Wickham's musings from Chalke

 
A new beta video message program for my blog; see the video box below; wait a short time for one video to load, then use the rewind button (often required more than once) to see a video; please keep video messages short, say thirty seconds maximum. The rewind button is often slow to operate, or refuses. Always wait about five seconds for a video clip to be running properly before using the rewind button as it seems to work better if the video has downloaded a reasonable amount.

The video will probably start with the last one that you viewed. Adverts are added (not of my choice and not inserted by me), so don't be surprised; just use the rewind button to a previous video or the forward button, preferably the rewind button first as you may be seeing the last video, or use the pause button to stop the video.



After clicking "add comment" and "Allow" you can watch yourself without recording; then click on the round black icon to start recording.

Here are some recording recommendations:-

1. Click "add comment" to be able to add a video message.

2. Click "Allow" in the Flash window so that you see your local video image.

3. Right-click the spanner "Tools" icon and click settings to adjust and main settings.
Click the webcam icon to select the capturing device you want to use.
Click the microphone icon to set the recording device and recording level. Note the level gauge on the left. Speak and adjust the slider if needed. The best setting at normal speaking level is when the gauge is half green with a bit of yellow above. Avoid seeing red.
The file icon setting allows you to set the maximum file size for storage (which is only the latest video clip so that it is ready for the next viewing as all others are stored on the server.)
Close.

4. Left-click the spanner "Tools" icon to set the quality you want.
Change the resolution to 320x240 to get a decent video quality.
The fps should be sufficient to have a smooth and fast video recording, but note that this is depending on webcam and environmental lighting. Leave it at 10 at first.
Set bandwidth to about 60-75% of your maximum available upload (KB/s) ie 20 kiloBytes per second if your upload limit is normally 256kbps (32kBps) or 30 for 373kbps.
Set quality at first to 30 for your first recording but you may be able to increase this to 80 in later recordings.
Set the key rate at 25.
Click "set" and "back".

5. To record, click the black dot, when recording it will be flashing red.
To stop recording, click the red dot.

The initial recording settings for a computer with 256kbps upload might be might be:
320*240; 10; 20; 30; 25
and for a computer with 373kbps upload:
320*240; 10 or 15; 30; 80; 25 or 30
but you might have to raise or lower any of the above depending on the quality of the image or frame rate and lip synchronisation. Please use the recommended settings for your first message.

"Create new box" on the box window is for viewers to register to create their own video box for their own website or blog.

 
This is a beta program that will eventually enable a blogger to record a video and anyone will be able to record a reply. At the moment it plays my recording, but after others who recorded earlier, so I'm not sure how to start a new recording just for me and my viewers.
First test (general video with all comments):-