Best basic screen recording software for Windows?

by philg

Expert readers: What’s the best screen recording software for Windows? I want to make some YouTube voice-over lectures for folks who can’t make it physically to http://philip.greenspun.com/teaching/ground-school/ (or who have to miss a section). Almost everything is in PowerPoint, but I don’t think I can use PowerPoint “narration” because some content is hyperlinked out to a Web browser or YouTube. So I think I need something that just records what is on my screen. I have a 4K desktop and a near-4K laptop so maybe output in 4k is ideal?

I don’t need anything fancy. Just turn on and record whatever is on the screen plus whatever comes in from a USB microphone. Maybe trim the front and back (but I have Adobe Premiere also).

15 thoughts on “Best basic screen recording software for Windows?”

  1. For basic screencasting on Windows, CamStudio Open Source (free) is probably your best bet. Here is an excellent screencast some of my grad students made using CamStudio. https://ia800202.us.archive.org/8/items/excelgraphingscreencast/shuerjohnstonscreencast5.html The gold standard for screencasting on Windows is Camtasia Studio ($299). That software is outstanding. Although very powerful, it’s consumer software whose basic operation could be mastered in one weekend.

  4. I recommend this hardware instead:

    HopCentury HD Game Video Capture Box HDMI 1080P Recorder Device for XBox One 360, PlayStation PS4 PS2, Wii U Gameplay, PC – Record Online Screen Action to Share it on Youtube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S0OQ2ZK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_c4UwAbXT885PE

    It records whatever HDMI signal passes through it to a USB drive. I use it for recording talks because I don’t have to install anything on the presenters’ machines. It also has the benefit if working with every operating system, now and in the foreseeable future.

  6. Open Broadcaster Software (obsproject.com) is free, gives you a lot of options for input –multiple monitors, webcams, USB mics, watermark image, …– and output. Sensible default configurations, but customizable (shortcuts, output formats, etc) to suit your preference.

  8. Steve, Adhi: I tried OBS on a Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop and the result was a recording of a black screen with some audio from the plugged-in mic. I had used the autoconfig procedure.

  9. We do this a lot with photography post-processing software and have found Movavi to be the best. I don’t like the way they sell products, but the recordings are fast and reliable.

  11. @Phil: Autoconfig doesn’t seem to setup input sources, only output quality. Check the Sources list of active Scene. We have to manually add at least one video source (Video Capture to grab screen), optionally one Audio Input Source for internal / external USB mic.

  13. Adhi: Thanks for that tip. It seems that “Display” as a source is what works on my laptop (“Video Capture” is the webcam). I do wonder about programmers who thought that a screen recorder shouldn’t start with a default of “Display” (or at least to ask “Do you want the display or the webcam?”).

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