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AP World History (McCormack) - AP Review-Windows Movie Maker Project - April 2015: Home

How to Set Up Your Headphones/Mic

How to connect and set up your headphone to record and listen to playback:

  1. Connect the headphones to your laptop via USB
  2. Right click on the little audio/speaker icon in the lower right-hand corner of your laptop
  3. (if you don't see it, click on the little arrow and you should see it in the box)
  4. Select Playback Devices - a new window opens for the sound settings
  5. You are now in the "Sound" settings window on the Playback tab
  6. Find your device and select it - Headset Earphone - Microsoft LifeChat
  7. Click on Set Default at the bottom of the box
  8. Click on Properties - a new window opens up
  9. Click on the Levels tab
  10. Headset Earphone - move the slider tab to 85
  11. Headset Microphone - move the slider tab to 85
  12. Make sure the little audio icon does not have a red circle in it - if so, click on it to remove it
  13. Click OK at the bottom of the screen - the window closes
  14. Now click on the Recording tab at the top
  15. Find your device and select it - Headset Microphone - Microsoft LifeChat
  16. Click on Set Default at the bottom of the box
  17. Click on Properties - a new window opens up
  18. Click on the Levels tab
  19. Headset Microphone - move the slider tab to 85
  20. Make sure the little audio icon does not have a red circle in it - if so, click on it to remove it
  21. Click OK at the bottom of the screen - the window closes
  22. Click OK in the remaining Sound window - it will close
  23. Do a test narration and see if you can record and hear your playback
  24. You should see a new "layer" under the corresponding slide with vertical audio markings
  25. Listen to the playback

A few things to remember when recording:

  • Make sure the little red light is NOT ON on your headphone/mic - the sound is muted when the red light is on and you cannot record
  • Remember to select the slide that corresponds with your narration - DO NOT record everything on the first slide!
  • The length of your audio will not match the duration of your slide (slide default is 7:00 seconds)

How to Change the Slide Duration to Match the Audio Length:

  1. Hover over your audio track to see its length (example: 22 seconds)
  2. Click on the slide that corresponds to the audio
  3. Click on the yellow Video Tools tab right above the Edit tab at the top of your MovieMaker window
  4. You will see Duration - now you can change the duration of your slide to match the audio.
  5. Add 1 or 2 extra seconds for an audio transition.
  6. Remember to SAVE OFTEN

How to Convert the MovieMaker File to a Video File:

  1. Save your MovieMaker file one last time
  2. Click on Save Movie in upper right-hand corner of MovieMaker window
  3. Click on Recommended settings for this project
  4. Save this video file in the same folder as your MovieMaker project file
  5. It is now converting your MovieMaker file to a video file - this may take some time - it is a large file
Problems? Text Ms. McCormack -
she'll tell you how to contact Mrs. Burke via her cell