Top Ten Tips for Creating Effective ScreenCasts

Create great looking screencasts by applying these tips. Includes a screencast video with all the tips explained.

I was recently contacted by TechSmith, developers of Camtasia, with an invitation to write an article about my top ten tips for creating a screencast.

Rather than just write an article, I created a screencast using Camtasia which covered my top ten tips.

The screencast, and the text of the article are below.

Top Ten Tips for Effective ScreenCasts

1. Start with Camtasia Studio
   • All in one Recorder, Editor, Publisher
   • Publish for web, CD, or DVD
   • Proven solution, mature product
   
   



2. Use a USB digital microphone
   
   • for clean, problem free audio
     
   • Affordable - prices start under $40
   • Plantronics USB500 or Samson CO1U
   
   
   
3. Position the microphone to prevent popping
   
   • Move microphone away from mouth to prevent popping and to avoid breathing sounds
   • Avoid contact with body or clothes to prevent unwanted noise
     
   
   
   
4. Use an enhanced cursor
   
   • Enhanced cursor helps viewers follow the action
   • Use enhanced cursor movement to pinpoint important information
   • Find enhanced cursors in Camtasia screen recorder under 'effects'

   
   
   
5. Close Unneeded Programs
   
   • Clear the clutter from the screen
   • Free up system resources
   • Reduce problem of device or resource conflicts
   
   
   
6. Set the size the stage
   
   • Take into consideration destination (web, CD, DVD)
   • Reduce screen capture area to minimum size
   • Set capture region in Camtasia Screen Recorder
   • Size and place all components to fit capture region
   
   
   
7. Do a trial run
   
   • A trial run will help you compose presentation
   • A trial run will reveal missing elements
   • A trial run will help you condense your presentation
     
   
   
   
8. Plan to Make Mistakes
   
   • Know that mistakes are easily removed during editing
   • When you make a mistake, take a breath and then repeat the segment where the mistake was made
   
   
   
9. Edit ruthlessly
   
   • Editing audio and video is easy in Camtasia
   • Edit out mistakes
   • Edit out unneeded or confusing material
   • Edit to keep the presentation brief and interesting
   
   
   
10. Publish to flash
    
    • If primarily a screen capture, publish to .swf format
    • If contains video, publish to .flv format
    • To minimize file size, publish at 10fps, 11.025 mono

More screencasts

If you want to see other screencasts I have created, visit our Screencast Area