How to record your PC or Mac's screen

Record your PC or Mac’s screen

Probably, you’ll have moments where you think, “I wish I could record that!” whether you’re a gamer setting up your own YouTube channel or an entrepreneur creating video of your latest company project. They don’t come with options to easily record your computer screen at a moment’s notice while our computers have webcams and microphones unless you know where to look.

Here I’ll explain, how to record your screen on your own terms from free programs you may already have downloaded, due to apps filled with powerful tools for professional productions.

There’s a good chance that some of the apps you have laying around can indeed record your screen if you would rather not download any additional software even if that’s not their primary purpose. There are many apps that you probably have access to right now, and how they can record for you.

PowerPoint:

You can record your screen with PowerPoint. The latest versions of PowerPoint include this capability. Select Screen Recording, with an icon of a recorder and a screen through starting it by heading over to the Insert tab. Start the recording process whenever you want. You can save the video as a separate file to access or embed as you see fit. Control and editing options are very limited after that as it’s a great option for for quick-and-dirty recording. Especially, if you’re doing it for a looming presentation. You can then select the specific area of your screen you want to record.

YouTube:

If your recording is taking too much time but still want a screen video for your YouTube channel or any other social media then YouTube itself can help out. Go to Upload, and under Live Streaming choose Events to sign into your account. Create an Event by selecting Go Live. Then move over to the live streaming page. You are now recording audio and video, although you can turn that off immediately if you want. On the left, you should see a button that says Screenshare. Choose a desktop by selecting the window for recording. Then select Start Screenshare and Start Broadcast. Select Stop Broadcast whenever you are done if you want to record the window. Save your Event by giving some name.

QuickTime Player:

You may prefer using QuickTime if you’re on a Mac. Select File by launching QuickTime and then choose New Screen Recording. This opens a small recording window that you can start which automatically encourage you to select either a part of your screen or full screen for recording. Tap Start Recording when you are ready. Moreover, QuickTime recordings aren’t easy to edit in post.

Specifically, an app is designed for game-oriented clips, more professional if you want an enhanced recording experience. Then your best bet is downloading the free software. There are several top choices on the web and what you expect:

Bandicam:

Bandicam is an app that records your entire screen and saves the recording as AVI or MP4 video files or else common image files like JPG only used in PC. Bandicam’s value is in simplicity and speed. You can easily turn it on and off as you work. On concord, it has few extra tools that includes the ability to add a watermark logo to your work, mix in your voice afterward, and use real-time drawing. You should pay if you want to upgrade to the complete program while the free version comes with plenty of features.

ShowMore:

ShowMore is an app that allows for instant recording, uploading, and sharing. You can adjust audio quality and input options by selecting from several video formats, then adjust the recording frame in real time. This is very user-friendly, especially for beginners who have microphone accessories to try out. There’s plenty of options for adding text and shapes. Specific parts can also be selected of the recording to save as separate video files. ShowMore has its own video sharing platform.

Fraps:

Fraps is a Windows app which consists of lot of screen capturing options designed for more professional pursuits at higher resolutions. The entire program isn’t free. On concord, it’s enough to get started and make a few videos to see how you like it. It also tracks frames per second constantly. So you can benchmark your own computer, making this option ideal for gaming rigs and graphics while you show off.

Use paid apps for premium features

Check out these options for high-end screen recording:

Snagit – $50:

Snagit is designed more for start-ups than gamers with a ton of recording features which are made for showing off products and creating your own marketing videos, how-to features, vlogs, etc. If you are planning an elaborate video including several types of video and multiple graphics as well as screen recording.

Camtasia – $200:

Camtasia uses a drag-and-drop method of creating effects, splicing video footage and placing graphics, to make exceptional screen recordings. Think of it as a mix between Photoshop, video recorder, and a PowerPoint. This supports resolutions up to 4K that offers multi-track timeline managements, and a dozen other features for professional videos. There’s also a free trial option if you aren’t quite ready to buy yet.