Captivate or Presenter--which should I select

Report · Jul 16, 2008

I have been using TechSmith's "Camtasia" for quite some time and am generally happy with the results. However, I now have an opportunity to evaluate and purchase a similar but (it is hoped) more robust and flexible application. I would like the application to do (in no speciic order) the following:
1) capture PPT (with animation); 2) accomodate two separate voice tracks...or at least add a background track with minimal trouble; 3) accomodate video segments; 4) provide a good selection of call outs; 5) provide for some kind of zoom and pan capability; 6) permit me to edit and/or record visual information while a voice track is playing (without efecting the voice track); 7) if possible...allow the viewer to mouse over segments of the screen and receive either visual or audio information; 8) provide a "pack and play" utility or some fairly simple way of making productions available to a wide number of viewer; 9) accomodate branding; 10) not require of the purchase of additional (costly) application to enhance existing features; 11) provide intutive clues for editing timelines, inserting graphics, moving elements on the screen around, etc.; 12) allow for the creation/insertionof customized callouts; 13) permit interesting visual transitions between topical segments of a presentation; 14) facilitate the use a segment from one presenation for use in another; and 15) provide decent online help/instructional tutorials for the developer.
I do not foresee the need implement "testing," however, I would like to be able to track the number of individuals that view my presentations (which will likely be loaded to a web site), as well as provide the option for feedback from viewers regarding the usefulness of tutorials and promotional presentations.
WITH ALL THAT IN MIND...should I be leaning toward Captivate? Does Presenter already provide these features, and then some? What key functionality separates the two?
Any assistance seasoned users could provide in helping me make a choice, or better understanding what Captivate can do that Presenter cannot, would be gratefully received!

With thanks,
Linneaus

Report · Jul 18, 2008

I have no experience with Adobe's Presenter; but as I understand it, it
is largely a plugin for PPT which converts the content to a SWF file.
Whether there is then an IDE for editing and modifying that content, I
don't know.

Captivate can do most all of what you list below. Some replies:

Captivate can import FLV movies. Some folks have had issues with them
playing properly but it seems to generally be a solid solution.

Its new 'Zoom' functionality is a bit clunky and I don't think there's
any comparable 'Pan' functionality along with it.

'Interesting transitions' is pretty much limited to fade in/out, last I
looked. I rarely use transitions so perhaps they've been expanded upon
in CP3.

Tracking in CP is pretty much limited to SCORM, which means needing an
LMS to handle the tracking. You can hack around it but it's not easy. So
for your tracking and feedback, you'll likely need to do that on your
website as cookies, server-side page loads/logs, and separate feedback
forms/surveys.

Best thing - grab the trial versions and have it 'em.

Overall, Camtasia is a nice tool. It requires more precision in the
screen recording since it records every movement in the movie and
editing is more cumbersome and quirky. Captivate allows for better
testing and feedback options too.
HTH
Erik

Linneaus wrote:
> I have been using TechSmith's "Camtasia" for quite some time and am
> generally happy with the results. However, I now have an opportunity to
> evaluate and purchase a similar but (it is hoped) more robust and flexible
> application....
--
Erik Lord
http://www.capemedia.net
Adobe Community Expert - eLearning
http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/
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