Introduction
Screencasting is a popular way for bloggers, educators, entertainers and software developers to communicate with their audience. What exactly is a sreencast? A screencast is a short narrated digital video of the action on a computer screen. These videos are often used to create video tutorials and presentations. This article will outline the tools you need and the steps to take to create your own screencasts.
Step 1: Getting the Tools You Need
You will need software to capture the action of your screen and audio from your computer’s microphone input. Thankfully, there are several free or open source applications that will help you get the job done.
Screencasting Software
The following is a list of free applications you can use to record your screencast.
- JingProject.com is available for Windows and Mac operating systems and is an all-in-one source for creating screencasts. The Jing Project offers software that will capture video of all or part of your screen and record audio. Users are also provided the option of publishing their screencasts using the Jing Project’s free online hosting.
- CamStudio is for Windows only. CamStudio captures both audio and video, can save your screencast in .avi format or .swf (Flash) formats and allows for the insertion of screen captions, screenshots and other videos.
- Copernicus is for Mac operating systems only. Copernicus will capture the action on your screen but does not support audio.
- AviScreen is for Mac operating systems only. AviScreen will capture video of your screen and save it in .avi file format and does not support audio.
- Istanbul is available for Linux operating systems and is designed for the Gnome desktop. It supports both video and audio and will record all or part of your screen and saves the screencast in .ogg format.
- RecordMyDesktop is available for Linux operating systems. RecordMyDesktop is a command line tool that captures both audio and video.
- Screencast-O-Matic works well with Windows and Mac operating systems, but sometimes has problems with Linux systems. Screencast-O-Matic is a web based screencasting tool that requires no downloads and offers automatic free hosting of your screencasts.
- Wink is available for Windows and Linux operating systems. Rather than capturing video, Wink allows you to create elaborate slide shows with captured screen shots and captions.
Step 2: Planning Your Screencast
Next you have to plan your screencast by creating a storyboard and writing a script. This will speed up production and keep everything cohesive.
Your Audience
A screencast is an act of communication. In order to communicate clearly, you should tailor your storyboard and script to meet the needs of your audience. Consider the following:
- Who is the intended audience? The general public? Business professionals? Students? Children?
- Be concise. Screencasts are meant to be short. Only include information that is necessary and relevant.
- Use simple language and avoid technical jargon.
Create an Outline and Storyboard
Make an outline of your screencast. Include headings for each major section and subheadings for smaller sections. Use this outline to create your storyboard.
A storyboard is a scene by scene time line of your screencast. It will serve as your guide through the recording and editing process. This can be done with poster board, a notebook, or on a computer. Break each section of the outline into scenes. Add references to all images, audio files and screen captions that each scene will include.
Write a Script
Always write a script. Few things are more distracting to an audience than a narrator who stammers or fails to stay on topic. A script will allow you to plan what you want to say and how you want to say it. This will minimize communication, keep your screencast as short as possible and reduce production time. Present information to your audience in small pieces rather than long, continuous chunk of narration. Your script should also include the same headings and subheadings you included in your storyboard.
Rehearse
Rehearse the entire screencast. This will help you familiarize yourself with the material and reveal any areas in the script or storyboard that require editing.
Step 3: Record Your Screencast
Now that you have created your storyboard and written your script, it is time to start recording your screencast.
Set the Stage
Your audience will be watching a video of your computer screen. Anything visible on the screen that does not directly relate to your screencast is a potential distraction.
- Remove unncecessary files, icons or toolbars and turn off all programs that may interfere with your screencast by making sounds or generating pop-ups. You could also create a user profile for recording screencasts. This would allow you to create a new, clean workspace without changing your normal profile.
- All files and applications you will be using in your screencast should be easily accessible. Digging through your file manager or clicking through several menus can be very distracting to a viewer.
- Trim your screenshots so only the portion of the screen you need to display is visible.
- Shut off your phone, television, radio or anything else that may interrupt the recording process. You may need to close your windows so that your microphone will not pick up the sound of passing cars and other noise.
The Microphone
The microphone you use will affect the quality of the recording. But before purchasing a new microphone, record a short section of your screencast and clean up the audio track using Audacity, a free and open source application for audio editing. After editing, decide if the sound quality is acceptable. If not, consider purchasing a new microphone.
File Size
The smaller the file size of your screencast the easier it will be to share with your audience.
- Consider the screen resolution requirements of your video. The more visual detail you want to include, the higher the resolution needs to be. Unfortunately, the higher the resolution, the larger the file size. A good rule of thumb is to always use as low a resoltion as possible and never go any higher than 1024×768.
- Remove unnecessary video data by recording only a portion of your screen or limiting the screen capture to the window of the application in which you are working. This will keep file size down and reduce visual distractions.
Gather Your Media
Now that all of your preparation is done, it is time to gather extra media you intend to use. This includes:
- Images and screenshots.
- Audio that is not a part of your narration
- Video that is not a part of the screen capture
When you have all of the materials, perform all necessary editing and prepare them to be included into your screencast during the editing process.
Recording
The act of recording your screencast will vary depending on your software and equipment. Read the software’s documentation. When you are ready, hit the record button and go for it!
Step 4: Edit Your Screencast
After recording, it is time for editing. During this stage you will insert all additional media and finalize the audio and video tracks for publication. The editing process will vary depending on your needs and the software you are using.
- Edit out unnecessary action in the screen capture. Mouse movement while hunting for icons or files, resizing windows or moving through menus are potential distractions.
- Edit the audio track to clean up pops, clicks, fuzz and background noise.
- Make sure the audio and video is in sync.
Video and Audio Editing Software
Some screen capture applications have video and audio editing features. There are also several free and open source applications available that you can use to edit your screencast.
- Avidmux is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
- Blender is available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.
- Jahshaka is available for Windows and Linux operating systems.
- Audacity is an audio editing application available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.
Step 5: Share Your Screencast
Now it is time to share your screencast. Many of the applications mentioned above can be used to convert your screencast to the appropriate format for your desired method of distribution.
Hosting Options
There are a number of online services that will host your screencast free of charge. Google Video and YouTube offer free accounts and host videos .swf format. Another option is the Internet Archive, which will host videos, audio files, and other documents free of charge.
Conslusion
Screencasting is an effective way to share information and educate others. By following the steps above, you will be able to take advantage of this technology and create your own screencasts.