MediaNotes allows users to mark up video with comments and tags. Think of it as the equivalent of the red marker you might use to give feedback on a research paper or brief. Instead of writing notes in the margin, you mark up segments of a timeline similar to that used in video-editing software. Here's what the timeline looks like:

No, MediaNotes does not record video. You will need separate software and hardware to record performances for evaluation.

It depends on how you plan to run your class and what kind of A/V support you have. You can find and submit ideas in our wiki page about recording video.

Through CALI you can acquire two versions of MediaNotes: the full version (all features available) and the trial version (allows you to view but not add annotations). The full version is available to all CALI affiliates and priced differently for teachers and students; the actual software is identical in either case. The trial version is available to everyone, whether affiliated with CALI or not, and can be turned into the full version by acquiring and entering a license key.

(The developers of MediaNotes also offer a "student version," which CALI does not offer in order to reduce confusion over software versions).

MediaNotes runs as software on your computer. You can download the software here.

Yes, currently MediaNotes only runs directly on your computer. This means you will need to have permission to install software on the computer you wish to use. The developers expect to be able to offer a Web-based version of MediaNotes in the near future.

The MediaNotes developers recommend the following system:

• Windows XP/Vista: 512MB of RAM. Pentium 4 or faster, or
• Mac OS 10.3.9 or higher: 512MB of RAM. G4 processor or faster.

In addition, you will need to make sure that the appropriate video codex (decoder) is installed on the computer for the type of video you are using. For example, if the video is encoded as Apple Quicktime, the computer you're using to view and comment on the video will need to have QuickTime installed.

MediaNotes supports the following video types:

• .mov, and any format playable by Apple QuickTime
• .wmv, and any format playable by Windows Media
• .avi, if it uses a codec playable by QuickTime or Windows Media Player

Remember that the computer running MediaNotes, and that will need to play back the video, also needs to have the correct video decoder, or "codec," installed. The codec is separate from the file format itself: a QuickTime .mov file may be using any of a variety of different codecs, and if your computer does not have that codec, you will not be able to view the movie even if you have QuickTime installed.

You can install the full version of MediaNotes on up to two computers using the same registration key. After using the key on two computers, you will need to acquire or purchase another key.