How to use Panopto to record or upload lecture videos

Panopto is a video platform that allows you to record, edit, and share videos for your courses. This guide will help you set up your workspace, ensure sound quality, and go over the basics of the Panopto video platform.

STEP 1 — SETUP YOUR WORKSPACE

Choose a quiet, well-lit space, position your camera at eye level, and bounce a light of a white wall to soften harsh lighting.

LEARN MORE Recording Best Practices  Open in New Window

Optimized for video recording shows woman sitting at desk with light bouncing off wall and camera at eye level.

WORKSPACE OPTIMIZED FOR VIDEO:

  • Lighting is bright and bounces off wall.
  • Camera is at eye level.

RESULT:

  • Lighting is balanced.
  • Facial features appear level.

Standard Workspace showing a woman sitting at a desk with lamp and laptop.

STANDARD WORKSPACE:

  • Lighting is variable (too bright or too dim).
  • Camera is below or above eye level.

RESULT:

  • Dark shadows or blown out contrast.
  • Camera is looking up your nostrils... no one wants that.

STEP 2 — SOUND QUALITY

Desktop microphoneMicrophones

If possible, purchase a condenser desktop microphone to capture clear, high quality speech. Look for a USB microphone for easy plug-and-play compatibility with most computers.

AMAZON: Desktop Condenser USB Microphones  Open in New Window

Audio Help

Panopto offers Audio Normalization  Open in New Window which can automatically boost or soften the volume to match a target audio level, and will help even out the audio across the recording

STEP 3 — RECORD & EDIT VIDEO

  1. Login to CANVAS

    Login to the course you're teaching in CANVAS to access Panopto's video recorder.

    Keep Learning Idaho CANVAS: keeplearninguidaho.instructure.com  Open in New Window

    If you need help logging in, please see our login help.

  2. Access Panopto in CANVAS RichText Editor

    Edit any CANVAS module page, assignment, discussion, or quiz. Click the Panopto button on the richtext editor to launch Panopto.

    Richtext editor with Panopto button circled.

    LEARN MORE How to Use Panopto with Canvas for Instructors  Open in New Window

  3. Launch Panopto Capture or Upload

    Click Upload if you have a the video recorded already, then browse to locate your video file, and skip to Step 11 below.

    Click the Record tab and then Launch Capture to access the Panopto Video Recorder.

    Panopto screen with Record and Launch Capture buttons circled.

  4. Camera and Microphone Access

    Click ALLOW on Panopto's request to use your Camera and Microphone.

    Allow button circled on permission request window

  5. Video Quality

    Click Settings (Gear icon).

    Under Recording Options, select HD (High Definition), or Ultra HD

    NOTE: If your internet connection is slow, you may switch back to SD for faster performance.

    You can also adjust your backgound, however, this was a BETA feature for Panopto at the time of this writing, and did not produce the highest quality results. We recommend using a green screen, a solid color wall behind you for better results.

    Panopto settings screen with HD and gear button circled.

  6. Select a Screen to Record

    Click Screens and Apps to select which screen you'd like to record with your video lecture.

    Panopto Screen selection option circled

  7. Press Record

    It's always a good idea to record a short test to see how you look and sound.

    LEARN MORE Panopto Create Features  Open in New Window

    Panopto record feature circled.

  8. Finish or Edit?

    When you're done recording, you can watch your video. If you're happy with it, close the video recording window to return to CANVAS with the option to insert your video.

    Close recorder to finish your video or click edit

  9. Edit Video

    Panopto is a non-destructive editor, meaning that it will trim your video, but never actually deletes anything. Rather it dynamically rebuilds the timeline.

    Click and drag to select the sections of the timeline you want to trim off.

    The left side of the video editor allows you to edit the auto-generated captions, manually add slides, create interactive quizzes and more.

    Press Apply to finish editing.

    LEARN MORE Panopto Edit Features  Open in New Window

    Video editor trim and features highlighted. Click Apply to finish trimming video.

  10. Edit Captions

    Although the automatic captions that Panopto produces are good quality, you will still find quite a few errors that may need fixing. Fortunately, Panopto makes that very easy.

    Within the Panopto editor, click Captions on the left.

    Click and edit caption text as needed.

    Press Apply to finish editing.

    LEARN MORE How to Edit or Delete Captions  Open in New Window

    Video editor with captions and Apply button highlighted.

  11. Insert Video

    You can either Insert the video from the Record or Upload tab, or under Choose you can browse and select any video you have access to.

    LEARN MORE How to Insert a Video Link into a Canvas Module  Open in New Window

    Panopto video screen with Insert, record, and choose options circled.

  12. PANOPTO SUPPORT

    LEARN MORE How to Record a Panopto Video  Open in New Window

Still need help? Submit a Support Request

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