Top 4 Programs for Recording Computer Screen

RecordCast

Screen recording is needed when you want to save a webinar, online conference or record a stream. Sometimes you have to schedule recordings months in advance, but it is not always possible to be present at the computer.

In this article, we will talk about four screen recording programs: for streaming video and webinars, with an advanced and simple interface, for beginners and professionals.

RecordCast

RecordCast is an online web application with a user-friendly interface and wide functionality. It will help you independently record an image from a laptop or computer screen without reading long instructions and unnecessary effort. It will take only a few minutes from the moment of the first launch to understand the program.

Capturing images and sound is easy to set up before getting started. You can record the entire screen as a whole or a separate window. Also, while recording, you can capture system sounds and voice from the microphone.

The big advantage of this software is the ability to immediately view and edit the footage. You can trim unnecessary fragments or add music and titles, choose from the ready-made ones, or customize everything yourself. After editing is complete, you will be prompted to download the video in a 1080p resolution.

Cost: Free.

Preparation level: for novice users.

Pros

  • It is free and web-based;
  • Record with your webcam, your screen, or a combination of both;
  • You can record video for up to 30 minutes.

Minuses

  • It can’t record the screen in a selected area.

Movavi Screen Recorder

Movavi Screen Recorder is a screen recording software designed for novice users. No complicated tools: you record the screen with just one button. Select the area to capture the screen manually: full screen, part of the screen or program window. In addition to the video from the screen, the program allows you to save the image from the webcam. When the recording is ready, the video can be edited in a simple built-in editor. You will cut out unnecessary fragments, remove background noise, correct colors with filters.

In Scheduler, you can schedule recordings months in advance: select a date and time, and the program will save the screen at the right moment. Then you can configure the computer to turn off or go into sleep mode. You can also select the capture area for screenshots and save only the desired part of the screen.

Separately, you will work with sound: record audio from speakers, speakers or all sources at once. The settings enable mouse click sounds, and you can also show keystrokes. Its modern design makes it easy to get started. The program can be minimized when working in a browser or other applications.

The program supports AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV and others, so you can watch the video on your phone, tablet or TV.

Cost: $39.95.

Preparation level: for novice users.

Pros

  • There are versions for Windows and Mac;
  • Built-in editor;
  • The ability to send screenshots directly from the program.

Minuses

  • Interface icons are not signed.

Snagit

Snagit screen capture is a screen recording software, which can be minimized and opened from the taskbar, so it will not take up screen space.

The recording window has three icons for screen capture: Image, Video, and All-in-One. The latter mode allows you to save videos, images and even take a panoramic screen capture. The size of the recording area is set for each mode. Alternatively, you can add effects and turn on settings right away to share on social media. Cursor recording is also enabled and disabled here. The settings can be saved as a preset for easier screen capture in the future.

Click Capture to start recording. It is convenient to set the capture area manually: orange guides will tell you which part of the screen is inside the recording area. Snagit will mark windows or objects by itself, which can be recorded separately. The window can be recorded with pixel precision.

In the built-in editor, you will crop the image, add text, attach arrows, and comment balloons. The file can be saved immediately for Windows, PowerPoint or Excel, and directly from the program – sent to YouTube or Google Drive.

Cost: $ 49.95.

Preparation level: for novice users.

Pros

  • There are versions for Windows and Mac;
  • The program refines the boundaries of objects to pixels;
  • The ability to share and save the file for many programs.

Minuses

  • You need to register to get started (even in the trial version).

OBS Studio

OBS Studio program is designed for streaming – record online videos and streams. The interface has five sections: Scenes, Audio Mixer, Sources, Scene Transitions, and a Recording Control Panel. Scenes are separate streams of video or audio. It is convenient to switch between them, as well as edit them. Using the audio mixer, you can change the volume of different streams independently of each other – for example, in the recorded video and comments from the microphone.

From the control panel, you can stop recording and switch to Studio Mode. It’s best to switch to studio mode before publishing your video. Here you will see a preview of the clip and individual scenes, create new scenes and improve old ones.

You can edit files directly in the program: you don’t have to open additional applications. To edit videos faster, you can set up hotkeys to switch between sources or turn off the volume. It is also available to apply chroma key, adjust colors and add image masks.

Cost: Free.

Training level: for advanced and professional users.

Pros

  • It is free;
  • Lots of professional tools;
  • There are versions for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Minuses

Difficult interface for a beginner.

We hope this review will help you with your choice of screen recorder. If you often record streaming videos, choose OBS Studio. For general screen recording, Movavi Screen Recorder is suitable. But if you are a novice user and want an intuitive interface, try RecordCast.

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