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Screen Recording for Training Video
I’m going to do a training video for my client’s proprietary software. Budget is low and I don’t have any client that has the same requirements. So investing in an expensive high-end software will not be worth it because I’ll be using it just once. I opt for Camstudio screen recording software (final delivery is on a regular mpeg2 DVD). However, I notice that with images that has gradients, the recorded video exhibits banding. How do I get rid of this problem? Should I buy Camtasia? Thanks guys!
ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus
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13 Replies
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I will take a guess.
It may be the way you are recording the files; to make the screenc aptuers look their best, you must record at higher resolution, so check the settings of this software. Or it may be happening once you manipulate the captuered vidoe: it could look fine, but if you bring it into, say, a DV25 timeline to work on, you’re killing off a lot of the resolution, and then again, if you compress the result of that for the web. Try to work in the native resolution of the program materials as far as you can, before compressing down to lossy formats. The screen grabbers often eat up massive drive space if recording at full resolution.
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Remember that the computer screen resolution is probably much higher than the resolution of the video. Some amount of artifacting is to be expected.
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I adjusted the resolution to highest and the banding was still there. But when I used the Intel Indeo® Video 4.5, the banding was removed (the available codecs are Cinepak Codec by Radius, Intel Indeo® Video 4.5, Microsoft Video 1). Now, my problem is the frame rate. The video is not running smoothly. Here is a screen shot of the options:
https://clydevillegas.com/screen_shot_camstudio.jpg
What do put in the fields? Thanks guys!
ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus
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Does it run smoothly on another machine?
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Using a Core Duo machine, it does not play smoothly when outputing with Intel Indeo Codec and its default settings.
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[clyde villegas] “I adjusted the resolution to highest and the banding was still there. But when I used the Intel Indeo® Video 4.5, the banding was removed (the available codecs are Cinepak Codec by Radius, Intel Indeo® Video 4.5, Microsoft Video 1). Now, my problem is the frame rate. The video is not running smoothly.”
All three of these codecs were developed in the early 1990s. I don’t think any of them are really suited for high resolution, high bit depth, high frame rate screen capture.
Camtasia really is the gold standard for screen capture on a PC. It uses the proprietary TSCC/Ensharpen codec internally, and I’ve never seen banding in a Camtasia capture.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
Thanks, Walter. But do you know of a more affordable substitute that can do the job as well as Camtasia?
ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus
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Ambrosia’s snapz pro?
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[Mark Suszko] “Ambrosia’s snapz pro?”
Isn’t that Mac only?
TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions, -
[clyde villegas] “Thanks, Walter. But do you know of a more affordable substitute that can do the job as well as Camtasia?”
I use and recommend Camtasia on the PC, and ScreenFlow on the Mac. I think TechSmith has a free trial of Camtasia, so you could give it a try and see if you think it’s worth the cost.
I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything about any of the alternatives.
You might be able to rent a scan converter for less than the purchase price of the software — though I doubt it would do as good a job.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events
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