Universal Capture (previously known as Personal Capture) can be used to record and edit video content from your computer, and publish the captured content online using Lecture Capture. These screen capture videos can then be made available to students easily in the LMS.
The following video describes the content covered in the guide below.
Video guide to recording your own videos with Universal Capture
Install and log in to Universal Capture
Install on a UoM device
Install on a personal device
To access Universal Capture look for 'Echo360 Universal Capture' via the self-service software portal on Mac and software centre on Windows staff computers.
Go to the Settings cog in the top-right corner of the Lecture Capture interface and select Downloads
Click on Windows Download or Mac Download under the Universal Capture: Personal heading
Complete installation steps as prompted
Log in and out of Universal Capture
When you first access Universal Capture, you will be prompted to log in to the application.
A new window will open in your browser and you will be instructed to enter your University email address, followed by your University login credentials.
Important: Use your username@unimelb.edu.au email address when logging in to Lecture Capture.
Log in to Universal Capture
The Universal Capture interface
The image below illustrates the Universal Capture interface, including where to edit the details of the capture, select audio/video input methods, confirm your user details and start a recording.
Universal Capture interface
Create a new recording
Universal Capture is designed to be simple and quick. Just enter the details for your capture, and hit record. We have provided some basic information to get started below, and recommend reading the Echo360 guide for more information: Start a Recording with Universal Capture.
Step 1. Enter details for the capture
In the top of the screen, click Enter Capture Details (shown with a pencil icon) to launch the Capture Details dialog box.
Enter a Title, add a Description or Tags as appropriate.
The Publishing location will determine where your recording will be housed. You will only see subjects that you are an instructor of in Echo360. Select a specific subject from the dropdown if you wish to immediately upload your recording to an existing Lecture Capture page, or leave as Library to make this decision later. Future captures will remember the last location chosen.
Click Save.
Capture Details dialogue box
Step 2. Start the recording
Tip: before you hit record, check your audio and video input settings.
Click the Microphone icon (Audio Source) and select the best device for recording (we recommend using a quality headset rather than your computer microphone, if possible)
Click the Display Source dropdown(s) and select the desired screen to record, for example Display 1 or your computer's webcam. Multiple inputs can be applied if available.
Note: You may select 'no input' for an audio-only capture
Ensure previews are as expected and that there is audio input on the recording level indicator.
Finally, click the red Record icon . A five-second countdown timer will display, and then the recording will begin.
Audio and video inputs applied
Step 3. Control the recording
Once you've started the recording, the options to Stop, Pause, or Resume will display in place of the Record icon.
Important notes:
Clicking Stop will finish and complete your recording, meaning that it will finalise and publish to the selected location.
A recording cannot remain paused for longer than 20 minutes. After 20 minutes the paused recording will automatically complete and upload to Echo360.
Once a capture is finished the software will indicate the capture is uploading to the Echo360 system.
Mac users
Windows users
Menu bar shortcuts
Locate and click the Echo360 logo in the menu bar.
From there, click Finish (Stop), Extend, Pause, or Resume as needed. The application window can also be brought back to the front by clicking Open Echo360 Capture.
System tray shortcuts
Turn on 'Echo360 Capture' in the taskbar (Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar)
Locate and click the Echo360 logo in the taskbar.
From there, click Finish (Stop), Extend, Pause, or Resume as needed. The application window can also be brought back to the front by clicking Open Echo360 Capture.
Keyboard shortcuts
Command + 6: Pause & Resume
Command + 8: Finish (Stop) the Recording
Command + 1: Extend the Recording
Keyboard shortcuts
Control + 6: Pause & Resume
Control + 8: Finish (Stop) the Recording
Control + 1: Extend the Recording
Live streaming in Universal Capture
Enabling live streaming from Universal Capture will make your recording available to students in real time from the Lecture Capture page in the LMS.
Note: live streams have a maximum duration of four hours and are only available for captures that are published to a Lecture Capture course.
Starting a Live Capture
Follow the steps to create a new recording, ensuring to select the Live Stream checkbox.
Select Live Stream when creating a new capture
Start the capture to begin your live stream.
A LIVE icon appears in the top-right corner of the Universal Capture interface to indicate this recording is currently streaming live.
Capture showing LIVE icon
Viewing a Live Capture
Live captures will appear with a LIVE tag in the Lecture Capture page, along with a green dot to indicate the session is in progress.
Lecture Capture page showing Live Stream is enabled
To watch the session, click the title of the capture next to the LIVE icon, then click Show Live Stream.
Click on the session title, then click Show Live Stream
Editing, sharing and using recordings
Once uploaded to Echo360, recordings can be edited to remove unwanted parts of the recording, shared with other users, and added to subjects in combination with presentation slides or activity slides, all within the Lecture Capture system.
You can also open up the Q&A feature to allow students to engage in conversation on recordings.
A common way to create online video presentations for the LMS is to capture the computer screen while recording the audio and video of the presenter via a webcam. Echo360 Universal Capture is the University of Melbourne’s recommended screen capture software. The software allows capture recording to be published to the Echo360 Lecture Capture server, providing streaming server access to recordings. These links to screen capture videos can then be made available to students via the LMS.
Benefits of screen capture videos
Provide flexibility to students in regards to accessing learning and attendance requirements
Students are able to pause and review recordings as many times as they wish, suiting different learning preferences and language competencies
Catering to different learning styles
Provide video content or instructions to students to review prior to face-to-face sessions, allowing for more interactive and collaborative tutorial or lecture time
Can easily be reused for future delivery of subjects
Provide a rich visual media to explain concepts to students.
Uses of screen capture videos
Short messages to personalise your LMS e.g. welcome to the subject
Create pre-course videos of required background subject content
Explanations of LMS content or other software or websites
Replacement of presentations or lectures as mini video lectures
Recording of a visiting lecturer or industry experts at a time preferable to the visitor or for future students
To create presentations to support understanding of the learning material
To clarify concepts that often cause confusion in an engaging way
Response to a debate or reflection from a lecture or discussion board posts
Explanation of requirements for the assessment
A weekly summary of the course or requirements for the coming week.
Best practice when creating screen capture videos
There are different steps for creating a screen capture video. Below are some hints and consideration at each of the steps in creating a screen capture video.
Things to think about for screen capture video
When watching videos students prefer chunked content in short: 5 -10 minute segments. They are unlikely to watch a 10 minute capture. If a concept takes longer to explain, find natural breaks to create multiple videos. Students will continue to watch the following captures if they are interested.
Motivate the audience and explain what they will get out of watching the video
Story telling is an important part of a capture – tell stories with a beginning, middle and end, explain the ‘why’ as well as the ‘what’, providing real examples
Captures are a one-way media. Consider adding questions or prompting reflections within your capture. This gives the appearance of dialogue, make the capture more personal and may promote deeper level thinking.
Create and design your capture presentation using PowerPoint or Keynote
Set the aspect ratio to 16:9 in Page Set up in PowerPoint or via the Inspector in Keynote
Slides need to be clear with high quality images and limited amounts of words. Complicated busy slides overwhelm the audience
Make content look visually interesting
Use colour, not just black and white
For readability ensure a minimum font size 24pt
When using screen capture only (i.e. not using a webcam) including a photo of yourself in the presentation to aid to student connection
Keep the look, the banner, and fonts consistent
Consider designing your own graphics to avoid copyright issues.
Copyright considerations
If you are using material that you did not create yourself in your capture, check whether it can be recorded – for example, commercially purchased music and commercially purchased film content cannot be recorded on a capture. If you need help, contact the Copyright Office.
For capture recordings that contain copyright material and are uploaded to the LMS, the same regulations apply to that copyright material that would apply if you were to upload that material directly into the LMS.
Always cite your sources.
Put Copyright citations at the end of your presentation or below images.
Write a script for your capture or rehearse what you are going to say. Rehearsal will improve your performance; you will come across as more relaxed and be able to focus on audience engagement. It will also shorten the editing process.
If using a webcam, think about what you wearing. A bold single colour looks better in camera. Avoid patterns and white and rattling jewellery.
If using a webcam, think about the background behind your screen, is it distracting or does it portray the impression you want to your audience?
If using a webcam with two speakers, make sure both are in camera
Close down any software programs on the computer you are not using in the capture
Magnify the computer screen where you can – webpages and Excel in particular
Know the short-cut commands or where the pause and stop keys are for easy access during the capture recording
Good audio is crucial to engagement. Run a short test recording to ensure the microphone captures audio correctly before starting your actual recording.
During recording
The camera is your connection to your audience – good camera interaction is important. Think about connecting and engaging with your audience through body language and expression
If using a webcam, make sure you maintain eye contact with the camera keeping your head still. It is distracting if your eyes are roaming
Show enthusiasm for your subject through facial expressions, voice and hand gestures to display personality, curiosity and interest
Speak clearly, at a moderate speed
If using a webcam, get close enough to the camera so that your audience can read your body language but do not fill the screen
Think about explanations that have resonated with your students in the past, use clear explanations, preferably with visuals to support. Waffling will disengage your audience
You can use annotation on your screen or within the presentation software to add to your explanation and the visual engagement
When explaining websites or software move your mouse slowly and allow time to show hover hints
If you muddle your words, start the sentence again. You can edit the mistake out later.
If using a script consider how you are going to read the script and maintain eye contact with the camera
If recording two people talking, the presenters can move between looking at each other and the camera
Editing
Depending on the amount of editing needed in the capture, you will allow some time for the editing and upload process. Editing can take 5-10 minutes for every one minute of the original capture.
You do not be a perfectionist, if the capture shows passion and provides a clear explanation, students will understand the odd word stumble.
If you are not confident with the editing process, review help guides and videos available before saving changes to the raw capture
Play back the entire recording before publishing or exporting
Ask another person to review the final capture before making it available to students
This guide was last updated 25 Nov 2022. Please report any errors or omissions in this guide by submitting an LMS support request.