How to do a Screencast Video

Screencasting is the easiest way to record a BuiltIntelligence course. All you need is a computer and a microphone! Take your users through an engaging slide presentation or software demo by using a simple software on your computer. You’ll find all the tools and tutorials you need to create your first screencast videos on any budget below.

Preparing to Record a Screencast

1. Set your resolution: BuiltIntelligence’s video player uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, so you’ll want to make sure everything you record (your screen and your slides) match the same ratio. Head to System Preferences > Display to change your screen resolution to 1280 x 720 or above.
2. Make your slides:If you are using slides, some great tools are Powerpoint, Keynote and Prezi. Be sure to add lots of high-resolution images to keep users engaged.
3. Set up your audio:We recommend using a USB microphone like this or your Apple headphones to record the audio for your course.  Quickly run through this tutorial on how to setup your microphone. Don’t forget to keep the mic as close to your mouth as possible and record in a quiet space!

Screencasting on a Mac

• Option 1: Quicktime (Free) If you are just running through slides or a software demo with minimal editing, Quicktime is the simplest way to record and edit your course, for free! There are lots of good tutorials on YouTube to show you how to do this.

• Option 2: Quicktime + IMovie (Free) If you need to do a little more editing, like adding a visual asset to the middle of your screen capture, we recommend capturing your footage in Quicktime and importing into iMovie to edit. There are lots of good tutorials on YouTube to show you how to do this.
• Option 3: Camtasia for Mac  Camtasia is our number 1 recommended tool for recording a screencast and editing, all in one. There are lots of good tutorials on YouTube to show you how to do this. Plus, Camtasia offers loads of helpful resources and tutorials on their site. 

Screencasting on a PC

• Option 1: Windows Movie-Maker (Free) A good, free solution for capturing and editing your screen and webcam footage.
• Option 2: Camtasia for PC Although a little pricier, if you have a PC we recommend Camtasia as the best all-in-one solution. Again there are lots of good tutorials on YouTube to show you how to use this.

Additional Resources

Need extra help? For help with editing your screencast videos, VideoPixie - a freelance network for videographers and editors