Screen Capture to Video File
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I am trying to record some screens, with mouse movements and keyboard input, and microphone input, as in "...*Put the cursor here like this and enter xxxxxxx yyyyyy like that, and then move the cursor over here, and click the zzzzzzz button*..." The freeware I have encountered so far has been a major impediment. I (naively) thought it would be a few clicks and go. My education continues. [[[[...Opinions // Suggestions // Advice...]]]] are welcome. I have tried these with these recorders with these results... --- - **OBS Studio** - Won't execute (Windows 7) --- - **FlashBack Express** - Records, an interface I can (barely) handle, and I like it, but it gives blurry results --- - **Debut Video Capture** - Non-commercial use only; this probably won't work, and I don't want to find out later. --- - **ShareX** - So far the best as far as a resulting image that the user can see and understand; stupendsously complicated, but I'm barely making it work; but I'm worried about keeping stuff here at home; the thing is just so complicated that it is honestly scaring me. --- - **Screencast-O-Matic** - Requires internet connection; and that's a major stopping point --- - **Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder** - Also requires the internet; not acceptable ---
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I am trying to record some screens, with mouse movements and keyboard input, and microphone input, as in "...*Put the cursor here like this and enter xxxxxxx yyyyyy like that, and then move the cursor over here, and click the zzzzzzz button*..." The freeware I have encountered so far has been a major impediment. I (naively) thought it would be a few clicks and go. My education continues. [[[[...Opinions // Suggestions // Advice...]]]] are welcome. I have tried these with these recorders with these results... --- - **OBS Studio** - Won't execute (Windows 7) --- - **FlashBack Express** - Records, an interface I can (barely) handle, and I like it, but it gives blurry results --- - **Debut Video Capture** - Non-commercial use only; this probably won't work, and I don't want to find out later. --- - **ShareX** - So far the best as far as a resulting image that the user can see and understand; stupendsously complicated, but I'm barely making it work; but I'm worried about keeping stuff here at home; the thing is just so complicated that it is honestly scaring me. --- - **Screencast-O-Matic** - Requires internet connection; and that's a major stopping point --- - **Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder** - Also requires the internet; not acceptable ---
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I am trying to record some screens, with mouse movements and keyboard input, and microphone input, as in "...*Put the cursor here like this and enter xxxxxxx yyyyyy like that, and then move the cursor over here, and click the zzzzzzz button*..." The freeware I have encountered so far has been a major impediment. I (naively) thought it would be a few clicks and go. My education continues. [[[[...Opinions // Suggestions // Advice...]]]] are welcome. I have tried these with these recorders with these results... --- - **OBS Studio** - Won't execute (Windows 7) --- - **FlashBack Express** - Records, an interface I can (barely) handle, and I like it, but it gives blurry results --- - **Debut Video Capture** - Non-commercial use only; this probably won't work, and I don't want to find out later. --- - **ShareX** - So far the best as far as a resulting image that the user can see and understand; stupendsously complicated, but I'm barely making it work; but I'm worried about keeping stuff here at home; the thing is just so complicated that it is honestly scaring me. --- - **Screencast-O-Matic** - Requires internet connection; and that's a major stopping point --- - **Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder** - Also requires the internet; not acceptable ---
Try SnagIt
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I am trying to record some screens, with mouse movements and keyboard input, and microphone input, as in "...*Put the cursor here like this and enter xxxxxxx yyyyyy like that, and then move the cursor over here, and click the zzzzzzz button*..." The freeware I have encountered so far has been a major impediment. I (naively) thought it would be a few clicks and go. My education continues. [[[[...Opinions // Suggestions // Advice...]]]] are welcome. I have tried these with these recorders with these results... --- - **OBS Studio** - Won't execute (Windows 7) --- - **FlashBack Express** - Records, an interface I can (barely) handle, and I like it, but it gives blurry results --- - **Debut Video Capture** - Non-commercial use only; this probably won't work, and I don't want to find out later. --- - **ShareX** - So far the best as far as a resulting image that the user can see and understand; stupendsously complicated, but I'm barely making it work; but I'm worried about keeping stuff here at home; the thing is just so complicated that it is honestly scaring me. --- - **Screencast-O-Matic** - Requires internet connection; and that's a major stopping point --- - **Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder** - Also requires the internet; not acceptable ---
I am surprised by your review of Flashback Express - I use it all the time without blurry results. The freeware was good enough for all my purposes, but I paid for the Pro version, because I like to support good software. I have never used any of the Pro features - the freeware is that good. The interface is a bit wonky if you only want to record the webcam, but they seem to be working all the time to improve the software. Note - they save their files as a proprietary FBR format, which seems great in terms of compression. But I use the built-in export function to change to AVI/MP4/WMV and have great control over how compressed I want the file to be. Peace.
"Qulatiy is Job #1"
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I have always used Windows Media Encoder. It just seems to work.
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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Not that I've tried it for that scenario, but how close does the XBox Game recorder come? How to record your Windows PC screen using Xbox Game Bar - The Verge[^]
TTFN - Kent
I tried Xbox game recorder screen capture but it is useless for Windows software because when a popup window appears it does not get recorded because you can only record one window.
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I am trying to record some screens, with mouse movements and keyboard input, and microphone input, as in "...*Put the cursor here like this and enter xxxxxxx yyyyyy like that, and then move the cursor over here, and click the zzzzzzz button*..." The freeware I have encountered so far has been a major impediment. I (naively) thought it would be a few clicks and go. My education continues. [[[[...Opinions // Suggestions // Advice...]]]] are welcome. I have tried these with these recorders with these results... --- - **OBS Studio** - Won't execute (Windows 7) --- - **FlashBack Express** - Records, an interface I can (barely) handle, and I like it, but it gives blurry results --- - **Debut Video Capture** - Non-commercial use only; this probably won't work, and I don't want to find out later. --- - **ShareX** - So far the best as far as a resulting image that the user can see and understand; stupendsously complicated, but I'm barely making it work; but I'm worried about keeping stuff here at home; the thing is just so complicated that it is honestly scaring me. --- - **Screencast-O-Matic** - Requires internet connection; and that's a major stopping point --- - **Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder** - Also requires the internet; not acceptable ---
Not a software way, but if you have the gear to do it, something really worth considering. My laptop has like many of it's era a VGA and an HDMI output on it. I also own a digital video recorder than can record from it's HDMI inputs as well as the built in tuner. I can redirect my audio via the HDMI too, so all system sounds can be sent that way, including my narration. All I do is set my "dual" monitor (HDMI + built in screen) setup in mirror mode so everything I see on the LT screen, is sent out of the HDMI, then I just set my DVR into record mode. Once I'm finished, I log into the DVR via FTP and it allows me to download the recordings from it's hard drive. The DVR is actually an old CCTV recorder box I snagged off eBay ages ago for about £20, it had no cameras, but it has 8 composite and 4 HDMI inputs. I've upgraded it and put a 2TB Sata drive in (It was originally 500gb) but it gets me a perfect recording every time. If your doing a LOT of video production like this, it's actually something worth buying.
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I am trying to record some screens, with mouse movements and keyboard input, and microphone input, as in "...*Put the cursor here like this and enter xxxxxxx yyyyyy like that, and then move the cursor over here, and click the zzzzzzz button*..." The freeware I have encountered so far has been a major impediment. I (naively) thought it would be a few clicks and go. My education continues. [[[[...Opinions // Suggestions // Advice...]]]] are welcome. I have tried these with these recorders with these results... --- - **OBS Studio** - Won't execute (Windows 7) --- - **FlashBack Express** - Records, an interface I can (barely) handle, and I like it, but it gives blurry results --- - **Debut Video Capture** - Non-commercial use only; this probably won't work, and I don't want to find out later. --- - **ShareX** - So far the best as far as a resulting image that the user can see and understand; stupendsously complicated, but I'm barely making it work; but I'm worried about keeping stuff here at home; the thing is just so complicated that it is honestly scaring me. --- - **Screencast-O-Matic** - Requires internet connection; and that's a major stopping point --- - **Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder** - Also requires the internet; not acceptable ---
Flashback Express should be relatively customizable and should be supporting your requirements.
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Not a software way, but if you have the gear to do it, something really worth considering. My laptop has like many of it's era a VGA and an HDMI output on it. I also own a digital video recorder than can record from it's HDMI inputs as well as the built in tuner. I can redirect my audio via the HDMI too, so all system sounds can be sent that way, including my narration. All I do is set my "dual" monitor (HDMI + built in screen) setup in mirror mode so everything I see on the LT screen, is sent out of the HDMI, then I just set my DVR into record mode. Once I'm finished, I log into the DVR via FTP and it allows me to download the recordings from it's hard drive. The DVR is actually an old CCTV recorder box I snagged off eBay ages ago for about £20, it had no cameras, but it has 8 composite and 4 HDMI inputs. I've upgraded it and put a 2TB Sata drive in (It was originally 500gb) but it gets me a perfect recording every time. If your doing a LOT of video production like this, it's actually something worth buying.
Can you record your screen going into weird screen resolutions; then coming back out ? i.e., if a windows app... - Starts off in the regular screen resolution - Switches to another one - Does some wowee-zowee stuff in the weird mode - Then exits and returns the screen to normal ...Will your scheme accurately capture it in both modes, and allow the [MP4/AVI/WMV/Whatever] file to present, to the viewer's eyes, the same thing on his screen that you saw on yours ? i.e., will he see what you saw ? That's what I'm not getting with this weird app; he's confusing the video capture of other apps when he fiddles the screen resolution.
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I am surprised by your review of Flashback Express - I use it all the time without blurry results. The freeware was good enough for all my purposes, but I paid for the Pro version, because I like to support good software. I have never used any of the Pro features - the freeware is that good. The interface is a bit wonky if you only want to record the webcam, but they seem to be working all the time to improve the software. Note - they save their files as a proprietary FBR format, which seems great in terms of compression. But I use the built-in export function to change to AVI/MP4/WMV and have great control over how compressed I want the file to be. Peace.
"Qulatiy is Job #1"
David Carta wrote:
I am surprised by your review of Flashback Express - I use it all the time without blurry results.
Your response made me wonder if I was doing something wrong; indeed I was asking too much. What I'm currently trying to record, for others to see, is this piece of code that... - Waits for the press of a few magic keystrokes - Does strange and weird things with the screen resolution - Keeps the screen in this new mode and does his wowee-zowee stuff - Waits again for another set of magic keystrokes - Returns the screen to its preexisting settings. When I use other (nicely behaved) apps, FlashBack Express is durn neer perfection made better. I still need a way to record this weirdo app that ruins the screen for everyone else.
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David Carta wrote:
I am surprised by your review of Flashback Express - I use it all the time without blurry results.
Your response made me wonder if I was doing something wrong; indeed I was asking too much. What I'm currently trying to record, for others to see, is this piece of code that... - Waits for the press of a few magic keystrokes - Does strange and weird things with the screen resolution - Keeps the screen in this new mode and does his wowee-zowee stuff - Waits again for another set of magic keystrokes - Returns the screen to its preexisting settings. When I use other (nicely behaved) apps, FlashBack Express is durn neer perfection made better. I still need a way to record this weirdo app that ruins the screen for everyone else.
I'm not sure that it is possible to capture the screen correctly while the resolution is changing. For something as oddball as this, I would probable go old school and capture the screen externally, using my phone as a video camera.
"Qulatiy is Job #1"
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Flashback Express should be relatively customizable and should be supporting your requirements.
While I still recommend Flashback Express Recorder, I just was alerted to a Windows Feature that I didn't know about previously. Apparently by typing WindowsKey+G, you get the XBox game app which has a screen recorder. Also, Win+Alt+R is a faster shortcut to the same screen recorder. Just thought to share. How to Record Video of an App in Windows 10 | Laptop Mag[^]
"Qulatiy is Job #1"
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I am trying to record some screens, with mouse movements and keyboard input, and microphone input, as in "...*Put the cursor here like this and enter xxxxxxx yyyyyy like that, and then move the cursor over here, and click the zzzzzzz button*..." The freeware I have encountered so far has been a major impediment. I (naively) thought it would be a few clicks and go. My education continues. [[[[...Opinions // Suggestions // Advice...]]]] are welcome. I have tried these with these recorders with these results... --- - **OBS Studio** - Won't execute (Windows 7) --- - **FlashBack Express** - Records, an interface I can (barely) handle, and I like it, but it gives blurry results --- - **Debut Video Capture** - Non-commercial use only; this probably won't work, and I don't want to find out later. --- - **ShareX** - So far the best as far as a resulting image that the user can see and understand; stupendsously complicated, but I'm barely making it work; but I'm worried about keeping stuff here at home; the thing is just so complicated that it is honestly scaring me. --- - **Screencast-O-Matic** - Requires internet connection; and that's a major stopping point --- - **Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder** - Also requires the internet; not acceptable ---
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While I still recommend Flashback Express Recorder, I just was alerted to a Windows Feature that I didn't know about previously. Apparently by typing WindowsKey+G, you get the XBox game app which has a screen recorder. Also, Win+Alt+R is a faster shortcut to the same screen recorder. Just thought to share. How to Record Video of an App in Windows 10 | Laptop Mag[^]
"Qulatiy is Job #1"
David Carta wrote:
Apparently by typing WindowsKey+G, you get the XBox game app which has a screen recorder.
Apparently, that's a new thing for Windows 10. Perhaps one day when/if I can acquire a useful and marketable skill again, I will be able to afford a new computer which has Windows 10. For now, I'm stuck with Windows 7, and Microsoft has made it clear that you don't just upgrade, but you purchase a completely new machine. Great marketing.
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Can you record your screen going into weird screen resolutions; then coming back out ? i.e., if a windows app... - Starts off in the regular screen resolution - Switches to another one - Does some wowee-zowee stuff in the weird mode - Then exits and returns the screen to normal ...Will your scheme accurately capture it in both modes, and allow the [MP4/AVI/WMV/Whatever] file to present, to the viewer's eyes, the same thing on his screen that you saw on yours ? i.e., will he see what you saw ? That's what I'm not getting with this weird app; he's confusing the video capture of other apps when he fiddles the screen resolution.
Sorry only just noticed I had a reply to this :-D Honest truth on the resolution thing i don't know I've never actually tried it.
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This one looks nice: [Free Screen Recorder - Bandicam](https://www.bandicam.com/free-screen-recorder/)
My younger daughter uses Bandicam, on a lower powered laptop. She learned of it from a lot of youtubers using it. Seems to work fine for that kind of thing and is popular.