[Tig] OT: Converting PowerPoint to a video format

[Ted Langdell]

Hi, Dave...

On Sep 2, 2007, at 6:02 PM, Dave Corbitt wrote:
> I know this is a little off topic but wonder is someone can help me
> out. I'm looking for some advice on what is a good application to use
> on either a PC or Mac OSX platform for converting a PowerPoint
> presentation to some kind of video format for eventual recording on a
> DVD-R as a regular video program.
>
> thanks
> Dave Corbitt

I do the same kind of thing that Tim Sassoon just outlined, using Mac  
desktop or laptop.

I'd recommend using Keynote (Apple's presentation software) to open  
the Powerpoint file, since it seems to be smoother when dealing with  
animation and things like page turns or other "move the whole page"  
transitions.

A number of Mac laptops have the S-video port on the back.

Apple has NTSC adapters with S-video and RCA composite output jacks  
for $19 that will plug into the second video port on many current and  
recent Macs.

I'd add a black slide at the head and tail of the presentation and  
then set the slide to slide transition to whatever kind of on-screen  
appearance (or disappearance at the end) that you want.

The faster the computer, the better.

Processor speed does make a difference in how well the transitions  
play. Faster/more is better.  And if there are audio elements, they  
may sync up as they did on the computer used for creation, owing to  
processor and memory differences.

With audio or separate video clips, you may have some fun trying to  
re-link them in Powerpoint if you move the presentation to another  
machine.

FYI: Both Keynote and Powerpoint have the ability to export  
presentations to Quicktime files.

IIRC, when doing QT exports, neither application will keep any pre- 
programmed animation timings between elements (like 5 seconds here,  
and 7 seconds there, etc) in the page or between pages, and last time  
I used Powerpoint to do this it didn't do the in-page animations at  
all... just between pages. Don't remember whether it kept the timings.

Hope your conversion/s goes/go well and this helps.

Ted.

Ted Langdell
Ted Langdell Creative Broadcast Services
Marysville, CA
Main:   (530) 741-1212