Essential Guide to Meeting Recorders: Top Tools & Best Practices

Essential Guide to Meeting Recorders: Top Tools & Best Practices

In today's digital age, where online meetings have become the new normal, having the ability to record and keep track of these meetings is a crucial requirement for many individuals and organizations. This article will take you through what a meeting recorder is, how to record audio and screen from a meeting, and the top 8 software or apps for recording meetings.

What is a Meeting Recorder?

A meeting recorder is a software application or device used to record both audio and visual elements of a meeting. This includes traditional or online meetings, webinars, and video calls. Meeting recording tools provide a way to capture presentations, discussions, and tutorials in real-time. They can record video from a webcam, system audio, screen capture, and sometimes even provide features such as transcription, subtitles, and annotations.

How to Record Audio and Screen from a Meeting

Recording Audio:

Most meeting recording software provides an audio recording feature. Before you start recording, ensure your system audio is configured correctly. If you're using a laptop, its built-in microphone should suffice for smaller meetings. However, for larger meetings or better audio quality, an external microphone might be necessary.

Screen Recording:

Screen recorders capture everything happening on your screen, making them an ideal tool for recording online meetings, webinars, and tutorials. To start, you usually have to press a record button on the screen recorder interface. When you're finished, hit the stop recording button. Screenshots and annotations can also be included in many screen recording tools.

Recording Meeting Minutes:

When recording meeting minutes, you can use transcription services provided by many meeting recorders. These services convert spoken words into written text, helping you to keep track of the key points discussed during the meeting.

What if I have a problem recording a meeting?

Most common problems include poor audio quality, inability to start recording due to host permission, or issues with video conferencing tools. These can often be resolved by checking audio settings, asking the meeting host for recording permission, or troubleshooting the specific video meeting platform.

Advantages of Using a Meeting Recorder

Meeting recorders offer numerous benefits. They allow for playback at a later time, which is useful for individuals who missed the meeting or need to revisit certain points. Recorded meetings can also be stored on platforms like Google Drive, making it easy to share with others. Furthermore, meeting recorders can transcribe audio, enabling users to create written records of their meetings effortlessly.

Top 8 Meeting Recording Software

1. Zoom: With its recording feature, Zoom allows you to record video meetings, including Zoom calls, directly to your computer or to the cloud. It's also capable of recording system audio and video from a webcam. The free version offers limited recording options.
2. Microsoft Teams Meeting: Allows for high-quality video and audio recording during meetings. Recordings are saved to Microsoft Stream and can be shared, downloaded, or embedded elsewhere.
3. Google Meet: With host permission, Google Meet allows for meeting recording, including video calls. Recordings are automatically saved to the meeting organizer's Google Drive.
4. Loom: This tool offers video recording, screen capture, and webcam recording. It also allows for video editing and annotations. The chrome extension makes it even more accessible.
5. Camtasia: Camtasia offers screen recording and video editing capabilities. It is an excellent tool for creating video tutorials with a mix of webcam, audio, and screen recording.
6. Screencast-O-Matic: This software provides both screen and webcam recording. It also allows for annotations and video editing. Recordings can be shared directly via email, YouTube, or stored on the cloud.
7. QuickTime Player (Mac and iOS): QuickTime provides basic video and audio recording. It's free and comes pre-installed on all Mac and iOS devices.
8. AZ Screen Recorder (Android): This recording app for Android allows for screen capture, audio recording, and video editing. It also provides a transcription feature.

Knowing how to use a meeting recorder effectively can help you make the most of your online meetings. Whether you're recording a tutorial, a webinar, or a casual video conference, these tools will keep you covered. Remember to respect privacy and confidentiality and always ask for permission before recording when necessary.