In this tutorial:

• Video Capture Overview
• Record a Video
• Video Capture Settings
• Recording Dimensions (Resolution)

Video Capture Overview

When a screenshot isn't enough, record a video of the screen as an MP4 file. You can choose to record microphone audio, system audio, and a webcam. Use Snagit videos to:

• Walk someone through a process or issue.
• Record a demonstration or a how-to video.
• Record a presentation with slides and video of the speaker.
• Send someone audio and visual feedback in a video.
• Record a small portion of an online video or animation.
• Record and narrate a set of images with the Create Video from Images option. See Turn Your Screenshots into a Video.

Record a Video

1. In the Capture window, select the Video tab. To learn about the settings on this tab, see Video Capture Settings.
   
2. Click the Capture button or press Print Screen (Windows) or Control+Shift+C (Mac).
   
3. The orange crosshairs appear. Click and drag to select the area to record on the screen or click the Fullscreen button to select the entire screen. For more information about selecting the recording area, see Recording Dimensions (Resolution).
   
4. To edit the selected area, complete any of the following:
   • Drag the handles to adjust the selection.
   • To enter a specific size, type the dimensions in pixels into the Width and Height fields.
   • To move the selected area on the screen, click within the highlighted area and drag the selection to the desired location.
     
     Tip: Press G to show the video selection guidelines while selecting an area to record. See Recording Dimensions (Resolution).
5. The Video Recording toolbar appears. Click a button on the toolbar to turn the option on or off before or during recording.
   
   • Webcam: Record live video from the connected or built-in webcam. Click the dropdown to select the camera device and Picture-in-Picture or Fullscreen Webcam options. See Record a Picture-in-Picture Video.
     
   • System Audio: Record the sound from your computer such as application alerts or the audio playing from your computer speakers.
     
   • Microphone audio: Record the audio from your computer's built-in microphone or from a connected USB microphone.
     
6. To begin recording, click the Record button or press Shift+F9 (Windows) or Command+Shift+Space (Mac).
   
7. To pause recording, click the Pause button or press Shift+F9 (Windows) or Command+Shift+Space (Mac).
   
8. To stop the recording, click the Stop button or press Shift+F10 (Windows) or Option+Shift+V (Mac).
   

The capture opens in Snagit Editor where you can preview, edit, and share the capture.

Note: To enable the webcam or microphone on Mac, you must allow Snagit access. In the System Preferences, select Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > Microphone or Camera > enable Snagit 2022. See MacOS Permissions.

Video Capture Settings

Tip: If you frequently use the same video dimensions or recording settings, save the settings as a preset for future use. See Save Capture Settings as Presets.

Recording Dimensions (Resolution)

To create quality videos, you should consider the recording dimensions before starting the video recording. It is important to select the appropriate dimensions for where you plan to share the video with your audience. Snagit provides several ways to help you select the appropriate dimensions for your video recordings.

Select the Video Recording Area

Snagit offers the flexibility to record custom dimensions, a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, the entire screen, a region, or a window. Frame the screen content by selecting a recording area that only includes the relevant screen content.

Tip: It is recommended to limit video recordings to one hour or less. Recording longer than one hour can lead to problems with the video or a failed video capture.