Recording Virtual Presentation in PowerPoint

Preparing to Record your Presentation

While there are many methods to prepare and record a virtual presentation, PowerPoint includes a straightforward, simple solution. If you are comfortable with other solutions, feel free to use them.

In this document, we will demonstrate how to use PowerPoint to create a video file of your talk ready for presentation at a virtual conference. This covers how to record audio and optionally video, then save the presentation as a video (mp4) file suitable for showing on-line for virtual events.

• For your virtual presentation, please limit your recorded talk to the time allotted for your talk (20 minutes)
  It is often helpful to prepare a script for each slide and to practice so make sure you stay within the allotted time.
• With your presentation slides and script done and rehearsed, you are ready to start recording your presentations. Please refer to the PRESENTATION GUIDELINES document for a quality virtual presentation.
• IMPORTANT: Please note that final file must be in MP4 format

Recording Your Presentation in PowerPoint

• Start by opening Slide Show menu along the top of the PowerPoint window. In the slide show toolbar, click on “Set Up Slide Show.”

• NOTE: You may need to enable the Recording tab of the ribbon. On the File tab of the ribbon, click Options. In the Options dialog box, click the Customize Ribbon tab on the left. Then, in the right-hand box that lists the available ribbon tabs, select the Recording check box.
  Click OK.

• This will open a settings dialog. Most of the defaults should be fine, but you should set the Resolution (near the lower right) to 1920x1080. 1280x720 is also acceptable and will result in a smaller presentation file with slightly lower quality. 

• To begin recording, select Record Slide Show near the top of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select Record from Beginning. This brings you to the record screen. If you would like to include your webcam in your presentation, see the section on Optional video below.

• Once you are ready to start, Click on the RED Record button at the top left corner of the screen. This will start a 3 second countdown, then you can begin recording your talk. Talk about the points on each slide, then advance to the next, same as you would in a physical presentation. If you make a mistake, you can just keep going and return to the slide later to re-record. See the section on Reviewing your Presentation, below.

• Note that you can Pause the recording if you need to.

• When you’re done, click Stop on the recording page.

Optional Video

• Using a webcam for your virtual presentation is entirely optional but encouraged. If you do want to use video, you can do so within PowerPoint.

• When you open the record screen, notice the camera icon in the lower right. Click the icon to start your webcam. The image will appear in the lower right while recording, but when you’re done recording you will have the option to move the video anywhere on the screen. Please move to the upper left corner. Be sure the video window does not obscure any of the text for each slide.

• While editing your PowerPoint file which includes video, there will be a play bar below the video. However, the play bar will not appear in the final presentation.

• Remember to look at the camera while capturing video, not at your notes or the screen. 

Reviewing Your Presentation

• You can preview your presentation by selecting From Beginning in the slide show section.

• We all make mistakes. If you need to re-record the audio for a specific slide, or want to make a change, it’s simple to do. 

• Go to that slide in PowerPoint, then select Record Slide Show. This time, though, select From Current Slide.

• You’ll return to the recording screen, where you can start re-recording when you’re ready. Be sure to stop at the end of the slide, without proceeding to the next. 

• You can review and edit your presentation as needed. Just a reminder to please be sure you do not exceed the allotted time for your talk.

Saving your Presentation

• Don’t forget to save your presentation as a PowerPoint file!

• To save the presentation as a video ready to show at a virtual event, go to the File menu (upper left), and select Save a Copy.

• Please include your presentation title and name in the file name so the event host can easily identify the file once you submit it.

• On the drop-down menu for file types, select MPEG-4 Video, and click Save.

• Note that saving the presentation as a video might take a while. Be sure to check the progress bar at the bottom of the PowerPoint window. Don’t close PowerPoint until it has finished saving the file.

Submitting your Presentation

• Once you have prepared your virtual presentation and saved it as a video file please upload video via a file sharing service (i.e. Google Drive, OneDrive, WeTransfer, DropBox) and send a link to the Event Manager at SEMI. If you do not have access a file sharing service, please let your SEMI contact know.

• Important Reminder: Video format is MP4, 1920x1080 or 1280x720

• Deadline for submission of your video presentation (if pre-recorded)  is noted on your Speaker Letter of agreement for the SEMI Event you are speaking at. Adhering to the deadline will  allow us time to ensure the presentation is reviewed for quality and tested on the virtual platform.

Questions?

If you have any questions about uploading or submitting your presentations, please contact Agnes Cobar at [email protected]