload the video to a server on the Internet.
Page 139: Live Streaming
Live streaming You can stream Adobe® Visual Communicator® 3 shows over the Internet or your intranet. Understanding streaming basics “About streaming” on page 139 About streaming There are many ways to stream or broadcast media over the web. For Visual Communicator, you should understand the basics of push and pull streaming.
Page 140 Requirements for streaming live media “Minimum system requirements for live streaming” on page 140 “Choose a media format” on page 140 “Setting up an account with a streaming service provider” on page 141 Minimum system requirements for live streaming To stream live media, you’ll need a powerful computer and access to a Flash Video, Windows Media, or Real streaming server that can broadcast live streaming media for either web-based streaming or an IP address for port-to-port streaming.
Page 141 Set up an account with a streaming service provider that supports Windows Media ■ format. Obtain server information from your provider and configure Visual Communicator with those settings. Run your own streaming server on a separate computer running Windows Media ■...
Page 142 “Troubleshoot live streaming” on page 147 Open the project to stream and set up your streaming settings in Visual Communicator. The streaming settings are saved in Visual Communicator, not with individual shows. This means that the loaded streaming profile and settings are maintained even if you create a new project.
Page 143 rtmp://fms.example.com In the example above, indicates the protocol and the Flash 1234 Media Server hostname (required), : indicates the port number to connect to appName (optional), indicates the name of a Flash application on the host (required), and instanceName the instance of the application to connect to, if there are multiple instances (optional).
Page 144 Configure Windows Media In the main menu bar, select Settings > Live Streaming Settings, and then click Configure. Configuring the server for streaming In the Server: Push Method section: Select Enable Push Streaming. Fill in the Server Name and Publishing Point boxes with the information that your streaming service provides.
Page 145 Choose Settings > Live Streaming Settings. Click Save As, enter a name for your new customized profile, and click Save. Assuming you save to the default folder, this SMP file is listed along with the preset files. Each time you select live streaming, the last profile that you saved is reloaded. To stream the audio from your microphone, select Setup, click Audio, and then select ■...
Page 146 Dark green: Connected and ready to stream when you click Start on the Director tab. ■ Bright red: Streaming failed. Unable to connect to the server or stream video. ■ Live Streaming status light On a computer other than the one that holds your Visual Communicator files, open a web browser and enter the URL for your show.
Page 147 If your video is not streaming, check the status of the Live Streaming Status light. Status Light color Problem Solution...
Page 149 File menu Alt+F Ctrl+Q Undo last action Ctrl+Z Redo last action that Ctrl+Y was undone Cut selected content Ctrl+X to the clipboard Copy selected Ctrl+C content to the clipboard Paste content from Ctrl+V the clipboard Select all content Ctrl+A...
Page 150: Chapter 16: Shortcuts
Rehearse Record Review Publish Stop Rehearsing/ Recording Pause/Resume Ctrl+Space bar Next Effect Ctrl+Enter Advance Alt+A End Effect Alt+Z Application Settings Alt+M Performance Settings Ctrl+F Camera Properties Alt+C Enable V-Screen Alt+V Auto-Select key Alt+K Open Advanced Alt+G Settings dialog box Reset Settings to Alt+R Default Shortcuts...
Page 151 Open Audio Mixer Launch Advanced Titles Help Menu Alt+H Visual Communicator Help Check for Update Alt+H+U About Visual Ctrl+Shift+A Communicator Action trays Move selected trays Shift+Drag and all trays below it...
Page 152 Shortcuts...
Page 153: Chapter 17: Glossary
CHAPTER 17 Glossary...
Page 154 Glossary...
Page 156 Glossary...

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Visual communicator 3

Adobe 38040165 - Visual Communicator - PC User Manual

Chapter 1: Installing Visual Communicator

Chapter 2: Feature and Control Overview

Chapter 3: Making Your First Show

Chapter 4: Setting up a Studio

Chapter 5: Creating a Show

Chapter 6: Managing Projects and Media Files

Chapter 8: Using the Teleprompter

Chapter 9: Adding Closed Captions to a Video

Chapter 10: Media Inputs, Video Effects, and External Events

Chapter 12: Rehearsing and Recording a Show

Chapter 13 : Presenting Live Shows

Chapter 14: Publishing a Video

Chapter 16: Shortcuts

Chapter 17: Glossary

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