Chapter 4: Creating a Web Tour Presentation

This chapter gives you step-by-step instructions on how to use RealPresenter Plus to create streaming Web Tour presentations. These presentations can be experienced by anyone with the latest version of RealPlayer.

You will learn everything from creating a script, organizing the Web sites, to recording the narration for your Web Tour.

Basic Steps: an Overview

A Web Tour presentation is a guided tour of Web sites, enhanced by RealAudio and/or RealVideo. The streaming media portion of your presentation plays in the RealPlayer, while the Web sites you are describing automatically open in your viewer's Internet browser.

Because there are many steps involved in creating a Web Tour presentation, the rest of this chapter is divided into sections that guide you through each step. Select a link to go directly to that step.

Step 1-Create a Script: write out the script that you will use to talk through the different Web pages

Step 2-Bookmark the Web Pages: use your browser's bookmarking feature to save the Web pages

Step 3-Start RealPresenter: open the program

Step 4-Prepare to Narrate the Web Tour Presentation: make sure everything is ready before you begin recording

Step 5-Record Your Web Tour Presentation: run through the Web pages, recording from your script

Also see "Web Tour Tips" for tips on creating an effective Web Tour presentation.

Step 1-Create a Script

The first-and most crucial-step in creating a streaming media presentation is creating a script. A script is a written document containing everything you want to say in your presentation.

It really doesn't matter what the format of the script is. You can write it on a computer using a word processing program, on a legal pad, or on a cocktail napkin.

What is very important is that you write a script before you begin recording. You may be a great public speaker or great at ad-libbing, but deciding what you will say ahead of time will give you a better chance of creating an effective presentation.

Step 2-Bookmark the Web Pages

This step is optional, but recommended. Before you start recording, you should open up each Web page in your presentation and bookmark it with your browser. Doing this step decreases the chances of making a mistake during your recording.

Try to avoid using Web pages with animation, pop-up windows, or multi-browser windows, as these features may not work in your audience's Web pages.

Make sure to close all Internet browsers before you begin.

Step 3-Start RealPresenter

You are ready to open RealPresenter and begin the recording process. This section shows you how to start RealPresenter from the Start menu.

To start RealPresenter:

From the Start menu, select Programs>RealPresenter.
RealPresenter opens to the main window. The main window is the starting point for all RealPresenter features.
Click on the Narrate a Web Tour Presentation button.
RealPresenter opens to the Presentation Options page. In the next section, you will learn how to prepare to record your presentation.

Step 4-Prepare to Narrate the Web Tour Presentation

Now that you have your script ready and you've opened RealPresenter, you can prepare RealPresenter to create a quality streaming media presentation. In this section you will enter information about your presentation and check your input devices.

Entering Information About the Presentation

Every presentation needs a few items of information to distinguish it from the others: the title, the author, and a brief description. This sections shows you how to add this information.

To add information:

In the Presentation Options page, select Record for Viewing Anytime and click the Next button.
The Presentation Information page opens.
Enter the following information in the appropriate areas:
1. Author: enter your name or the name of your company
2. Copyright: enter the year and owner of the presentation you will create (for example, "copyright 1999, ABC Corporation")
3. E-Mail Address: enter your valid e-mail address
4. Title: type in an appropriate name for the final presentation
5. Keywords: one or two words that will help your audience search for your presentation.
6. Description: type in a brief summary of what your presentation is all about
Click the Next button when finished.
The Ready to Record page opens.

Checking Audio and Video

RealPresenter is just about ready for you to begin recording. But first, make sure that your equipment is set up properly. If you are using basic equipment, such as a small microphone and video camera that came with your computer's video capture card, a few moments is all you need to get ready. See "Before You Record" for tips on preparing your equipment.

To check your audio and video equipment:

Make sure your microphone and camera are connected and turned on.
In the Getting Ready to Record page, click the Check Video/Audio Equipment button.
The Check Audio/Video Equipment dialog opens.
Point the camera towards yourself.
In the dialog, see if you appear in the Video window.
If you see yourself, click Yes. If you cannot, click No or click Video Help for recommendations.
Move the Audio Record Level Slider until the meter reaches the yellow indicators when you speak.
Click Done to return to the Ready to Record Page.
Click the Finish button to continue.
RealPresenter opens your Internet browser and the Recording window.

Warning
The browser window that opens is the only browser that you should use to open Web pages during your recording. Other Web browsers that are open will not be a part of the recording.

	Warning
The browser window that opens is the only browser that you should use to open Web pages during your recording. Other Web browsers that are open will not be a part of the recording.

Step 5-Record Your Web Tour Presentation

You are ready to begin recording the narration for your presentation. This section guides you step-by-step through each part of the process. For a brief tour of the recording controls, see "Step 4-Record Your PowerPoint Presentation".

To record your presentation:

When you are ready to record, click the Start button.
Recording of audio and video (if selected) begins. You will see the time elapsed and the words "Standing by" change into "Recording."
Read your script, remembering to go slowly.

Navigate to the next Web page using your bookmark, or navigate to the Web page normally. Try not to speak until the next page is loaded completely.

Note
Only Web URLs will change for the audience. Any scrolling in the page or text entries you make will not be recorded. You must tell your audience if you want them to scroll down within a Web page.

Continue through each Web page.

	Note
Only Web URLs will change for the audience. Any scrolling in the page or text entries you make will not be recorded. You must tell your audience if you want them to scroll down within a Web page.

When you are finished recording, click the Stop button.

The recording pauses, and you are given the following options:

Resume recording-returns you to the Recording window and starts recording again
Save this recording-saves the recording you just completed
Discard narration and return to the Main Window-deletes what you just recorded and opens the RealPresenter Main Window

Re-Record from the beginning-returns you to the beginning of the presentation so you can start recording a new narration

Note
When you resume recording, the subsequent recording is "merged" to the prior recording, creating a single audio recording. But if you switch to a new slide during the pause, a new recording is created for the new slide when you resume.

Select Save this recording and click OK.
Congratulations! You have just created a streaming media presentation.

In "Reviewing, Editing, and Publishing Your Presentations", you will how to play the presentation, change narration for a Web page, and make the presentation available to your audience.