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ActivePresenter is a comprehensive software developed by Atomi Systems, Inc., designed as a leading authoring tool for simplifying eLearning design experiences. It integrates capabilities for screen recording, video editing, and creating interactive eLearning content. The software aims to be feature-rich and user-friendly, allowing for professional-looking content with minimal effort, even for users new to video editing. It’s available for both Windows and macOS, though some features might be limited on Mac.

Key Features of ActivePresenter

ActivePresenter offers a wide array of features across its functionalities:

  • Screen Recording
    • You can record the computer screen to create video demos or interactive software simulations.
    • It captures all live actions on screen, including mouse and keyboard actions.
    • Users have the flexibility to record the full screen, a specific window, a region, or an object.
    • Audio can be recorded live from a microphone or system sound, or added later as narration. Webcam video capture is also supported.
    • There are no time limits on recording length or the number of videos that can be recorded, which is a notable advantage over some other free tools.
    • For software simulations, it uses “Smart Capture” technology to automatically insert mouse clicks where users interact and can auto-generate annotation text based on interactions.
  • Video & Audio Editing
    • Basic editing features include cutting, copying, deleting sections of audio/video, splitting or combining files, changing playback speed, adjusting volume, and inserting closed captions.
    • Advanced audio and video effects are available, such as blurring videos, applying green-screen effects (chroma key), and reducing audio noise. ActivePresenter 9.3 notably introduced AI Noise Removal, which automatically detects and removes background sounds offline for studio-quality voice clarity. The traditional Noise Reduction feature remains for more manual adjustments.
    • You can also normalize audio for consistent volume across slides.
    • For smoother editing of high-resolution video files (like 2K or 4K), ActivePresenter version 9.3 allows users to enable proxy mode.
  • eLearning Authoring
    • ActivePresenter simplifies eLearning design by allowing you to add various interactive elements.
    • It supports 13 types of interactive questions for assessments and quizzes, including True/False, Multiple Choice, Fill in Blanks, Drag-n-Drop, and Hotspot.
    • Responsive Design: Projects can be created with five default responsive layouts (Desktop, Tablet Landscape/Portrait, Mobile Landscape/Portrait) to adapt to different device screen sizes. Objects within containers (flex or grid boxes) can automatically adapt their layout and alignment. Text can also be scaled for smaller devices.
    • Object States: You can define different visual states for objects (e.g., shapes, text captions, images, buttons) that change in response to user interactions.
    • Events – Actions and Variables: A powerful system for adding interactivity, allowing you to define actions (e.g., showing/hiding objects, navigating slides) triggered by various events (e.g., On Click, On Correct, On Rollover). This includes support for both system-defined and user-defined variables (true/false, text, number).
    • JavaScript API: For advanced customization in HTML5 output, ActivePresenter exposes a JavaScript API, allowing users to write custom scripts to interact with the presentation and its objects.
  • Content Creation & Import
    • You can start with blank projects or import existing PowerPoint presentations directly, even without Microsoft PowerPoint installed. ActivePresenter can import pre-made PowerPoint animations into its main timeline or Click Sequence timeline.
    • Insert a variety of objects: This includes 3D Models, Charts, Tables, Shapes, Text Captions, Spotlights, Equations, Icons, Gesture Effects, Footers, Images, Screenshots, Audio, Video, YouTube Videos, Web Objects, Cursor Paths, and Zoom-n-Pan effects.
    • Themes and Slide Masters: Use pre-designed themes for a consistent look or create and customize slide masters to define default layouts and properties for your slides and feedback layers.
    • Slide Transitions and Object Animations: Apply various transition effects between slides and animation effects (entrance, exit, emphasis, motion path) to objects.
  • Accessibility and Localization
    • Projects can be made accessible for users with disabilities, supporting keyboard navigation and allowing customization of accessibility text for slides and objects to be read aloud by screen readers.
    • Closed captions can be inserted, manually typed, imported from .srt files, or converted from text to speech using various voices, including external voices from Amazon Polly, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure (requiring authentication keys from those providers).
    • Projects can be localized by exporting and importing XLIFF files for translation.
  • Project Management & Output
    • The workspace is customizable, similar to Microsoft Office, with a tabbed toolbar, document window, and status bar. It supports both light and dark UI themes.
    • You can open multiple projects simultaneously.
    • Projects can be shrunk to reduce file size by removing unused resources.
    • ActivePresenter allows exporting projects to many formats: Images (PNG, JPEG), Videos (MP4, WebM, MKV, WMV, AVI), PDF Documents, and Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) (Windows only).
    • For eLearning, it supports exporting to HTML5 and SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and xAPI (Tin Can API) packages for Learning Management Systems (LMS).
    • Reporting options for HTML5 output allow sending user results (XML or JSON) to an HTTP address.
    • Projects can also be published directly to ActivePresenter Online for sharing.
    • The HTML5 player is highly customizable, including sidebars, table of contents (TOC), and toolbar buttons. Videos can be converted to “author video” to appear in the player’s sidebar, allowing simultaneous viewing with content.
    • Operation Modes: Interactive presentations can run in Demonstration, Tutorial, Practice, and Test modes, offering different levels of learner interaction and feedback.

Pricing and Editions

ActivePresenter offers three editions: Free, Standard, and Pro.

  • ActivePresenter Free Edition:
    • Purpose: Intended for personal and non-commercial use only and for trial purposes. Publishing to YouTube or social media is considered non-commercial if not promoting a business, and earning from ads is acceptable.
    • Features: It is surprisingly robust and fully functional as the paid ones, with no restrictions on trial time or function. It includes screen capture/video recording, basic audio/video editing (cut, copy, delete, crop, split, join, change speed, adjust volume, insert closed captioning), and exporting to image and video (MP4, WEBM, MKV, AVI, WMV) formats.
    • Watermark: Outputs from advanced features exclusive to Standard or Pro editions will have a watermark when using the Free edition. However, exported image and video files (MP4, WEBM, MKV, AVI, WMV) generally do not include a watermark.
  • ActivePresenter Standard Edition:
    • Purpose: Designed for commercial use. It targets users like software reviewers, tutorial makers, online trainers, and teachers who primarily need video and document (Word, Excel, PPT, PDF) outputs.
    • Features: Includes all Free edition features, plus Advanced Audio & Video Effects (e.g., Blur, Green-screen, Reduce Audio Noise, Fade Audio In/Out, Normalize Audio), Cloud Text-to-Speech, and Export to PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (Windows only).
    • Price: A one-time cost of $199 for a perpetual license.
  • ActivePresenter Pro Edition:
    • Purpose: Also for commercial use and is for any editor and content creator, especially those who want to create engaging courses with interactive questions and quizzes in HTML5 output.
    • Features: Unlocks all features. Includes everything in the Standard edition, plus eLearning Editing Features (Interaction Objects, 13 Interactive Questions, Responsive Design, Multiple Timelines, Object States, Variables, Events – Actions, and Conditions), and Export to HTML5, SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and xAPI (Tin Can API).
    • Price: A one-time cost of $399 for a perpetual license.

General Pricing Notes:

  • Purchased licenses and upgrades include 1 year of free updates.
  • After one year, users can upgrade to a higher major version for 40% of the full price.
  • Educational discounts are available for individual and bulk Pro licenses.
  • The software is considered a great deal compared to other authoring tools due to its one-time payment model.

Pros and Cons of ActivePresenter

Pros:

  • Comprehensive All-in-One Tool: Combines screen recording, video editing, and eLearning authoring.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Mimics Microsoft Office layout, making it easy to learn and navigate, even for beginners.
  • Powerful Features: Offers a rich set of features for creating interactive content, including responsive design, advanced animations, and various question types.
  • PowerPoint Integration: Allows direct import and editing of PowerPoint slides.
  • No Recording Time Limits: Unlike some free alternatives, it imposes no limits on video recording length or number of videos.
  • Strong Support System: Provides tooltips, a user manual, demos, tutorials, FAQ, email support, and phone support for urgent needs.
  • Free Edition is Robust: The Free edition is quite capable for non-commercial use, offering many functionalities without time limits.
  • Offline AI Noise Removal: A convenient and intelligent feature for audio enhancement.

Cons:

  • Learning Curve: While user-friendly, the vast number of tools and options can still require a significant learning investment.
  • Limited Video Import: Can only import video files created within ActivePresenter itself. (Note: Sources also mention inserting general video files, which might contradict this “Con” from review sources. This is a point of potential contradiction in the sources vs).
  • Cost for Full Features: The Pro version, which unlocks all features like HTML5 and LMS export, can be considered pricey compared to some other tools.
  • No 4K Export: The highest video resolution available is 1080 Full HD.
  • Potential for Bugs/Stability Issues: Some users have reported instances of the software not responding or audio/video not playing.
  • Mac Limitations: Features may be limited for the macOS version, specifically concerning output file types.

AI Alternatives (Information from outside the ActivePresenter User Manual)

While ActivePresenter offers its own AI Noise Removal feature, the broader category of AI video generators is becoming competitive. Here are some alternatives mentioned in the provided sources that utilize AI for video creation and editing:

  • revid.ai: Offers free AI video tools, with a Hobby plan for $39/month that unlocks all video editor features and TikTok inspiration videos.
  • Visla: Provides versatility with text-to-video stock image assembly, text-based video editing, and AI filler-word removal, along with a meeting assistant. It’s suggested as a revid.ai alternative.
  • Canva‘s video editor: Features a browser-based media editing experience, including generative AI powered by Runway.
  • Kapwing: An alternative to Filmora, offering equivalent AI-powered tools and an AI stock media video tool.
  • Virbo: Wondershare’s solution specifically for creating AI avatar content.
  • Munch: A Peech alternative focused on long-to-short repurposing while exploring trending topics.
  • HeyGen: A Synthesia alternative known for unique AI tools.

Most of these AI video generators offer free plans or trials, allowing users to test them before committing.

ActivePresenter, like a master craftsman’s toolkit, provides nearly every specialized tool needed for complex eLearning and video production, allowing for meticulous, hands-on control. Its AI features act as power tools, streamlining certain tasks like noise removal. In contrast, newer AI video generators are like automated factories, taking your raw ideas and quickly assembling them into video, perfect for efficiency but perhaps with less individual shaping.