I am able to create a slideshow and record a voice-over using iPhoto or iMovie, and then export and upload to my blog. However the file is exported as a movie file. This seems an inefficient way of presenting stills with a voice-over.

Does a file format exist specifically for a slideshow? If so, what software do I need?

Many thanks
Dan

Powerpoint is the closest I can think of, as far as a standard is concerned for slideshows.

Since you're asking on the mac forum Keynote (part of iWork) might do the job ?

The main problem you will have is that anyone who wants to see your blog would need the same software, hence Video files are standard.

Quote danielhuw:

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This seems an inefficient way of presenting stills with a voice-over.

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Are you talking about something delivered over the Internet...? I'd have thought a movie file was probably the simplest approach, and ready for YouTube etc. Otherwise I guess you'd be looking for some kind of embedded slideshow player.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web-based_slideshow
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/03/09/slideshows-in-web-design-when-a nd-how-to-use-them/

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, it would need to be a file format that can be viewed from a web browser. Whenever I've seen slideshows on other sites they use Adobe Flash. Is this just another format of video file? I would ask someone from Adobe, but they seem to be incapable of calling me back!

Thanks again
Dan

Quote danielhuw:

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Whenever I've seen slideshows on other sites they use Adobe Flash. Is this just another format of video file?

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Flash is a bit more complicated than that - can be used for building all kinds of interactive multimedia applications - but I'm not sure if I'd recommend that route since it's a proprietary format rather than an open web standard, and not supported on all devices (eg iPads).

You've opened a can of worms.

To do a slideshow without using a video file you have two options:

1) Use some sort of flash SWF file to play the audio + change the slides as indicated in a timeline (usually an external XML file with timecode)
2) Use javascript & html5's <audio> to accomplish the same.

Option 1 won't work on iPads etc and option 2 won't work on older browsers. Some sites implement option 2 with a 'fallback' to option 1 (much like youtube does with it's online video). Either way, it's damn tricky, as you're dealing with timecodes to alter the image change vs play back audio.

by FAR the easiest way is to simply screencast yourself using powerpoint. save file, upload to youTube - done. Look into Jing, Camtasia etc. I have a funny feeling that Powerpoint may even have an audio annotation tool built in (but I may be wrong), but then you're knocking out the web accessible part of this.

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Web Design ~
Drum Studio

Quote BJG145:

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I'd have thought a movie file was probably the simplest approach

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I think you might be right. I certainly don't have the knowledge or inclination to get into coding anything - I just want to export and upload.

Will the size of a movie file be smaller if it contains still images? I suppose what I'm actually after is a movie file with a frame rate of about 1 frame every 5 seconds and with audio. Is this possible?

Dan

With modern compression, the file size will be pretty low as the pixels won't actually change from frame to frame. If you're chucking it on youTube, why are you even worrying? They use streaming, so you don't have to download the entire file to start watching it. Plus the compress the stream (heavily) to start with. AND you get iPhone/HTML5 fallback.

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Web Design ~
Drum Studio

...yeah, I'd have thought the best bet would be to get the video embedded with some free player and let the hosting service (YouTube or whatever) worry about the technical stuff.

Thanks for your help guys.

I'll herd the worms back in their can and make a video file. I live in the stix and have a really pathetic maximum broadband speed. It puts me off creating files with too large a size. I take your points about letting Youtube do the technical stuff.

Dan

there are loads of apps that do this kind of thing, here are a couple, bet there are another 50 out there
web page
web page

I am sure you will find one thats just right for you, finding bandwidth ah well thats another matter.... probably best get it all made then go visit someone on fibre optic and fire it up from there.

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Strictly an amateur with some nice toys,

Quote DAGGILARR:

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finding bandwidth ah well thats another matter....

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Yes, that's a good point. I could always go to a cafe with wifi to upload. The slideshows would only last about 5 minutes. I don't need to do any screen casting - I was just thinking of a way to enhance the photos and text on my blog.

I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link to it here, but I'm sure someone will let me know if not. And if anyone needs any bespoke furniture for their studio...

dancabinetmaker.wordpress.com

Dan

thats some fine woodwork!

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http://soundcloud.com/seaapes

Thanks Wease!