INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Screen recorders can prove useful in a whole host of situations: for showing off your gaming exploits, or for putting up a tutorial on the
web, or for demonstrating the features of your brand new app.Whatever your reasons for needing to record what's on the screen, a host of
applications out there will do the job for you, and with a minimum of fuss
Here we've picked out our favorites across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and the web.1
CamtasiaLong-standing software for professionalsPacked with video editing featuresTackles any recording task with easeOptions overload for
many usersCamtasia (Windows, macOS) has been in the screen recording game longer than most, and offers more features than most too – as
well as capturing what's on screen with aplomb, this fully fledged video editing solution can also add plenty of extras and edits on top
too.Whatever you want to record, from games to PowerPoints, Camtasia can take it all in its stride – with or without audio, with or
without a webcam feed, and so on
Annotations, extra media files, transitions, titles and more can then all be dropped in with your footage.Despite all its features, the
software never feels too complex, thanks to an intuitive timeline interface
On the downside, it is expensive at $249 (about £180), but you can test it out for 30 days for free
For something cheaper and simpler, try SnagIt from the same developer studio.2
OBS StudioThe leading free screen recorderHandles multiple audio and video files wellWon't cost you anything to useNot that easy to pick up
from scratchPeople who don't want to pay for their screen recorder tools tend to flock to OBS Studio (Windows, macOS), and with good reason:
it lets you effortlessly blend different sources and audio tracks together, packing in features you'd usually have to spend heavily to
get.Built with gamers in mind, live streaming options feature prominently, but you can just as easily save your recordings to disk
On top of that you get advanced features like noise reduction (for your voiceovers) and the ability to set transitions between your
scenes.All of this is overkill if you just want to record a quick clip – and to the complete beginner, OBS Studio perhaps isn't the best
of the options listed here – but you get a pile of fine screen recording and live streaming features for free, and that's difficult to
Icecream Screen RecorderDoes the basics, and does them wellSwift and simple screen recording engineZoom and annotation tools includedSparse
interface isn't always intuitiveNot everyone wants the hefty feature sets of the likes of Camtasia or OBS Studio, and Icecream Screen
Recorder (Windows, macOS) is a more compact and friendly alternative
Fire it up, click the record button, select the part of the screen to record, and you're off.Choosing your recording area and saving your
footage couldn't really be any easier, though it's not the most precise tool we've ever come across
The program lets you draw on your footage, add a webcam feed, zoom while recording, and choose your final video quality.Upgrade to the Pro
version of the software (£19.95/$27), and you can break through the five-minute time limit, as well as select from more output formats,
convert between formats, add watermarks, and schedule screen recordings – features which can all come in handy.4
TinyTakeScreen recording made simpleCouldn't be easier to get goingEasy sharing to other platformsNo advanced source selection
toolsContinuing the theme of smaller, simpler screen recorders, we present TinyTake (Windows, macOS)
It has all the features you're likely to need, none of the fluff you don't, and is particularly good when it comes to sharing captured
videos and photos with other people.As for the main capturing process itself, once you've created an account (which isn't optional), you can
be recording your computer screen in a couple of clicks
Drag out the area you want to record, click the start button, and TinyTake effortlessly handles the rest.And that really is all there is to
it – if you want to add annotations, or record anything longer than five minutes, you'll need to upgrade to the paid-for version of
TinyTake ($29.95 or about £22 a year)
For simple screen recording and easy sharing to places like YouTube, though, it's ideal.5
ScreenFlowOne of the best options for MacsComes with a fully featured video editorCombine several audio and video sourcesNot quite as
advanced as some other optionsApple macOS actually comes with some screen recording tools built in – more on that in a moment – but
ScreenFlow (macOS) is a serious upgrade on what Apple's desktop software can do on its own, plus it adds a pile of handy features and extra
video editing tools.For example, you can crop, pan, and zoom around different parts of your video recording, as well as add annotations and
callouts on top of the footage you've captured
It's a fully featured and intuitive video editor as well as a comprehensive tool for screen recording.As for the actual capturing bit, it
couldn't be any easier to use: pick your video source(s), pick your audio source(s), and away you go
Footage from your webcam can be easily added into your main video, and the whole process is slick and streamlined throughout
It'll set you back $129 (about £94) but a free trial is available.Want to put ScreenFlow through its paces Click here6
ScreencastifyStraightforward Chrome extensionWorks right inside your browserCombine screen and webcam feedsLimited in terms of capture
optionsIf you don't want to install extra software on your computer (well, apart from a browser extension), Screencastify (Chrome) is one of
To use the extension without a watermark and for more than 10 minutes at a time, a premium upgrade ($24 or about £17 a year) is
required.Just because the program is an add-on for your browser doesn't mean you're restricted to recording browser windows, although you
Screencastify is able to record in full-screen mode as well, and supports audio from your system or a microphone.The extension is even smart
enough to embed a feed from your webcam as well, so you've got lots of flexibility, even if you don't get quite as many bells and whistles
as you do with other programs
On-screen drawings and annotations are supported in Screencastify too.7
AZ Screen RecorderComprehensive Android screen recordingSupport for timelapses and moreNo noticeable effect on performanceMay not work at
higher-res on older devicesAZ Screen Recorder (Android) is one of the top choices for Google's mobile operating system, bringing with it
easy-to-use controls, plenty of recording options, and even a lightweight video editor if you want to trim down your recordings before
sharing them.Everything is handled with a little pop-up window that disappears when you start recording
You have the option to illustrate screen touches, and include microphone audio capture too, depending on what you need from your Android
screen recording.Delve into the settings and you can adjust the video recording resolution, frame rate and orientation, and even add a
timelapse effect if necessary
It's got just about everything you could want from a screen recorder tool on an Android device.8
DU RecorderMultiple video capturing optionsOption to embed live camera footageDoesn't visualize on-screen touchesBased on the stats in the
Google Play Store, DU Recorder (Android) is even more popular than AZ Screen Recorder when it comes to Android devices
Like its competitor, you get smooth and stable screen recording, and no phone rooting or reconfiguration is needed.A small pop-up dialog
lets you start and stop recording, and then you can capture everything from games to web browsing
Multiple video quality and frame rate settings are available, and you can even embed a "face cam" via your phone's front-facing
camera.Simple video editing tools and easy share options are included with DU Recorder as well, so it really is an all-round package for
recording screen activity on Android
What's more, you get all of it for free, with no in-app purchases and no restrictions on what you can do.9
QuickTime and iOS Screen RecordingSolutions for Apple devicesYou've already got the software you needSmooth and stable recordingWon't work
with connected Android devicesYou might have noticed we haven't mentioned any tools for iOS yet, and that's because Apple limits what
However, iOS and macOS come with integrated tools that should be able to take care of your screen recording needs on Apple hardware.The
built-in iOS screen recorder is available via the Control Center: just tap the record button to start recording
If you can't see the red, circular icon, open up iOS Settings, tap Control Center then Customize Settings, and make sure Screen Recording is
included.Over on macOS you've got QuickTime: choose File, then New Screen Recording to record activity on your Mac, or connect up an iPhone
then choose New Movie Recording and pick the iPhone as the source
These are simple options, but they do the job well enough.QuickTime and Screen Recording come built into macOS and
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