LSE Centre for Learning Technology have been investigating various options for recording lecture audio and video over the past couple of years (with support from the Audio Visual and Technical Services units). This has ranged from simple audio recording with a voice recorder to full automated recording of all lecture audio and visuals displayed through a data projector.
One option we have looked at is the use of a digital video recorder (DVR) to capture audio from the lecture theatre PA system along with video output from the visualiser. During the 2005-2006 session we have been using a Kiss DP558 DVR, which is has a web schedule function and FTP server for download of the resulting video files. This has proved to be a bit ‘flakey’ and the post-production required to present and stream the lecture has been fairly tedious. But it has however been very useful as a proof of concept experiment.
So we were happy to find a solution in January 2006 called Anystream Apreso, which is essentially a software solution that captures 3 different inputs simultaneously (VGA projector, composite video and audio) and packages them into a web based presentation. The new system should eventually allow us to schedule the recording of lectures in LSE’s main lecture theatres without any intervention or production effort required between us setting a schedule for the term and the lectures appearing online – either on the wider web or through the current LSE VLE (WebCT). The system also allows lecture audio to automatically be published as ‘podcasts’ for playing on portable audio players such as the Apple iPod. We also already have a platform that can publish any lecture series recorded with a standard voice recorder as a podcast.
We are now working with the LSE Audio Visual unit to acquire the Apreso licences, the hardware (capture PCs and content management servers) and work on finding a solution to some fairly substantial technical barriers in one of the main LSE lecture theatres.
Further progress will be reported here of course!
Kris.
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