ALLCapture

Reviewed by Geetesh Bajaj, March 8th 2007

Introduction
About ALLCapture
Download and Installation
Using ALLCapture
Pricing and Support
Conclusion

Introduction

E-learning has made it possible for users to learn online at their own pace -- and tutorial movies can make this process even more interesting and real. The best way to create these tutorials is by capturing your onscreen activities with a specialized program like ALLCapture that not only allows you to create tutorials this way, but also product presentations, demos, software simulations, etc.

Although there are around a dozen such onscreen capture programs available, ALLCapture does have some features that are unique to the program. In this review, we'll explore further.

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About ALLCapture

ALLCapture is from Balesio, a company based in Germany that also creates PPTMinimizer, Turbodemo, etc. You can learn more about these products, and download a trial version of ALLCapture here...

ALLCapture allows the user to record the entire screen, or just parts of it, with or without audio at the same time. Once captured, it also allows to add objects like balloons, text objects and other useful elements. The resulting movies can be exported to several multimedia formats like Flash SWF, standalone EXE, WindowsMedia, MPEG for DVD, SVCD, VCD etc.

ALLCapture can capture almost every type of content including CAD-3D simulations, and also PowerPoint slideshows including audio.

The file sizes of the generated demos and movies can be kept extremely small, and can be sent via e-mail or integrated into a website.

My contact at Balesio for this review was Sophia Taoutaou - thank you, Sophia.

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Download and Installation

Download the installer, run the setup routine and follow the instructions. You'll end up with a ALLCapture program group in your Windows Start menu (see Figure 1 below).

Figure 1: ALLCapture Start menu Group

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Using ALLCapture

Follow this steps to use ALLCapture:

1. Go to your Windows Start menu and choose All Programs | ALLCapture |ALLCapture (see Figure 1 above)
   
   
2. This opens ALLCapture interface as shown in Figure 2
   
   
   Figure 2: ALLCapture Interface
   
   
3. Launch the application you wish to capture.
   
   
4. In ALLCapture Choose File | New Project, which opens Recording Options dialog box, as shown in Figure 3.
   
   
   Figure 3: Recording Options
   
   You can adjust recording properties like capture dimensions, frame rate, sound quality, etc. Make changes as required, and click OK to save the settings.
   
   
5. The captured area is then previewed inside a red rectangle, as shown in Figure 4 -- adjust the dimensions further if required and click Record button within the red rectangle. ALLCapture will now record the content and the activities of the screen within the red rectangle.
   
   
   Figure 4: Capturing onscreen activity
   
   
6. Click on the icon in the system tray to end the capture session. The recorded content will appear within the ALLCapture program, ready for editing or generating to an output format (see Figure 5).
   
   
   Figure 5: ALLCapture editing environment
   
   
7. You can edit the captured clip by navigating within the timeline (top window of the interface). For instance, you'll use the timeline to place the current frame where you might would want to place an object or shape. All these features are accessible from the Object toolbar shown in Figure 6
   
   
   Figure 6: Object Toolbar
   
   
   • Insert Picture adds a picture you want -- for example a company logo, or a digicam picture.
     
   • Insert Note adds a text box where you can provide a relevant description.
   • Insert Balloon adds balloons or tool tips.
   • Insert Rubber inserts an elastic band.
   • Insert Sound adds audio clips such as backdrop music or narration at the same time.
   • Inserts rectangular highlight region allows you to draw the attention of the viewer to a particular area
   • Inserts a elliptic highlight region does the same using an oval or circle shape.
     
     
     
     Frame Transitions add transitions to make your output movies appear more professional -- such as a fading or clock effect.
     
     
8. Once done with the edits, save the project and and export using the File | Export option, as shown in Figure 7.
   
   
   Figure 7: Export options
   
   Export options are explained below:
   
   SWF (.swf): Macromedia Flash file.
   EXE (.exe): Executable Demo
   ASF: Windows Media Player Format
   MPEG: for DVD, SVCD, VCD.
   

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Pricing and Support

ALLCapture costs $259 for a single user license, and is available as a multiple user license product as well..

Support is through email, online FAQ , phone, and web tutorials.

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Conclusion

ALLCapture is a capable product that's worth a look if you need to create tutorial movies or capture onscreen activity often.

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