Screen recording is the action of recording your screen, what you look at, from the inside. It is a software that turns screen output into a video, and it can be done on any computer, on any smartphone, and any tablet. Narration may also be allowed during capture, and advanced versions allow editing and annotation after recording.
The first screen recording software was ScreenCam. It was initially introduced in 1994 by IBM Lotus, and later the product was acquired by SmartGuyz, Inc.
How Does It Work?
When you want to use such software, you want to render what you see on the screen. Regardless of whether you are using a computer, a smartphone or a tablet, you use your device’s hardware to build a “scene” from different components, including the applications shown on your screen and their contents.
Once this has been done, a screen recording application reads the contents of the screen into its memory. And this is how a screen picture is taken. It’s what Movavi does too, and if you want to know how to record screen on Windows 7, it’s the right way to go about it.
Movavi, for instance, can help you to:
- Capture high quality videos on your screen, anytime you want
- Capture videos in resolutions you like, including HD
- Edit your videos later, to make your own unique one.
- Save the videos in any format you like, without data loss.
Now, to capture a recording the process needs to be repeated around 30 times each second, the sequence of the screenshots needs to be compressed in your screen recorder’s application memory, and then the resulting recording needs to be written to your hard drive.
Reasons To Use Screen Recording
Nowadays screen recording has become so ordinary, that everyone’s bound to use it once in a while for various reasons.
- To promote a product by demonstrating features:
When you want to promote a product, you can record your screen to display it and explain the features it contains. This way, the customer will know exactly what the product is about and therefore more inclined to purchase it. - To create how-to guides of software and apps:
Generally, how-to guides is what most people associate screen recording with, since it is the manner in which it is most commonly used. For example, gamers record themselves while playing, in order to demonstrate to other players how to do the specific task. - To report bugs or request technical support:
You may have difficulty documenting a bug or describing an issue, so it is easier if you record it instead. - To save online streaming videos:
Screen recording applications have the ability to record any online streaming video directly from your screen. It is a universal method with an unlimited number of videos that can be saved. - To record video calls and conferences:
Unlike other methods of communications, such as emails or instant messaging, video calling lacks any method of saving the contents of a conversation. This deficiency is restored with screen recording, making it possible to preserve a video call or a business meeting that is conducted as a video conference.
What To Avoid When Recording Your Screen
You are all set up to start your recording, whether it is for tutorial, training or presentation. Though, before you start you should make sure to avoid these mistakes:
– Having too many programs running:
Clutter on a computer screen is distracting, and it is frustrating searching through unnecessary applications and programs to get to what you actually want to show. A tidy desktop is definitely more attractive to the viewer, so the best you can do is to keep open only the programs you intend to use in your video.
– Forgetting to check your microphone:
Imagine being half-way through a presentation or a tutorial and you realize your microphone is muted or is not at the right volume. In order to avoid the embarrassment, check your microphone with a narration test before you start recording.
– Stumble over your passwords:
When you show on-screen workflows you need to log in and, of course, type your username and password. If you don’t remember them or if you don’t have them written in front of you will mess up your momentum. Sometimes showing the typing part of logging in is boring, so it is better if you trim it out of your video.
– Forgetting you are notalone:
Any sort of noise can be distractive and hard to trim out, whether you are at the office or at home, so it is best to record in a quiet room.
– Going too fast:
Everyone had to make a presentation at some point, either at school or at work, so we all know the feeling of being nervous. Even if you aren’t nervous, but you simply know what to do too well, keep in mind that the viewer is inexperienced, so explain slowly every step.
– Narrating without rehearsing first:
Sometimes when you turn on your recording software without any preparation and just go for it, you end up either talking too much, or not talking at all. To avoid such moments, it is advised to rehearse how you will present your material.
How Screen Recording Benefits Businesses
It would be unlikely that any sort of business doesn’t use screen recording software, since it benefits the owner, the employees, and the customers.
In order for a communications-focused business to be efficient, and to make sure that customers are happy, monitoring the performance of the employees is essential. By using a screen recording software you see how the employee interacts with the customer online, and how they are using technology.
That way you are making sure you aren’t leaving customer interactions out of your performance review process. You can also ensure that information is being handled properly, and employees are working efficiently. A screen recording software also helps to improve the training of the employees, by getting a full picture of their strengths and their weaknesses.
When it comes to sales coaching, you can strengthen product demos, where sales representatives can see where they spend too much time on, and coaches can learn new techniques.
The software is beneficial for call centers too. You can identify application or system breakdowns that affect the navigation of the call center agent on the screen, or you can uncover unauthorized personal activity, as well as see all the promises that agents make to customers.
No matter what kind of business you own, a screen recording software is an asset to keep track of the progress being made by your employees, and figuring out ways to strengthen their weaknesses.