Camtasia Studio Screen Recording and Presentation

Home / Camtasia Studio

Camtasia Studio Screencasting

Adding Movies of Software and Web Sites to Your Blog

What is screencasting?

Buy Now	Try

Since Camtasia Studio is the screen recording software behind screencasting, it's only natural that we get a lot of e-mails asking, "What exactly is screencasting?" Screencasting is recording your desktop computer action with narration and sharing it as a video on your blog. It can sometimes also be called a vodcast, videocast, video podcast, or vcast. The term "Screencast" is attributed to Jon Udell. In general:

• Blog = Text
• Podcast = Audio
• Screencast = Text, Audio and Video

Additional Links:

• Screencasting Wiki
• Screencasting Tips for Beginners, Presenter's University, by Betsy Weber
• What is Screencasting? O'Reilly Digital Media, by Jon Udell

On del.icio.us:

• Items about screencasting
• Actual Screencasts

Why would I want to screencast?

For the same reason you blog - you have something to say. But with a screencast, now you can actually say it, show it and share it, and your readers can hear it, watch it and experience it.

For instance, you can show and tell your blog visitors how to use a software application, show them how to install a program, let them see how you use software, show them what about a website you like (or hate) ... record, narrate and share whatever computer experiences you have.

When should I create a screencast?

The most popular reasons given are:

• When you can't find the right words to describe exactly what you mean.
• When words alone aren't enough.
• Because it's more interesting to watch a demo video than read text.
• Our favorite: Because you want more of your personality to come across in your blog.

Who is screencasting?

Anyone interested in software, technology, or having the most engaging blog possible. Here are just a few samples of the earliest screencasts - see and hear for yourself!

Jon Udell, lead analyst for the InfoWorld Test Center

• Screencast Guidelines
• All About Screencasting
• Screencast - 90 second demonstration of desktop search capability in Windows.

  "In the screencast you'll see how even when the Windows indexer is enabled, a search won't use it unless you prefix the search term with an exclamation point. You'll also see the ancient and obscure Windows indexing administration tool in use."

Alex Barnett, International Program Manager for MSDN and TechNet, Microsoft Corp

• Using RSS 101
• Screencast - Demonstration of using RSS (Really Simple Syndication).

  "The screencast shows how to download and set up an RSS reader … how to access the RSS content once in the RSS reader and how to subscribe to an RSS feed."

Cliff Atkinson, independent management consultant, Beyond Bullet Points author

• Illustrate 1 Blog Post in 2 Minutes
• Screencast - 3 minute demonstration of adding an illustration to a blog.

  "With only PowerPoint, a screen capture program and two minutes, you can add interest to your posts in a flash."

Labrats.tv, a vidcast about technology you already own

• Codecs 101
• Registry 101
• TV to Computer Technology

Long Zheng

• Vista speech recognition video
• Shows off Word 2007

Troy Stein, Product Manager for Camtasia Studio

Troy created this screencast for the soccer team he coaches

.NET Rocks!

The Internet Audio Talk Show for .NET Developers with Carl Franklin and Richard Campbell. Watch their screencast about Producing RSS

Explore Camtasia Studio