Screencast Software

This is a quick guide to the available screencasting packages.  If I’ve missed something, get in contact.  Most of these tools are discussed in The Screencasting Handbook.

Web-based tools (so nothing to install!):

Windows:

Mac:

Linux:

Tools that help you record and edit screencasts:

Windows:

  • Sizer – presets to fix your window’s size and position
  • MouseZoom – tells you your mouse’s exact location, great for multi-scene alignment
  • GSpot – codec explainer to diagnose weird video codecs
  • MediaInfo – tells you about codecs (like GSpot)
  • Adobe Premiere – excellent video editor
  • Sony Vegas – another very good video editor
  • AVidemux – video editor
  • ffmpeg – great for transcoding
  • WinFF – ffmpeg visual wrapper for transcoding
  • mencoder – part of MPlayer, great for transcoding
  • Handbrake – transcoder
  • AVidemux – video editor

Mac:

Linux:

There are also screenshots of Linux video editors.

Video hosting options:

  • YouTube – regular and HD available, 10 mins only
  • Screencast.com – screencast focused hosting
  • Vimeo – non-commercial only, high quality
  • ShowMeDo – screencast focused for open-source tutorial, not commercial-use friendly
  • Wat.tv – French only, commercial use ok