Blended Learning Support

Using the Akasa webcam and Tascam DR40 to improve the quality of online presentations.

For online presentations on Blackboard Collaborate, you may want to improve the sound and picture quality of your output. Using this kit on Google Meet is more problematic. Notes at the bottom of this doc.

If you want to change the camera angle from the one provided by your laptop, you can plug one of the new AKASO action cams from the store. BSU has no webcams available for loan so you can use one of these on a tripod or Blu Tacked somewhere.

To greatly improve your sound you can use a Tascam DR40 from the stores. Apart from having great mics the Tascam can be moved away from your laptop.

Both of these devices require a micro B USB connector to a normal USB.

USB 2.0 A-Male to Micro B Cable .There is a very short one with the camera.

These are delicate and occasionally fail and can frustrate. The store does not have a ready supply of these so consider getting your own.

Plugging in the AKASO

If the camera is new, you will need to take it out of its waterproof housing to get access to the USB input.

The camera is much easier to use if it already has some charge so make sure it has a battery inserted in its base and has been charged via the computer USB for a while first.

Turn on the camera first without the USB cable connected to it by pressing the MODE button on the front. If you get a warning that you don't have an SD card in the camera, that's OK, you don't need one as you are not recording anything. Tap the screen to get rid of the notification.

The camera will work for you in its default set up, but there are some settings you may want to adjust.

The camera angle is normally very wide for sports. You can narrow it down from wide.

On the touch screen press the cog button on the lower RH side. This menu appears. Press the cog again and scroll down to angle. From the next display you can scroll down the 70 degrees setting for a narrower angle or up to 170 for a fisheye view. Press the back arrow or X to come out.

Next you can select the Resolution of the camera.

Touch the cog on the rear screen and choose the movie camera icon on the top left corner.

Choose resolution and scroll down to 1080P30fps or 720P30fps towards the bottom.

Connect the camera to the computer via the USB and the following screen appears.

Choose PC CAMERA by tapping it. Once you have the dark screen with PC CAMERA you cannot make further adjustments to the camera.

Connecting the Tascam DR40 recorder

Here is a link to general instructions for the Tascam, but you may not need them.

https://sites.google.com/bathspa.ac.uk/tv-technical-training/filmlocation/audio/tascam-dr-40?authuser=0

Plug in the USB cable, THEN turn on the recorder using the HOME button on the front

This page will appear and using the up(+) and down(-) controls on the front, scroll down to and select (Enter/mark button) AUDIO I/F

On this next page, scroll down to CONNECT and over to EXEC and select ((Enter/mark button) You will then get a display with meters. You can adjust the levels on the side of the recorder. The recorder can now be placed on a tripod or somewhere away from the fan or other noises.

Selecting the recorder and camera in Collaborate

Best to connect the devices that you are using before you open the teaching session that way the application will be able to find them straight away.

Open the little purple tab at the bottom right of your session window, this will give you the SESSION settings. Select the cog and go up to SET UP YOUR CAMERA AND MICROPHONE.

An audio window will appear. Select the Tascam, click the white button that says YES THE AUDIO IS WORKING then go back and select the camera, which is either the default FACETIME HD CAMERA or the WEB GADGET which is the action cam

You can change the camera angle during the class if you need.

Here is a 5 minute clip showing how to present a Powerpoint in a room with a projector and also over collaborate with students off site.

Presenting Hybrid - In person and virtually through Collaborate.mp4

Notes for using with Google Meet

I have found using this set up with Google Meet problematic.

When you go to settings and choose the camera, it is not always there. When it is, you have to put the resolution down to 360p, otherwise the image is black. For the Tascam Google suggests you use headphones with the recorder to avoid feedback which may get in the way of the demo.

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