I'm hoping for a boost up the learning curve for recording and hosting/playback of PC screencasts. I work for a huge, bureaucratic, heavily regulated and dysfunctional organization. I'm the guru for a complex and niche system that has a web client used by ~60 customers, who are smallish financial institutions.
We're about to perform a major upgrade of the system and the web client is changing radically(new software architecture, new look and feel, no continuity in location of menus/task items).
I need to train the customers to use the new web client. I'm thinking the most efficient way to do this will be to record screencasts of me demonstrating various functions with accompanying audio narration.
I expect little to no support from my employer in this endeavor (well, I could start a project to procure the screencasting software, get it approved by budget, get it approved by IT risk, etc. etc., and possibly have it available 6 months after the ugprade completes), meaning that I'll need to obtain the screencast recording software and hosting of the recordings on my own. Would like to keep total budget <$200 if possible.
I'll be recording on a Windows 7 laptop, and the majority of the recording will be of web browser applications (either Firefox or I.E.). The system web client is mostly text based with occasional PDF document images appearing. I don't see any need for HD resolution recording playback as long as the screen text is clear and legible.
So...
Recommended screencast recording software for Windows 7?
Any hardware I should get? Should I buy a microphone?
What are my options for hosting the recordings where the clients won't be bombarded by ads? I'd really, really prefer not to host on youtube. I'm not opposed to paying for hosting.
Any pointers, advice, or references/tutorials you can point me to so my recordings look somewhat polished and don't bore the customers to death?
We're about to perform a major upgrade of the system and the web client is changing radically(new software architecture, new look and feel, no continuity in location of menus/task items).
I need to train the customers to use the new web client. I'm thinking the most efficient way to do this will be to record screencasts of me demonstrating various functions with accompanying audio narration.
I expect little to no support from my employer in this endeavor (well, I could start a project to procure the screencasting software, get it approved by budget, get it approved by IT risk, etc. etc., and possibly have it available 6 months after the ugprade completes), meaning that I'll need to obtain the screencast recording software and hosting of the recordings on my own. Would like to keep total budget <$200 if possible.
I'll be recording on a Windows 7 laptop, and the majority of the recording will be of web browser applications (either Firefox or I.E.). The system web client is mostly text based with occasional PDF document images appearing. I don't see any need for HD resolution recording playback as long as the screen text is clear and legible.
So...
Recommended screencast recording software for Windows 7?
Any hardware I should get? Should I buy a microphone?
What are my options for hosting the recordings where the clients won't be bombarded by ads? I'd really, really prefer not to host on youtube. I'm not opposed to paying for hosting.
Any pointers, advice, or references/tutorials you can point me to so my recordings look somewhat polished and don't bore the customers to death?
