How to Crop a Screenshot on Mac

How to crop a screenshot on mac

Taking a screenshot on your Mac is a simple and useful way to capture and save information. However, sometimes you may want to crop the screenshot to focus on a specific area or remove unnecessary parts. 

In this article, we will guide you through the steps on how to screenshot on Mac and crop it to your liking!

Crop your screenshots with Snagit!

It’s super easy to crop your screenshot with Snagit’s intuitive features.

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Example of taking a screenshot on mac with Snagit

Why crop a screenshot on Mac?

Cropping a screenshot on Mac can be useful in many situations. For example, to share a specific part of a webpage or document with someone, you can crop the screenshot only to show that part of the screen. This can also be helpful when creating engaging presentations or tutorials, as you can focus on the important information without any distractions

How to take a screenshot on Mac

Before we learn how to crop a screenshot on Mac, let’s first go through the steps of taking a screenshot and some keyboard shortcuts that can help.

To screenshot, press the “Command + Shift + 3” keys on your keyboard.

To take a screenshot of a specific area, press “Command + Shift + 4” keys. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair, and you can click and drag to select the area you want to capture.

To take a screenshot of a specific window, press “Command + Shift + 4” keys, then press the spacebar. Your cursor will turn into a camera icon, and you can click on the window you want to capture.

Built-in screenshot tools for cropping a capture on Mac

Conveniently, Mac computers already have a cropping tool included. We’ll go through two ways to crop your screenshot.

How to crop a screenshot with Mac’s editor

Open your screenshot by double-clicking it and then access the Markup Toolbar.

Click on the “Crop” button.

Click and drag the corners of the crop box to select the area you want to keep. You can also adjust the size and position of the crop box by clicking and dragging the edges.

Image of the crop tool in Mac's editor.

Once you are satisfied with the selection, click on the “Done” button in the bottom right corner of the window.

Your screenshot is now cropped, and you can save it by clicking on “File” in the menu bar and selecting “Save” or by pressing “Command + S” on your keyboard.

How to crop a screenshot on Mac using Preview

Open your screenshot in Preview and access the Markup Toolbar.

Click on the “Selection” tool.

Click and drag to select the area you want to keep. You can also adjust the size and position of the selection by clicking and dragging the edges.

Image of the selection tool in preview.

Once you are satisfied with the selection, click on “Tools” in the menu bar and select “Crop” or press “Command + K” on your keyboard.

You can save your cropped screenshot by clicking on “File” in the menu bar and selecting “Save” or by pressing “Command + S” on your keyboard.

Crop your screenshot with Snagit!

It’s super quick to crop your screenshots with Snagit’s easy-to-use features.

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Illustration showing a browser window, mobile screen, and various workplace communication icons. The browser displays a selected area within a webpage layout, a user avatar with a speech bubble, and an exclamation mark notification.

Crop your screenshot using Snagit

Third-party apps are available and can help you crop your screenshots on Mac like Snagit. This app offers more advanced features and customization options for cropping your screenshots.

How to take a screenshot using Snagit

The most common way to take a screenshot with Snagit is to open the Snagit Capture window and select what type of capture you need. Whether a specific region, scrolling screenshot, full screen, or other, Snagit can take the perfect capture for you!

Snagit's capture selection options.

Then, press on the Capture button. 

How to crop your screenshot using Snagit

Take a screenshot using Snagit, or upload a screenshot you’ve already taken. It’ll open in the Snagit Editor, which is where you need it, either way.

From there, drag and adjust the anchors alongside the screenshot to your desired fit, and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the edges one pixel at a time. This will ensure a highly precise crop.

GIF of a user cropping their screenshot using anchors.

Then, save your cropped screenshot as an MP4 download or directly share it with anyone using Screencast. 

Transform your screenshot with Snagit’s features

If you need to take it a step further, Snagit can help you make quick edits to your screenshots too!

Use the Spotlight feature to highlight the most important part of your screenshot or even magnify it to show off the important details. 

Image of the Spotlight Tool and Magnify Tool used to point out Portfolio information.

Snagit also has a Selection Tool that removes selected areas from your screenshot. For example, if you wanted to share a news article, you could remove the distracting ads so your viewers are focused on the important information. Plus, you can either leave the space transparent, or Snagit can autofill the area to best match the rest of the screenshot!

GIF of Selection Tool used to delete parts of a screenshot.

We recommend using Snagit due to the ease of use and additional features that will make your screenshot stand out. Crop your screenshot, then save it for yourself or share it with anyone – it’s up to you!

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

Why People Stop Watching Videos

Why people stop watching your videos

Picture this. You crafted your video, uploaded it, and now the views are rolling in. But when you check the viewer stats, you notice something concerning. Why did people stop watching your videos?

The engagement stats consistently show people stop watching your video before it ends. Some stay for a few seconds, others a few minutes. But, despite the fact that there is important information throughout, almost no one makes it all the way through.

Why?

There are a lot of reasons people stop watching a video. A few of them are out of your control, but there are a lot of things you can do to ensure that most people who find your video will stick around until the end.

Fast, easy video editing

No matter what type of video you need to create, Camtasia makes it easy with drag-and-drop editing, effects, transitions, and more!

Try Camtasia Free!
Camtasia icon
Graph showing the number of viewers who watch two or more instructional videos per week rising from 21% is 2016 to 53% in 2018.

Whether they want to know how to install a new electrical outlet, learn a new coding language, discover how to make the perfect BBQ, or learn to use your company’s software, people increasingly turn to video for their learning needs.

In fact, recent research by TechSmith shows that in 2018, 53% of people reported watching an informational or instructional video two or more times per week.

That’s more than double the 21% who reported the same thing in 2016.

So, if you’re making videos that show someone how to do something, there’s almost certainly an audience who wants to watch.

But just because they show up and click play, doesn’t mean they stick around. So why do people stop watching?

To understand that, let’s look at why they started watching in the first place.

Keep your promises

Most people start watching a video because they are interested in the topic or need the information it contains. In other words, they were intrigued by the content the video claimed to provide. And, the most common way they figure out what your video is about is by reading the title and description.

graph showing why viewers choose a video

This is incredibly important. The number-one reason people start watching a video is an interesting topic, the top reason they stop watching videos is they didn’t get what they wanted. See the problem? Users express this problem in their own words, too. In fact, 42% of people said they stopped watching a video because they were not getting the information they expected, or it didn’t cover the right topic.

Graph showing top reasons people stop watching a video. The most common reason was that they weren't getting the information they expected.

It’s simple —if you want to keep people watching, your video’s title and description must match the content the video provides. 

This may seem obvious, but in this era of clickbait headlines and misplaced emphasis on “going viral,” it’s tempting to maximize your click rates with outrageous claims about your content.

If all you care about is clicks, that’s fine. But if you really want to engage viewers with content that will help them learn something new, make sure you deliver what you promise.

Write a clear headline, use your description to accurately depict the content, and people will know what to expect — and, they’ll be more likely to keep watching until the end.

People stop watching videos that aren’t interesting

Is your video entertaining and engaging? Nearly 25% of respondents to our research said that a boring video made them stop watching, making it the second most common reason viewers dropped off.

But what if it’s just a boring topic? 

Let’s face it, not every instructional or educational video topic will have your audience on the edge of its seats. Some topics are simply (relatively) boring.

But that doesn’t mean your content has to be uninteresting. Even the most mundane topic can be made engaging. Here are a few techniques you can use to keep your viewers engaged:

9 ways to make your videos more interesting

1. Tell a story and make it relevant to your audience’s real lives. 

2. Use an engaging speaker or voiceover to present the topic with passion and excitement.

Check out this post for information on how to be better with voiceovers.

3. Show your (or someone else’s) face! A visible speaker offers an authentic expert voice in your video. Whether it’s you or someone else, a face can help your viewers relate better to you.

Check out this post on how to record your webcam.

4. Include practical, real-life examples that your viewers can easily apply to their own lives.

5. Use effective visuals, like images and icons to illustrate your concepts.

6. Be mindful of when you repeat information, or when you slow down your explanations. Both can be effective, but can also make your video feel plodding.

7. Use humor where appropriate.

8. Use plain language and avoid overly formal expressions or jargon. Explain technical terms in ways that people can easily understand.

9. Encourage viewers to actively follow along and interact. Post thought-provoking questions and/or ask for comments, feedback, and other engagement.

Tips, tricks, and special discounts. Oh my!

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Camtasia user interface

Right-size your video

The common wisdom for video length is that shorter is better. For the most part, that’s a good rule to follow. But I really like to think of it as right-sizing your video — that is, making sure the video is the right length to cover the topic in the most efficient and effective way. 

Graph showing preferred video length. 37% of people prefer videos between one and four minutes in length. 22% of people prefer videos of 10 to 19 minutes.

Our study showed that 37% of people preferred videos between one and four minutes. That’s not surprising. But what did surprise us was that 22% of people showed a preference for videos between 10 and 19 minutes in length. That’s the same percentage of people who prefer videos between three and four minutes. 

So, it’s not just that people want short videos. People won’t stop watching a video just because it’s long. It just has to be engaging, entertaining, and provide the information they need in a way that’s understandable and relevant. 

Three ways to make sure your videos are the right length. Text is the same as the paragraph below.

Here are a few tips to ensure your video is the right length:

1. Know your audience, as well as their needs and expectations.

2. Don’t try to do too much (or too little).

3. Have a goal and create content that meets that goal.

For more information on how to make sure your video is the right length, check out this post!

Audio, the biggest reason people stop watching videos

As part of our research, we analyzed nearly 100 videos submitted to us by survey participants as examples of great videos.  Roughly 75% of the videos submitted that were deemed “great videos,” clear audio was the most common element. 

Graph showing common elements of videos analyzed by TechSmith for our research. The common quality was good audio and/or the narrator was easy to understand.

But that’s not all. Videos that received a four or five-star rating for “how accurately did the video achieve its goal” and “how did you personally rate the video” had even higher percentages of clear audio at 89%. So, while people may not stop watching a video because the audio is bad, good audio appears to keep people watching.

Make sure your audience can clearly hear and properly understand anyone speaking in your video. If you have music in your video, keep it far enough in the background that it doesn’t drown out your speaker.  

Luckily, you don’t need a professional recording studio to achieve good voice-over audio. A low-cost microphone and a quiet place to record can make a huge difference.

Check out this great post for information on choosing a microphone.

Video quality, the surprise not-so-important element

Probably the biggest surprise to come out of our study of video viewer habits was that video quality wasn’t a huge reason that people stopped watching videos. In fact, just 5% of respondents reported they stopped watching a video because the quality was poor. 

What does that mean for you? It means you don’t need super-fancy gear to make effective videos that people will watch. 

Take our YouTube Channel for example.

We used to focus solely on posting videos made by our in-house video professionals. 

Snagit YouTube homepage.

But recently, with more of our folks working from home, we’ve started making videos right from the comfort of our own houses. 

TechSmit's Matt Pierce's recording a video in his home studio.

And as a result, our channel is actually growing!

channel analytics for TechSmith youtube

You don’t need perfect video lighting and fancy equipment. You just need to get started. 

If you have a smartphone, screen recording software, a decent microphone, and a good video editor like Camtasia, you can make highly effective, engaging, and informative videos.

Fast, easy video editing.

No matter what type of video you need to create, Camtasia makes it easy with drag-and-drop editing, effects, transitions, and more!

Try Camtasia Free!
Camtasia user interface

Keep ‘em watching your videos

You have information to exchange, things to teach, and knowledge to share, but if people stop watching your videos before the end, they may miss out on what you’re trying to show. 

There are a lot of reasons people will stop watching a video. You can’t control them all, but by following the tips in this article, you can make sure that you’re doing everything in your power to meet your audience’s expectations with a video that keeps their attention and gives them the information they need in the most efficient and effective manner.

To learn more about how to make the best informational and instructional videos, download the full guide to Video Viewer Habits, Trends, And Statistics You Need to Know.

Robert Trudeau

I'm a content marketing specialist contractor for Techsmith. In plain language, I write blogs, social posts, video scripts and more to help support the marketing team's efforts. Organic growth gets me excited, both in the tech space and in my in garden.

How to Create a Video Link

Create Video Link

In a world where every second counts, sharing your software tutorials or product demos with large file transfers is a hassle. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could simply create and share a video link?

Well, that’s why you’re here.

In this blog, we’ll explain how to create a video link using different options so you can pick the one that’s best for you!

Welcome to the future of video sharing.

The struggles of sharing videos

We all know the struggle of attaching a video to an email only for an error message to pop up, “The video file is too large to be supported.” Great.

Different email platforms have different size limitations, making them difficult to keep up with.

Plus, downloading videos to your computer means it has a chance to get lost in the bottomless pit that is a downloads folder. Keeping your files organized is a whole other problem that you do not need to deal with during your already busy schedule.

There are better ways to share a video with your team. 

Let’s dive in.

Techsmith’s Snagit and Screencast are the perfect duo for professionals who need to share videos quickly and easily while keeping files private. 

With Snagit, you can upload or record the video you’d like to send. Plus, it doubles as a simple video editing software. Trim your videos or combine multiple together with Snagit.

If you choose to screen record with Snagit, you can use fun options in the video editor like Screen Draw to add emphasis to your video while you record! Add informative arrows, numbered steps, and more.

GIF of Screen Draw

Once you’ve got your perfect high-quality recording, click the Share Link button and get a unique link automatically copied to your clipboard. This link is unique to your video, so you can always come back to it at a later date. 

Paste the link anywhere and you’re done! 

GIF of the Share Link button

Your recipients will be able to access your video by clicking the link in their email, which will take them to Screencast. No personal login is required. If you do need an extra layer of protection though, Screencast lets you set passphrase access too.

While viewing the video, your viewers can even leave comments and reactions to facilitate team communication.

With Screencast, all videos will be saved in a private folder, but Screencast also allows you to create collections to share with your collaborators. Simply compile your videos in a collection and send shareable links over to your team!

It’s almost too easy to send your videos to your team.

Download Now!
Illustration of a video embedded in an email with snagit and screencast

Social media sharing platforms

Social media platforms are the way to go to share online videos. It is very important to note however that these are NOT private. By sharing your video online, you will allow access to everyone’s eyes.

Upload your video to your YouTube Channel and tap the Share button under the video. Select Copy Link and paste into your messaging app. Or you can copy the video URL directly from the search bar.

Image of the Copy link button in YouTube

Upload your video to TikTok and tap the Share button. Select Copy Link and paste it wherever you’d like.

Image of the Copy Link button in TikTok

Click on the paper airplane icon when viewing the video. Scroll on the options bar until you see the Copy Link option. Click and paste the link. 

Image of the copy link button in Instagram

Next to the video, click the blue Share button. Then, tap the Share Link button to share the video with anyone.

Image of the Copy Link button in Facebook

When you send a large attachment through your Gmail account, it will transform into a Google Drive file. 

Google does this automatically, but it doesn’t work for everyone. One simple reason for that is people might question a random Google Drive attachment. 

Another cloud-sharing service option is Dropbox. 

This is convenient when you need to send large files consistently.

However, if everyone isn’t on the same service, it can easily become confusing to maneuver. Every user needs their own account to view the files, and keeping track of passwords can be a pain.

It’s almost too easy to send your videos to your team.

Download Free Trial
Illustration of a video embedded in an email with snagit and screencast

In the end, there are many ways to share a video with a simple link. Whether you use Snagit, social media platforms, or cloud-sharing services, we hope we helped get your video to its destination. Happy sharing!

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

Snagit vs Snipping Tool on Windows

Snagit vs. Snipping Tool

When taking a screenshot or recording your screen on a PC, it’s easy to assume that the Windows Snipping Tool will be ‘good enough’ to satisfy your screen-capturing needs. But that’s not always true.

Being able to save time while improving the quality of work is something we all strive for, and the built-in Snipping Tool just doesn’t quite cut it. That’s where Snagit steps in. With its wide range of cutting-edge features, Snagit makes it easier than ever to share information through screen captures. 

But that’s not all…

Snagit vs Snipping Tool Comparison Chart

SnagitSnipping Tool
Capture Screenshots✅✅
Multiple Sharing Options✅✅
Basic Markup✅✅
Scrolling Capture✅❌
Advanced Editing✅❌
Grab Text (OCR)✅❌
Smart Move✅❌
Step Tool✅❌
Screen Recordings Including Webcam and Audio✅❌
Screen Draw While Recording✅❌
Create Animated GIFs✅❌
Share Link✅❌
And More!✅❌

While there isn’t a completely free version of Snagit, it does come with a free, full-featured trial to get you started. Which is the best way to try out its advanced features for yourself. 

Speaking of advanced features, here are our top five reasons you should consider choosing Snagit over basic built-in screen capture software, like the Snipping Tool.

When is Snagit Better than the Snipping Tool?

1. When you need more than basic screenshots

If all you need is a basic screenshot every now and then, the Snipping Tool will probably serve you just fine. However, if you use screenshots a lot in your daily routine, it may be worth upgrading to a better tool.

 

With Snagit, you’ll get advanced screen capture features that let you:

Snagit is flexible enough to grow with you and your work. According to a TechSmith study, 97% of those who create images like screenshots, infographics, and charts to support communication at work say it makes their messages more effective.

Chart showing statistics on the impact of the effectiveness of a message.

Snagit’s editing functions also make it stand out. Whether you need to trim a video, combine different clips, or annotate your footage with customizable Callouts (such as shapes and text) — you can!

With Snagit, you can even record your screen and webcam alongside your computer audio and internal or external microphone. And when you want a video but only have a selection of images, don’t worry, with Snagit, you can easily create videos with images. 

On the flip side, when you want to take a single frame from your video and save it as an image, perhaps to create a video thumbnail, you can.

​2. When you’re worried about wasting time

While the Snipping Tool could seem like it’s the quick and easy option, it actually ends up wasting a lot of time. 

Once you’ve captured your screen with the Snipping Tool, you’ll have to use another tool to edit your screenshot with any kind of professionalism. The Snipping Tool only comes with a pen tool, highlighter, and eraser — which can make for a pretty sloppy result in the end. 

Snagit has these tools as well, and so much more. Like the Callout Tool and the Step Tool that transform your haphazard edits into professional and clean looking documents.

Comparison image of Snipping Tool's draw option and Snagit's wider range of options.

Snagit makes sharing super simple. Using Snagit’s integrated Share button, you can instantly send images to destinations like email, Microsoft Word, Dropbox, Slack, and more, with just one click.

You can also use TechSmith’s Screencast to share your Snagit media with a unique link, which will be available to anyone, regardless of whether they’re a Snagit user. 

3. When you need image editing capabilities

Snagit is loaded with professional-looking shapes, arrows, callouts, and stamps to keep your markups looking slick. They’re all customizable too.

Image of Snagit's blur tool and Snipping Tool's drawing capabilities.

With annotating tools and special effects, Snagit simplifies the editing process and makes it easy to enhance your images. 

You can also blur out sensitive information, simplify your screenshots, and create numbered document steps.

4. When you want to copy text from an image

One of the best features in Snagit is the ability to extract text from an image. Yes, you read that right — if you have an image that features text, Snagit can help you copy, paste, and even edit it! 

Snagit uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR), to recognize the text. So if you can see it on your screen, Snagit can see it too. You can even use this feature to help translate text.

5. When you want to create quick (and professional-looking) guides

Snagit is essentially your one-stop shop for creating quick how-to content. You can easily capture any process from your computer screen, mark up your screenshots with arrows, callouts, and numbers, and combine them all into one, organized piece of content.

Completed training manual using Combine Images.

Snagit is the perfect way to create visual step-by-step instructions, how-to guides, user documentation, and more.

Better yet, if you make guides all the time, Snagit comes loaded with a bunch of different templates you can take advantage of.

And there you have it! Five reasons you should choose Snagit over the Snipping Tool. 

If all you need to do is take screenshots, then the Snipping Tool might work out just fine for you. But if you’re a busy professional who needs high-quality screenshots, recordings, and GIFs, then we’re willing to bet that if you try Snagit, you won’t go back.

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

How to Use Snipping Tool on Mac

Snipping tool for Mac

Are you asking yourself: “Where is my Mac snipping tool?”

Mac’s screenshot tool is not like Windows’ snipping tool, but don’t fear we’re here to help! 

In this blog post, we’ll explain how to screenshot on your Mac and what features it provides. Plus, we’ll show you some third-party options that take your screenshots to the next level. 

So whether you need a simple how-to guide, or simply want to review your options, we’ve got you covered. 

Let’s dive in!

Snagit: The best snipping tool for Mac

Snagit’s comprehensive, yet easy-to-use feature set makes it the go-to screen capture tool for professionals.

Try it for Free!
Illustration of a how-to guide made with snagit

What is the screenshotting tool on Mac?

Bring up the Screenshot toolbar on your Mac by pressing Shift + Cmd + 5. You should see this pop up on your screen:

Each icon on the toolbar serves a different purpose. You can capture a part of your screen, full screen, and even screen record. This allows you to take a video of your screen rather than a picture.

Using keyboard shortcuts to capture your screen

When you press a combination of keys – shift, command, and a number by default – you can activate certain capture settings.

  • Press Shift + Cmd +3 to capture your entire screen.
  • Press Shift + Cmd + 4 to turn your mouse pointer into crosshairs and select a portion of the screen or a specific window.

What features are in Mac’s screenshotting tool?

Mac has different options to edit your captures before and after you snip them. 

Use the Options menu to select different settings. For example, you could choose to set a timer and show or hide the cursor in your capture.

Screenshots are saved to your desktop by default. In MacOS Mojave or later, you can change the settings to save your captures wherever is most convenient!

After capturing your screen, open your screenshot, and add small annotations by drawing, adding text, and creating shapes. Plus, crop and resize your image to fit your needs. 

Image of Mac's capture options.

The best snipping tool for Mac: Snagit

While the built-in option on your Mac is great for the basics, if you take a lot of screenshots, it’s worth considering alternative screen capture tools like Snagit.

Capturing your screen is so easy with Snagit. Just open the menu and click the red Capture button.

Snagit can record your screen, grab text from your screen, take a scrolling screenshot, and much more. The capture options are (almost) endless.

Snagit's Mac menu.

Snagit’s easy-to-use editing features make a huge difference

Mac built-in tools can draw arrows, add text boxes, and include shapes, but Snagit goes further. 

With Snagit, you can use text recognition to edit the text right on the screenshot! Plus, use Smart Move to move around elements, and transform busy screenshots into easy-to-understand visuals with Simplify. 

GIF of Snagit's Smart Move feature.

It’s easy to use and convenient when you need to rearrange a few elements on a page.

And, when you are looking to add privacy to your captures, blur out information wherever you need!

Snagit takes your screen recording to the next level

With Snagit, you can record your screen, camera, and audio at once. This feature makes giving presentations super easy. Plus, draw on your screen while you record to add clarity and instruction to your video.

Snagit’s Video from Images feature takes presentations to another level. After you’ve taken a screenshot of the data you want to share, turn it into a video to provide further information to your team.

Plus, you can make fun GIFs of your videos to celebrate any occasion with your team.

Create a video from images with Snagit!

Sharing with Snagit

Once you’ve got your screen capture, you’ll want to share it with your team. Snagit makes it easy! Just press the Share Link button and a unique link will be copied to your clipboard. Simply paste that link anywhere and send it to whoever. 

The recipient does not need to have Snagit themselves to watch, react, and comment on the video. You can truly communicate with anyone. 

Don’t let built-in tools hold you back

Snagit’s comprehensive, yet easy-to-use feature set makes it the go-to screen capture tool for professionals.

Try it for Free!
Illustration of a how-to guide made with snagit

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

How to Screen Record on Windows 10 & 11 (With Audio)

Digital illustration of a desktop computer with a Windows logo on the screen, indicating a guide for screen recording on a Windows operating system. A camera icon with focus brackets is positioned to the right of the monitor, symbolizing a webcam or video capture function. A control panel with buttons and dials is seen to the left of the screen, suggesting software tools for video recording.

Have you ever wanted to record your screen on Windows, but found yourself getting frustrated by the limitations of built-in tools? Odds are that if you’ve tried using a basic tool, you’ve struggled with one or more of the following obstacles:

  • You can’t record file menus or dropdowns
  • You can only record one window at a time
  • You can’t add effects or callouts
  • You can’t record your audio simultaneously

Well, there is a better way. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to record your screen on Windows 10 & 11 using a range of different tools. So you can find the best screen recorder to suit your needs. 

Easily record your screen with Snagit

Record video of all or part of your screen with system audio, voiceover, and webcam.

Try Snagit for Free
illustration of snagit's screen recording interface

How to screen record on Windows 10 & 11 with Game Bar

The Xbox Game Bar is readily available on Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. Initially designed for gamers wanting to capture their gameplay, it can be used to record anything!

Here’s how to make a Windows screen recording using the Game Bar:

Open the Game Bar

Starting up the Game Bar is super easy. All you need to do is press the keyboard shortcut Windows logo key + G at the same time. This will open a control panel near the bottom of your screen.

Choose your audio inputs

In case you want to narrate or add a live commentary to your screen recording, click on the Record Mic option. But remember, you can record your audio separately and add it later if you prefer. 

You might want to think about the equipment you’re using and whether you’ve got the best microphone for recording videos. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it can make a difference.

Start recording

Next, start your screen recording by clicking on the bright red recording icon. Then, when you want to stop recording, click on the red recording panel that appears in the top right corner of your screen. 

All screen recordings are automatically saved on your laptop as MP4 files and can be found in the videos folder.

How to screen record on Windows 11 & 10 with Snagit

When you need to show a process or walkthrough with a short video that doesn’t require much editing, then a screen capture tool like Snagit is the perfect tool for you.

It’s easy to use, has high video quality, and comes with a range of features, from basic trimming and editing to more advanced tools that let you turn screenshots into videos. 

Short and informal screen recordings are great for off-the-cuff videos that explain and convey information to others. For many people, these are the types of recordings they make the most, which is partly because they only take seconds to create!

 

In this section, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of video recording your screen using Snagit. 

Choose what you want to record

To start, open Snagit and select the video tab from the start menu. Make sure that Region is selected from the drop-down menu, as this will make it easy to record just part, or all, of your screen.

Image of Snagit's capture Menu with arrows indicating where to click.

When you’re ready, hit the red Capture button — you can’t miss it! Then, the crosshairs will appear, so you can select the area that you want to record.

You’ll notice that the selection will automatically snap to the windows you have open. However, to manually select a portion of your screen, just click and drag the crosshairs accordingly.

How to use the crosshairs to select a recording region in Snagit

Step 2: Choose which audio to record

With your region selected, it’s time to choose your audio input settings.

To record your voice, select the Record Microphone option. To record the sounds that come from your computer as well, make sure to select Record System Audio.

Snagit can even record your webcam alongside your screen so that your face appears in the screen recording. It’s a great way to bring more personality to your videos and connect with your audience.

Image of Snagit's Capture menu with arrows indicating where to click.

Step 3: Start your screen recording

Click Record. Snagit will then give you a three-second countdown and anything that appears in the recording area will be captured in your video.

Snagit will give you a 3 second countdown before it starts recording

Once you’ve recorded everything that you want to be included in your video, click Stop.

Recording toolbar

Step 4: Trim your video

Once you’ve stopped recording, the Snagit Editor will open in a new window and your video will open in a new canvas, ready to be edited, trimmed, or shared. 

Of course, once you’re finished with your screen recording, you’ll probably want to edit it a little. Even the most carefully planned recordings will likely have something you want to cut, and with Snagit, you can easily trim your recording to remove unwanted clips.

How to trim a video in Snagit

On the other hand, to bring multiple clips or snippets together and produce a longer video, you can use Snagit’s Combine Videos feature. This allows you to merge several clips together and create one cohesive video.

Step 5: Save or share

To save your video, simply go to File and click Save as…, from there, all you have to do is decide where you want to save your file, and click Save.   

However, you can click on the Share Link button in the top-right corner of the Snagit Editor too. This will automatically upload your video to Screencast. 

The link to your video will be automatically copied to your clipboard so that you can share it instantly with anyone. Simply paste the link into an email, a direct message, a Slack channel, or any other form of communication and send it!   

How to make a professional-quality recording on Windows 10 & 11 with Camtasia

While Snagit is perfect for creating short and informal videos, there’s nothing better than Camtasia when you need to add more polish to your screen recordings.

 

While many screen recordings don’t need to be overly complex, sometimes you might want to add closed captions, effects, and animations to your videos.

Step 1: Choose your recording options

First, open Camtasia and click the Record button.

How to record your screen using Camtasia

From here, the Camtasia recorder allows you to fully customize the controls for your recordings.

Customize your recording controls with Camtasia

Step 2: Select the region you want to record

Similarly to Snagit, Camtasia lets you choose to record your whole screen or a specific part of it. You can choose from one of the pre-determined regions or choose “select an area to record” to select a custom region.

Pro tip: If you do plan on recording your entire desktop, it might be worth tidying it up a little to ensure there is nothing distracting or unwanted in your video.

Select a custom region to record with Camtasia

Step 3: Record your audio

Just choose which microphone you want to record from and decide whether you want to record your computer’s system audio.

Then, when you’re ready to stop the recording, click the recorder icon in the taskbar. We told you it was easy! 

How to select your microphone using Camtasia

Step 4: Edit your video

While you can do some simple editing in Snagit, Camtasia comes with a much more powerful and feature-rich built-in video editor. 

How to trim a video in Camtasia

When editing your video, the first thing you’ll want to do is cut out any mistakes and errors. You can do this by selecting them with the playhead, and clicking Cut. You can also trim footage from the beginning and end of your recording by dragging either end of the clip in the timeline.

Once you’ve trimmed your footage accordingly, you can play around with Camtasia’s more advanced features and add a wide range of different effects and animations!

Step 5: Produce and share

Finally, once you’ve perfected your video it’s time to share it with the world. Whether you’ve recorded a webinar or an entire lecture, there are loads of platforms you can use to host your video.

Depending on your audience an online platform like YouTube or Vimeo could be the perfect place to host your video. If, however, you’d rather share it with a select group of people then Screencast might be a better option. 

How to share videos using Camtasia

And that’s all there is to it! Whether you want to use the built-in tools, like Game Bar, or third-party software such as TechSmith’s Snagit and Camtasia, you now know how to screen record on Windows, with audio.

Screen recordings are a great way to produce clear communications for your audience. This means you no longer have to schedule Zoom calls to walk a coworker through a process or have countless meetings to explain simple tasks. From now on, you can just send them a screen recording!

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

Email Will Never Die. Here’s How to Make It Better

An open envelope with a ton more envelopes flying out of it.

We all hate email, right? Yet, a new survey by TechSmith shows that’s where most of our communication at work happens. 

Despite relying on it, survey respondents had much to say about how ineffective email can be. When asked what the biggest hurdle to effective communication is at their organization, people responded with things like:

  • “Too many emails received daily. We don’t necessarily have time to read everything.” 
  • “Back and forth email is very inefficient and can lead to missed deadlines.”
  • “People haven’t read their emails.”
List with icons and text: Too many emails received daily, inefficient communication method, people don't read their emails

So why do we do this to ourselves? If email is going to stick around, and the research shows it is, we must use it more effectively so we can all reach inbox zero.

In this post, we’ll cover why email isn’t going anywhere, why it’s so hard to get right, and simple steps (with examples!) you can take to make sure people actually read your messages.

The future of work is async

New research shows asynchronous formats like video messages are emerging as a welcome replacement for meetings.

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Illustration showing a browser window, mobile screen, and various workplace communication icons. The browser displays a selected area within a webpage layout, a user avatar with a speech bubble, and an exclamation mark notification.

Why email isn’t going anywhere

Email is a staple of most business communications for a reason. It’s a faster, more efficient way to communicate information than setting up a meeting and allows you to reach people both within and outside your organization easily.

Emails also provide a written record of decisions, requests, and other helpful information to archive and reference later. 

Graphic with title: Where does most of your communication happen at work? (Top 3) Then a bar chart indicating amounts, Email 79%, Meetings 64%, Chat/Instant messaging - 61%, Phone Calls 35%, In-Person conveos 28%, Project Management Tools - 9%

What makes email hard to get right

To send a successful email, you have to convey your message effectively. Otherwise, you will face misunderstandings or an onslaught of back-and-forth messages as people seek clarification. Email begets more email.

Or worse, people just won’t read your emails at all. 

Unfortunately, the text-based nature of email can make it challenging to get right.

Email lacks non-verbal cues

When you can’t hear someone’s tone or see their facial expressions and body language, it can be easy to misinterpret the intent of what they’re trying to say. What could have been meant as a friendly message could unintentionally come across as harsh or negative.

Not everyone is good at writing

Effective email communication relies on strong writing skills. Not everyone has the ability to express themselves clearly and concisely in writing, which can lead to confusion or miscommunication.

Wall of text? Next!

Some things are just hard to explain with text. To avoid potential misunderstandings, people tend to overcompensate by providing too much context or clarification. 

No one has time to read a five-page essay during the workday. Either people will skip over your message because the length is intimidating, or your key points will get lost in the mix.

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5 simple ways to send better emails

It may seem like there’s nothing you can do to stop the deluge of emails that pile up in your inbox every day. Here’s the thing, if you take the time to improve your email game and send more clear, concise messages, it will help reduce the unnecessary back-and-forth, freeing up some of your precious time.

1. Get to the point quickly 

If you are sending an email because you need someone to take action, make it clear from the beginning. Avoiding lengthy introductions can help ensure your request or deadline doesn’t get lost in the mix.

If you think context will help, include it after you’ve made your main point. Your recipient will have the option to continue reading if they need to, and you won’t be wasting their time if they don’t.

2. Keep it short

You also want to keep your email as brief as possible without leaving out the necessary details. It’s a balancing act, for sure. Try taking a moment before you start typing to clearly define the purpose of the email. What do you want the other person to do? (And if there are deadlines involved, don’t forget to state them!)

Challenge yourself with a maximum word count. According to Boomerang, the sweet spot for an email is about 50-125 words.

3. Include visuals for clarity

What’s the saying? A picture is worth a thousand words? That’s true! A simple way to make any email more clear and concise is to incorporate visuals like annotated screenshots, charts, or infographics to explain a concept or demonstrate a process.

A whopping 97% of people who use images in their communication at work find it effective. They report that images reduce misunderstandings and save them time.

Whether you’re trying to explain a process or providing feedback on a project, instead of typing out the explanation, take a screenshot! With a screen capture tool like Snagit, you can capture the slide deck or application you’re referring to and use annotations like arrows or callouts to add context.

Side-by-side of two email messages, one has little text and images, the other is just a big wall of text you don't want to read.

4. Structure your email

A little formatting goes a long way! Avoid large blocks of text that can be intimidating or hard to read by breaking your message up into short paragraphs. If you need to outline a process or steps, use a numbered list to make it easier for the recipient to read.

5. Send a video instead

What do you do when you need to share information that isn’t quite worth a meeting but too difficult to convey in an email? You send a video message! Don’t even get me started on all the meetings that can be replaced with video.

If you’re struggling to get your message across, but can’t find time on that person’s calendar, try recording a quick, informal video message. 
Just record your screen (we recommend Snagit, of course) while you talk someone through the steps of the process or your feedback on their project. Then you can email a link to your video that the person can watch at a time that works for them. No meeting or novel reading is required.

Email doesn’t have to be terrible

And there you have it! Transforming the way you communicate may seem like a daunting task, but it’s the small things that often bring about the most change. Start by trying out just one of these approaches and see what happens! 

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Danielle Ezell

Danielle Ezell is a Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith, where she writes about effective workplace communication, offering tips and strategies for using images and videos to collaborate more effectively in hybrid and remote environments.

Information Overload is Real: Here’s How to Manage It

Stylized illustration of a person sitting at a desk and working on a laptop, they are surrounded by chat bubbles, meeting invites, and other informational elements.

Feeling so overwhelmed by emails, messages, and meetings at work that you have no idea where to start? You may be suffering from information overload. 

You’re not the only one!  Half of workers feel that the amount of communication they handle at work hurts their productivity, according to a recent TechSmith survey about workplace communication.

Decorative image with text 50% of workers say the number of emails, meetings, and other messages during a typical workday negatively impacts their productivity.

The constant flow of communication at work can cause problems like decision fatigue, burnout, and feeling overwhelmed.

In this blog, we’ll discuss why information overload happens, its effects, and, most importantly, how to avoid it.

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What is information overload?

First, let’s define information overload. The term “information overload” refers to the feeling of being overwhelmed by an excessive amount of information being presented all at once. In this state, making decisions or prioritizing tasks is often harder because there is simply too much to process at once.

Bertram Gross, a professor of political science, originally coined the term. Still, the concept of information overload was popularized by Alvin Toffler, a writer and futurist, in his book “Future Shock,” in 1970. 

Unfortunately, info overload today is common in the modern workplace, where digital technology has made it easier to send and receive messages at a record pace. 

As companies embrace more flexible arrangements like remote and hybrid work, the reliance on digital communication channels will only increase, making it more important than ever to find better ways of managing information.

Decorative image with text Information overload - noun - a situation in which you receive too much information at one time and cannot think about it in a clear way.

Causes of information overload

Technology has certainly played a role, but information overload occurs frequently in the modern workplace for various reasons.

Increase of digital communication tools

While tools like email, instant messaging apps, project management, and video conferencing can make collaborating at work easier, their overuse can lead to overwhelming messages and notifications. 

The more information we receive via meetings, emails, and chat threads at work, the more likely we feel overwhelmed. Sorting through an endless sea of messages to determine what information is actually essential to your work can be both time-consuming and mentally taxing.

Each tool, with its stream of information, demands our attention and contributes to information overload.

Unclear communication

When a message is ambiguous or vague, there’s often a need to repeat information or add clarification. This results in you having to send the same basic message in different formats.

Let’s say you’re working on a website redesign and want the designer to change the color of a button from yellow to orange and send an email asking for the change. However, there’s more than one button on the page, so your designer replies asking for clarification. Then there are questions about the shade of orange to use, etc. 

A simple request can easily turn into an endless back-and-forth when the original message lacks clarity. A TechSmith survey found that 74% of workers have to repeat themselves or clarify information at work, and 67% experience misunderstandings due to unclear communication.

Image with decorative elements with the text 74% of workers say they must repeat themselves or clarify information at least sometimes.

Unfiltered data and information

In the digital age, organizations can access massive amounts of data, like sales figures, customer feedback, and performance metrics. 

Sifting through this vast amount of data to find relevant and actionable insights can be overwhelming, especially if you lack the adequate skills or tools to organize the information meaningfully. 

This can make it challenging to understand the relevance of the data or how to use it effectively, leaving employees feeling overwhelmed or suffering from information paralysis.

Consequences of information overload

Dealing with constant streams of information can have significant downsides. It can make individuals feel overwhelmed but also harm workplace productivity. The consequences of information overload include the following.

Decreased focus and concentration

The human brain only has so much bandwidth; when it gets overloaded, it’s harder to focus. You might find yourself constantly switching between tasks without fully engaging in a single one– a phenomenon known as context switching.

The constant ping of notifications and emails to sift through makes it challenging to concentrate on tasks that require deep thinking, reducing the quality and efficiency of our work. 

Communication breakdowns

You would think that more communication would make employees more informed, right? When TechSmith surveyed workers about their communication habits, it found that the more people reported feeling overwhelmed by the volume of communication they dealt with, the more likely they were to experience misunderstandings and have to repeat information. 

When the amount of information is just too much to keep up with, we might skim instead of read and overlook important details. This can lead to misunderstandings and time wasted clarifying or fixing issues that arise from poor communication.

Decision fatigue

When we’re presented with too many options or conflicting information, it leads to information paralysis. Basically, we get so overwhelmed by the options that the fear of making the wrong choice stalls the process altogether. 

Consider how it can feel at the grocery store when you’re looking for something like cereal but you’re bombarded with too many options. You might spend several minutes reading labels. Suddenly, all the choices blur together, and you leave the aisle with an empty basket, forgoing cereal altogether.

Lack of work-life balance

I’ll be real with you: I have about 15 unread Slack messages, and it’s stressing me out. We feel pressure to read, respond to, and manage all the information that comes at us during the workday. The fear of missing something important is real. 

This feeling of being “always on” can allow work to creep into our personal lives, leading to stress and burnout. While burnout can hurt our productivity and engagement at work, it can also affect our health.

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Strategies for managing information overload

The only thing that might feel more overwhelming than dealing with information overload might be preventing it. Here’s the thing: there are small steps you can take right now to avoid information overload and improve your life at work. 

Set priorities

Not all information requires immediate attention or response. Focusing on what’s important can help reduce the burden of constantly responding to everything.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, the Eisenhower Matrix is a popular time-management approach. Basically, you divide your tasks into four boxes: the tasks you’ll do first, the tasks you’ll schedule for later, the tasks you’ll delegate, and the tasks you’ll delete.

You can adapt this method to help you make quick, effective decisions when handling communication at work. As you check your email, messaging app, or other inboxes, organize messages into four categories:

  1. Urgent and important: These messages require immediate attention and are critical for your current work projects, like time-sensitive decisions or urgent issues. Respond to these communications as soon as possible.
  2. Important but not urgent: Messages that are important but don’t require an immediate response, like requests for feedback or non-urgent updates. Schedule a specific time to respond, like a daily or weekly block on your calendar.
  3. Urgent but unimportant: These messages might seem urgent but are not directly related to your work. Often, these can be requests or questions that someone on your team can better deal with. Delegate these messages to the appropriate person whenever possible. 
  4. Neither urgent nor important: These messages are neither urgent nor important, including spam, unsolicited sales emails, and informational newsletters. Deleting or unsubscribing from these communications can reduce clutter in your inbox.
Visual representation of the Eisenhower Matrix for Workplace Communication. There are four quadrants showing important - urgent: respond as soon as possible, important - non urgent: schedule a time to respond later, not important - urgent: delegate to the appropriate person, and not important - not urgent: delete or unsubscribe to reduce clutter.

Leverage technology wisely

While the tools we use to collaborate and communicate at work can create information overload, we can also leverage them to help prevent it. 

Create filters and rules

Email platforms let users make filters/rules to sort incoming messages into folders based on sender, subject line, or keywords. Utilizing this feature can help reduce the time you spend sifting through messages.

Screenshot of the setting in Outlook where you can set up rules for specific messages.

Customize your notification settings

Reduce distractions by customizing app notifications to only alert you for important messages or mentions. This can minimize distractions from ongoing discussions that don’t require your immediate attention. Then, you can schedule dedicated blocks throughout your workweek to go through the less-urgent messages.

Screenshot of the notification settings in Slack where you can limit the amount of notifications you receive.

Add clarity to your communication with visuals

Visuals can convey complex information quickly, saving time for the person sending and receiving the message. You don’t have to be a professional graphic designer to leverage the power of visual communication at work. Screen capture and recording tools like Snagit make it easy for anyone to take a quick screenshot or video, add context and share with a link. 

Provide clear, actionable feedback

Feedback is more straightforward to understand when you can show exactly what you see on your screen and the changes that must be made. It’s so much faster to take a screenshot of that slide deck and point an arrow at the typo you caught than try to explain with text alone that it’s on slide 13 in the paragraph about what sea otters eat for breakfast.

Screenshot of an annotated screenshot shared in Slack to provide feedback.

Demonstrate a process

When explaining a process or workflow, a video message can show each process step in action without needing to schedule a meeting or write lengthy instructions. Try not to get intimidated by video. You can make simple video messages by recording your screen and showing the steps like you would during a Zoom meeting. 

With Snagit, you can add arrows and step numbers to your screen while recording to clarify the process. Even better, when that person needs a refresher, they can re-watch the video as needed without interrupting your day.

Conclusion

It is easier than ever to send messages at work, which means we have to be more thoughtful about how we share information. Using visuals such as images and videos can help you convey your message clearly, reducing unnecessary back and forth.

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illustration of snagit's screen recording interface

Danielle Ezell

Danielle Ezell is a Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith, where she writes about effective workplace communication, offering tips and strategies for using images and videos to collaborate more effectively in hybrid and remote environments.

How to Record Your Screen (With Sound)

How to Record Your Computer Screen

Whether you’re a software developer who needs to create a how-to video, you need to record your screen for a presentation or simply want to make a helpful YouTube video, being able to capture a screen recording is essential in today’s world. However, knowing how to screen record on a laptop or PC with sound will make your videos even more impactful. 

Regardless of who you are or what you do, there’s a good chance you’ll need to capture different types of screen recordings depending on your audience, the purpose of your video, and even the length of it. 

For example, a how-to video (often referred to as a screencast) demonstrating a brand-new product will probably need to be longer and more polished than a simple video showing a colleague how to take screenshots on their computer. 

These factors will also influence your decision when finding the best screen recording software. If the key purpose of your videos is knowledge sharing, you’ll want to make sure that the software you use can also record sound, as giving your viewers audio instructions will make it easier for you to convey information and for them to digest it. 

In this article, we’ll look at how to record your screen with audio so that your viewers can hear what you’re saying and see what you’re doing. We’ll also discuss the difference between using built-in screen recording tools and third-party software such as Camtasia and Snagit. 

By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to start a screen recording on your laptop, PC or Mac.

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illustration of snagit's screen recording interface

Should I use a free screen recorder?

Maybe. You can use free apps like QuickTime (on Mac) or Xbox App (Windows), but if you’re comparing different screen recording tools, make sure you get a screen recorder with sound recording and video editing options built-in. Not all software offers this level of functionality, but these ‘extra’ tools can have a significant impact on the screen recordings you create.

The problem with many built-in screen recorders that come as standard on your computer  (and some third-party ones) is that they limit you to just recording. This could leave you needing extra tools and software just to edit and share your videos.

How to choose your desktop screen recorder

The first thing you’ll need to do is choose the screen recording software you’ll use. 

Snagit is great for simple, short desktop recordings, while something like Camtasia might be better for longer, more complex jobs. However, recordings made with Snagit can be easily shared from your captures folder with Camtasia and assembled into longer, more complex videos there.

Today, we’ll show you how to screen record your full screen with Snagit for simple recordings and Camtasia for more polished videos.

Snagit is better for short, quick desktop screen recordings

Short, simple recordings that won’t require much editing can be done with something like Snagit.

Snagit is great for screenshots and quick and easy screen recordings. You can convey a complex idea or process — that’s too hard to explain via email — when you don’t have time to schedule a meeting.

Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Choose what you want to record

Step 2: Decide whether to record your webcam, microphone, and/or system audio (each one can be toggled on and off individually, so you can record all or none of them along with your screen)  

TechSmith's Snagit screen recorder menu with options.

Step 3: Trim your video

Step 4: Save or share

When your video is ready, use the Share menu to save the video or click “Share Link” and a URL will be automatically copied to your clipboard.

Snagit Screen Recording Hotkeys

Start Screen Recording

Windows: Shift+F9

Mac: Control+Shift+Spacebar

Pause/Resume Screen Recording

Click the start recording button or press:

Windows: Shift+F9

Mac: Control+Shift+Spacebar

Stop Screen Recording

Click the stop button or press:

Windows: Shift+F10

Mac: Control+Shift+V

To configure your keyboard shortcuts, see Customize the Snagit Hotkeys.

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illustration of snagit's screen recording interface

Camtasia is better for polished, professional-quality screen recordings

Longer or more complex recordings may need more editing. With Camtasia, you’ll have a built-in video editing suite full of advanced tools you can use to create stunning videos.

For example, Camtasia allows you to enhance the video by zooming in on areas of emphasis, changing the size and path of the cursor, and adding text or graphic call-outs. These are just some of the features that make Camtasia great for creating professional videos, such as training videos, product demos, and software marketing content. 

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Choose your recording options

TechSmith's Camtasia screen recorder menu with options.

Step 2: Choose the region you want to record

Step 3: Record your desktop with audio (depending on your needs)

Step 4: Edit your video

Step 5: Produce and share

Camtasia Screen Recording Hotkeys

Start/Pause Screen Recording

Click the start recording button or press:

Windows: F9

Mac: Command+Shift+2

Stop The Recording

Click the stop button or press:

Windows: F10

Mac: Command+Option+2

To customize the shortcuts for your keyboard, see Customize Camtasia Shortcuts

How to record your screen with sound

Including audio with your screen recordings can enhance the viewer’s experience, and narrating what you’re doing on screen, or providing step-by-step instructions, can be especially helpful when creating how-to videos.

By using voice-over narration, you’ll provide additional context and support for your visuals, which will help viewers understand what’s happening on the screen and why. This also provides an opportunity to give viewers commentary and insight that may not be apparent from the visuals alone – no matter how crisp or clear your video is!

Sound is also useful for other screen recordings. For example, keeping the original audio in clips taken from webinars and virtual meetings will provide extra context and insight into the conversations that took place. Even if you were to provide a transcript of the conversation with the video, there are small nuances in speech that can often be missed without sound. 

Whether you’re recording for professional or personal purposes, having the original audio can be critical for communicating your message effectively. By including both voice-over narration and original system audio, you can create more engaging and informative screen recordings that will better connect with your audience.

Man recording video of himself presenting content.

To record your voice, select the microphone from the start menu on Snagit. Select the system audio option when you need to record the sounds that come from your computer, like the beeps and boops you hear.

When you record your screen you can include typing the address into your browser and show all your mouse clicks and movements to let people see exactly where to go and how to get there.

You can include video and audio when you record your screen too. Use microphone audio to narrate your video from your computer’s built-in microphone or an external mic. You can also record your system audio (that’s the sound that comes out of your speakers). 

Now you have all the information you need to create audio-enabled screencasts! Never again will you need to ask, “How do you record screens with sound?” or “How can I record my screen?”

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Computer screen recording FAQs

Can I screen record with sound?

Yes, with the right software recording your computer screen with sound is easy. While some computers and operating systems come with built-in tools to record your screen, not all of them include features to record audio.

Depending on your computer, downloading software such as Snagit or Camtasia could be the easiest and most effective way to record your screen with sound just by clicking a button on the toolbar.

How do I record my computer screen?

Depending on your computer and operating system, you may or may not have a built-in tool to record your screen. Either way, third-party software such as Camtasia and Snagit offer more advanced features than most built-in screen recorders.

How to screen record on Mac?

You can use the built-in Quicktime Player to capture a screen recording on your Mac, or you can use third-party software such as Camtasia or Snagit which offer more advanced recording features. For example, with the Camtasia Recorder, you can record your screen and your webcam at the same time, as well as sound from both your microphone and system audio. 

How to screen record on Windows?

To record your screen on a Windows computer, you can use the built-in Xbox Game Bar, or third-party software like Camtasia or Snagit, which offer more versatile recording and editing tools. Not only does Camtasia let you record your screen, webcam, microphone, and system audio all at once, but you can also edit all mp4 files either separately or together. 

How to screen record on Chromebook?

To screen record on a Chromebook, you can use the built-in Screen Recorder, or third-party software such as Camtasia or Snagit to capture your screen, audio, and webcam footage. Camtasia and Snagit offer cutting-edge editing and recording tools to help you record and edit like a pro. With Camtasia, you can even create split screen videos and add a range of animations to your footage.

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

How to Generate AI Voice: Enhancing your Workflow with AI

Image of Audiate using AI to generate a script

AI has reshaped the way we work, create, and communicate with each other. Its recent surge in popularity has drawn a lot of attention, but not all positive. Uncertainty and fear hovers around machine-learning AI.

But there is no need to worry. With Audiate’s AI capabilities, you can easily enhance your workflow to benefit you. And not the rise of the machines. 

However, it’s clear that the capabilities of AI are interesting. Workflows are shaped and changed by generative AI every day.

Notably, AI voice generators have taken content creation to a new level of efficiency. You can turn your text into a voice of your choice with the click of a button.

The first step is learning how to generate AI voices, also known as translating text to speech. This means that generative AI uses data patterns and innovates new content that fits your needs.

Introducing Audiate

Audiate’s AI seamlessly integrates generative AI principles with your video editing needs. This leaves you with an easy and efficient video creation workflow.

It’s time to stop spending time laboring over manual transcription. With Audiate, AI acts as your personal scribe, transcribing your speech into text one word at a time. Or, you can transform your text to speech with these updated features.

Two new AI-powered functionalities, Generate Script and Generate Audio, allow you to create near-instant audio projects. No writer or voice actor needed. Audiate can read text out loud, turn your text to audio, and has different text-to-speech voices to choose from.

Plus, Audiate’s text-based editing capabilities allow you to edit the text to fit your needs. Once your text is edited, it’s ready to be turned into an AI voice-over.

From basic recording to advanced editing features, Audiate is designed with you in mind. 

Are you ready to revolutionize the way you work? Let’s dive in.

Generate Script

Do you have a video idea, but don’t know how to realize it into a full-blown script? And there are no writers at hand? No worries, we got you covered.

You can create a script with Audiate! Just explain your idea and simply specify the desired length and style. Audiate will match your idea, time constraints, and stylistic choice to get you a script perfect for you! It’s that easy.

You can then use Audiate’s text to voice generator too, but we’ll dive into that later.

Audiate's "Generate Script" feature has different options to choose from so you create the script that right for you.

If the script is not perfect the first time around, you can also edit it to your liking. Audiate’s text-based editing abilities make it super easy. Or, ask for an instant rewrite of it that leans toward new concepts. The possibilities are endless.

After you are happy with your script, Audiate can also create a summary that aids with the marketing and promotion of your video. 

And, are you trying to market outside of English-speaking countries? Audiate can also translate your script into 6 more languages. You now can reach a wide audience while keeping your message the same. 

Audiate's menu of languages to choose from so you can translate your script into any of 7 different languages.

It’s time to take your content creation workflow to the international level with Audiate.

Audiate’s text-to-speech generator reads out loud using AI voices!

It’s easy to generate text with Audiate

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Generate Audio

Have you ever heard the sound of your voice in a video and cringed? You’re not alone. Audiate is here to help with generative-AI voices. We promise, you never have to hear your voice again!

Now, that is a truly game-changing feature. 

Audiate’s automated transcription and voice recognition capabilities allow you to generate an AI voice right from your text. Or, you can make it super easy. Just use the script that Audiate generated for you earlier and add audio to match. Video creation has truly never been easier. 

Here’s how you do it.

First, you need a script

You can either upload your own text or use one created by Audiate’s Generate Script feature. 

If you have your own voice recording, you can use that too. Just record your text in Audiate using your voice. Don’t worry, you can change it to an AI-generated voice in a few quick steps.

Once you have a script or a voice recording uploaded to Audiate, open the Generate Audio menu. 

Image of Audiate's Generate Audio menu open, showing the different options that create audio.

Click through the wide range of options available to you. 

You can customize voices between a variety of languages and people. Female and male voice options allow for you to refine your audio to your liking. 

Second, choose the voice that conveys your message’s intent

Whether that be friendly, cheerful, angry, or more! Audiate uses realistic AI voices so your recordings always turn out professional.

If you have a voice recording and a script, you can also combine the two into one. This allows you to add details you may have missed after you’re done recording.

Just toggle “Apply to entire project” before you generate the audio, and watch it all come together.

GIF of voice recording and script being integrated into one text to speech audio recording.

This feature seamlessly integrates multiple selections into AI-generated speech. 

Lastly, here’s a bonus feature

You can also create presets. Save your most-used voices so you can easily come back to them later. 

Image of User Presets that has a Favorite Voice option for use later on.

Presets make it easy to stay organized and apply audio settings quickly. 

Whether you need to create a script for your YouTube videos, marketing content, or social media platforms, you can count on Audiate to have what you need.

With Audiate it is that easy to transform your text to AI-generated speech. Try Audiate, your new favorite text-to-speech software, now to see how you can transform your content.

Audiate’s AI Will Transform Your Workflow

The text-to-speech feature is here to save the day.

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Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

The Best Way to Take a Screenshot on any Computer

Screen Capture: The Best Way to Take Screenshots

Do you often need to save or share what you see on your computer screen? While mobile and desktop operating systems offer basic screen capture tools built-in, most have limited functionality.

Do you find that the built-in tools on your devices don’t offer as many functions as you’d like?

That is why there are also third-party apps, like Snagit. It’s the perfect tool for people who take lots of screenshots and need more robust tools than the ones built into their devices. 

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to take a screenshot on both Mac and Windows using built-in tools like the Windows Snipping Tool and third-party programs like Snagit. 

Capture your screen today!

Download a free trial of Snagit to quickly and easily take screenshots of your computer screen, mark them up, and share them.

Download now!
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So whether you need to learn how to capture your screen on your computer or how to take, edit, and annotate screenshots, we’ve got you covered!

How to take a screenshot on PC

To take a screenshot on your Windows  7, Windows 8, Windows 10, or Windows 11 computer, there are several methods you can use.

Capture the whole screen on Windows

To capture an image of your entire screen, simply press the Print Screen button (PrtSc). This will copy the screenshot to your clipboard. You can then open any program that allows you to insert images, such as Paint, Microsoft Word, or PowerPoint, and paste the screenshot by pressing Ctrl-V.

The downside to this method is that it captures everything visible on your monitor. 

If you only want to capture the window you currently have open, you can hold down the PrtSc button at the same time as the Windows key Alt.

Capture parts of the screen on Windows

The Snipping Tool (available on Windows 7 and later versions) allows you to capture a specific area of the screen, as well as add notes and save the image in different formats.

You can open the Snipping Tool by searching for it in the toolbar search. Use the Windows-S shortcut to open Windows search and type in Snipping Tool.

Image of Snipping Tool UI right when you open it.

Just follow the instructions, and take as many screenshots as you need!

How to take a screenshot on Mac

These methods work with versions of macOS–10.10 (Yosemite) or higher.

Capture the whole screen on Mac

Here are the steps to follow when taking a screenshot on a Mac:

Press the Shift+Cmd+3 to screenshot your full screen. 

Next, you can either click on the preview that appears in the corner of your screen or open the screenshot from your desktop to edit and/or share it.

Capture parts of the screen on Mac

Shift+Cmd+4 turns your mouse into crosshairs. From there, you can select a window or drag and drop the crosshairs, selecting the area you’d like to capture.

Click the command, shift, and 4 button at the same time to take a partial screenshot.

To capture a screenshot on a Mac, press Shift+Cmd+5 simultaneously to open the screenshot tool.

Hotkeys Command Shift 5 opens up the screenshotting tool for a Mac.

With the screenshot tool open, you’ll notice several new options for taking different types of screen captures, including recording the entire screen and recording a portion of the screen.

Expert Tip: If your MacBook has a Touch Bar, you can capture it in your screenshot by pressing Shift+Cmd+6. 

To copy a screenshot of your entire screen to your clipboard you need to press Shift+Cmd+Ctrl+3 at the same time. 

Screen capture using Snagit

With Snagit, you have way more possibilities for capture. The software offers precise capture, image editing, free cloud-sharing, and so much more.

Step 1: Open the capture window

Open Snagit from your menu. If you’re in the Snagit editor, click the Capture button in the toolbar to bring up the Capture window.

Snagit UI with the red capture button.

Step 2: Choose your screen capture settings

Grab your entire desktop, a region, or a window with Snagit’s All-in-One Capture®. Take quick image screenshots. Or even record videos.

Step 3: Click the capture button

Click the Capture button on any tab in the Capture window to start your screen capture. You can also start a capture by using the keyboard shortcut Shift+Cmd+3 or PrtSc keys.

Step 4: Click and drag the crosshairs to selects parts of your screen

Your capture is automatically saved in the Snagit library. Use Snagit and Screencast’s Share Link feature to share your screenshot with anyone!

No matter which method you choose, taking a screenshot should be fast and convenient for you.

Screenshot your computer today

Download a free trial of Snagit to quickly and easily take screenshots of your computer screen, mark them up, and share them.

Download Free Trial
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Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

When You Know, You Know: Why Technical Writers Choose Snagit

Image of man who uses Snagit with tech writers.

Technical writers have a difficult task, seeing as how they have to explain processes to audiences they can’t see or talk to – and they have to cover every level of expertise. The advancements made over time, from reams of books to easily shareable digital materials, have immensely helped communication.

With all the methods available, why is Snagit the tool technical writers choose?

Selvaraaju Murugesan is head of data science at http://Kovai.co, an enterprise software company offering multiple products in the B2B SaaS area. The company’s goal is to identify business problems and create solutions to help its customers. One of the products is Document 360 which uses Snagit extensively to create technical documentation. Due to his company’s reliance on Snagit, he identified the top seven features that won over their technical writers.

1. Quick Launch Hot Key

GIF of Snagit quick launch from hotkey

With Snagit, you can open the software and use the big red capture button…or you can customize it with your chosen keyboard shortcut. This way, Snagit is always at a tech writer’s fingertips, no matter what else is happening on the screen.

“We love it,” Murugesan said. “You press the Print Screen wherever you are. It’s a no brainer. Your whole area is the canvas, which we absolutely love…we really like that cool feature.”

Of course, your options aren’t limited to Print Screen or to just launching. Snagit comes equipped with ready-made keyboard shortcuts for a variety of uses, but you can also customize them to your own preferences.

Easily record your screen with Snagit

Record video of all or part of your screen with system audio, voiceover, and webcam.

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Illustration of a how-to guide made with snagit

2. Quick Style Presets

GIF of a preset in Snagit's menu for adding a black border to your captures.

Each Snagit tool has a variety of default Quick Styles to quickly and easily annotate image captures. This way, a technical writer can use a customized style and save them as Quick Styles to use repeatedly. Not only is it a time saver, but writers can easily adhere to the brand guidelines. For instance, at Kovai.co, writers use different style presets for different products. For the tech-focused products they use one set of presets, and for the marketing-oriented projects they use a separate set.

“We want to make sure our brand guidelines are a little different,” he said. “So we created these presets, and it’s easily available for our technical writers to access…we really love that cool feature.”

3. Scrolling Capture

GIF of a scrolling capture in Snagit.

With Snagit, users can capture the entire contents of a web browser or application window – including the content that goes beyond the visible area on the screen. As a single image, users can capture entire web pages, long documents, wide spreadsheets, and any other window on your screen that requires scrolling.

Clearly, this works well for the documentation needs of technical writers, so they can produce clean, easy-to-understand images.

“It’s very seamless,” Murugesan said. “You take a screenshot and you scroll through and it stitches together…and produces a big screenshot in a panoramic setting. It’s pretty cool.”

4. Grab Text

GIF of text being extracted from a screenshot using Snagit's Grab Text feature.

Snagit is able to detect text in images and convert it to editable text. If you’ve ever had to manually and carefully copy words from a screen, you know how useful this is. iPhone users will be familiar with this feature as well. Once you take the screenshot and select Grab Text, a box pops up with all your text, ready to be copy and pasted anywhere you need. 

“Our technical writers quickly latched onto it,” Murugesan added.

5. Video Capture

GIF of a man presenting information using Snagit.

Snagit isn’t just for still screenshots, either. The ability to make videos with it is one of Snagit’s top features, since it’s a straightforward way to get your point across, without the obstacles of a complex video capture tool. Technical writers love Snagit because they can record videos to demonstrate a process to reach their audiences.

“There are a few use cases we use it for,” he said. “First is for our external end customers to use, but we also use it when support tickets arise and people don’t know how to figure it out. Instead of sending them a document link with a bunch of screenshots in it, our support guy goes and makes a cool video and then sends it to them.”

They have seen measurable success by using Snagit’s video capture feature.

“When we did that, our CSAT score went up by more than 5%,” he said, referring to the customer satisfaction score metric. “It’s all about making sure they get what they need, and they’re happy. We don’t send them a lengthy document, or a documentation link with all the stuff. Instead, here’s one piece – a video, watch it. Your problem is solved. So that was brilliant.”

For technical writers, having the ability to produce screenshots and videos in one app makes it easier for them to reach people in the form they want their information.

“The baby boomers…they like to read rather than watch,” he said. “But millennials and Gen Zs…text? I don’t buy it. Give me a 30 second video, watch it. We mix and match these days.”

6. Snagit Library

GIF of Snagit's library with different tabs for organization.

Snagit has your back. Didn’t think to save a capture? The Snagit Library stores your capture history, including images, video recordings, and animated GIFs. This is especially valuable for technical writers, as UIs change over time, and it’s useful to have past records.

“Sometimes what happens is, you take a screenshot, or we close the laptop, or we forget…and it’s pretty cool you have a time machine,” he said. “I can actually go back to two years ago, and I saved a screenshot – and you got it there.”

7. Turning Your Screenshots into a Video

GIF of a screenshot being repurposed as a video.

With Snagit, you can record and narrate a video to provide additional context for an image. Add arrows, drawings, and audio to communicate with your viewers.

Why do it this way? In the past, if you wanted to provide a video of a tutorial, you had to make sure you were ready to record each step, emphasize the areas of the screen you wanted to focus on, and narrate it – all at the same time. It might go right, or you might have to edit or start over…but Snagit lets you take a series of screenshots and use those to create your video. Technical writers can ensure they have exactly the image they want to share – before recording.

“Creating videos from images with voiceovers is as easy as a walk in the park,” he said. “Our technical writers love that feature.”

Screenshots, video, audio – Snagit helps technical writers meet the needs of their audiences in a variety of ways. There’s a reason Snagit has been the leading screen capture software for decades worldwide. It helps people communicate faster and more clearly…so they can get their jobs done. Do you want to learn more about when to use text, images, or video in your documentation? Check out this article.

Carla Wardin

Senior Marketing Communications Consultant, where I work with all kinds of interesting industries on their content needs. I live on a dairy farm where we’re also raising crops and boys.

The Easiest Way to Shorten a Video for Social Media

Image of a video being cut short by scissors.

Content creators are plentiful in today’s digital landscape. How will you stand out?

Social media content creation is a fast-paced, dynamic process that requires expertise to maintain audience attention. At this point, it’s an art form! The digital landscape is full of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. They require high-quality, attention-grabbing videos.

Sure, you could spend a ton of time in a complicated video editor, but we’re going to show you a better way. 

Image of Audiate and Camtasia working together to edit the video in Audiate.

Why are short videos good for social media?

The data tells it all.

Diminishing attention spans: Focus on short-form content. Cater to the shrinking attention span of today’s audience by focusing on short-form, easily digestible content. 

According to StudioCanal, the average watch time per video view was 3.33s on TikTok. The average watch time per person was 5.26! That limits the amount of content your audience is willing to watch!

Platform algorithms: It’s what the apps want! Algorithms often prioritize short videos, which loop quickly, making them more likely to appear on more user’s feeds. With short-form videos, you can reach a wider audience simply because your content will play more frequently.

Audience preferences: No one has the time anymore. Users would rather consume content quickly and on the go. A blog post by Socialinsider states that after exceeding the 15-second length limit, TikTok videos get a 16.55% decrease in the average view rate. Your audience is more than willing to skip past long videos.

What social media platforms are best?

A few social media platforms thrive off short videos. TikTok carved the path to short-form video. They were one of the first popular platforms to limit content to 15-second videos. Although these guidelines have since changed, the platform continues to lean on short-form content for its viral trends and challenges.

Instagram Reels came out as a way for individuals to reach a broader audience. They did so by posting through their already-existing Instagram accounts. This platform is similar to TikTok in its tendency to favor short-form content and trending audio. 

Lastly, YouTube Shorts entered the community by emphasizing shorter-length videos as well. However, they accompany the long videos we all know and love. 

Now it may seem pretty straightforward, but making short videos can be time-consuming and tricky. You only have a few seconds to create the content you want to publish after all.

A great way to save time is by repurposing old content. Instead of creating new content for every social media post, you might want to cut down some of the longer videos you’ve made. Save time by reusing content you already have. That makes it simpler.

Or, maybe you created a video that is just a little bit too long for your social media platforms. No worries, simply upload it to Audiate, edit the transcribed text, and sync your edits to your video.

Time is a precious commodity for us all, and Audiate recognizes that. By streamlining the editing process, Audiate allows you to repurpose your content quickly and efficiently. 

So, do you need to learn How to remix a YouTube video into a short? Or learn how to edit a video for social media? Either way, we’ll show you how.

Easily Create Social Media Videos with Audiate!

Maximize your content’s potential today

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Create short videos for social media in three easy steps

Audiate can help you edit your videos faster so you can spend even more time creating. Audiate is set to be your go-to solution for creating short-form content that captivates your audience. Just use its automatic transcription to precise text editing and seamless audio synchronization.

Turning your long videos into short videos might seem like an editing-heavy task. Luckily, Audiate makes it super easy to accomplish. It’s done in three steps, and you won’t even need to trim any video content yourself.

Automatic transcription

The first step is uploading your Camtasia video to Audiate. There, the software will work its magic by transcribing the spoken content for you. Not only does this save time, but it also lays out the groundwork for your editing process. 

You will have the ability to read the transcription and listen to your audio simultaneously. Doing so ensures a seamless editing process. Have we mentioned how easy this makes video editing?

Image of a script being automatically transcribed by Audiate.

Editing text

Now, delete, edit, and refine the transcription of your video. The text you delete from the transcription will be cut out of your video. So you can focus only on what’s important. You can quickly identify and modify the text to match your video vision. 

The Audiate system empowers content creators to cut through the clutter and focus on what matters most—your message. Remove unnecessary ”ums,” “ahs,” and “likes”, repetitions, and tangents to make the most of your content. 

Image of the transcript being edited in Audiate.

Automatic sync

Your text is edited down to only what you want to say. The software will now seamlessly sync the edited text to the audio and video. This will ensure that the natural flow of speech is maintained while cutting out unnecessary content. Your short-form video now looks professionally edited without the need for painstaking manual editing. 

It’s so easy, we don’t know how we ever edited without it!

Image of an Audiate transcript being exported and linked to Camtasia.

Audiate is truly a powerful ally for content creators looking to master the art of short-form videos. In an instant, you will be able to remix YouTube videos into a short. That means you can also create easily consumed content for all of your other social media platforms. 

Boost Your Social Media Content with Audiate!

Save time and edit with Audiate instead

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It’s time to say goodbye to endless editing and hello to Audiate. Embrace it, save time, and let your creativity shine on social media. It’s a place where every second counts, and your voice deserves to be heard. 

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

How to Make a YouTube Intro

Stylized image of a web browser window with a large YouTube play button icon centered on a vibrant green background, suggesting a tutorial on "how to make a YouTube intro."

Everybody is making videos these days. Good ones, bad ones, funny ones, serious ones. Videos for training. Videos for marketing. Social media videos. Quick video updates. Sharing ideas with video.

There are even a ton of videos about making videos.

Create your own YouTube video intros!

Ready to start creating cool intros for your videos? Download Camtasia and get YouTube intro templates to use in any project!

Try Camtasia Free!
Camtasia user interface

If you’re making videos, or interested in them, you’ve probably noticed that many of the best ones include a short intro section. It’s an ideal technique for giving videos a professional and polished look.

What makes a good video intro?

A good video intro animation is quick and concise. A short opening to your video lets the audience know what it’s about, who you are, and, if applicable, the brand or organization you represent.

It’s for this reason that video intros are often templatized. One of the most convenient things about a good video intro is they can be reused throughout a video series or in all the videos on a channel.

A bit of catchy music along with a few animations or transitions becomes a visual signature for you or your brand.

Do I need an intro for my videos?

It’s not absolutely necessary to add an intro to every video.

Consider the purpose. If your video is a quick one-off that you’re sending to one or a couple of people, it might not be necessary.

On the other hand, if your video will be hosted and shared publicly or is part of a series, then an intro can be a really nice touch. It’s almost always a good idea to add an intro to YouTube videos.

How long should a video intro be?

YouTube video intros should be quick and snappy. Viewers want information as fast as possible, and your videos should reflect this desire.

The best video intros quickly greet viewers, introduce the presenter, and say what the video is about. This can all be communicated through text displayed in the intro sequence.

The intro is not the place to ask for likes, subscribes, shares, and comments. This adds unnecessary length to the intro and delays viewers getting to the content they want. Save the housekeeping for the end.

As far as raw length, 3-7 seconds is a solid rule of thumb.

How to Make a YouTube Intro (Step-by-step)

Making a video intro is actually a very easy process. All you need is some easy-to-use video editing software and, to make things really easy, a selection of video intro templates.

Camtasia comes with a number of video intros that you can use in any project. And TechSmith Assets for Camtasia has more YouTube video intro templates that you can download straight to Camtasia and then customize. 

Step 1: Choose a video intro template

This step can be done from within Camtasia by choosing one from the library. Alternatively, you can download one from TechSmith Assets for Camtasia, which has more free video intros plus other resources like video templates, sound effects, music, and more.

Screenshot of Camtasia library with Intro section open.

Step 2: Add the intro template to the timeline

Camtasia is a great video intro maker because it makes video editing so easy. Drag your video intro template from the Library to the timeline.

Screenshot of cursor dragging and dropping intro template on the Camtasia timeline. Call out reading "Click and drag from Library to timeline.'

Step 3: Customize the intro with Quick Properties

Camtasia’s Quick Properties gives you customization options that make it easy to change text, colors, and logos in your intro template.

Camtasia Quick Properties panel for customizing template items.

Step 4: Add the customized intro to your Camtasia library

Right click the intro media group on the Camtasia timeline and choose Add to Library.

Screenshot showing right-click and choose Add to Library.

Create your own YouTube video intros!

Ready to start creating cool intros for your videos? Download Camtasia and get YouTube intro templates to use in any project!

Try Camtasia Free!
Camtasia user interface

Name the intro and choose a folder to save it to. 

Now, you can use the customized intro as a template in any new video you create!

More reading

Now that you know how to create an intro for your videos, you might want to learn to create an outro. YouTube outros have some special features you can use, so learning the ins and outs can be really helpful.

Check out our post 5 Easy Steps to Make a YouTube Outro for everything you need to know about creating YouTube outros.

Ryan Knott

Ryan Knott is a Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith, where he creates content about easy, effective, and efficient video creation, editing, and tips and tricks, as well as audio editing for creators of all kinds. He/him.

How to Get Good Audio Recordings from Your Home Office

Image of a video being edited by Audiate in a home office.

The rise of remote work came with the need to learn new skills right from home. Learning how to record a voice-over at home, for example, has become a non-negotiable for remote professionals. Weird static, distracting background noise, and uneven audio are all pitfalls that prevent your audio recordings from shining. 

That’s where Audiate comes in. The all-in-one solution for elevating your home office into a home voice-over studio is here. It’s going to make your life easier while making you feel and look more professional.

In this guide, we’ll dive into how you can transform your home office into a professional audio studio. And that’s without fancy equipment. 

Upgrade Your Environment

A lot of unexpected noise is thrown your way when you work from home. Whether it be the laundry machine or a ring at the doorbell, followed by incessant barking, quiet is hard to keep.

The first step to upgrading your audio recordings is to pick a dedicated workspace. Try to find a space that is quiet, far from distractions, and secluded from others. A personal office is a game-changer, but any space can become a dream to work in with just a few adjustments.

Equipment that helps

Equipment can be hard to keep up with, but one must-have is noise-canceling headphones. High-quality headphones can help block out ambient noise. That means you can concentrate on your tasks without any disturbances.

Make sure to upgrade your microphone; your laptop usually isn’t good enough. Usually, headphones include a microphone, but a desk-compatible microphone will do the trick as well.

Plus, consider soundproofing your space with special equipment. Panels, solid doors, and draft stoppers minimize noise transfer between rooms and dampen sound.

But if you don’t want to invest in extra equipment, that’s okay, we get it. The furniture you probably already own, like heavy curtains and rugs, can help absorb and block sound too! Every little change can make a huge difference in your audio quality.

These small changes can make a huge difference. Because when your home office has an optimized set-up, Audiate shines even brighter.

Understanding Audiate

Audiate isn’t just a recording software; it’s your audio ally. It is a powerhouse full of user-friendly features that transform your audio and videos in just a few clicks. 

Audiate has your back! Between editing video audio, recording a voice-over for video, and anything else.

From basic recording to advanced editing features, Audiate is designed with you in mind. Notably, Audiate offers text-based editing directly into the audio editing workflow. Now, you can eliminate hesitations, refine your script, and enhance the clarity of your message right in the text.

Audiate’s Features Make a Difference

Audiate’s features are the difference between crisp and muddy audio

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You can make immediate changes to your audio while recording too. Save time and get optimal results by using real-time monitoring.

Advanced features provide you with the ability to make professional-grade audio recordings. Noise reduction, EQ controls, pitch correction, and more work together to make your voice shine. But, don’t worry, we’ll dive into these in further detail in a few moments. 

Edits that make a difference

Image of the Effects list in Audiate that control how you can edit your audio recording.

Now, you’ve done all you can to reduce noise levels before you start recording. The time has come to learn how to make edits that will transform your audio post-production.

Noise Reduction

Even with extra precautions, there is usually some background noise that can muddy up some of your audio. No worries, Audiate has an effect that can fix just that. 

It’s simple, just select and adjust the dial to fix your audio best. It may seem tempting to turn it all the way up. But that can muddy up the parts of your audio you want to shine, so take your time with the adjustment.

Plosives

Plosives–the “p” sounds that overpower your audio are natural and can give your listener a jump scare. By using Audiate’s pop filter, you can get rid of them.

Plosives are easy to remove. You just need to turn the dial up and down until you have a “p” sound that doesn’t jump out from the rest of the audio.

Image of Audiate voice editor software that minimizes plosives with the Remove Plosives effect.

Delete hesitations and fillers

We all make mistakes. We take a pause that is a little too long for comfort, say “like” and “um” to fill silences and trip over our own words. As much as we may not like it, we all do it. 

Luckily, Audiate automatically finds your hesitations and murmurs so you can easily edit the audio right there in the text. Say goodbye to “ums” and “ahs” with just the click of a backspace.

Image of Audiate interface that has hesitations and mistakes highlighted.

Equalizer

Now, the equalizer feature is a great way to improve the quality and tone of your voice-over at home. Audiate even has refined features within Equalizer to fine-tune your sound quality easily.

This feature can take a muddy and hollow recording and turn it into an audio that sounds clear and full. With EQ, you never have to worry about an unclear voice ever again.

Image of Equalizer feature in Audiate and all of the refined features it has to offer.

Pro tip: Use the Remove Noise feature before Equalizer for the best results.

Volume Leveler

Sometimes we say some words with more energy than others. Or a quote gets added in later on with weird audio discrepancies. Well, no worries.

With the Volume Leveler feature, you can adjust the volume level of individual words to create a uniform recording. Watch as your recording turns from an uneven mess into a nice, even audio.

This effect keeps your voice consistent, calm, and keeps your audio at a professional quality level. 

DeEsser

Some sounds like “s” and “z” in English can become overwhelming when above a certain volume threshold. This adds unwelcome distractions to your voice-over recordings. Audiate can tone down the abrasive noise these sounds make for you!

This effect takes your consonant-heavy recording and turns it into a more pleasing version. It’s super easy to use and a nice upgrade to any audio.

DeClipper

Microphones, no matter the price point, can be finicky. No matter how hard you try, there’s sometimes funky distortion and saturation that makes your audio sound wonky.

Audiate’s DeClipper effect can rectify improper microphone levels by removing distortions and improving overall audio quality.

Consider your audio spikes and too-loud spurts a thing of the past with this handy feature.

Remove Reverb

Now, you may have your own space to record, but empty spaces, large or small, can cause echoes that reverberate through your audio recording.

With the Remove Reverb audio effect, you can remove those pesky audio tails and echoes. So, clean up your hollow, echoey recording easily.

Good luck on your journey

All together, Audiate has an array of features that make a huge difference in your audio recording quality. 

Plus, Audiate automatically links to your Camtasia video editor, so you can easily sync and edit video and audio.

Whether you’re a podcaster, content creator, educator, or professional seeking top-notch audio quality in your virtual communications, Audiate is there for you. It stands out as a versatile and powerful solution for a reason. Just record, edit, and done!

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Audiate’s editing features are here to make your life easy

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With its plentiful feature set and user-centric design, Audiate will empower you to elevate your audio files effortlessly, turning any recording space into a sophisticated home voice-over studio.

Audio mastery is a journey, and Audiate is your trusted map. Start your journey now and explore its fun features and experiment with the abundant settings. The time has come for you to unlock the full potential of your home office audio setup.

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.