Tools  >>  Screencasting

Make ShowMeDos with CamStudio

Language : English Quality : High Has Audio : true Source : showmedo Media : Flash
Here I show you how to install and use CamStudio 2.0 tool so that you can get on with sharing your knowledge with all our visitors     [SUGGEST  A  ARTICLE]

Tags: Screencast, CamStudio, Capture, Video, Installing, Codec, Showmedo,     [SUGGEST  A  TAG]

Resources referenced in this screencast
  • CamStudio - Free Screen Recording Software
    • Downloading CamStudio 2.0

    Download CamStudio 2.0 (here) and the CamStudio Lossless Codec (here) and get them installed on your machine (time required: 5 minute download, 5 minute install).

    Many of our screencasts here at ShowMeDo are created with this wonderful (and free!) package. CamStudio lets us make perfect-quality videos of our Windows desktops.

    You need both the CamStudio exe and the Codec zip file. Install the exe in the normal fashion. To install the Codec you'll need to unzip the zip file then right-click on camcodec.inf and select 'Install' (you need Admin rights to do this).

    CamStudio is open-source and free to use for commercial and non-commercial videos. Background: screencasting, loss-less compression, sourceforge download page, Nick the Geek's camstudio.org
    Configuring CamStudio

    Having installed CamStudio you need to run through some easy configuration changes (time required: 10 minutes).

    These are the important options:

    • Video options: CamStudio Lossless Codec v1.0 (Configure: GZIP level 1), Set Key Frames Every set to '5' via the Time Lapse slider
    • Audio Options:
      • Recording Format 22.05Khz mono 16 bit, Compressed Format MPEG 3 at 22050 Hz, Mono, 4000 Bytes/sec
      • Tick Interleave Every at 100 milliseconds
      • Tick Use MCI Recording (it can help with audio synchronisation)
    • Fixed Region: Tick Fixed Top-Left Corner, Width 800, Height 600

    You might want to change the cursor-highlight:

    • Cursor Options: Tick 'Highlight Cursor' to high-light the mouse with a yellow background

    There are screenshots in the wiki for Configuring CamStudio. You might also want the ShowMeDo wallpaper.
    Screencasting with CamStudio

    Making a ShowMeDo video is very easy - press the Record button, do your stuff, then Stop. That's all there is to it! Once CamStudio has written the AVI file you are free to edit it, make another take or get on with submitting it to us.

    Here I recap the main CamStudio settings then walk you through making a video and show you where the finished AVI file will appear.
    Editing and Submitting

    In this video I also talk about video editing and compressing the AVI file to make it easier to upload.

    Links: 7-zip compressor, video editing notes in the wiki, VirtualDubMod open-source video editor.