3 Ways to remove the GoToMeeting codec from your recording.

As you may already know (or have just discovered), when you record a GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar or GoToTraining, a codec is applied to the WMV file.  The codec is used to compress the size of the recording, but unfortunately it can get in the way when you try to edit the file.

The good news is that you can always remove the codec from your recording, here are the 3 methods:

Method 1

Configure the GoToMeeting Recording Preferences to automatically remove the codec at the end of the session.  This is handy because it’s an automatic process but the down side is it ties up your PC right after your session.

Method 2

Use the free Expression Encoder from Microsoft as documented here to remove the codec and edit the recording.  The benefit of this method is it lets you remove to codec whenever you want plus you can edit the recording.  The downside is the free version of this application does not let you convert the recording from WMV to another format, but there are other free applications you can use to achieve this.

Method 3

The 3rd method is actually a version of the 1st method, and comes to you via a very talented co-worker @GoToDane.

Dane has written a batch file that uses the built in transcoder installed with GoToMeeting, to remoe the codec the it would normally do if you followed method 1. The benefit being you can do it whenever you want rather than have it automatically start at the end of your session.

It’s quite straight forward:

1. You simply download this batch file on to a Windows PC that has GoToMeeting installed on it.
2. Drag-n-drop the WMV file onto the BATCH file.
3. Enter the GoToMeeting build number and hit enter. To find out your build number simply right click the GoToMeeting icon in your System Tray and select About.

Please note: 

1. GoToMeeting must be installed for the BATCH file to work.
2. The BATCH file should work on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. It has been tested on Windows 7 x64, Windows Vista x86, and Windows XP x86.

More secrets of GoToWebinar

A while back I posted The secrets to a great Webinar, in which I covered some of the things you can do to prepare for your webinar to make it more successful.  Today I’m going to show you a couple of built in GoToWebinar features and how to get the most out of them.

Auto redirect Registrants to a URL of your choice.

The process of scheduling a GoToWebinar is pretty straight forward, so I’m going to skip right through to the last option.  This feature allows you to automatically redirect someone that registers for your webinar, to another URL.  The most obvious use of this feature is to direct the registrant to your product page or blog etc, whatever it is you plan to promote.  Some less obvious uses (but potentially more beneficial), are;

• Automatically redirect registrants to a web page containing any special instructions, information they should be aware of prior to the webinar.
• Redirect to your YouTube page (or similar), containing a video greeting letting them know you appreciate their interest and giving a quick highlight of what the stand to gain from actually attending.
• Redirect to a page containing or linking to any relevant pre-reading/watching,  relevant information that will help them understand your webianr content better.
• If you know you are going to have an international audience, provide a page with instructions in multiple languages.

Ultimately you’re only limited by your imagination.

Email Notifications

Once you have scheduled your GoToWebinar you have the ability to edit and make changes as well as personalize the Emails registrants will receive.

• Log into your account, go to My Webinars and select the newly scheduled webinar. 

• In the drop down box opposite Change Session Settings: select Email Notifications

On this page you have the option to Personalize the Confirmation, Reminder, Follow Up and even the Email sent to Registrants that failed to attend.  This gives you 4 more opportunities to  reinforce your message and provide information to your audience.

Of course as the old saying goes “Less is more”, so don’t go overboard as the result may be the opposite of what you desired.

Get to know the new GoToMyPC iOS App.

Last week saw the launch of the new GoToMyPC iOS App.  For iPad users this meant an update providing improved navigation and for iPhone and iPod Touch owners, it meant they were finally untethered from their desktops.  Now that you’ve had a few days to play with the App, I thought I’d go over it’s features and general use in a little more detail.

When you launch the App you’ll see a straight forward login screen with one important feature, the ability to save your Account Password.  This is great because it means you don’t have to type in your case sensitive password each time you want to connect, if you’re anything like me you’ve already got a secure password locking your phone anyway.

Once you are connected you’ll see the gestures you can use while connected.  Now if you’re like me you probably closed this window right away so you could see your desktop and try the App out.   Well no worries, you can launch this window again at any time while you’re in session, but more about this later.  The gestures are very handy, the two I find myself using the most often are the Three Finger Tap and Pinch In and Out.

At the top of the screen you notice a small black tab with an arrow, give it a tap and the Menu bar will drop down.

From left to right; X will end your session and disconnect you from your Host, the Arrows bring up directional arrow buttons for navigating,

next is the Keyboard and the gear brings up the Preferences Window on your Hosts screen,

and finally the Question Mark brings up the Gestures Window you closed so quickly at the start of your session.

The virtual mouse makes navigating on such a small screen very easy, and you can always just tap on your screen to re-position it.  All in all the GoToMyPC iOS App is a dream to operate, there is one tip I’d like to pass on to anyone needing to send a Ctrl+Alt+Delete in order to logon or off Windows on their Host PC.  First hold your iPhone on it’s side in landscape mode and then tap Ctrl then Alt and finally Delete one after another on the keyboard, don’t try and push all three together at the same time.

Personally I’ve enjoyed using GoToMyPC on my iPad and the new App is great on my Wife’s iPod Touch but what I’m really excited about is still coming…. soon.