Record Screen Activity: Take Screenshots or Full Motion Recording

There are two recording modes in DemoCreator: Take screenshots and Full motion recording. What recording mode you need? It depends on what
activity on the screen you want to record. For standard application, Take screenshots recording is nice. For really changes on screen, full motion recording is better option.

Take screenshots:

This recording mode works great at recording standard application like MS Word, Excel or Internet Explorer, where there's not a lot of animation and moving images. This mode will do very little impact on your PCs performance. With this option, you can select to record more actions like cursor movement and keystroke and edit them later. Furthermore, you can generate Auto-text and mouse click animations to illustrate your screen recording.

The recording movie is divided as multiple slides, and slides are generated based on the mouse clicks and keystrokes. Basically, one mouse click or a series of keystrokes generates a slide. So each slide lasts only a few seconds. You can click and drag and edit various objects for your recording.

You can adjust the length of the slide and its show order and edit it in the time line, but it may cause some synchronization problem between video and audio. It is recommended that you record the audio with the audio editor after editing the slides and there is no more adjusting to the time line. If there is no audio in the recording, it is free to adjust the editing objects and the time line.

Full motion recording:

Full motion recording will record the really changes on your screen. It records the onscreen changes even you don't move your mouse or there is no keystroke. So it can be used to record some playing animation movie (SWF, FLV, AVI) and some actions like dragging and scrolling on screen. It records a few screenshots in a second and combines them as a movie. The default recording setting is 25 FPS(Frame per Second) . Record a large area with full motion recording mode need to collect a lot of data and it consume much resource of the computer. If the computer can not support that high FPS, the FPS will be lowered automatically. So to improve the recording effect, you can do some settings to optimize the computer performance.

If you are going to capture full motion video, disable your computer's hardware acceleration beforehand. That will make your computer runs more smoothly in recording. There is a screencast to show you how to disable hardware acceleration:

A basic rule is that if there are many screen actions like dragging and scrolling, or there is animation movie on the desktop, Full motion recording is better option to show your recording. But if you want a smaller streaming movie and more auto-generated editing objects to decorate your screen recording, Take screenshots recording mode can fit your needs better. To show the necessary actions like dragging and scrolling actions but also reduce the file size, you can combine the two recording modes together with the Import project feature.

More tips to make effective screencasts

Record Desktop - Record any area of your desktop

DemoCreator provides flexible recording area selections when you start to record the desktop:
Application option to record actions on a selected application window;
Custom Size to record actions within a specified area on the screen;
Full Screen to record actions on the entire screen.

Which portion on the desktopdo you need to record? It depends on what you want to show. The main principle is to make small streaming movie to show what we want to show. Unnecessary portions on the screen recording make the final movie file bigger, increasing both the time required in loading and playing. So we will just select the necessary area for desktop recording. There are some rules to select the recording area of your desktop:

Record application window

If the software operation you want to record is in one window and there are few dialog boxes or pop-ups that show up out of the recording scope of the recording window, select this option is fine. Dialog boxes and pop-ups will only display if they are in front of and smaller than the main window. Anything which extends outside of the boundary of the main window will be cut off. Try to run your application to see would it be OK to make the application window as the recording area. Also keep in mind that the default size of the publishing movie will be the same as your application window. To make it play in a smaller playing area, it is recommended to restore down the application window and do your recording. Or you can change the publishing dimension in the setting dialog box. After that, you may add the zoom objects to zoom in to emphasize the details for the resized slides. Select the application you want to record on your desktop, and snap to it, then you can start your recording.

Record the custom size

If you want to record a part of your desktop activity, you can customize the recording area. Any operation like the mouse curse and keystroke on that area will be captured. This is an easy way to set the recording region and aspect ratio for your video and make it right for the player or Web page where you want to show the movie. Furthermore, there are some pre-set dimensions for desktop recording: 800*600, 640*480, 400*300. Do some recording rehearsal to make sure you getting everything you want to show to happen inside that region. You set the exact size by typing in the pixels data in the setting entry, and you can drag the rectangle to position the recording area.

Recording full screen

This option is for you to capture everything that happens on your entire screen. Compare with small area recording, it will take up more computer resource and create a bigger file. However, that if there is a really high resolution monitor for full screen recording, you probably don’t want to create a video file that has to be played back at the same resolution in a really big player. If possible, lower your screen resolution before you start to record your desktop. For example, if you use the screen resolution of 1026*768 or higher, you can adjust the resolution as 800*600 and do you recording. And if you want it to show in a smaller player like 640*480, you can resize the movie dimension as 80% of the original one. So you can publish the video of smaller dimension, but it could be a little blurring. However, you can add the zoom object to magnify the import area of your recorded desktop to show the specific details. You can even set the zoom objects through all your recording slides.

Screencast: How to lower the monitor resolution

More tips to make effective screencasts

Screen Recording in Computer Teaching and Training

In the production of multi-media courseware presentation, we often need to capture the computer screen actions of operating the application, such as tracking the movement of the mouse and the keystrokes from the keyboard, and so on. That is to make a multimedia animation presentation document from your onscreen activity. And they can be used for software training and self-learning. The research shows that screen recording applied to teaching and training receives a good result.

Multi-media technology like screen recording can be used to create virtualized scenarios combined with driven tasks for breakthroughs of the keys and difficulties in teaching. Students can view the screen recording documents online or on their computer screen. They explore independently, and exchanges opinions mutually. They work as partners to complete learning tasks, while teachers guide and support them in a timely and professional manner.

Let’s say that the teacher is having the course of how to make a good PowerPoint presentation. He shows the students the operating steps and tips with screen recording courseware and then arranges the task.

He prepares a detailed demonstration of software video tutorial recorded from computer screen (Flash video files recorded by DemoCreator). Via multi-media teaching system and network, the software video tutorials can be posted to the learning management website and the desktop machines of students. And students can watch the tutorial and operate the application at the same time, and communicate with teacher and exchange opinions with other students readily. So the teacher has enough time to understand the learning process of more students, and guides them to learn better. For some unexpected operational problems, teachers can produce tutorials and send to students to support their learning online.

There are many benefits of screen recording on computer teaching and training:

1. Fully reflect the subjectivity of students, and drive the entire class to complete the task and explore more.

2. With the video tutorials recorded from screen, it breaks restriction of time and space in learning. Usually, students listen to the teacher in the class, and then go to practice. If they don’t focus their minds, some operations or main points may be unable to grasp. And it is not practical for teachers do repeat the course. Screen recording provides a convenient way to help students to learn and explore, no matter in classes or in extra-curricular.

3. All levels of students are taken in consideration. There are some differences of learning progress among Students. It is more conducive for different levels of students if there are detailed video tutorials. Students who master fast and do some deep exploring while students who master slowly can spend more time and opportunity to consolidate their learning.

4. A big help for teachers. There will be more time for teachers to manage and guide students in computer course learning. And there will be more time for Students to collaborate with peers, and more opportunities for exchanges opinions with their teachers.

5. Screen recording documents can be done by both extra-curricular and in class. The screen recording documents need to be prepared before such computer courses. If necessary, teachers can install the screen recording software to help students deal with some unexpected problems in class. On-site recording and distributing is a necessary complement for pre-class preparation improvement.

6. In favor of post-production and application. The screen recording documents used in class can be improved in accordance with the learning performance of students because of the post-editing and publishing features of screen recorder like DemoCreator. So that teachers can make better screen recording documents, and they can be used for other classes or for the next year.

There is a sample video tutorial to show you how to add audio file to PowerPoint:

Make a Screencast for Thesis Defense Presentation

A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output. It is widely used in illustrate technical concepts and operation procedures which are hard to explain in words. Most screencasts are generated by screen recorder software. So we can say screen recorder is a helpful presentation tool to create screencasts for software and system demonstration.

For most graduates from technology universities, they will make some software applications or systems for their thesis defense. When in the presentation, they will show their productions to their teachers while operating the computer. Students can show the overview and structure of the production with PowerPoint presentation. When it comes to usage of the production, showing the teachers step-by-step illustration will be good. Speaking and operating at the same time is not that comfortable for students especially they get nerves.

If there are screencasts showing the operating steps of their productions, they will perform better in the thesis defense. In that case, screen recording software is in need.
Supposing you are going to have your thesis defense, you can rehearse the thesis defense before presentation. Try to express and run the productions. Practice delivery while moving the mouse.

Create solid screencast script. Ensure that your script doesn't just explain how to perform a task, but ensure it properly highlights the features and benefits of the production being demoed. By continually pointing out the features of the production and then going further to explain why they're beneficial to the audience you make a more compelling demonstration.

Control the operating timing. In the task you will handle, how much time will be spent describing an operation, what will you say to highlight a feature, and when will you zoom on an area for details, you should get a feel for controlling the timing. During your rehearsal, ensure that you are speaking clearly and slowly like that you are at the thesis defense presentation.

Avoid unnecessary mouse movement. During your production operating recording, ensure you don’t move your mouse unnecessarily. Movement on the screen will draw your audience’s attention. Consider using some screen recorder like DemoCreator which enables users to modify or delete the mouse curse.

Add interactivity objects to the presentation. You can add interactivity objects to enhance your presentation. Then you can interact with your teachers and audience for better communication.

Record voice-over narration in practice. You will express your point in the thesis defense presentation by yourself, so making a silent screencast is OK. But you can check the audio recording option and record your narration and listen to your recorded voice, you will know the defect of your presentation. Then you can make improvement for better performance.

Prepare the screencasting software. There are a lot of screen recorder available. According to the requirement we mentioned above, a Flash screencasting application with powerful editing feature, and supports audio recording is good. DemoCreator is a nice option.

Streaming Flash Movie for Web Sharing

Using Screen recorder DemoCreator, you can create compelling screencasts and deliver them in a couple of ways. The most popular way is to distribute and share your screen recordings on the Internet. In that case, streaming Flash movie is the perfect solution.

Why creating streaming Flash movies?

There are many advantages that make Streaming Flash movie an outstanding format for web streaming.

Instant On
Streaming Flash movie starts playing instantly when the first section of the Flash movie is loaded and the play button is selected.

Advanced Seek
Viewers can jump to any point of the movie regardless of the length of the movie or whether it has been fully downloaded.

Multiple browsers and operating systems support
With browser penetration for the Flash plug-in above 95%, almost anyone who can browse the Web can watch streaming Flash movie without hassle. Users can expect consistent media experiences across operating systems and browsers.

Content Security
The Html web page generated by DemoCreator does not link to Flash movie directly, so streaming Flash movie is not cached by Web browsers.

High-quality Video
The new Flash 10 codec, now widely supported by browsers, offers superior video quality at smaller file sizes.

Programmable connection and delivery control
Developers can adjust the setting options to define how their video is streamed. The streaming video begins playing as soon as the first segment has been downloaded, and you can set the segment size based on the local bandwidth.

Customizable player skins - and more
Developers can set custom players that are in accordance with your site's design style or with unique functionality.

Rich decoration objects
Streaming Flash movie can be a Flash presentation containing text, still images, animation - even interactivity.


In general, streaming Flash movie is different from Flash movie for download in that it can be viewed while it is being delivered over a network. It enables audience to start watching right away after requesting the video and to jump forward to any part with little playback delay. It can be played with the popular Flash plug-in in web browser, so almost everyone can view it readily.

Record Computer Screen and sound

DemoCreator enables users to create narration-based software
presentations with ease. Here we will learn how to use DemoCreator's
advanced audio capabilities to add and edit audio in your movies. This screen
recorder provides 3 ways to add the audio to the screen recordings:
record sound at capture time, record sound at preview time, import audio
file to the screen recording with audio editor.

Record sound at capture time

Record the onscreen activity with voice-over narration at the same
time.

1. Launch DemoCreator and select the recording area, and you can see more
recording option in the following window.

2. Tick the option of Record narration, and there are some
settings to test the audio recording device.

3. Select the Microphone as the audio input(this depends on
the recording input you want to record).

4. Click Calibrate button to detect optimal recording
sensitivity level, then speak to the microphone and you will see the audio
sensitivity level if the recording device works.

Tips:

DemoCreator can detect the recording device of your computer, and you can
select the right recording input. Here are 3 input resources to choose:
Microphone, Rear Input, and Stereo Mix.

Recording voice-over narration with microphone can significantly enhance the
impact of your presentation. Stereo Mix is for recording the playing audio in
the computer. If you want to record some audio from some other resource, connect
the audio device with the Rear Input port.

DemoCreator enables you to record a narration from microphone and also you
can record the narration from playing audio tracks on your PC.

If there is no problem with the recording device, click
Record button and start your recording.

Record sound at preview time

If you are not satisfied with the audio you have recorded with the screen
recording, you can rerecord the audio when your audio when you preview the
recorded screencast; And it is OK if you want to add the narration to the silent
screencast at preview time.

1.When screen recording is over, Click the Audio button and
you can see the audio editor window.

2. Click on the Record button at the bottom of Audio
Editor and you can see the audio Device testing window. Just test your
audio recording device as the method we mentioned in Record sound at capture
time.

3.Start recording your narration, and you can view the recorded movie at the
same time.

4. When it is over, press the Stop button.

5. Click the Play button to view the recorded movie with
audio. Further more, you can modify the narration with editing tools on the
audio editor.

 

Import audio file with audio editor

Besides the two methods mentioned above, you can import audio
file to the screen recording as background music.

Back to the audio editor, there is an Import button for you to add the
wanted music file from you local disk.

After the recording you can get the audio file of MP3 format in the project
folder.

View
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Tutorials>>

Record Computer Screen to EXE File

Flash movie and AVI are the popular formats for distribution. However, it can be a problem when the user is unable to play the SWF file because Flash player has not been installed, or some codec is missing for playing AVI file. For best compatibility, we can record screen activity to a self-played executable file because all Windows computers are able to run executable file without players.

Further more, EXE file of screen recordings can be burnt to a CD or DVD for distribution. If the screen recordings are software demos, you may give them out in the software exhibition; If they are some technical support documents for technical support, you can send them to your clients; If they are some software or system video tutorials, disks offers an off line distribution way. DemoCreator make it easy to create EXE files from screen recordings.

The EXE files generated by DemoCreator is played in a built-In video player. To play the screencasts published as EXE files, you don’t need to install any player on your computer. Besides, the original dimensions can be preserved and you can keep good quality of your screen recordings.

Why Generate EXE files from DemoCreator

There is an executable wizard that packs SWF of screen recordings in a built-in player. So the published EXE files own almost all the features of published SWF files.

1. Preserve the interactive objects

The features of all the objects in the screencast can be maintained. For example, you can add some direction buttons to guide users to the sections they want to view, and the direction action and be used in the running EXE files. Here are some action settings for the button in DemoCreator: Continue, Go to slide, Go to URL, Close Demo and E-mail.

2. Customize the player

The two built-in player options: Classic style and Active style. You can select to show the player you like or not to show the player at all, or just show the necessary buttons on the player.

3. Compression

Because the EXE files generated by DemoCreator are published based on the SWF files, the compressed files will be rather small.

4. Burn the files to CD

For CD-ROM delivery, please burn all the files in the output folder to a compress disk. And we have discuss the convenience at the beginning of this tutorial.

How to publish EXE File in DemoCreator

To create an EXE file using DemoCreator, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the Publish button on the main menu, and you can see the publish option window.

2. Select EXE/CD, you can add the title and change the publishing directory.

3. Click the Publish button, and go to the publishing process.

4. After a few minutes(it depends on the length of recording and the performance of the computer), a pop-up dialog window will show you publishing is over and you can open the EXE file to view your recording.

As we can see the EXE file from your screen recording is generated, you can pack it up and email it to your friends or burn it to compressed disks and send them to your clients.