TouchCast Studio: Best Practices & Tips

Here are some of our experts' best practices & tips when preparing and using TouchCast Studio:

1. Test Your Camera and Audio Setting

Always check the Camera and Microphone settings before working with Studio to develop presentations.  The default setting be fine for your session but it's always better to check them first.

Use the Camera options to:   

• Select the camera to be used when you record
• Setup green screen special effects if that is to be used

Use the Audio options to:

• Select the microphone to be used as you record
• Set your microphone record volume (gain)

2. Teleprompter Script

Use of the Teleprompter Script is recommended.  Even a simple outline will help you avoid ‘rambling’ or omitting key information.

3. Drawing Objects - Prepare in Advance vs On the Fly

Drawing objects, e.g., lines, arrows, circles, etc. can be added to scenes as you record or in advance, e.g., during scene preparation or when recording is paused.  The purpose of the drawing and your comfort using the drawing tools should be considered as you prepare your presentation. A good practice is to draw on the fly only when necessary and when you do, avoid overdoing it, it can make your presentation look sloppy and distract your audience.

4. Break Presentations and Scenes Into Multiple Clips

Each time you begin recording your presentation, Studio starts a new clip.  You could begin recording and capture all of your scenes, then stop recording.  This will result in one very long clip. While this method could work, it makes editing and finalizing your presentation more difficult,  

A better approach is to start recording as you begin a scene and pause when you are done with that scene.  Using this method, you will have one clip for each scene (plus clips for scenes retakes). The method makes editing your presentation easier.  

Yet another approach is to use Record Start / Pause operations to break sections within a scene into multiple clips.  This method provides additional flexibility as you edit and handle multiple takes.

5. Save Your Project File Frequently

Remember to save your project (As described in: Touchcast Studio: How to Save a Touchcast).  Studio prompts you to save your project if you leave either Record or Editor screens, but it is a good practice to save your projects at other key points in you work.

6. Sharing Project Files With Others

Studio project files can be shared with others using a ‘share and fetch’ process (As described in: TouchCast Studio: How to share and fetch a project code).  

If you share a project with another member of your team, be sure to note the associated code and send it to them along with the sharing notification.  They will need that code to ‘fetch’ the project to their device. The sharing codes are specific to the project and sharing event. If you fetch a project using an older code, you may begin work with the wrong version.