Every so often, it is a hundred times easier to show the process, then describe it a word at a time. This is especially true today, with our daily life being so interconnected with technology. Whether you’re creating a tutorial, recording a webinar, or simply wondering how to screen record on Mac, knowing how to use the software effectively is key. Tools like the Mac snipping tool are invaluable for capturing quick screenshots, making it easier to highlight key parts of the process when a full video isn’t necessary.
This guide explores the three best screen recorders for Mac and provides detailed instructions on how to use them. To complement the guide, this article shares some essential tips to enhance your screen recording experience.
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Movavi Screen Recorder — Best Screen Recorder for Mac
This MacBook screen recorder stands out among the best for its user-friendly interface and versatile functionality. Perfect for both beginners and experienced users, it allows you to capture your screen with ease while offering a range of useful features.
Key features:
- User-friendly Interface: Easy to navigate for beginners
- Customizable Recording Area: Select full screen or a specific part of your screen
- Audio Recording Options: Record system sounds, microphone audio, or both
- Built-in Editing Tools: Basic editing feature to trim your recordings
Step 1: Download and install Movavi Screen Recorder
To begin your screen recording, you firstly need to download the software from the official website. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it onto your Macbook.
Step 2: Open the program
Launch Movavi Screen Recorder. A widget will appear on the right with simple “Record” and “Screenshot” buttons, along with some adjustable options. Make sure that what you intend to record is ready in a separate window.
Step 3: Configure the settings
Press the Screen recording button to access the settings. You can either click on the window you want to record or drag a box to cover the area of your choice. This can be either the entire screen as well as just a part of it.
Set up the audio by clicking the “Microphone” and “System Audio” buttons in the menu. These can be turned on or off accordingly. Other buttons let you show mouse clicks and keystrokes on your screen recording.
Step 4: Record your screen
Click on the “Record” button to start recording. The software will give you a countdown timer before the recording begins. You can then use your Mac as normal, with the application capturing everything that appears on the screen. To finish your recording, use the “Stop” button or a corresponding hotkey.
Step 5: Save the final video
After finishing the recording, you can use the editing tools included in the software to cut unwanted parts. To trim, click the “Scissors” icon and use the markers to select and remove unnecessary parts.
Save the final video by hitting the “Export” button. Choose the file name, folder, and format for the recording. Popular video formats like MP4 and MOV are available, and you can even choose to export as a GIF.
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OBS Studio — Most Versatile Screen Recorder
For those who require more advanced features, this professional screen capture software is known for flexibility and high-quality output. It allows for bitrate tweaking and compiling complex scenes in real time at a cost of a less intuitive design.
Key features:
- High Customizability: Extensive options to customize your recording and streaming setup
- Multiple Sources Recording: Capture from various sources including your screen, webcam, and microphone
- Advanced Audio Mixer: Fine-tune your audio inputs with ease
- Streaming Capabilities: Direct streaming to platforms like Twitch and YouTube
Step 1: Download and install OBS Studio
To start with, download OBS Studio from the official website and install it on your device. OBS Studio is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Step 2: Run the autoconfiguration wizard
OBS Studio features an Auto-Configuration Wizard that optimizes settings for recording and streaming based on your computer’s hardware and network conditions. It will pop up automatically after the first launch, there you can choose between options optimized for streaming or for recording.
Step 3: Add scenes and sources
Create a new scene by clicking on the “+” sign under “Scenes.” This is where you’ll configure what gets recorded. Next, click on the “+” sign under “Sources” to add a source, such as “macOS Screen Capture” for screen recording. You can also add a video capture device for your webcam and an audio input capture for your microphone.
Step 4: Select export location and format
Choose where to save your recordings and select the video format from a selection of MP4, MKV, etc. in the “Output” section under “Settings”.
Step 5: Start recording
Once everything is set up, click the “Start Recording” button to begin capturing your screen. And as soon as you are finished with your recording, press “Stop Recording”. Thereafter, you can find your clip in the export folder, you have selected earlier.
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QuickTime — Easy Screen Recording Solution
This simple screen recorder offers free screen recording as a part of Apple’s built-in multimedia framework. It is a straightforward solution, ideal for quick tasks and basic needs. It doesn’t require any downloads and doesn’t overwhelm with countless features.
Key Features:
- Simple Recording Interface: Easy-to-use for quick recording tasks
- Flexible Recording Options: Record your entire screen or a selected area
- Microphone Audio Recording: Include voiceover with your screen recording
- Basic Editing Function: Trim your recordings directly in QuickTime
Step 1: Open QuickTime Player
To begin, locate QuickTime Player in your Applications folder, or search for it using Spotlight or Launchpad on your Mac.
Step 2: Start a new screen recording
While QuickTime Player is opened, choose “File” in the top-left corner of your screen, then press “New Screen Recording” to open the recording tool and display the recording options.
Step 3: Set recording options
Before starting the recording, you can click “Options” to control various aspects of the recording. These include picking the microphone, setting the timer, selecting the folder to save your screen recording, and deciding whether to capture the pointer or clicks in the recording.
Step 4: Choose recording area
To record your entire screen or just a portion of it, use the two options at the bottom of the screen. Make sure you click the video recording buttons, as the three buttons on the left are reserved for making screenshots.
Step 5: Start and record
Finally, to start recording, click the “Record” button. Now, all actions in the selected area will be recorded. You can stop the recording by clicking the “’Stop Recording” button in the menu bar (at the top of your screen).
Step 6: Save your recording
After stopping the recording, the video will automatically open in QuickTime Player, where it can be saved to your hard drive. You can then export and trim the video as per your requirement. However, QuickTime Player doesn’t offer any advanced editing tools, and you have to resort to conventional video editing software.
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Essential Tips for Effective Screen Recording
Regardless of the tools you choose, there are a few fundamental know-hows to ensure a smooth and professional screen recording experience.
- Prepare your environment: Close unnecessary applications and tidy up your desktop to prevent distractions in your recording.
- Audio clarity: If you include narration, check your microphone settings and perform a test recording to ensure crisp audio.
- Keyboard shortcuts: Learn shortcuts for starting and stopping recordings for a better experience.
- Highlighting clicks: In tutorials, enabling mouse click visualization can greatly enhance clarity.
- Testing: Conduct a brief test recording to check for any issues in video or audio quality.
- Adding captions: To increase the accessibility of your recordings, it’s a sound idea to use captions generating software.
Conclusion
Screen recording on a Mac is a seamless process, whether you choose QuickTime for simplicity, OBS Studio for advanced functionality, or Movavi Screen Recorder for a balance between both.
By following the steps outlined in this article and keeping in mind the essential tips, you can create high-quality screen recordings tailored to your specific needs. As you try the best screen capture software, you’ll find that screen recording is a versatile and valuable hard skill to have.
