MMU Podcasting Resources

This blog will guide you to the process of Production, use of BB Flashback Screen capture software. We have purchased a university wide site licence, current estimation on availability of this software on all staff computers is september 2010, although early adopters have been issued with a licence to help towards learning and research. This software can be used to capture a desktop\laptop screens, it can be used to capture any applications i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, internet browsers etc. You can capture a window within an application or you can capture an area or region on desktop\laptop screens. Publication (hosting your podcast) and Delivery of your podcast to your audience by various methods.

To familiarise yourself on the use of podcast resources process, it’s essential that you work through the quick guide in order of Steps 1 -4.

Step 1 – Production – Creating a podcast.

The production instructions demonstrate creating a podcast of a PowerPoint slides using BB Flashback Screen Capture Software. To create a podcast using your local desktop\laptop make sure you have the necessary kit connected to your computer, i.e. Headset with microphone for audio capture(essential), a webcam (optional) to capture yourself.

Download (PDF) Production

Step 2 – Publication – Upload podcast to the server.

A dedicated podcast server is available for upload of your production. Your exported podcast will have a file format of MP3 (audio only) or MOV (QuickTime). Follow the instruction on publication, paying particular attention to the choice of workflows presented to you, making sure that you choose the correct one for your production.

Download (PDF) Publication Podcast 12MB, 1.29min: Upload a podcast

Step 3 – Tagging podcast with unit code

When your podcast is successfully uploaded to the podcast server an email notification will be sent. The email notification will be from ‘pcastadmin’. This email is a further indication that your podcast has successfully been uploaded. It will contain an URL to your podcast.

Download (PDF) Tagging Podcast 57sec, 10MB : Tagging a podcast

Step 4 – Delivery.

Method  1 – Tagging your podcast with your unit code will provide students via MyMMU portal with an option to subscribe to all your podcast to the specified unit code using iTunes or RSS feed.

Download (PDF) Delivery Podcast 1.53min, 23MB: Delivery use of iTunes

Method 2 – The email notification contains an URL that you can copy and paste in your VLE as a weblink.

Podcast 2.17sec, 20MB : Creating a Weblink in WebCT

Download complete instructions (PDF): Production Publication,Tagging and Delivery

Dear All

The migration to the new podcast server has been completed and the new service is now available for use.  You may now upload your podcasts.

Please note some of the changes.

The podcast web page link is now – http://podcast.mmu.ac.uk

The upload link is now – https://podcast.mmu.ac.uk:8143

MMU only group – http://podcast.mmu.ac.uk/groups/mmuonly/blog/

Or

Podcast group – http://podcast.mmu.ac.uk/groups/podcasts/blog/

1. You can edit the title field
2. You can edit the description field
3. You can Tag your podcast with unit code
4. You can delete your podcast
5. You can search for podcast by Tag, Name, and title field

 Go to to podcast server

http://podcast1.art.adm.mmu.ac.uk/groups/Podcasts/blog/

 Find your podcast. You can use the search tool and search by your name, podcast title, Tag.

Click on Edit tool and login if prompted. Make necessary changes or click on delete tool to delete your podcast.

.FBR is a BB flashback file extension. This file is used for post-production of your podcast. You can use this BB flashback file for adding annotation to your podcast, add images, delete certain parts of your podcast and do many other post-production editing to your podcast.

Whenever you create a podcast using BB Flashback always keep a backup of your original .FBR file, you may want to use this for any minor updates to your podcast.

When you double click on this file, BB flashback software would launch if you have the software installed on your computer.

A screenshot of the BB Flashback is shown below.

(Temporary solution)

This software is ONLY available to MMU Staff.

If you want to install BB flashback on your University Laptop then please email your request to Nillan Fakira (N.Fakira@mmu.ac.uk)  for the Licence Key and the installation documentation.

Have a good look through this podcast site, especially the training guide (category – Download) and the blog on ‘New to Podcasting? Start Here blog.

If you want further assistance then ring the helpline on Ex. 4646 who may be able to assist you or log a job call.

A site-wide license for software to assist staff in producing podcasts is available. Blueberry Flashback software was selected, which enables staff to create a QuickTime Movie (a .MOV file) from their narration of a PowerPoint presentation or a demonstration of other software running on the PC. The resulting QuickTime Movie file can then be uploaded to the Apple Podcast Server and tagged with the Unit code for which it is relevant. The QuickTime Movie will then be available as a podcast for download automatically from the MyMMU student portal, using iTunes or via a URL pasted into WebCT.

The Apple Podcast Server supports files uploaded in a limited number of popular formats, such as MP3 for audio and MP4 (.MOV) for video. Most files uploaded are publicly available and can be downloaded using iTunes, an RSS reader or a web browser. However, staff can choose to make files private, limiting access to only those with an MMU ID and password.

Anyone wishing to use the BB Flashback Screen Capture software to create podcast the recommended flashback version is 2.7.0.1460. This version is currently negotiated as part of the new MMU standard platform for the coming year. This version has been tested to provide compatibility with MMU podcasting resources.

This guide is for BB flashback vr2.7.0.1460.

Download Training user guide in pdf format

For anyone wishing to use the Flashback screen capture software the recommended flashback version is 2.7.0.1460. This version is currently negotiated as part of the new  MMU standard platform for the coming year. This version has been tested to provide compatibility with MMU podcasting resources.