How to Create a Screencast

Guide Note Screencasts are narrated videos of the action on a computer screen. These short videos are one of the most popular for bloggers and tech professionals to share information with their users and readership. By following the steps in this article you will learn how to create a screencast that you can use to promote yourself and drive traffic to your website.

Table of Contents

Screencasting Tips

  1. Prepare your screen by removing unnecessary icons, toolbars and other visual distractions.
  2. Don't record your screencast "off the top of your head," always follow an outline.
  3. Don't be afraid to use a little humor to make your screencast more entertaining.
  4. Use a conversational tone to help hold your audience's attention.
  5. Use screen captions to punctuate important points in your screencast.

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Introduction

  • Screencasting is one of the most popular ways for bloggers, educators, entertainers and software developers to communicate with their audience. So what exactly is a screencast? A screencast is a narrated digital video of the action on a computer screen.1 Here is an example:

Step 1: Get The Tools You Need

Important Considerations

  • In order to choose software that will meet your needs, take time to visit the website of an application before downloading it and read its documentation. Consider the following:
  1. Not all applications have the same features. Ask yourself what you want to include in your screencast. Screen captions? Screenshots or other images? Audio narration? Other video clips? Be sure to find software that has the features you need.
  2. Not all applications have the same system requirements. Make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements of an application before downloading it.

Screencasting Software

  • The following is a list of free applications you can use to record your screencast.
  1. 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 JingProject's free online hosting.4
  2. 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.5
  3. Copernicus is for Mac operating systems only. Copernicus will capture the action on your screen but does not support audio. 6
  4. 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.7
  5. Istanbul is available for Linux operating systems and is designed for the Gnome desktop. Istanbul supports both video and audio and will record all or part of your screen and saves the screencast in .ogg format.8
  6. RecordMyDesktop is available for Linux operating systems. RecordMyDesktop is a command line tool that captures both audio and video.9
  7. 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.10
  8. Wink is available for Windows and Linux operating systems. Wink offers an alternative to capturing video of your screen. Wink will capture screenshots and allow you to create an elaborate slideshow with audio narration and screen captions.11

Step 2: Planning Your Screencast

Consider 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.12 Ask yourself a few simple questions to make sure you're doing so:
  1. Who is the intended audience?2 Are you creating your screencast for the general public? Business professionals? Tech saavy individuals? Students? Children?
  2. Is it safe to assume that the audience has any prior knowledge about the subject in the screencast? Depending on your audience, you may need to include more background information or details. Ask yourself what your audience needs in order to fully understand your screencast and edit out anything that is not necessary.2
  3. What kind of language would be the most appropriate? Would your audience understand lots of technical jargon or should you keep your language a bit more simple?

Create a Storyboard

  • More complicated content can be planned out beforehand with a storyboard. (Creative Commons photo by Adam Schuster)
    More complicated content can be planned out beforehand with a storyboard. (Creative Commons photo by Adam Schuster)
    A storyboard is a detailed, scene by scene plan of your screencast.2 It will provide you with an overview of everything that will be included and will guide you through the recording and editing process.
  1. Make an outline of your screencast.2 Include headings for each major section and subheadings for the topics to be covered in each.13
  2. Follow your outline and create a storyboard. Break your outline down into scenes plan out exactly what you want the video to display. Recording a screencast scene by scene will make it easier to record it in one take.14
  3. Make sure that each section of your outline is represented in the story board with large, clear headings.2
  4. Be sure to indicate any place you intend to use screenshots, images, screen captions or any other media you plan to include.

Write a Script

  • Always write a script when preparing a screencast.12 Few things are more distracting to an audience than a narrator who stammers or fails to stay on topic. Writing a script will allow you to plan what you want to say and how you want to say it.13 This will save you production time and help ensure a clear and effective screencast.
  1. Present information to your audience in small pieces rather than in a single, continuous chunk of discourse.13
  2. Your script should include the same headings and subheadings you included in your storyboard.13 12
  3. Use short, concise sentences and a conversational style when writing your script.15 13

Rehearse

  • Always Rehearse the audio and video portions of your screencast before recording. This will help you familiarize yourself with the material and reveal any areas in the script or storyboard that require editing.16

Step 3: Record Your Screencast

  • Now that you have written and rehearsed your storyboard and script, it is time to start recording your screencast.

Set the Stage

  • The stage for your production is your computer screen and the theater that houses that stage is your home or office. So take some time to minimize distractions and interruptions.
  1. 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.2
    1. Remove any unncecessary files, icons or toolbars.17
    2. Shut off any programs that may interfere with your screencast by making sounds or generating pop-ups of any kind.
    • Another way to minimize on-screen distractions is to create a user profile on your computer that is only used for screencasts. This would allow you to save the links, icons, files and toolbars you use on a day-to-day basis on your normal user profile.
  2. Make sure any files or applications you will be using can be easily accessed. Digging through your file manager or clicking through several menus in the middle of your screencast can be very distracting.17 Try making a folder on your desktop with all the files you will need along with links to any applications you will run.
  3. Trim your screenshots so only the portion of the screen you need to display is visible.14
  4. Be sure to shut off your phone, television, radio or anything else that may interrupt the recording process. If you are using a sensitive microphone you should also be aware of any noise that the microphone may pick up. You may need to close your windows so the sounds of passing cars don't end up in the middle of your screencast.16

The Microphone

  • Arrange your recording setup so everything is within easy reach. (Creative Commons photo by Chris Coyier)
    Arrange your recording setup so everything is within easy reach. (Creative Commons photo by Chris Coyier)
    The quality of microphone you use will affect the sound quality of your screencast. However, before purchasing a new microphone, conduct this small test to see if your microphone will meet your needs.18
  1. Record a short section of your screencast.2
  2. Clean up the audio track using Audacity, a free and open source application for audio editing.19 20
  3. After editing your audio with Audacity, decide if the sound quality of your screencast meets your needs.20 If it doesn't, considering purchasing a new microphone.18

File Size

  • The smaller the file size of your screencast the easier it will be to share with your audience.
  1. Consider the screen resolution requirements of your video.21 The more visual detail you want to include in your video the higher the resolution needs to be. Unfortunately, the higher the resolution, the larger the file size. So try to keep the resolution as low as possible. A good rule of thumb is to always use as low a resultion as possible and try not to go any higher than 1024x768.14
  2. Remove any unncessary video data by only recording only a portion of your screen or limiting the screen capture to the window of the application you are working with.14 This is an easy way to keep file sizes down and minimize visual distractions.16

Gather Your Media

  • Now that all of your preparation is done, it is time to gather any extra media that will be included in your screencast.2 This includes:
  1. Pictures or images of any kind, including screenshots.
  2. Any audio, apart from your recorded narration, that you want to use.
  3. Any video, apart from your own screen capture, that will be included.
  • Once you have all of your materials, perform any necessary editing that needs to be done in order to prepare them to be inserted into your screencast during the editing process.17

Recording

  • The act of recording your screencast will vary depending on the software and equipment you are using. So after you have made all the necessary preparations and your software's documentation, you are ready to hit the record and capture your screencast.

Step 4: Edit Your Screencast

  • After you have recorded your screencast, it is time for editing. It is during this stage that you will insert any additional media (images, screenshots, other audio or video files, etc.) and finalize the audio and video tracks of your screencast for publication. The editing process will vary depending on your individual needs and the software you have chosen to use.17

Video and Audio Editing Software

  1. Avidmux is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.24
  2. Blender is available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.25
  3. Jahshaka is available for Windows and Linux operating systems.26
  4. Audacity is an audio editing application available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. 20

The Editing Process

  • Here are some things to consider as you edit your screencast.
  1. Edit out any unnecessary action in the screen capture.17 This includes the movement of the mouse pointer back and forth across the screen, hunting for icons or files, resizing windows or moving through menus. Only include this action if it is necessary for your screencast.
  2. Edit the audio track of your screencast in order to eliminate any auditory distractions such as pops, clicks, fuzz or background noise.19
  3. Make sure that the audio track matches your screen capture.17 It is possible for the audio and video to get out of sync. So watch your screencast carefully and make any necessary edits.

Step 5: Share Your Screencast

  • Now that you have edited your screencast it is time to share it. Many of the applications mentioned can be used to convert your screencast to the appropriate format for your desired method of distribution.

Hosting Options

  • There are a number of sites which will host your screencasts both reliably and free of charge:
  1. YouTube offers free hosting of videos in .swf format.21
  2. Google Video is a video hosting site owned by Google that allows the free uploading of .swf videos. 27
  3. The Internet Archive offers free hosting of videos, audio and other documents.28

Conclusion

  • Screencasting is a great way to share information and educate others. By following these steps you will be able to take advantage of this technology and your own screencasts you can use to promote your business, website or blog.

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References for How to Create a Screencast

  1. ↑ O'Reilly: What Is Screencasting? (November 16, 2005)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Idealware: Introduction to Screencasting
  3. ↑ Mashable: Twelve Screencasting Tools for Creating Video Tutorials (February 21, 2008) WARNING: Ad-heavy
  4. ↑ JingProject: JingProject
  5. ↑ CamStudio: CamStudio
  6. ↑ Danicsoft: Copernicus
  7. ↑ Bobyte: AviScreen
  8. ↑ Live.Gnome.org: Istanbul
  9. ↑ RecordMyDesktop: RecordMyDesktop
  10. ↑ Screencast-O-Matic.com: Screencast-O-Matic.com
  11. ↑ Debugmode.com: Wink
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 DMN Communications: What Makes a Good Screencast? (February 21, 2008)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Beth's Blog: Screencasting Primer: For NTC Screencasting Panel (March 15, 2007)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 O'Reilly: What Is Screencasting? (November 16, 2005)
  15. ↑ SearchWarp: How To Communicate Clearly and Professionally Online(July 21, 2006)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Digital Web: Capture a Screencast With a Mac (March 12, 2007)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 O'Reilly: What Is Screencasting? (November 16, 2005)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Silke Fleischer: What Microphone To Use? (August 21, 2007)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Geeks.com Tech Tip 105-Cleaning Up Audio Files with Audacity (December 10, 2006) WARNING: Ad-heavy
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Audacity: Audacity
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ubuntu Screencasts: Creating Screencasts (November 11, 2006)
  22. ↑ Tech Source From Bohol: Free/Open Source Video Editing Software
  23. ↑ TV.ISG.SI: Free Video Editing Software List for All Platforms (December 26, 2005)
  24. ↑ Avidmux: Avidmux
  25. ↑ Blender: Blender
  26. ↑ Jahshaka: Jahshaka
  27. ↑ Google Video: Google Video
  28. ↑ The Internet Archive: Archive.org


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