How to Use Camstudio

If you would like to produce your own computer related how-to videos, you will need a screen capture program. Normally these can be quite expensive and difficult to learn. But CamStudio is a freeware screen capture program that has many of the features of the commercial programs, but is still quite easy to use.

Instructions

1. Go to the Camstudio.org website and download the CamStudio20.exe file, as well as the CamStudioCodec.exe file also listed. Also, download the Lame MP3 codec and the DivX codec.

2. Install the Camstudio utility itself, and then install the various codecs.

3. Start Camstudio and go to the "File" menu to start new projects or open old ones. Start a new one.

4. Click on the "Region" menu. This allows you to define the size and area of the screen the program will capture. Click the "Drag Corners to Pan" to move the "Box" around that you will be recording.

5. Select "Options" and click "Video Options." Select the "Compressor." You should use the "DivX" codec from the list. Turn off "Auto Adjust." Set the "Key Frames" to 30, the "Capture Frames" to 50 and the "Playback Rate" to 20. Finally, go to "Options" and click "Audio Options." Select the "Lame" codec as your audio compressor. You are now ready to record.

References

• How to Use Cam Studio

Resources

• DivX Codec
• CamStudio
• Lame Codec