Digital Video Recording - what software to use

Dennis J Yancey

I wonder how many of you out there have experience creating training videos etc for Family History - or any videos whereby you are recording the computer screen in tandom with the webcam?

what sort of software do you use?

any good freeware out there for this?

Can I use things like Zoom or Teams to do this?

Thanks for any info.

Joseph Smyly

Dennis, as a former trainer and teacher, I know that there are many kinds of software programs for digital video recording. I have personally used many of them. I am not allowed to recommend one over the other, but there is plenty of information on the web. Creating learning content is creative and fun!

I recommend that you narrow down your needs to a few must have features depending on what you plan to do. Then look for the software that best meets these primary needs. If you are a beginner, choose a software with fewer features and fewer "bells and whistles".

TechSmth has a really good article on this topic.

https://www.techsmith.com/blog/instructional-videos/

Have fun!

Dennis J Yancey

Thank You!

Dennis J Yancey

Thanks I will review - was mainly just wondering if there are tools - that most people already have on their PC that can be used (such as possibly ZOOM or TEAMS recording options)

Joseph Smyly

Both Zoom and Teams allow you to record the meeting. Both of these have free versions that are limited as to the duration of the meeting and the number of participants. I have used both of these and they are easy to learn. Google Workspace also has a meeting function but I am not familiar with the details of this meeting resource.

Dennis J Yancey

understood

my question is can you record something using those tools - that is NOT a meeting . . .

Dennis J Yancey

i.e . . can you record "a meeting" of one person?? LOL

Joseph Smyly

I suppose you could open a meeting and record yourself. It would take a lot of trial and error to get it right. Personally, I would not do this as there are better ways of making a digital video presentation with one of the free software packages. But that is just me and my opinion. If you can make a good training session doing this, the more power to you! 😀

Dennis J Yancey

I dont understand why it would be so much "trial and error"? versus any other (if it allows recording a one person meeting)

what do the other packages you allude to have - that make them so much less "trial and error"??