Using SMART Recorder to record lessons

Using SMART Recorder, you can record your actions on your interactive display and your whole lesson. If you connect a microphone to your computer, you can record your voice as well.

After you create a recording, you can play the recording on any computer using Windows Media Player (Windows operating systems) or QuickTime software (macOS operating system).

  1. Tap in the notification area and then select Recorder to open the SMART Recorder.

    Note 

    If your computer isn’t currently connected to a SMART interactive product, the SMART Board icon includes an X in its lower-right corner. You can still access the SMART Recorder if you’re not connected to an interactive product.

  2. If you want to change options such as the quality, format, save location, and more, select MenuOptions.

    You’ll have the following options:

    Tab

    Options

    Recording Quality

    Sound quality: A higher sound quality produces better audio playback but will increase the file size.

    Video quality: A higher frame rate produces higher quality recordings but also increases the file size.

    Tip 

    If you select Automatic Selection (Recommended), SMART Recorder automatically evaluates your computer and selects the optimal frame rate.

    Video format

    Windows Media Video (*.wmv): Any version of Windows Media Player can play a Windows Media video file.

    SMART Recorder Video (*.avi): Windows Media Player can play a SMART Recorder video file if SMART Notebook software is installed on the computer playing the file.

    Note 

    You can convert a SMART Recorder video file to a Windows Media video file by sharing the recording (see Sharing a recording).

    Target Files

    Use the options here to choose the default location for saving your recordings. You can also choose to have a warning message appear if the available space for your chosen save location is running low.

    Tip 

    • For best performance, save the files on your computer’s hard disk rather than a network drive.

    • When recording longer videos, larger thresholds for disk space are recommended to ensure you have enough disk space.

    Watermark

    There are three watermark options:

    • No watermark

    • Image watermark

    • Text watermark

    If you select an image or text watermark, you can set properties such as transparency, color, and more.

  3. Tap the arrow next toRecord to select the area you want to record:

    • Record desktop: Record the whole screen. If you have multiple displays, you will be asked to select the one you want to record.

    • Record Area: Draw a rectangle around the area you want to record.

    • Record Window: Select the window you want to record.

    The recording begins as soon as you select the area you want to record.

    Tip 

    Don’t want the SMART Recorder to appear in the recording? Hide it by selecting MenuHide to System Tray. To show the SMART Recorder again, tap the SMART Recorder icon in the notification area, and then select Show.

  4. Perform the actions you want to record. If you connected a microphone to your computer, speak into your microphone to capture the sound. If you want to pause your recording, tapPause. To resume recording, tapRecord.

    Notes 

    • To pause the recording while the SMART Recorder window is hidden, tapSMART Recorder in the notification area, and then select Pause.

    • To resume recording, tap the SMART Recorder icon in the notification area, and then select Record.

  5. After you complete the actions you want to record, tapStop in SMART Recorder.

    Note 

    To stop the recording while SMART Recorder is hidden, tapSMART Recorder in the notification area, and then select Stop.

  6. The Save As dialog appears. Type a file name and tap Save.

    After SMART Recorder creates the video file, the Recording Complete dialog appears. The information in this dialog includes the file location of the recording, file size and duration of the recording.

    If you want to view the recording after you close this dialog, select Play Recording.

    If you want to share the recording with others, select Share Recording.

If you want to share a recording with others, create a Windows Media video file that they can play using Windows Media Player, or create a self-extracting file that they can play on any computer.

To convert a SMART Recorder video file

  1. Select MenuShare Recording in SMART Recorder.

    Note 

    If SMART Recorder is hidden in Windows operating systems, tap the SMART Recorder icon in the notification area, and then select Configure Options.

    The Share Recording dialog appears.

  2. Select WMV to create a Windows Media video file.

    OR

    Select Self extracting to create a self-extracting file, and then tap Next.

  3. Tap Browse.

  4. Browse to and select the SMART Recorder video file you want to convert, and then tap Open.

  5. Tap Next.

  6. If you want to change the converted file’s location or name, tap Browse, browse to the location where you want to save the file, type a file name, and then tap Save.

  7. Tap Next.

  8. Tap Finish.

If your system performance is slow when you use SMART Recorder, or the recording quality isn’t the standard you want, the following may improve performance:

  • Select a lower video quality setting. You need to balance your expectations for video quality with your computer’s limitations. Higher video quality produces larger files and places higher demands on your computer.

  • Reduce your computer’s screen resolution and display color settings. Smaller screens and fewer colors result in faster performance.

  • Save your files to a local hard disk. Network drives are slower and reduce performance.

  • Disable hardware acceleration.

  • Try a different video card. Some video cards perform better than others. PCI Express cards generally provide a faster performance than Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) cards.

To reduce the screen resolution and display colors

  1. Open Windows Control Panel.

  2. Tap Display, and then tap Change display settings.

  3. Select a lower setting in the Resolution drop-down list.

  4. Select a lower setting in the Colors drop-down list.

  5. Tap OK.

To disable hardware acceleration

Important 

Disabling hardware acceleration can reduce the performance of SMART Notebook software. This procedure may vary depending on your version of Windows operating system and your system preferences.

  1. Open Windows Control Panel.

  2. Tap Display, tap Change display settings, and then tap Advanced settings.

  3. Tap the Troubleshoot tab.

  4. Drag the Hardware Acceleration slider to None.

  5. Tap OK.

  6. Restart your computer.

  1. Tap the SMART Board icon in the Mac menu bar , and then select Recorder to open the SMART Recorder.

    Note 

    If your computer isn’t currently connected to a SMART interactive product, the SMART Board icon includes an X in its lower-right corner. You can still access the SMART Recorder if you’re not connected to an interactive product.

  2. Tap the arrow next toRecord to select the microphone you want to use to record sound (or select None to record no sound) and choose whether or not you want mouse clicks to be captured in the recording.

  3. TapRecord. The SMART Recorder automatically hides in the Mac menu bar and you must do one of the following to select the area you want to capture:

    • Record the full screen: Click anywhere on the screen.

    • Record part of the screen: Click and drag to create a rectangle over the area you want to record.

    The recording begins as soon as you select the area you want to record.

  4. Perform the actions you want to record. If you connected a microphone to your computer, speak into your microphone to capture the sound.

  5. After you complete the actions you want to record, tap Stop in the Mac menu bar.

  6. QuickTime Player opens with your recording. You can play it to view the recording. When you’re ready to save the video, from the QuickTime Player menu, select FileSave.

    Tips 

    • You can use QuickTime’s FileExport options to select a video quality.

    • You can use QuickTime’s File > Share options to share your recording.