Recording your computer screen can be very useful for a variety of different situations. Troubleshooting your computer will be easier if you record when the problem occurs. You can record your computer screen to make the instruction videos easier to follow. If you are a video game (video game) player, you can record how you play the game to capture your best moments or broadcast them to audiences around the world.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Windows
Step 1. Download the free utility "Screen Recorder"
Windows does not come with a built-in screen recorder program. However, you can download Screen Recorder. This free utility is released on TechNet, an official Microsoft development center. You can download it from here.
If you need a more powerful video recorder to record streaming video games or anything else, click here for instructions on using Open Broadcast Software
Step 2. Double click on the downloaded file to eject the file
In general, the installation file will be ejected and saved to C:\UtilityOnlineMarch09\. You can change this location before removing the file.
Step 3. Open the directory that contains the installation files, then select the
32-bit or 64-bit.
If you are not sure what version of Windows system you have, choose 32-bit. You can learn how to find out which version of Windows you are using here.
Step 4. Double click on the program
ScreenRecorder.
Download Windows Media Encoder if prompted. The Windows Media Encoder Software will be installed, and the installer program will be closed.
Step 5. Double click on
ScreenRecorder again.
Once Windows Media Encoder is installed, double-click on ScreenRecorder again to start the Screen Recorder installation. Follow the instructions for installing Screen Recorder.
Step 6. Run the Screen Recorder program
Once the installation is complete, you can find the program in the Programs section of your Start menu or on your desktop. A small window will appear on your screen and you can set your recording process options in this window.
Step 7. Select the thing you want to record
In general, Screen Recorder will record your entire screen. Click the "FULL SCREEN" drop-down menu to select a specific window if you only want to record one application.
If you record your entire screen to share it with others, make sure that no personal information is visible
Step 8. Check the "Audio" box to record sound with your mic while recording the screen
While Screen Recorder doesn't record your computer's voice, you can use a mic or webcam to record your voice.
Click here for instructions on connecting the mic to the computer
Step 9. Click
OK if you are satisfied with the existing settings.
However, the recording process has not started yet.
Step 10. Click the box at the top of the window to name the file
By clicking on this box, you can also choose where the video is saved.
Step 11. Click Start to start your video recording process
If you are recording a specific window, that side of the window will light up. If you're recording your entire screen, minimize your Screen Recorder window to an icon on the taskbar to hide it while your screen is being recorded.
If you check the "Audio" box, you can start talking into your mic to record audio along with video
Step 12. Pause your video recording
If you want to pause your recording, you can click the "Pause" button. You can click "Resume" to start recording again.
Step 13. Click "Stop" to end the video recording process
When you click the Stop button, the file will be created in the location you specified in the previous settings.
- You can edit the video as you wish after the recording process is complete.
- The file will be saved in.wmv format which can be played in most media players and can be easily uploaded to YouTube.
Method 2 of 4: Mac OS X
Step 1. Open QuickTime
OS X has a built in screen recording function with QuickTime that you can use. To use it, you must first open QuickTime.
- You can quickly open QuickTime by pressing Cmd+Space and typing "QuickTime".
- If you need a more powerful video recorder to record streaming video games or anything else, click here for instructions on using Open Broadcast Software.
Step 2. Click "File" → "New Screen Recording"
The Screen Recording window will open.
Step 3. Click the "∨" button to select if you want to record sound with your mic
If you want to tell a story, you can select your mic from this menu.
Click here for instructions on connecting the mic to the computer
Step 4. Click the Record button to start your screen recording process
You can see the amount of space your video is using during this recording process.
Step 5. Click the "Stop" button to end the recording process
You can review the footage you have taken, and then choose where to save this video file.
Step 6. Edit the video file in QuickTime
With QuickTime, you can do some basic edits to your video files without having to install any additional software. Click here for more detailed instructions.
Method 3 of 4: Linux
Step 1. Open your distribution manager package
There are a variety of screen recording programs available for Linux, each distribution having different programs available. You can download the latest Linux programs to use the package manager.
The package manager found in Ubuntu is called "Software Center"
Step 2. Search and download "recordMyDesktop"
This program is the easiest screen recorder and most people use. This program is also available for Ubuntu and various other distributions.
Step 3. Use the "Video Quality" and "Sound Quality" sliders to adjust the recording quality
Lowering the video quality will create a blurry image, but with a small size. This is useful if you're shooting a long video and don't want to waste time encoding the video.
Step 4. Click the "Advanced" button to set more rules
Most users do not change this setting if they are only recording their desktop screen. However, if you want to change the FPS or turn off some aspects of the Linux UI while recording, you can do so from this menu.
Step 5. Click and drag the box on the preview image to select your recording area
You can also click the "Select Window" button to select the specific window you want to record.
Step 6. Click "Record" to start recording
When you have finished recording, click the "Stop" button.
While you are recording, you can control RecordMyDesktop from the system menu bar. Click on the red circle to open the RecordMyDesktop controller
Step 7. Click "Save As" to name and save your recorded file
You can edit it using a video editing program or upload it to YouTube.
Method 4 of 4: Open Broadcast Software (Windows and Mac)
Step 1. Download the Open Broadcast Software (OBS) installer
OBS is a free screen recording program available for Windows and OS X. The Linux version itself is in the works. You can use OBS from obsproject.com/index.
- Windows users can click the "Windows 7/8" button. This program also runs on the most recent versions of Windows Vista, but does not run on Windows XP.
- Mac users should click the "OS X 10.8+" button under "Get OBS Multi-platform".
Step 2. Enter your source
If you are using OBS for the first time, you need to specify "Source". Sources are things that OBS will catch for recording or broadcasting.
- Right-click on the "Sources" box.
- Select "Add" and select the source from which you want to record. You can select your entire screen (Monitor Capture) or a specific window (Window Capture). There are several other settings. If you want to record a video game, select "Game Capture".
- Select the window or application you want to record (if applicable). If you select Window Capture or Game Capture, you can use the drop-down menu at the top of the Settings window to select the window or application you want to record. You can also choose to use keyboard keys as hotkeys to start or stop recording.
- Agree to the default settings. For the time being, just agree to the initial (default) settings for your chosen source. You can adjust this later according to your needs as you get acquainted with the program.
Step 3. Click the button
Preview Stream to check your settings.
If you select "Monitor Capture", you can see a live preview of your entire screen.
Step 4. Open the Settings menu
There are several settings you can change before you start recording. You can open the Settings menu by pressing the Settings… button.
- With the "Encoding" tab, you can change your video and audio encoding settings. Most users use the default settings, but you can change these settings to suit the quality and size of the file.
- With the "Broadcast" tab, you can enter various broadcasting service information, connecting OBS with Twitch, Ustream and other live streaming services. You can also use this tab to change the location where recordings are generally saved to the Videos directory in your Users directory.
- With the "Video" tab, you can select an adapter and set the recording resolution. Windows Vista and 7 users should check the "Disable Aero" box to improve OBS performance.
- With the "Audio" tab, you can select the mic to use for recording sound, as well as the sound output device from the computer you want to record.
- With the "Hotkeys" tab, you can set up keyboard keys that you can use to start and stop the recording and viewing process. This is very useful for controlling your recording process without having to open the OBS window. You can also set the button to "Push-to-Talk" which will activate your mic when the button is pressed.
Step 5. Start the recording process
Once you've set the settings to your liking, you can start recording by clicking the Start Recording button or by pressing your "Record" hotkey.
Step 6. Find your video
When you're done recording, your video file can be found in the location you set earlier. If you don't change the location, your video files can be found in the Videos directory in your Users directory.
Step 7. Change your video format(if needed)
OBS will record video in FLV format. This format can be used to download to YouTube, but not all devices can support this format. Read this article to find out how to change the video format that works across devices.
