Debut Video Recording Software

Overview

Debut is a simple to use program that lets users record and save live video using a webcam and microphone. It can also capture any motion on your desktop (with or without audio). Recordings can be saved in a variety of formats.

Installing

  1. Go to
  2. Download the software to your desktop
    A Setup icon will appear on the desktop.
  3. Double-click the setup icon to launch the installation
  4. When asked “Dooyou want to run this file?, click “Run”
  5. The self-extractor will run
  6. Agree with the License terms and click “Next”
  7. If prompted with “No devices are detected…” click “No.”
  8. When prompted to Select Related Programs (to install), do NOT check any of the boxes. The other programs are a bit suspect.
  9. Click “Finish.”

Note: You must have a webcam and microphone installed and plugged in on your computer for this software to work. Mics simply plug into the computer’s mic input—see your computer’s operating manual. Cameras may be built-in or plug in as a peripheral device. When necessary to install a camera, see the camera’s user manual.

Starting

After installing, a Debut icon will appear on your desktop.

  1. Plug in your microphone (and camera, if necessary)
  2. Double click the Debut icon to begin
    The Debut Window will open.

Set-up

You may change the dimensions of the window by dragging the sides or corners. The capturedimage will shrink or expand in relation but will not crop the image.

The Device button on the top toolbar should be highlighted to indicate that you are recording from a webcam

  • (the Screen icon is for motionscreen capture).

If ‘Device’is highlighted but you see no picture, check your webcam settings and connections. See “Camera & Mic Settings” below. Perhaps check your webcam using another program that accepts a live video input, such as Yahoo Messenger.

Camera & Mic Settings

  1. Click the Options icon
  2. Click the Record Tab

Make sure the video device selected is the one you are using.

Check “Capture Sound” if you will be recording your voice along with the video.

Record volume is set with your computer’s built-in controls. You can launch recording controls either via the Record tab here or through your computer’s accessories menu.

Maximum recording time can be set to limit how long you will record. This can help ensure your final file is not too large.

  • Check the box next to Limit and type in a maximum time in Hours:Minues:Seconds.
  • You may manually stop a recording before the maximum set time.
  • You can also go to the General tab and set a minimum limit for available disk space.
  1. Click the Output Tab

Choose an Output format from the drop menu (this can also be done from the main window)

The ‘best’ format is the one most appropriate to your plans for the video. You may wish to read a bit about the available formats before choosing, but in general WMV and MOV will provide the smallest file sizes, which is valuable when transferring video files via download or email attachments. An AVI or MPG file will be larger but often the best choice if the file is going to be edited (you can edit and then convert to a more compressed format).

Format Settings will give you options particular to each available format, such as bitrate and resolution (the higher the number of either, the better the video but the bigger the file size.

It’s important to understand about file sizes that if your audience or email recipients have a slower Internet connection, transferring, downloading or streaming a large file can take an excruciatingly long time. Shoot for the smallest file size that the content of your video will allow.

Output folder: You may keep the default location or change it. Either way, make a note. You can use your computer’s file management software later to move files around.

  1. Click OK when your settings are chosen.

To Record Live Video with a WebCam

  1. Click the Record button at the bottom of the screen.
    For some output file formats, when you click Record, you may be prompted to download an additional component. Recording will begin immediately thereafter.
  2. Use the Pause button to suspend recording for a moment without ending the session. You can also pause/unpause to make the chair Major Nelson is leaning on suddenly ‘disappear’ for hilarious comic effect.
  3. Click Stop when you wish to end the recording.

Reviewing and Saving Your Recording

You selected an output format before you began so the remaining step is to save the file,

  1. Click the Recordings icon
    The Find & Play Recordings window will appear. Here you will see a list of all recordings you have created but not yet saved.
  2. Highlight the temporary filename of your recording (you can identify the file by the information in the Date Created column)
  3. Click the Play icon.
    The video will launch in a separate window.
    When it is done playing, close the window.
  4. If the recording is satisfactory, click the Save icon.
  5. A Save dialog window will open. Save the file to your preferred location

Use the Delete icon to move a selected file to the trash.

IMPORTANT: The Burn icon downloads and installs a separate CD burning program.

  • This CD Burn program is not Free— there is a charge after the trial period.
  • You can easily burn saved files to CD using software already on your computer the same way you burn other files. All this program would do is save you the step of launching your normal CD Burning program.

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