Software/Add-Ins

Clipchamp – Text-to-Speech

Clipchamp has an amazing a text-to-speech feature!

With text-to-speech, type in the text and Clipchamp’s AI engine will add the typed text as a human voice.

In Clipchamp, start a new video project, click “Record & Create” on the left, and click the “Text to speech” button.

In the pop-up window, type or paste in the text that will be spoken.

  • Select the LANGUAGE (wow!)
  • Select the VOICE from the 20+ options.
  • Select the SPEED the text is spoken (eg. for a narration, slower. For an announcement, faster).
  • TIP: click the PREVIEW play button to hear the spoken text. Update any of the options (eg. different voice or speed) and click the preview again.
  • Clicking “SAVE TO MEDIA” adds to the video timelines – and no further editing (just repeat the above process with a new speech to text if an edit is needed).

A new element is added to the timeline. There are some additional editing options to the video timeline text, such as Fade in/out.

 

EXPORT the video. This creates a video with no image, just the audio. Unfortunately, Clipchamp does not let you only export audio. Either insert the video file off slide, which adds the audio to the slide. Or use another app to convert the video file to a .mp3 audio file to insert onto the slide.

Our demo – we used a few of the preset text animations to create a demo video of the same phrase spoken by 5 of the different voices in the Clipchamp text-t0-speech library.

Here is what is sounds (and looks) like:

 

By |2022-06-29T08:56:16-07:00July 1st, 2022|Software/Add-Ins, Tutorial|

ClipChamp – Video Templates

Clipchamp is a great video-editing app similar to others, like Canva or Camtasia, that has simple to use video editing features. We wanted to experiment with some of the built in/preset options for adding text, text animations and text effects to a video. There are a number of preset templates, and we used one for this post to create a video with video, animated text and other effects.

Open Clipchamp, click “Create a video” and then “Templates” on the left. Roll over each template to see an animated demo. And finally, choose one of the preset templates for the video.

 

After selecting a templates, the media bin has default content added and the video timeline is populated using the default content with preset animations. The magic of these preset templates is how easy it is to replace the default content with your content (videos, images, etc.).

First, add the real content to the Media Bin. Then select each real media and drag it over the preset media on the timeline. The default (and animated) content is replaced, keeps all of the animations (transitions, motion, etc.) and builds an animated video quickly.

Text elements are a slightly different process. Double click text on the timeline, then highlight and change to the text needed for the video. For this example let’s add a new text element to the template. Go to the “Text” tab on the left. Rollover each to see an animated demo. We are adding the “quick peek” text by dragging it onto the timeline.

Select the text on the timeline. Then in the upper left, click the Text button. Update the default text to the needed text. Update the font if desired. Use the other buttons to update the color and styling.

Clipchamp has many animated text options. The “Rating” preset has animated stars. The “Credits Roll”, which was added after the preset video content, quickly added the rolling text seen at the end of the video (a background image using the “Graphics” tab and a “Swipe” effect between the ocean background and the black screen were also easy additions to the video).

 

And the result was this video that is ready to be added to a slide, used for social media, or part of a larger video project!

 

By |2022-06-28T13:58:57-07:00June 29th, 2022|Software/Add-Ins|

Clipchamp Mobile App

We have focused on Clipchamp’s video editing capabilities, using the desktop version. Knowing Clipchamp has a mobile app, we explored it (spoiler alter – we were disappointed by the capabilities…).

Installing the Clipchamp mobile app is fast and easy. On either IOS or Android, search for “Clipchamp” in the app store. Click GET to download and install.

On the first run, click LOGIN and add same account information as the desktop install is setup with.

The iPhone’s app interface looks different from the online browser or desktop app. The mobile version does not have ability to work with multiple videos and in general has limited video editing capabilities, favoring preset templates. Currently it is very social media video focused.

To create a video, click the “+” button, or select a template option. The default is to record a new video. There is an option to upload an existing video.

Name the video, add text overlays, music, images from the camera roll or Clipchamp’s stock media.

When done, export in selected video quality.

When done, export in selected video quality. Your video will download or you have the option to share it to social media.

The mobile app is good for creating a simple video quickly. But it currently has a very limited set of editing options over the desktop app for any real video editing needs.

By |2022-06-27T10:49:58-07:00June 27th, 2022|Software/Add-Ins|

Clipchamp Screen Capture Videos

The Clipchamp video editing app also has a video screen capture feature. Capture on-screen content such as a software demo. The video can also record your live narration, or include you via live webcam.

 

For this post, let’s go with a software demo that we want to include as a video on a slide.

  • Open Clipchamp
  • Click “Create a video” on the top right.
  • On the RECORD & CREATE tab=choose the type of content (screen & camera, camera only, screen only).
  • OR, use the quick access “START WITH A RECODING” section on the main screen and choose the type of content (screen & camera, camera only, screen only).

  • The pop-up in the lower left is the screen recording dock. The red button is how the screen capture is started. The Mic icon – if recording a narration – is where the record mic setup. The record duration starts when the record button is clicked.

  • RED means ready to record. PURPLE means the recording is in process.

  • TIP: one really nice option is the “retake recording” available on the screen-sharing notification bar.

  • After stopping the screen capture record, Clipchamp’s post editing options can be used to add music, accent graphics, text, transition effects and more.

  • Export the video and add it to the presentation slide!

 

By |2022-06-22T13:00:07-07:00June 24th, 2022|Software/Add-Ins, Tutorial|

Clipchamp and Apple ProRes Videos

Apple ProRes is a video CoDec (a video codec is the process of COmpressing a video into a file format, as example .MP4, .AVI or .MOV, and then DEcompressing it when played). Apple ProRes is a super high quality codec, but unfortunately Windows OS does not recognize Apple ProRes, making it difficult to work with these super high quality, and generally professional video files on a Windows computer.

An amazing thing we discovered at TLC Creative is Clipchamp recognizes ProRes videos – on a Windows computer! This means Clipchamp can be used, on a Windows computer, to convert a PreRes video to a standard .MP4 video that Windows, and PowerPoint can use.

Here is my test video. It is a whopping 4.88GB (!) and .MOV file format in Apple ProRes.

  • First – launch Clipchamp
    • TIP: running Clipchamp as a local app is going to be MUCH faster to load the 5GB file vs. having it upload to the Clipchamp servers if running as a web-app.
  • Open the ProRes encoded video in Clipchamp.
  • Add to video timeline.
  • Export the video.

TIP: Clipchamp only creates .MP4 video files, which work on all computers, all web browsers, and all applications.

And the final task is to add the new version of the video to your presentation!

 

 

By |2022-06-22T13:00:11-07:00June 22nd, 2022|Software/Add-Ins|

Clipchamp – Create an Instagram Video Compilation

A common presentation request (for TLC Creative) is “Let’s add these videos from our Instagram account.” So, for this post let’s download some Instagram videos and create a video collage for the presentation (4 videos that transition at :20, :38, 1:15, 1:39).

Downloading Instagram videos is the first step. There are many third-party apps and websites for downloading videos from links.

  1. Open the Instagram video on the Instagram site.
  2. Click the 3 dot menu in the upper right.
  3. Use the third-party app/website of your choice to download each video (which is generally pasting the Instagram video link into the app).

 

Create your video in Clipchamp:

  1. To create the video collage for the presentation, open Clipchamp and click “Create a video.”
  2. Name the video by clicking on the “untitled video” (I called this one “Instagram compilation”).
  3. Instagram is a tall, or portrait, aspect ratio. Use the aspect ratio button on the right and change the aspect ratio to 9:16.
  4. Add the Instagram videos. Click the “+” button on the left menu and drag-and-drop videos.
  5. Add videos to the timeline, and confirm playback order.
  6. Add transitions between each video. Select a transition effect on the left and drag it to the “+” icon between the videos (a pop-up that says “Add transition” will appear).
  7. Add videos to the timeline, and confirm playback order.
  8. Add transitions between each video. Select a transition effect on the left and drag it to the “+” icon between the videos (a pop-up that says “Add transition” will appear).
  9. TIP: the transition duration can be adjusted. Click the transition between the videos, then the “Duration” button at the top, and adjust.
  10. Export the video and add to the presentation!
  11. Your video will start to render. Once it’s completed, you can download it to your computer or share it with Clipchamps other options.

Once the video has downloaded to your computer, you can insert it into a PowerPoint slide. This is a great way to piece together multiple videos, which PowerPoint doesn’t feature yet.

By |2022-06-22T13:00:14-07:00June 17th, 2022|Software/Add-Ins, Tutorial|

Clipchamp – Create a Custom Presentation Video

 

When you open Clipchamp there is a lot of social media video templates, but we focus on using Clipchamp as a video editing app. As example, creating a video for a PowerPoint presentation.

Note: PowerPoint has some very good video editing tools and styling features. Like the ability to trim the beginning and/or end of a video. Easily adjust the playback size of a video, crop a video, or even recolor a video. But when the goal is to remove a middle section of a video, or merge multiple videos into a single video, a more full feature video editor is going to be the solution. While we are a very Adobe centric design studio (ie.Adobe Premiere and After Effects), ClipChamp is quickly becoming a favorite for these quick video edit needs that are beyond PowerPoints native video tools.

The read time on this is most likely longer than the actual edit time (under 5 minutes to create the video for this tutorial). We are merging two videos with a fade transition from one to the other, rendering and adding the new single video to a slide.

  1. Open Clipchamp (TIP: use as a local app vs. web-based browser app – this will save time on not needing to upload video clips to Clipchamp servers).
  2. Click on the “Create a Video” button on the upper right corner of the screen.
  3.  Name the video by clicking “Untitled Video” text in the upper left hand (TIP: this will be the file name in your project list and the name used for the rendered video).
  4. The default video aspect ratio is 16:9. But other aspect ratio options are available. Click the “16:9” button on the right below the “export” button and pick an option from the drop-down list.
  5. Add media for the project (videos, images, audio files, etc.) by clicking the “+” icon on the left and drag-and-drop.
  6. We have added 2 videos and added them to the editor timeline (in the order of playback). Use the “scissors” tool to trim videos if needed.
  7. To add a fade transition of your choice between videos by clicking the “Transitions” tab on the left menu (the example video uses the “Cross blur” transition) and drag the transition from the left to “+” icon between the video clips.
  8. TIP: transitions can be adjusted by clicking the “+” icon and then in the top left either TRANSITION (to change what transition effect is used) or DURATION (to change the length of the duration).
  9.  Preview the video with the playback buttons.
  10. Create the video (eg. render the video) by clicking the “Export” button on the top right. From the drop-down menu, select a resolution – we are using the standard HD, 1920×1080 option.
  11. The progress bar show a percentage complete, but unfortunately does not show an estimated time remaining. The video downloads to the computer DOWNLOADS folder. Other options to create a shareable link or upload direct to other online destinations are available.

 

And here is our video on a slide!

By |2022-06-22T12:44:38-07:00June 15th, 2022|Software/Add-Ins, Tutorial|

Clipchamp – Install Guide

Clipchamp is a video editing app that focuses on making video editing simple and fun. It was purchased by Microsoft with the goal to “empower creators.” Users can edit videos for a variety of social media platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, or video to be used in a PowerPoint presentation. The app focuses on their template designs, but ignore that, import your own media, and have an easy to use video editor that exports professional file formats.

Getting Clipchamp has many options right now; download from the Clipchamp website, download from the Microsoft App Store, or the mobile version (review of the mobile app later in this series) at the Apple or Android app stores. One note, ClipChamp is not available for Mac computers currently.

At TLC Creative our focus is presentation design, so here is the process of installing on a Windows computer.

1. Open the Microsoft app store and search for “Clipchamp”.

2. Click on Clipchamp and “get” to download.

3. Alternately, go to the Clipchamp website, which ultimately takes you to the Microsoft app store to install. Hover over the “About” link in the top navigation menu and click on “Our products” from the drop-down menu.


4. On the product information page, click “Desktop app”.

5. Then click the option that you need (eg. “Microsoft’s Windows”).

6. Then click “Get it from Microsoft” button. The pop-up window is the Microsoft Store. Click “get” to download and install.

When installed on a computer, the app interface is virtually the same as the web-based interface, but you do not need to upload media (eg. videos, photos, audio) and can work on them as local files.

More to come!
Karen @ TLC

 

By |2022-06-22T12:44:47-07:00June 13th, 2022|Software/Add-Ins|

Clipchamp – A New Video Editor

Climpchamp is a video editing app that focuses on making video editing simple and fun. Microsoft recently acquired the company and is adding clipchamp to its array of features. Microsoft notes the goal is to “empower creators” – and as presentation designers, we are creators!

Clipchamp is a very capable (eg. real) video editing application. It does have a strong focus on video for social media; YouTube, Instagram, etc. – but this blog series is focused on using clipchamp for videos to be used in presentations.

Microsoft acquired Clipchamp, the Australian based video-editing app, in early September 2021 for an undisclosed amount. Clipchamp will soon be pre-installed on Windows 11 computers and is available to all now if they search, download and install. Clipchamp is also unique in that is as a mobile app, web-based browser app, and installed as a local/desktop app.

Troy here at TLC Creative Services has been testing Clipchamp, and already used it on several client projects – which prompted adding this blog series. I heard Troy say he thinks as a Microsoft standard app, clipchamp will become a standard video workflow option for presentation designers.


The app is free to use, but is currently a “freemium” app where there is a subscription to add some of its  features, such as unlimited cloud storage, unlimited stock media, and create a brand kit.

Clipchamp’s other great features include text-to-speech, video captions, essential tools for trimming and cropping, fade effects, and even green screen. Standby for each to be covered in upcoming blog posts.

By |2022-06-17T08:58:15-07:00June 9th, 2022|Software/Add-Ins|

Remove Text Margins – in 1 Click!

Here is something I do dozens, if not hundreds of times per day. Select a text box > open the Format Shape pane > find the inner margin settings.

Then change all to zero’s

Recently I added this amazing icon to my QAT

It is the “Remove (inner margins) from Selection” feature now in Brightslide.

The Brightslide “Text Margins” has 3 options for removing inner margins; from selected shape (this is the one added to my QAT), from every text box on every slide (wow!) or from all Master Layouts (which means any text box associated with a master placeholder will have the inner margins set to zero, but all individual text boxes on slides not connected to a master layout will remain as set).

And the Brightslide PowerPoint add-in suite is FREE from the super people at BrightCarbon!

Troy @ TLC

By |2022-05-23T18:42:09-07:00May 25th, 2022|PowerPoint, Software/Add-Ins|
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