How Do I Choose the Best Open Source Screen Recorder?

The reasons to utilize open source screen recorder software are numerous. Besides the benefit of being free, it can record demonstrations of program use, create tutorials, and help with the viewing of presentations. The best open source screen recorder software will allow you to focus on specific areas of your computer screen, manipulate the recording, add audio, and save the recording in your preferred format.

If you don't want your entire screen recorded into a video, look for an open source screen recorder that is capable of recording particular portions of the screen. When you select a recorder with this ability, you'll be able to separate parts of your screen into those that you want recorded and those that you don't. This can help you immensely, if you want to only concentrate on the activities of a specific application or window while recording.

A good open source screen recorder software will not only let you record what happens on your screen, but will also let you manipulate the results. Some software can provide you with tools to insert text, highlight areas, or add shapes to the recorded video. These things can help you to better call attention to specific areas or concepts presented on the screen.

Features in open source screen recorder software can vary. You may be able to find open source software with advanced features that you would normally only find in proprietary software, if you do your research. If you're looking for ways to customize a screen recording, look for software that allows you to record your voice or other audio over the video capture. Depending on the specific software used, you may be able to import audio using your microphone, other videos, or the Internet. Output formats can as simple as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) or as complex as executable files.

You can also look into software that will offer you advanced video format recording options, such as Streaming Flash® video (SWF). A benefit of recording videos in Flash® is that these videos can take up less space than other formats. If you intend to host videos on your own website or personal web space, you might find these smaller videos more practical for your storing and viewing needs. Similarly, it can be practical to find a software solution that is integrated with websites or functionality capable of automatically storing and showing your videos. For example, some software can allow you to log onto File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers or video-sharing websites from within the program, sparing you the extra step of uploading the videos separately.