Screen-casting or screen recorder – also known as video screen capture, is a recording of your computer screen outputted in a video format. In another words, a screencast is to a screenshot as a video is to a photo.

You can include audio sounds from your PC/MAC or voice-over recording using a microphone, or both. Some tools offers notation and zoom in while recording.

If is a live video is called stream.

There are free versions out there as there is paid versions, depends on level of information you wanting to share you need to know a bit which one you want to pick an choose. Those below are the ones I have used. I have not included Jing on this list, even though is a free tool and easy to use, I personally don’t use because of the format is not easy to work on editing or uploading to YouTube where I upload most of my personal videos. I’d rather use Snagit which is from the same company but is paid version.

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CamStudio

Easy to use (Once you have it all set) and easy to install. I found this one a bit challenge to use in lower specs PC running Windows.

Spend some time defining the video format and where you want to save the files also setting up the audio source plus the microphone as it maybe not strait forward.

Features that you’ll find useful in CamStudio:

• Screencast your entire screen, a specific region of your screen, or a particular window.
• Autopan will cause the screen capture to follow your mouse.
• Cursor highlight for when you want the viewer to track your mouse.
• Capable of recording system sound and microphone.
• Screen annotations in various stylings.

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Screencast-O-Matic

The free version is sufficient for small short videos, you are limited to up to 15 minutes with this version. Pro version costs only $15 per year which among all the features the No Watermark, editing tools ans scripts in only one of the few offered for this version.

Features that you’ll find useful in Screencast-O-Matic:

• Free video hosting for those made with Screencast-O-Matic (15-minute limit).
• Capable of recording screen OR screen and webcam, but not webcam only (Pro).
• Supports MP4, AVI, and FLV formats.
• Can publish directly to YouTube.

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Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 Screen Capture

Expression Encoder is an advanced audio/video-encoding and live-broadcasting application especially suited for generating content that takes full advantage of the rich graphic and interactive capability of Microsoft Silverlight playback scenarios. You can also generate Windows Media video and audio files that are optimized for other web playback scenarios, or appropriate for playback on portable devices.

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Snagit

You can try for free for 15 days ($49.99 after). Take it for a spin and see how good this is for yourself. I like it.

No matter what you’re working on, Snagit helps you capture great looking images and videos with just a few clicks. Easily customize your screen captures with effects, or show off what’s important with Snagit’s markup tools. You can also create quick videos by recording your screen.

Is the easiest and reasonable price out there. With multiple ways to output the video format, whichever place you wanting to display videos or images you can do easily with this tool, with a professional look and not messing about being a professional editor. Strait forward.

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