video

PowerPoint As a Video Editor – Combine Video Clips

PowerPoint has some very good video features, such as the ability to play multiple video formats, embed videos into the slide deck file, visually stylize the video and export video from the PowerPoint.

It is the export video feature that is being used for this tutorial.
Here are three videos that are inserted into PowerPoint 2013.

Each video is set to auto play, one after the other.

Then, go to FILE.

EXPORT >> CREATE A VIDEO >> CREATE VIDEO

The result is a single video file that was previously 3 separate videos.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-10T10:08:02-07:00November 16th, 2013|Tutorial|

(Update to) PowerPoint Video Test Toolkit

Earlier this week, a post released a copy of our internal PowerPoint Video test slides. It was drawn to my attention that there were 2 errors in the slides (1. the .avi was not set to play automatic like all others, 2. the .mpg1 was a really badly rendered video). Thank you for the those that sent emails!

The original post’s download link has been updated with a revised version of the PowerPoint Video Test Toolkit and here is same link:
Download here.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-10T10:12:22-07:00October 11th, 2013|Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins, Templates/Assets|

PowerPoint Video Test Toolkit

For TLC Creative Services, I developed a slide deck that the 5 most common video formats. To test a computer’s setup, we just open this PowerPoint presentation, go to the video format we want to confirm the computer is configured to play and see what happens. If the video plays, we know the computer and PowerPoint are setup for that format and then can troubleshoot the client file with the knowledge that it is not the computer or PowerPoint.

Feel free to download our PowerPoint Video Test Toolkit and use as needed.
Download here (24 MB).

Also, check out the Sept 11 post of the video reference chart to know if a computer’s configuration is going to play a video format.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-10T10:13:10-07:00October 7th, 2013|Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|

Will PowerPoint Play This Video?

Video in PowerPoint has been growing fast over the past 4 years. The number of people experiencing video issues has surprisingly not grown a tremendous amount too. In just the past few years, the number of variables that need to align for a video to successfully play in PowerPoint have also grown.

With so many video related questions filling my in box and seen on the forums, we have created a reference chart that provides quick answers on if a video should play with the computer setup. It also makes it easy to identify the key attributes for your computer setup that should be included in any troubleshooting request.

So what are the variables? For a video to play on a slide is a combination of the Operating System, installed CoDecs, version of PowerPoint, and video format used. Cross referencing each of these variables is tedious, confusing and difficult to find all in one place.

To remedy a lot headaches and wasted time, I am very happy to finally provide a download link to the “PPT-OS-and Video Format reference chart” (and the designers here at TLC Creative Services that have been gathering and testing each of the variables over the past 2 months are very happy too!).

Download the PDF here.

Side note: Attendees to my webinar on “Video in Powerpoint” at yesterday’s Outstanding Presentations Workshop were the first to see and be able to download this, and I walked through all of the information in the reference chart – just a benefit of attendance!

– Troy @ TLC

By |2021-05-12T13:18:34-07:00September 11th, 2013|Resource/Misc|

Why NOT to Use “Play Video Full Screen”

PowerPoint 2013 is now available, and multimedia has gotten even better with it, which I will cover in future posts. But one video feature that has been with PowerPoint at least since PPT 2000 is “Play Full Screen.”

When a video is inserted, one of the options is to make the video scale to fill the screen (VIDEO TOOLS >> PLAYBACK tab >> VIDEO OPTIONS section >> PLAY FULL SCREEN).

I do not recommend using this feature for a number of reasons:
– The video “pops” to full screen, which is not in line with today’s presentations full of smooth animations.
– Low resolution videos will look even lower resolution when stretched to full screen.
– If there is content on top of the video (z order is possible in PPT 2010 and above), the content is covered by the video.
– The video scales to the maximum height or width and use black bars on the top or sides (letterbox or pillar box) if video is not same aspect ratio as the screen aspect ratio (not a bad thing, but may not be desired).
– If the presentation is distributed, it is a very confusing option and may result in unexpected issues (ie. person adds text below the video, but when played it is covered).
– I have experienced this feature cause playback/animation issues.
– Last, I do not see it accomplish anything that cannot be done while developing slides or through animation.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-16T08:44:30-07:00February 25th, 2013|Tutorial|

Downloading YouTube Videos For A Presentation

PowerPoint has a feature to run videos direct from YouTube. The feature works well, but it requires an internet connection, enough bandwidth, having the presentation computer online, and a number of other potential issues.

To minmize potential issues, running all videos direct from the computer and as embedded elements is a good best practice. YouTube Downloader HD is a free tool to download videos from YouTube and save to your computer. It enables you to download high quality, high definition, and full HD videos from YouTube. The software is available with an installer or as a standalone exe file.

Downloading is easy. Go to the video you wish to download on YouTube. Copy the address of the video.

Open the YouTube Downloader HD software, and paste the video’s address into the Video URL field. In the Download dropdown menu, select the type and quality of the video.

Then select the best format and size for the presentation. TLC Creative Services opts for .mp4 and the largest size (1080p or 720p).

Then click download.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-16T08:49:25-07:00January 16th, 2013|Tutorial|

Sample Video of 4×3 and 16×9 Aspect Ratios

“What is the aspect ratio?” It has become one of the first questions for presentation and video projects. It is still a very confusing concept for many people. We use a simple video of each aspect ratio for clients to see the difference. It is the same video footage, which makes it easier to see the 4×3 aspect ratio is taller and the 16×9 aspect ratio is wider.

4×3 aspect ratio
[youtube src=”https://youtube.com/embed/gQaXbSPQoDQ?rel=0″]

16×9 aspect ratio
[youtube src=”https://youtube.com/embed/NTRV8ISqE1A?rel=0″]

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-16T08:55:56-07:00December 3rd, 2012|Resource/Misc, Tutorial|

Insert YouTube Video Into PowerPoint

PowerPoint 2010 added a new insert video feature that allows online YouTube videos to be added to presentations. I have not recommended this feature because it has the downside of needing to be online and also a high bandwidth connection to play the video. There are several easy ways to download and embed YouTube videos, which I would recommend to minimize playback issues.

But, the request comes up often enough on how to use it, so here is a step-by-step tutorial.

1. Find video you want to insert onto slide.

2. Click the “Share” button under the playback bar.

3. Check the “Use old embed code” box. (Uncheck the “Show suggested videos when video finishes” if you want just a black screen when playback is done.) Copy the code.

4. In PPT, go to the Insert tab, and under Media, click the carrot down on the Video button.

5. Select the “Video from Web Site” option.

6. Paste the code into the text box. Hit Insert.

7. You now have the YouTube video on your slide.

Note: As mentioned above, the computer must be connected to the internet for the video to play.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-16T09:03:02-07:00October 15th, 2012|Tutorial|

YouTube Downloader HD – also for audio files!

Videos are great in presentations (when used properly). Audio is also a great element to add to presentations (again, when used properly). YouTube is a great resource for audio as well as video – for example, search “applause sound effect” or “applause sfx” and there are hundreds of audio files that could be used in a presentation.

YouTube Downloader HD is free software that also allows any YouTube video to be downloaded as an MP3 audio.

Downloading audio files is easy. Go to the video on YouTube. Copy the URL address of the video.

Open the YouTube to MP3 software, and paste the video’s address into the Video URL field.

In the audio settings dropdown, select the quality of the sound.

Click download.

Now insert the downloaded .mp3 into PowerPoint and set the animation as needed (Note: PPT 2010 and above can embed .mp3 format).

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-16T09:04:55-07:00October 5th, 2012|Tutorial|

Videos Not Pure White or Pure Black?

You watch a video in Windows Media Player or Quicktime Player or any other player and it looks great. On the same computer, the video is inserted whites and blacks look grey. Don’t blame PPT, but the Graphics Card (GPU).

If running an nVidia card, look at the DYNAMIC RANGE setting, because it is most likely set to limit the color range of videos (no idea why, but I see this on everyone of the TLC show computers I setup).

Dynamic range describes the ratio between the maximum and minimum white and black.
With the nVidia graphics card, you can adjust the settings for the display. By default, many nVidia cards are set to use the settings which are limited to 16-235 (whites won’t be white, blacks won’t be black).

Open the nVidia Control Panel >> on the left in the “Select a Task” column go to ADJUST VIDEO COLOR SETTINGS >> look at the settings in “2. How do you make color adjustments.” Click on the “ADVANCED” tab. If the DYNAMIC RANGE setting is (16-235), go to the next step.

Select the WITH THE NVIDIA SETTINGS radio button. On the ADVANCED tab, change the DYNAMIC RANGE to FULL (0-255). This lets videos use the full color range from pure white to pure black.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-08-16T09:05:25-07:00October 2nd, 2012|Resource/Misc, Tutorial|
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