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What are the System requirements for ClipFlair Studio?

• - Windows X86 or x64 (64-bit mode support for IE only) 1.6-gigahertz (GHz) or higher processor with 512-MB of RAM
• - Macintosh (Intel-based) Intel Core Duo 1.83-gigahertz (GHz) or higher processor with 512-MB of RAM
• NB for Mac users: ClipFlair only works with Mozilla Firefox. For the moment, revoicing does not work for Mac, we're working on it!

What is the Container?

The Container is where activity authors create, edit, save and load their Activity.

What is a Component in ClipFlair Studio?

A Component is a part of your Activity. An Activity may contain various Components. The available Components are: Clip, Captions, Revoicing, Text, Image and Map. A Component is like a card: when you flip it over you see its back panel (options). Click on the wrench icon on the top right corner of the component to flip it over.

The Container is empty. How do I add a new Component?

You can add a Component by pressing any of the ”+” buttons at the bottom. For example press “+ Clip” to add a video or audio Clip Component, press “+ Captions” to add a Captions Component, press “+ Text” to add a Text Component etc.

How do I load a clip?

In order to add a clip you must have a Clip Component in the Container. If not, press the “+ Clip” button. The Clip Component is the media player where you load video or audio clips. Then click on the wrench icon at the top-right corner of the Component. This action will flip the component over and you will see the Component's options panel. Fill the Media Source (URL) field in Content Options with the URL of the video you want. You can find the available videos in the Gallery of ClipFlair Social network (ClipFlair Social / Gallery).

I can't use my video in ClipFlair

If you don't want to use one of the clips of the Gallery, you can drag and drop your own video in your activity. The formats that are supported are listed here. We recommend MP4. If your video file is in another format you can convert to it using miro video converter (free).
Also if the videos allow redistribution (eg Creative Commons SA / share alike license or similar) or are small excerpts (eg 3 min from long movie) you can post them at our suggest material / video forum and we will instantly make them available through the ClipFlair video gallery. Then you will be able to use the video URL instead of an embedded video file and thus your activity files (and the students' ones) will be much smaller and easy to share.

How can I add a clip in the Gallery?

You can use your own video in the Clip Component. To do so, first you must visit the Video topic in ClipFlair Forum (ClipFlair Social / Forum / ClipFlair Material / Video ). Then upload your video in a new post. If the file type is not allowed, try to zip it before you post it. Your job is done. The administrator will add your video in the Gallery. Make sure you have the right to use this video.
If you post a .wmv file in ClipFlair Social Network you can already use it! Just right click, copy the URL link and paste it in the Clip Component in the Studio.

Can I use a clip from YouTube?

Yes, you can. But you cannot copy the URL link directly from YouTube to the Studio. First you have to download the video from YouTube (preferably with Miro) and then convert it to .wmv. Then, go to the Video topic in ClipFlair Forum (ClipFlair Social / Forum / ClipFlair Material / Video ). Upload your video in a new post and your job is done. Shortly you will find the URL for your video in the Gallery. Make sure you have the right to use this video.

Can I use a clip directly from my computer?

Yes. Just drag and drop the .mp4 file onto the Studio area.
Alternatively, add a clip component and then click on the wrench icon on the top right corner. Go to Content Options / Media Source and click on the folder icon to open local media file.

How do I add captions to the clip?

If there is no Captions Component, add one by clicking the “+ Captions” button at the bottom of the Studio. To add a new caption pause the video at the moment you want the caption to appear. Then press the “Add caption at current time” button placed at the top-left corner of the Captions Component. You will notice a new line added in the Captions Component. This line is your caption, and it appears at the moment of the video when you pressed “Add Caption”. Its duration is two seconds by default. Double-click in the Caption field and write your text. Repeat the procedure to add as many captions you want.

Can I change the duration the captions appear?

Yes, to change the duration a caption appears edit the Start and End fields. You can do that manually if you know the start/end time. The field becomes editable when you double-click it.. Otherwise, first, play the clip, find the start time, pause the clip, select the caption (one click) and click on the ”Set selected caption's start time”. Do the same for the end time and click on the ”Set selected caption's end time” button. These buttons set the start or end time of the caption according to the time of the clip on the Clip Component.

How do I delete a caption?

Select the caption at the Captions Component (notice the selected caption is highlighted) and press the “Remove selected caption” button in the toolbox.

How do I add my voice to the clip?

If there is no Revoicing component, add one by clicking on the “+ Revoicing” button. Click on the “Record audio” button you can record your voice. While recording the button's state changes from dark red to bright red. When done click again on the “Record audio” button. Then a set of buttons appears. The “Play audio” button plays the recording and with the “Save audio to .WAV file” button you can save the recording so you can reuse it in the future. You can also load a saved revoicing clip by pressing the “Load audio from .WAV file” button.

Are the Captions and the Revoicing Component synchronized?

The Revoicing Component and Captions Component work together. If you have already added captions you will notice the Revoicing Component will be filled with the same lines as the Captions Component with the same Start and End times for each caption. Moreover, if you add, edit or delete a line in one component the change will automatically apply to the other, e.g. if you add a new captions line in the Captions Component a new line also will be added in the Revoicing Component with the same Start and End times and vice versa, or if you delete a line in the Revoicing Component the line for the corresponding times will be deleted from the Captions Component.

Do the captioning and revoicing time-slot have to be the same?

Yes, because all components are synchronised. If you need them to be different, you may create different activities, one for captioning and another for revoicing (note that you can also use nested activities inside a parent activity). If they are not overlapping you can have them in the same activity (use empty caption lines for revoicing only for example).

How can I change the title of the Component?

You can change the Component's Title (the title shown at the top-left corner of the Component) from the Component's View Options. So, click the wrench icon move to View Options and edit the “Title” field.

How can I change the dimensions of a Component?

You can change the Component's dimensions (Width and Height) from the Component's View Options. Click the wrench icon move to View Options and edit the “Width” and “Height” fields. You can also change a Component's dimensions by dragging its edges. Move the cursor to the edge and once it turns into double-pointed arrow click and drag the edge. Please note that the “Resizable” property must be checked.

I can't resize the Component. Why is that?

You can resize the Component only if the “Resizable” property is checked. So, click the wrench icon for the Component you want to resize and move to View Options and check the “Resizable” property.

Can I reorder the Components in the Container?

Yes, you can move each Component anywhere you want inside the Container. Move the cursor to the Title Bar and drag and drop the Component around the Container.

Why can't I move the Component?

Each Component must have the “Movable” option checked, so you can move it. Click the wrench icon for the Component you want to move, navigate to View Options and check the “Movable” property.

The Contents of my Activity won't fit in the Container. What can I do?

You can zoom the Container to fit your screen. Just click the “Zoom to fit” button at the bottom-left corner of the browser.

Can I zoom the Container and how do I do that?

Yes it is possible for you to change the Container's zoom. All you have to do is drag the slider, placed at the bottom-left corner of the browser, to zoom the Container at the level you like. You can have the same result by dragging the “Content Zoom” slider from the Container's Content Options (click the wrench icon at the top-right corner of the Container to flip the Container and move to Content Options).

Can I zoom a single Component?

You can change a Component's Zoom by changing the value of the zoom field. Click the wrench icon at the top-right corner of the Container to flip the Container and move to Content Options. Change the Zoom filed value. Values greater than “1” would zoom in the Component and values between “1” and “0” would zoom out the Component. Always keep in mind that default zoom value is “1”.

Some Components are transparent. Is it possible?

Yes. The Opacity field defines the Component's opacity. So move the slider and set the Component's opacity. You can find the Opacity slider if you click the wrench icon for the Component you and then navigate to View Options.

Are there any shortcuts for zooming?

There are Zoom shortcuts available. To use the Zoom shortcuts move the mouse over the Component you want to zoom in or out. If the mouse is anywhere else (over the Container) the shortcut would zoom the whole Container (including the Components placed in). So, to zoom in hover the mouse over the Component or the Container and:

• - Press and hold Ctrl (from the keyboard) and then click the mouse or
• - Press and hold Ctrl (from the keyboard) and mouse scroll-up

You can also zoom out if you hover the mouse over the Component or the Container and then:

• - Press and hold Ctrl (from the keyboard) and then (mouse) right click or
• - Press and hold Ctrl (from the keyboard) and mouse scroll-down

The shortcuts are enabled if the Zoomable property is checked, for the Component you want to zoom, or if the Content Zoomable property is property is checked for the Container.

I am trying the zoom shortcuts but nothing is happening. What am I doing wrong?

In order to use the Zoom shortcuts the “Zoomable” property must be checked, either you want to zoom the Container or a Component. So, click the wrench icon at the top-right corner of the Container or the Component and check the “Zoomable” property at the View options.

My Activity is ready. Can I save it?

Yes, you can save an activity you have created or edited. In order to save your whole Activity click the “Save options” button placed at the bottom of the application window. Choose the destination folder, type the file name and click “Save”. Your Activity is saved and you can load it later.

How do I load an Activity?

You can load an Activity that is either stored locally in your PC or stored in a web server. To load an Activity stored in locally in your PC click the “Load options” button placed at the bottom of the browser, choose folder and the file you want to load and click “Open”. If your Activity is stored in a web browser and you want to load it then click the “Load options from URL” button placed at the bottom of the browser. Enter the url of the Activity and click “OK”. This action will fill the Container with the state it had when it was saved (it would contain the same Components with the options they had that moment). The buttons just described are also placed at the top-left corner of the Container's Options back panel.

Can I load an Activity stored in a web server?

Yes, it is possible to load an Activity stored in a web browser. Click the “Load options from URL” button placed at the bottom of the browser, enter the url of the Activity and click “OK”. You can also find the “Load options from URL” button at the top-left corner of the Container's Options back panel.

Can I save a single Component?

Yes, you can. Basically you can save the Component's state. Once you have edited the Component the way you want click the wrench icon to view the Component's Options. Then click the “Save options” button, choose destination folder, type file name and click “Save”.

How do I load a Component?

You basically can load a Component's state. To do so, add an empty Component of the same type, e.g. if you want to load a Text Component add an empty Text Component by pressing the “+ Tetx” button. Then click the wrench icon to flip the Component and view its options. Now click the “Load options” button to load a file from your PC. Choose destination folder and file and finally click “Open”. You can also load a Component's state stored in a web server. To achieve this click the “Load options from URL” type the url and click “OK”.

Can I load a Component stored in a web server?

Yes, you can. First, you have to add an empty Component of the same type, e.g. if you want to load an Image Component add an empty Image Component by pressing the “+ Image” button. Then click the wrench icon to flip the Component and view its options. Now click the “Load options from URL” type the url and click “OK”.

Can I install ClipFlair Studio onto my PC or Mac?

Yes, you can install ClipFlair Studio onto your PC or Mac. To install ClipFlair Studio simply right-click anywhere inside the Container and then click “Install ClipFlair onto this computer…”. Select the locations for the shortcuts (you must choose at least one option to continue) and click “OK”. ClipFlair Studio is now installed on your computer as any other program.

I can't see the Component's options. What's wrong?

Don't worry, nothing's wrong. In order to set the options for a Component press the wrench icon at the top-right corner. This will flip the Component and you will see the options back pane. The Components Options may be hidden. To show or hide the available options click the View Options or Content Options title.

I have a subtitle file (.srt). How can I use it in the ClipFlair Studio?

ClipFlair Studio supports srt and tts files for the Captions Component. To import captions from a srt (or tts) file press the “Import” button, select the file and press “Open”. The Captions Component will be updated with the contents of the file. You can also save the captions in srt (or tts) format file by clicking the “Export” button, write the File name and click “Save”.

What is .WMV and .MP4?

WMV and MP4 are video (compression) formats. Basically, is the file type of your video clip. A Clip Component can play only these two video file types.

How can I convert my video to .WMV or .MP4?

There are many computer programs available for free on the Internet that can convert (almost) any video file to wmv or mp4. An easy one to use is Miro Video Converter.

What is ClipFlair?

ClipFlair is a platform of foreign language learning through interactive captioning and revoicing of clips. It consists of two main areas: The ClipFlair Studio and the ClipFlair Social network.

What is the ClipFlair Studio?

The ClipFlair Studio is an online application for foreign language learning activities that involve captioning and revoicing. It is basically a zoomable container where components are added: the clip, captions, revoicing, text, image and map components. The clip, image and map component are basically viewers/players. The captions and the revoicing components are tools for adding, deleting, editing, saving and uploading captions and audio files, importing and exporting subtitle files, etc. All components are zoomable, moveable and resizable.

What is the ClipFlair Social Network?

Cooperate, exchange ideas, ask questions and watch tutorials through the ClipFlair Social Network. In its Gallery you will find language learning activities that involve revoicing and/or captioning, as well as other material for creating activities, such as clips and images.

What is a ClipFlair Activity?

An Activity in ClipFlair is an activity for foreign language learning that involves revoicing and/or captioning. It contains one clip for captioning or revoicing, and complementary material, for example instructions, maps or images.

What is Revoicing?

Revoicing is to add voice to a clip. For example, dubbing, voiceover, audio description, free commentary, karaoke singing and reciting.

What is Captioning?

Captioning is to add text to a clip. For example, standard subtitles, intertitles, annotations, speech bubbles and comments.