Camtasia Studio allows teachers and students to record lectures, tutorials, presentations, and demonstrations directly into video format (also see, ‘How To Use Podcasting In The Classroom‘).
This software also enables instructors to capture their computer screens, webcams, and microphones to create engaging videos and record audio.
They can add text captions, voiceovers, graphics, music, and even animation effects to make their videos stand out.
Camtasia Studio offers many features to enhance the instructional experience. For example, it includes:
- Screen Capture – Use the built-in screen capture tool to take screenshots of your desktop or web browser. Then, upload those images to your course materials.
- Voiceover – Record your voice while viewing PowerPoint slides or recorded video clips. Add a background soundtrack and transition effects to turn your lecture into a podcast.
- Audio Track Recording – Enables audio recording from multiple sources such as a microphone, headset, or speakers.
- Video Recording – Record live video from your webcam or camera.
- Text Overlay – Place text overtop of your presentation slides or recorded video clips to provide additional information.
What You Need
Before downloading Camtasia, it’s useful to check if your operating system is compatible.
For example, If you use Windows XP or Linux, you won’t be able to use Camtasia. To check whether your computer supports Camtasia, go to www.camtasia.com/systemrequirements.
Equipment
As we’ve seen, you can use Camtasia Studio to capture screencasts, make tutorials, and record presentations.
You can also do more than just start and stop recording what you see onscreen, depending on your settings. However, you will need some extra hardware.
For example, if you want to record sound, you can’t just rely on system audio. You’ll probably want to attach a USB microphone to your computer. And if you want to record video, you might want to buy a webcam (also see, ‘Best Camera for Podcasting‘).
| Professional Quality  | Most Versatile  | Content Creators  |
| Primary Rating: 4.7 | Primary Rating: 4.6 | Primary Rating: 4.5 |
| $169.00 | $99.99 | $99.99 |
Camtasia Studio does not require any additional software or drivers to record system audio. However, it does require a Windows operating system, such as Windows 7, 8, 10, or Server 2008 R2.
Step 1 – Download And Install
For download information check with your education provider. It’s easy to install on compatible computers/smartphones.
To take advantage of a free trial simply head over to the Camtasia site and download the software.
After downloading the program, you will be asked to register. Simply enter your email address and password and you will be good to go.
Students can start recording immediately once they have logged into the app. They can pause, mute speakers, and resume recordings at any time during the session.
To ensure that recordings remain secure, they cannot be shared outside the classroom environment. However, they can easily be downloaded and viewed later.
Step 2 – Recording
Windows allows recording in PowerPoint, which makes it easier to do if you have this operating software.
You can also record outside of PowerPoint if you prefer to do so. To start recording in PowerPoint, open the presentation you wish to record and click the Record button on the toolbar.
If you are not on a Windows system or you prefer to do so, you can follow the steps for recording outside of PowerPoint in the accordion above, or you can read various available guides to how to record without PowerPoint.
Step 3 – Editing
Editing in Camtasia is easy. Once you have finished recording, you can view the file by clicking the Play icon next to the File menu in the top right corner of the window.
This opens up the editing interface.
In the editing interface, you can trim the beginning and end of the clip, add transitions between clips, change the speed of the clip, and apply effects to the clip.
When you finish editing, you can save the file back to your hard drive. The file name will include the date and time when you recorded the file.
Step 4 – Sharing
Once you have saved the file, you can share it with others using one of three methods:
- Uploading the file to YouTube
- Sending an email attachment
- Saving the file locally
ALSO SEE: how To Stream A Live Podcast On Youtube
Uploading To YouTube
You can upload the file to your customized Youtube homepage directly from within Camtasia. Simply select the file from the list of files in the left-hand pane and then click the Upload button.
From there, you can track audience engagement and site statistics for the video, share it with your viewers, and more (also see, ‘Podcast vs Youtube – Which Should You Choose‘).
Tips
The Media Bin in Camtasia is designed to maintain the original version of your media while you edit it. If you’re working on a long project, you might want to keep your edited versions separate from the original.
This way, you can always revert back to the original version if you need to. Use the zoom slider to zoom in on the Timeline to get more precise control over your edits.
You can trim and cut clips to free up space on the Timeline, and you can add transitions to help smooth out your project.
Pros
Camtasia Studio is a powerful tool for capturing presentations and demos.
While there are many similar products out there, Camtasia stands apart because it offers such a wide variety of options and features.
The software allows you to easily add voice narration, transition effects, zoom and pan, captions, quizzes, and much more.
There are even some great free themes and templates that let you quickly customize your screen captures.
You can use the built-in editor to edit your files directly without having to export them to another format.
This feature works well for those looking to tweak the look of their videos without losing quality.
There are plenty of tutorials and support forums online for help learning how to use the product.
Cons
While Camtasia does offer a number of different ways to process your recorded file, it doesn’t allow you to convert your file into something like MP4, AVI, WMV, etc.
This means that if you want to upload your video file to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, etc., you’ll need to export the file manually.
If you’re looking for a simple screen recorder, Camtasia isn’t the best option. If you want to do anything beyond basic editing, however, it’s definitely worth checking out.
| Free Audio Software  |  |  |  |
| Primary Rating: 3.5 | Primary Rating: 3.5 | Primary Rating: 3.5 | Primary Rating: 3.5 |
| N/A | $31.49 | N/A | N/A |
Conclusion
Camtasia is a useful tool for capturing audio and video content. It is easy to use and has many features that make it ideal for both students and instructors.
