Complete Guide to Desktop Video Recorders: Everything You Need to Know

The ability to record a video of your desktop screen has become a must-have feature in today's digital era. Whether it's for creating tutorials, webinars,...

The ability to record a video of your desktop screen has become a must-have feature in today's digital era. Whether it's for creating tutorials, webinars, video messages, or gameplay, a desktop screen recorder can come in very handy. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to record your computer screen using various software, the features to look out for, and some of the top software options available today.

How to Record Your Computer Screen

1. Choose a screen recording tool: Your choice of screen recording software should ideally be based on your needs. It could be a free screen recorder or a premium version offering advanced features such as on-screen annotation and zoom.
2. Select recording area: Once the software is installed and launched, you'll need to specify the area you want to capture. This could be your entire screen or just a portion of it.
3. Adjust audio settings: If you want to record audio along with your screen, ensure the software can capture audio. This could be system sounds, microphone input, or both.
4. Start recording: Simply click on the start recording button and perform your actions on the screen.
5. Stop and save recording: Once you're done, hit the stop recording button. The video file will typically be saved in popular formats like MOV or AVI.

Best Ways to Record Video on a PC

Windows 10 comes with a built-in video recorder named 'Xbox Game Bar', which is quite capable. However, if you need more functionality, you can opt for third-party software like OBS Studio, which is free and offers a range of advanced features like overlays, hotkeys, real-time game recording, and live streaming. It also lets you record audio and video from your webcam.

How to Record Desktop with Sound

Ensure your chosen screen recording software has the capability to record audio. In most software, there will be an option to enable or disable audio recording before you start recording. The audio can be from the system sounds, a microphone, or both.

Recording Computer Screen with Video Camera

This process involves physically setting up a video camera to record your computer screen. However, this method can result in a loss of video quality and is not generally recommended over using a screen recording tool.

Best Desktop Video Recorder Software

Here are the top 8 desktop video recorder software with their details:

1. OBS Studio: A free, open-source software that offers high-quality screen recording with audio, game recording, live streaming, and advanced editing features.
2. Camtasia: Known for its comprehensive video editor, screen recorder, and impressive functionality like annotations, zoom, and overlays.
3. Bandicam: Offers high-quality video recording, webcam recorder, and a mode for game recording.
4. ScreenFlow (macOS): An excellent option for Mac users, providing high-quality recordings with editing tools and the ability to export to Google Drive.
5. Snagit: Apart from video capture, it also provides screen capture for screenshots, video editing, and advanced features like GIF creation and annotation.
6. Screencast-O-Matic: A web-based tool that works on Windows, macOS, and Chromebook. It offers free and paid versions with editing tools, zoom, and the ability to publish directly to Google Drive.
7. AZ Screen Recorder (Android, iOS): Ideal for mobile screen recording, offering high-quality video, a webcam recorder, and no time limit in the free version.
8. Nvidia ShadowPlay: Best for gameplay recording, providing high-quality video, and live streaming features.

Desktop video recording is an essential tool for tutorials, webinars, and more. With the right software, you can capture your computer screen, audio, and webcam input, edit your video, and share it in high quality. Whether you prefer a free version or a software with advanced features, there is a desktop video recorder out there to meet your needs.