VoiceThread Tutorial for Students

- Video

It seems like we should have a list of all the video file types we accept, but it gets a little complicated. There are a number of "container" formats like QuickTime, WMV, and AVI, that are like an envelope containing the video. A QuickTime movie can be encoded by close to 40 different codecs. We can convert the vast majority of them, but not all, so we can't say we can accept "all" QuickTime, WMV, or AVI videos, but we do accept most. Unfortunately a little trial and error is the only way to know for sure. We're constantly adding to the list of file types we support. Having said that, we can definitely recommend the best format, both for us to convert and to produce the highest quality possible. There are only two key parameters:

• Use the H.264 codec to encode or compress your videos.
• Upload videos that roughly match the native size of a VoiceThread, which is 600 x 450 pixels.

If you do those two things, then the quality of the video prior to your upload should match the quality after.

Of course, your videos don't have to be sized perfectly, or even use the H.264 compression codec, but if you want the absolute best results, this is what you'll need to do.

VoiceThread's video doodling feature, which allows you to draw on a video, can only stop on "keyframes," so if the subject of your video requires you to stop precisely in a fast moving video, e.g., a golf swing, then you'll want more frequent keyframes. If you don't know what we're talking about, that's absolutely fine. The default settings will work perfectly 99% of the time.