Panopto Capture: Preview Your Own Webcam Video while Recording a Powerpoint Presentation

When would you use this?

You want to view a preview of your own webcam while recording a screen capture of a Powerpoint presentation. 

Note: this article assumes that user does NOT have access to a secondary monitor. Making a recording with a secondary monitor is much easier and does not require the procedure described below.

This procedure is currently only possible using the browser-based Panopto Capture, not the desktop applications Panopto for Windows or Panopto for Mac. 

This procedure has been tested using the Google Chrome browser. No other browsers have been tested.

MacOS users: before attempting the procedure below, you may need to adjust system settings to allow screen recording. See Additional Information below.

Instructions:

1. Open Panopto Capture in your browser
2. Then, open your Powerpoint and place into slideshow mode (start the slideshow). The presentation will take over your entire screen.
3. Then press alt+tab (or cmd+tab) to bring up all the applications you currently have open. While still holding down ctrl/cmd, use the tab key to "tab through" all your open windows until you get to the browser where Panopto Capture is open.
4. In Panopto Capture, click "Screen and Apps"
5. In the pop-up window that opens, you will see the following tabs: Chrome Tab, Window, and Entire screen. MacOS users must choose Entire Screen. Windows users can choose "Window", which provides a slightly more streamlined experience. Based on your choice, follow the instructions below:

Capture Window (Windows users only)

1. Choose the "Window" tab (NOT "Entire Screen") and choose your Powerpoint slideshow - the window that appears as a full-screen presentation. Then click "Share"
2. The slideshow will take over your screen again as soon as you select it, but you haven't started to record yet. So use alt+tab again to go back to the browser (where Panopto Capture is open) once more.
3. In Panopto Capture, your webcam video preview will appear in the bottom right. Hover over the video preview to reveal a few controls. Click on the "Picture in Picture" icon to pop out the video preview. This will leave a preview of the camera up on screen as you are recording.
4. In Panopto Capture, Click record (red button). There will be a countdown. 
5. Then use alt+tab to go back to Powerpoint and start speaking. You do not need click "Start Presenting," you already did that (step 2). So just start speaking.
6. When you are done speaking, alt+tab again back to your browser to stop the recording (press red square button). Finally, alt-tab back to the presentation to stop presenting (end presentation). 

Following the steps in this exact order will allow you to make a clean recording without capturing manual setup steps (like when you click "Start Presentation" in Powerpoint, etc) in your video.

Capture Entire Screen (MacOS and/or Windows)

1. Choose the "Entire Screen" tab. If you are only using one monitor, you will only see one screen option. Then click "Share". You will see an infinitely repeating capture of the Panopto Capture window. Don't worry, you're not recording yet, and if this view ends up in your video, you can edit it out later.
2. In Panopto Capture, your webcam video preview will appear in the bottom right. Hover over the video preview to reveal a few controls. Click on the "Picture in Picture" icon to pop out the video preview. This will leave a preview of the camera up on screen as you are recording.
3. In Panopto Capture, Click record (red button). There will be a 5-second countdown. Quickly proceed to the next step
4. Use Cmd+tab to tab back to your Powerpoint presentation. If you do this step quickly, then the switch between screens will not be captured in your video.
5. Begin speaking. You do not need click "Start Presenting," you already did that (step 2). So just start speaking, and use the arrow keys to advance slides.
6. To stop the presentation, you must Cmd+tab back to the browser. A message will appear over your webcam preview: "Back to Tab". Click on it to return to Panopto Capture.
7. In Panopto Capture, press the red square button to stop recording. Unfortunately, the transition between screens and Panopto Capture window will be captured at the end of your video. You can edit this part out of the video later.

Environment/Applies To:

Panopto Capture (browser-based recorder)

Additional Information:

MacOS users, please configure the following settings:

System settings>Privacy &Security>Screen and system audio recording. Allow the browser (Chrome) to record the content of your screen. You may need to restart your browser in order for this setting to take affect, so it is best to do it ahead of time.