Plan the Capture Infrastructure
In this section:
Installation Options
The EchoSystem offers both schedule-driven and faculty-driven (on-demand) automated workflows. Once a recording is initiated, lecture and instructional capture is a function of EchoSystem capture devices. EchoSystem capture devices are uniquely suited to meet the diverse capture needs found in higher education with three distinct capture device offerings.
EchoSystem capture appliances (EchoSystem Capture Appliance, EchoSystem SafeCapture HD and Echo360 PRO) are dedicated, all-in-one hardware devices for balanced or unbalanced audio, standard definition or high definition video, and external VGA, DVI, or HDMI capture. The capture appliances provide the richest lecture capture offering. The capture appliances provide both schedule-driven and faculty-driven workflows. The appliances are typically installed in an AV rack or podium inside the classroom.
Software Capture for the Classroom (Classroom Capture) is another classroom-based lecture capture offering. Providing audio, webcam video, and local screen capture, this application is entirely software-based. It is typically deployed on a podium or lectern Windows PCs. It supports both schedule-driven and faculty-driven workflows.
Personal Capture is a software application best suited for instructional content capture outside the classroom. It is typically installed on faculty laptops and provides a faculty-driven workflow. It captures audio, local screen, and webcam video. See the Personal Capture Guides for more information.
Installation Checklists
Classroom Installation
The capture appliances and Classroom Capture options are best suited to capture inside the classroom. They both provide scheduled-driven capture essential for automated workflows and minimal faculty interaction. Each is unique in supported capture sources and suitable deployment models. These details are discussed below as they pertain to installation. Other details are discussed in the Deployment Guide.
Capture appliance or Classroom Capture software installation is performed separately for each classroom (capture venue). The steps in this section must be repeated for each location where lecture capture will take place. Whether you choose to use a capture appliance or install Classroom Capture on a podium PC will depend on your classroom audio visual setup and requirements. Each installation is considered a separate venue and all venues (rooms) are managed separately by the EchoSystem Server (ESS).
Classroom Devices
Echo 360 supports four different classroom devices:
- EchoSystem Capture Appliance
- EchoSystem SafeCapture HD
- Echo360 PRO
Classroom Capture
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Specifications
The table below presents specifications for the appliances.
| Specification | EchoSystem Capture Appliance | EchoSystem SafeCapture HD | Echo360 PRO | Classroom Capture |
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Capture Source Options |
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See Supported USB Devices for use with Classroom Capture. |
Package Options |
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Installation
Capture appliance installation is best suited for fixed venues but can also be installed in central control rooms.
See Install the EchoSystem Capture Appliance, Install the EchoSystem SafeCapture HD, Install the Echo360 PRO and/or Install Classroom Capture Software for specific instructions.
Classroom Capture Venues
Classroom Capture installation is best suited for fixed venues utilizing an existing podium or lectern PC. Classroom Capture provides rich media capture with support for audio and local screen capture and cannot be installed in a central control room.
Laptop and Lab Installation
The Personal Capture application is best suited for installation on faculty or staff laptops or shared lab computers (Windows and Mac). It is primarily used by faculty and staff members to record, edit and publish instruction occurring outside the classroom. It provides a user-driven capture model inherent to a personal application. It cannot be scheduled like the other capture options and is therefore not recommended for installation within the classroom. Capture support is discussed below as it pertains to installation. Other details are discussed in the Deployment Guide.
Personal Capture installation is performed separately for each faculty laptop.
Personal Capture
Personal Capture now has two installation options:
Capture Options
Personal Capture has these capture options:
- Audio - internal, 1/8" input or USB microphone
- Local screen
- Video - internal webcam or USB video camera
See the guides listed above for Personal Capture supported technologies for each operating system.
Package Options
Personal Capture has the following packaging options producing viewable media for students:
- Podcast - MP3 audio
- Vodcast - M4V audio and motion display
- EchoPlayer - audio, video, and/or display
See Administer Personal Capture for further details.