If I have a powerpoint show, is it possible to put it in vegas to include in video. Will it play with custom animations and such? How do I do this?

I don't know about animations, but you can export the PowerPoint as a series of images and import them for use that way.

I am wanting to import the whole slideshow and have it play just as it would on a computer. It would look the same except it would be video.

Are there just transitions between slides? Or are you trying to duplicate in-slide animations such as sliding in text?

It sounds like you might just want to play the slideshow on your machine and have another application capture everything on your screen as a movie... I don't know of any off the top of my head for a PC, although I'm sure they are out there.

There are a couple of programs out there that will do it.

Camtasia and Camstudio

Camstudio is free and I have used it a couple of times and it has worked well, basically just captures the screen at 30 frames per second and saves it off as an AVI file that you can import into your editing software.

Although after doing a quick search on the internet it looks like Macromedia has bought them out and it is no longer free???

http://www.macromedia.com/software/robodemo/

YES sliding in text. Thanks for the info on cam studio. It looks like this will work. It is still availible for download as freeware at ver. 2.1

I don't know if this is the latest version or not but it will serve my purpose i belive.

Thanks fellas!

Chris,

Exactly where did you find a FREE download of Cam Studio?
Every link I found on the web pointed to macromedia and
I didn't find freeware on their site.

Thanks,

Joseph

Another option would be to play the PP through a box similar to this:

http://www.extron.com/product/product.asp?id=rgb109xi&subtype=1&view=desc

and record it in what ever format your working in. I use one similar to it for live productions. It feeds a switcher that allows me to feed PP or live cams to a projector.

you know i just tried to repeat my google search and found nothing. i did get some info that free copies still availible may contain virus or somthing. sorry i cant remember site name, just clicked away no need to pay attention.

You can do it using a PC video card that has TV (video) out. Conect the video out to video in on your camera and record the Powerpoint slideshow. Capture that into your NLE and you'r set to go.

I'v done several times and works OK.

Best regards.
Arnaldo

I've found a site with CamStudio 2.1. You can get it at http://www.brothersoft.com/Multimedia_Graphics_Screen_Capture_CamStudio_3944.html.

I used the demo of Camtasia found here:

http://www.techsmith.com/products/studio/default.asp

It's a full version that exports as an avi file. You can specify the codec, fps and capture area. Works very well. I didn't realize you coud customize the codec and fps until after my project so I don't know how well that works.