- My name is Matt Pierce, and this is nine tips
to get started with screen recording.
(upbeat music)
Tip 1, you can record anything on your screen.
One of the benefits of screen recording
is that, if you can see it, you can capture it.
This includes (popping) PowerPoints, spreadsheets, webpages
and, not only does it capture the information on the screen,
it also captures any actions
that you take while you're recording.
The downside of capturing everything on your screen
is that, anytime there's a notification (bell ringing),
a pop-up (chiming) or anything else you don't want seen,
like a messy desktop, it will also get shown.
So, before you start recording,
take some time to clean up your desktop.
Make sure that you've turned off notifications
and that you're not going to run into any pop-ups.
Screen recording is a powerful way to share any information
that you have on your screen with your viewers.
Tip 2, have a plan about what you're going to say.
We've all been there,
lots of ramble, ramble, ramble, ramble, right?.
It's easy to get lost inside of your own head
as you start recording.
I know, I do it all the time.
So, you need to have a plan or an outline or a script,
something that's going to guide you through your process,
so that you make a better video
because that's what this is all, making a better video.
So, what should you write down?
Anything that's going to help you
get through the process of creating your video.
This could be what to say.
This could just be the steps.
This could be any of those details so you don't forget.
Tip 3, length can impact effectiveness.
There's a burning question out there
that everyone has in mind, is how long should my video be,
especially for a screen recording?
Well, we have an answer.
The answer is, it depends.
That's right, I would love to give you a solid answer
and say every video should be one minute or less.
But the fact is that's not true.
If you have a short video, but you don't convey
all the information that's needed,
you're going to leave your viewers hanging and wanting,
and they're not going to be happy.
On the other hand, if you make a long video
that has way more than you need, they're going to get bored,
and they're going to stop watching,
which means your video isn't effective.
So, what do we do?
Well, first and foremost, make sure that your video
contains the right information
and is relevant to your viewer.
If you can do that, you're going to convey the right amount.
So, make a video that is as short as possible
but as long as needed
to convey whatever it is that you have to share.
Tip 4, audio quality matters.
One of the things that can make a big difference
in the quality of your overall screencast recording
is the audio.
Why audio?
Because it's 50% of your video.
What are some things you can do to make better audio?
Well, first of all, stop recording
with the microphone built into your computer.
I know it's there, I know it works in a pinch,
but adding a separate microphone
will increase the quality of your video dramatically.
Next, you want to make sure that your microphone
isn't picking up any background noise.
What kind of background noises might it pick up?
Well, anything around you, like fluorescent lighting,
maybe your HVAC, maybe it's the neighbor's dog
down the street having a really bad day
and barking at everything (dog barking).
If you do find that you have these noises,
you can, in some programs, clean them up, but the key thing
is to make sure, if you can eliminate them, get rid of them.
Finally, the last thing you're going to want
to be aware of is microphone placement.
Make sure it's placed in such a way
that it can hear you well, and your audience
can understand you because, let's face it, folks,
one of the things that will turn off viewers faster
than almost anything else is (popping) really bad audio.
Tip 5, record at an appropriate size.
What do we mean by recording at an appropriate size?
Well, the default and easiest thing to do
is to record everything here, everything on your screen.
While that might seem easy,
it's also not as focused as it could be.
So, what should you do?
Well, most screen recording programs will allow you
to record just a section of your screen,
which gives you those nice focused-in-on details
and makes sure you're not showing things
that you don't need to see.
One thing to keep in mind, though, if you're going
to record a section of your screen,
is to make sure that the dimensions work well
with wherever you're going to host your video.
Don't get caught up in doing some weird sizes
and then be disappointed when you end you with black bars
on your videos on YouTube or Vimeo,
or wherever you host your videos.
Now, here's a safe thing.
If you're unsure and you're like, I don't know
what size to record, just record everything.
It's okay.
It's better to capture everything
and get the needed information for your audience
than to miss something critical or important.
Tip 6, if you're using webcam, make sure it looks good.
When you're making a screen recording,
one of the great elements
that you can use to enhance your screen video is a webcam.
Why use a webcam?
Because it builds credibility.
They can look into your eyes, they can see who you are
and that your message is one worth listening to.
Don't underestimate the value of eye contact.
One of the things you need to be aware of
is, when you're making a screen recording with a webcam,
is what is the webcam looking at?
You want to make sure it's angled in a good way,
so it's not pointing up your nose,
at the top of your forehead, inside of your ear,
or someplace you don't want it to be.
Make sure you get yourself in a position
so you look good on camera.
The next thing to worry about is what's behind you.
If there's something back there you don't want seen,
you're going to want to move it,
clean it up or get it out of there.
Take a second, take a deep breath
and just look at what your camera sees.
Does it see something not useful?
Well, take care of it.
Webcams are great, but you don't have to use one.
If you're unsure or you're not getting a good turnout
for what you're doing, just don't use it.
There are other ways to make your screencast recording
work without it.
Tip 7, watch your mouse cursor.
One element that you're going to use
in almost every screencast
is the humble little mouse cursor.
That's right, the mouse cursor that points people
in the direction to go, that they follow along
and look at every movement to make sure that they know
where you are and what you're talking about.
However, there are a few things you need to be aware of
when using your mouse cursor,
to make it effective for your audience.
First off, make sure you're not circling things
and talking with it like you're talking with your hands.
It's not the same thing.
Moving your mouse cursor around and around
like you're talking with your hands,
it's going to leave your viewer confused
and unsure of where they should look.
As you move your mouse cursor,
do it deliberately and with purpose.
The other thing is how fast you're moving that mouse cursor.
If you're moving across the screen at the speed of light,
you're going to have problems.
Your audience isn't going to know where to look,
they're not going to be able to follow along,
and ultimately they are going to stop watching your video.
So, as you use the humble mouse cursor in your video,
make sure you do it well and with purpose.
Tip 8, if you can, cut out mistakes and unneeded content.
Mistakes happen, happens to the best of us.
You'll be recording along, and your mouse will move
to the wrong place, you'll click on the wrong thing,
or something else will happen.
But it's okay.
There is a solution.
When you make a mistake, try not to worry too much about it.
Just take a deep breath, pause,
take a few steps back and record again.
Because here's the beauty of a video editor.
You can go back, and you can cut out the problems.
So, why would you want to do this?
First of all, it's going to make your video
seem more polished and more professional.
Second, it's going to make sure that your video
is more concise and to the point,
and only show the best parts to your audience,
making you look awesome.
So, as you're recording along,
don't sweat it if you make a mistake.
It's okay, it happens to the best of us.
Tip 9, know where you're going to share your video.
Congratulations, you've completed a video (cheering).
Now that you completed it, where are you going to share it?
This is a critical question, not only now,
but early in your video creation process.
Why is it so important?
Because it's going to allow you
to answer some other questions, things like:
What file type do you need?
What dimensions should your video be?
What is the information and context that will make sense
on that location where you're going to host your video?
These are burning questions you should really answer
early on, so that you make a better video.
Now, most programs will allow you
to upload your video in two ways.
First, you can save your file to your desktop
and upload it manually.
Pretty easy to do.
Second, some programs will allow you to upload your video
directly to the host site, like YouTube or Vimeo.
Knowing where to share your video is an important decision
and will give you the best results with your viewers.
That's it, we're finished.
Nine tips to get started with screen recording.
If you want more information or more context,
be sure to check out our other courses
in the TechSmith Academy, including making a screen video.
(upbeat music)