Webcasting using Panopto

Contents:

1. Webcasting using the Panopto remote recorder
2. Webcasting using the Panopto manual recorder
3. Viewer link & Share settings
4. Waiting room
5. Discussion
6. Statistics

Webcasting using the Panopto remote recorder

To schedule a webcast using a remote recorder, schedule the recording as normal, and simply check the "Webcast Session" box (Fig. 1). For detailed guidance on scheduling recordings using the remote recorder view our complete guide here.

Fig. 1. Check the "Webcast Session" box to webcast a scheduled recording.

Webcasts are accessed in the same way as regular Panopto sessions:

• The viewer signs into Canvas with their Oxford SSO, then navigates to the correct course, then
• Click on the "Panopto Recordings" folder/LTI option in the left-hand Canvas menu which takes them to the associated folder.
• When the webcast is live, it will appear in the folder view (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. A Panopto webcast visible within the folder view.

Prior to the start of the webcast, users with the Creator role may locate and modify the scheduled session by checking the "Show scheduled recordings" checkbox (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Scheduled webcasts can be located within a folder, by users with the Creator role, by checking the "Show scheduled recordings" checkbox.

Once the webcast has ended, the recording will complete and finish uploading to the Panopto portal where it will be available on-demand.
It is not possible to webcast without recording, although the recording could be deleted or moved immediately afterward to prevent on-demand access.
It is also not possible to pause a webcast.

Webcasting using the Panopto manual recorder

Webcasting is possible using the Panopto manual recorder for both Windows and macOS.
Simply check the “Webcast” box (Fig. 4), configure your audio/video settings, and press record to begin the webcast. For detailed guidance on using the manual recorder view our complete guide here.

Fig. 4. Webcasting using the Panopto manual recorder for Windows (top) and macOS (bottom).

A short video primer on webcasting using the manual recorder can be viewed below.

Viewer link & Share settings

As with on-demand Panopto sessions, each webcast has a unique URL (viewer link). Only the Remote recorder link is available before recording starts.
When webcasting with the manual recorder, the viewer link is not generated and revealed until after the record button is pressed and the webcast has started, so viewers cannot be informed of the viewer link prior to the start of the webcast.
Webcasting with the remote recorder is more practical as the viewer link for the webcast will be available to share once the session is scheduled. The viewer link can be obtained from the Session Settings > Overview tab (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Settings and viewer link for a scheduled Panopto webcast. Audience comments (questions) can also be enabled or disabled here via the "Discussion" check box.

The viewer needs to be authenticated (by logging into Canvas and clicking Panopto folder/ LTI tool in the Canvas course) before visiting the viewer link, they will not be able to view the webcast unless the share settings have been changed (by a user with the Creator role) within the Session Settings > Share tab to "Anyone with the link" (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Share settings for a Panopto session. Changing the share settings to "Anyone with the link" allows unauthenticated (anonymous) users to view the webcast, provided they know the URL.

For further information about Panopto share settings, view the guide here (coming soon).

Waiting room

If a Panopto webcast viewer link is accessed before the webcast is live, the viewer will see a "waiting room". Users with the Creator role may add a preview image and description within the Session Settings > Overview tab (Fig. 5). These will be visible in the waiting room to provide the viewer with additional information about the webcast (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7. Users who visit a viewer link prior to the start of a scheduled webcast will be greeted by a "waiting room".

Discussion

Authenticated users may post comments during and after the webcast unless this feature is disabled (Fig. 5). Comments will appear on the left-hand side of the Panopto web viewer (Fig. 8). Clicking on the comment will move the playhead to the timecode at which the comment was posted. The discussion will also be visible after the session has ended, and users with the Creator role may download the comments in a plain text format.
Unauthenticated viewers are not able to post comments.

Fig. 8. The discussion feature being used in a Panopto webcast.

When webcasting using the remote recorder or the Apple MacOS manual recorder, the presenter will not receive live notifications of comments, so unless the presenter is also viewing the Panopto webcast on another screen, they are unlikely to see comments until after the session has ended.
When webcasting using the Windows manual recorder, if your recorder is minimized, a small pop-up notification will appear, and if selected, will open the recorder for the presenter to see the discussion posts (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9. To disable notifications from the Windows manual recorder, prior to recording, select Settings, and then on the Basic Settings tab, deselect the checkbox next to Notify me when a viewer posts a question or comment and click Save.

Statistics

Users with the Creator role may access viewing statistics during and after the webcast. The live statistics can be accessed from the folder view, by hovering over the live session and clicking the "Statistics" icon; or within the Panopto viewer by clicking the bar chart icon in the top-right.

Statistics will update live during the webcast (Fig. 10). More comprehensive statistics will become available after webcast has ended, once the session becomes on-demand.

Fig. 10. Statistics for a Panopto webcast.