C+S -> Broadcasting Morae Audio + Video feed

Hello everyone -

 

Here are the responses I received to a question I posted to this ListServ
last week on how to broadcast live audio + video via Morae using an
application sharing software such as WebEx, GoToMeeting, or AT&T Connect. My
"net/net" is it seems possible to do this, but it isn't easy! I attempted
some of these approaches, but was unsuccessful. Perhaps there was a problem
with the wireless in the building where I was running my sessions, or maybe
I need to purchase a higher-powered laptop that will run both Morae Observer
+ the application sharing product without resource drain.  There are several
variables to get the live audio/video streaming broadcast to work reliably.
Currently, it seems you'd also need to have another person babysit the
transmission while you moderate the sessions. 

 

However, from these responses it seems some people do this routinely.

 

Thank you to everyone who contributed (some responses were from outside this
list)-

 

Kay 

 

*********************************************

 

The original question was:

 

On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 1:26 PM, Kay Corry Aubrey <
<mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> wrote:

Hi - I have heard that there is a way to broadcast live audio & video from
Morae Observer using an application sharing product such as GoToMeeting. Has
anyone been able to do this successfully? I can broadcast live video, but
not the accompanying live audio. Hooking up a microphone to a speaker to
capture the audio is not an option in this case.

Any pointers from folks who know how to do this would be much appreciated. I
will C&S responses.

Thanks -

Kay
*********************************************



RESPONSES (numbered by person who wrote back)

 

#1

Hi Kay,

 

I use Camtasia (because it is less system intensive) so did not observe the
lag you mention.

 

I don't use or debug GTM or Morae, but I have read while trying to debug
Camtasia that sometimes different mics make a big difference because they
use different parts of the computer system. So if you are using an
audio-plug audio mic, try a USB mic, or vice versa.

 

Since I've got nothing, here's some more guesses:

 

I know you said you used webcam mics so maybe changing audio in is not an
option.

 

If the audio is not playing on the observation computer, you might have 2
audio feeds cancelling each other out, or you might need to specify which
one for GTM to listen to. It might default to the sytem mic instead of
line-in audio.

 

In my experience Camtasia and Morae start to drop features when they run out
of system resources. So you might need a beefier computer to run all this
on.

 

Techsmith has user forums that might be of help.

 

Skype might be an alternative if it has group features.

 

I am curious why Morae doesn't just do the audio broadcasting. I thought
that was the whole point of using that software. Not sure why you'd need GTM
too, but that's probably because I don't know enough about Morae.

 

I did a paper prototype test 2 weeks ago and we used an overhead digital
video camera fed to a projector in a large observation room, then we
recorded that feed for remote observers to watch later. That worked really
well.

 

Sorry I can't be more help,

 

Susan

 

>Hi Susan -

> 

>Here was my situation -> I was using 2 webcams feeding video/audio into 

>Morae to pick up paper prototype sessions. I had Morae Observer running 

>on a different PC and expected to be able to broadcast the live 

>audio/video over the application sharing software. In theory, this should
work but it 

>didn't.  Can you figure out what I was doing wrong here?

> 

>I have a question about the approach you describe. Morae Observer is 

>about 30 seconds behind the live session. If you have a speaker phone 

>going in the testing area there would be a 30 second lag between the voice
and the video.

>How did you deal with this?

> 

>thanks for this response!

> 

>Kay

> 

>Kay,

> 

>Sometimes I use a conference call phone in each room to do this. Have 

>one room call the other and leave it on. Assign someone you trust to 

>make sure it's always on mute in the observation room, especially when 

>people want to ask questions (I make people write questions and put 

>them under my door after the session, so I can interpret them).

>Turn off call waiting, if it exists, when you dial the number.

> 

>Susan

> 

 

#2 

Hi, Kay,  

The computer in the observation room that has the audio and video coming
through is the key. If you join this computer into a WebEx or G2M meeting as
a participant or host, who then shares the screen the meeting, then any
other participant joining the meeting remotely can see it. We did this all
the time at WebEx.

 Kathy

Hi Kathy - this is what I did in both cases (started a G2M and then when
that didn't work, an AT&T Connect session as a host). I shared the morae
observer application. When I joined each meeting as a participant (a
different computer), the live streaming video comes across, but not the live
audio. 
Did you have to make any tweaks to the G2M's audio settings so it transmits
live audio as well as video?

 Thx -

 Kay

Hi, Kay, 

 

We used WebEx, not G2M, and had no adjustments to make to either share video
or audio. The video and audio were part of the experience of the computer
and desktop, so it worked like any old meeting where I am sharing my
desktop. 

 

I'm tempted to say get a free WebEx trial and check it out, but actually
don't know why there'd be any difference in capabilities. You could try
calling G2M and ask their tech support on why it's different, but don't know
what they'd point to...

 

Looks like I don't have any better info than you do, sorry!

#3

Hi Kay, 

The individuals on the phone will need to have either a headset attached to
their computer or listen to the study through their computer. 

In GoToMeeting, you will need to select that they listen to it via VoIP and
let the listeners know to use a headset or their computer speakers. You will
also need to mute them through GoToMeeting so that the participants cannot
hear them. 


Hope you are doing well. 

Kathy

#4

Kay, we've done this using both Microsoft LiveMeeting and Webex. On the
computer running Morae Recorder, LiveMeeting, you have to ensure that the
meeting is set up to transmit audio, as normally, people use conference
calls for such meetings. At least that's what we've found has tripped us up
in the past, in our organization. You could broadcast this from either the
Recorder or the Observer (I'd think Observer would be easiest--present via
LiveMeeting what you're getting from Morae). As long as audio is on on all
the machines, as well as within the meeting configuration, it should work
either way. The meeting attendees also need to have audio on their computers
and in their meeting configuration.

 

#5

Hi Kay,

 

Extra points for using "luv" in the subject and glad you liked the book!
Unfortunately what you are describing sounds like exactly the kind of thing
that drives us crazy. 

 

My advice: ditch Morae and just use Ustream. It both broadcasts and records
at the same time and works with multiple cameras. Plus the recordings are
already online when you are done and you can easily password protect things.
You can download UStream producer for free and try it out. 

 

Good luck!!

 

-n

 

#6

Hello Kathleen,

 

Thank you for contacting Global Customer Support.

 

These instructions explain how to transmit audio that normally comes out of
your computer speakers via the VoIP line in GoToMeeting/GoToWebinar.  Please
read both methods as one may work out better for you.  Each has their
downside. 
 
SOFTWARE OPTION   [Cannot use microphone when switching via software]
==================== 
1. Double click on the volume icon in the system tray 
2. Go to Options --> Properties 
3. Under "Adjust Volume For" choose "Recording" 
4. Make sure "Stereo Mix" is checked 
5. Press "OK "
6. On the new screen, place the checkbox for "Select" under "Stereo Mix" 
 
HARDWARE OPTION  [Can use both microphone and play audio at the same time,
requires hardware]
==================== 
Parts needed:   Two (2) 3.5mm audio splitters (one male, two female) 
     One (1) 3.5mm audio patch cable (two male ends, typically 3" long) 
1. Plug one splitter into your LINE OUT port (for speakers, typically
colored green) 
2. Plug the other splitter into your MICROPHONE port (typically pink) 
3. Plug the patch cable into the splitter on LINE OUT and then into the
splitter on MICROPHONE. 
4. Plug your MICROPHONE into the microphone splitter, and then plug your
SPEAKERS into the line out splitter.
 
If you have any additional questions or need further clarification regarding
this matter, please feel free to reply directly to this email.  For any
other product inquiries or technical assistance, please visit us at our
Support Centers listed at the bottom of this email.  Our Support Centers
include Self Help files and our Global Customer Support Contact Information.

Thank you,

Brian Hanney, Global Customer Support

Citrix Online Division http://www.citrixonline.com/ Citrix Systems, Inc.



 

 

Kay Corry Aubrey, user-centered research and design 

Usability Resources Inc | www.UsabilityResources.net

781-275-3020 | [email protected]

 

 


    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Tip of the Day: Quote only what you need from earlier postings
            CHI-WEB: www.sigchi.org/resources/web/faq.html
              MODERATOR: mailto:[email protected]
    --------------------------------------------------------------