Taking a video screenshot of your computer or smartphone screen can be very useful, very simple and above all very impactful. Now that you know how to take an image screenshot (if not, read our guide on how to take a screenshot), you should know that taking a video screenshot is no more complicated. Your PC, your Mac, your smartphone allow you easily. If you want to do a lot and make your video recordings more sophisticated, use a dedicated video capture software (see list in this article).
Why make a video capture?
Being able to film your screen has become a matter of course, as evidenced by the tutorials that flourish on YouTube. Video screen capture can have several applications: it was first massively used by gamers to comment their tips and exploits on video games. Video recording now has an educational, and commercial, purpose. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video can do without explanatory text. A video capture explains everything: by combining a video demonstration on screen with an audio commentary by its author.
As a user, you’ve probably already watched one of these tutorials to solve a technical question. Perhaps you felt a relief not to have to consult several articles, but to come across a video of an expert showing you and explaining precisely what steps to take on his screen. If the explanation goes too fast, just press pause and do it yourself.
As a professional, video screen capture allows you to capture an audience, generate traffic to your website and showcase your products and/or services very easily, at a low cost and with little knowledge and equipment. E-merchant, dropshipper, infopreneur, blogger… You have the opportunity to educate and convince your customers and prospects to use your product / service! On your website, your online store, your blog, newsletter or social networks: nothing will be more convincing than a video demonstration to boost your engagement and sales.
You still doubt the impact of video marketing and its primacy over text in terms of attention? Here are some unassailable figures to change your mind:
Video on social media generates 1200% more shares than text and images combined (Brightcove).
People spend 5 times more time watching a Facebook video than static content (Facebook)
Every day, we watch 1 billion hours of video on YouTube (YouTube Stats)
75% of mobile traffic is now video (CISCO).
Now, let’s get down to business: how to take a video capture? How to capture video on your PC, Mac and Smartphone (iOS and Android)? Which video capture software to use? And finally, what are the best practices to get the most out of your video recording?
Taking a screenshot on Mac and PC
Operating systems have understood the importance of video, and therefore the functionality of video screen capture, as well as image screen capture, useful for anyone working in office automation. To record a screen, nothing could be easier, because this functionality is integrated into your operating system.
How to take a video capture on Mac?
QuickTime is the screen recording application built into your Mac.
To make a Mac video capture:
1- Open QuickTime
2- In File, select New Screen Recording
3- The screen recording tool appears. Click on the small white arrow below the recorder button. Select the microphone to use, and indicate if you want the mouse clicks to be displayed in your video capture.
4- Click on the save button (equivalent to the good old “REC”).
5- You are given the choice to record the whole screen or just a selected part
6- Stop the recording by clicking on Stop in the menu bar.
7- Save the video capture at the location of your choice.
How to make a video screen capture on Windows 10?
Video screen capture on PC is possible with Windows 10 and the Xbox Game Bar initially designed for gamers and video games. But it is possible to film your screen and record it for any purpose.
1- Press simultaneously the Windows + G keys to open the application
2- Select the “Broadcast and Capture” widget dedicated to video screen capture
3- In this “Broadcast and Capture” window, click on the record button
4- A small video recording window will appear at the top right of your screen, allowing you to stop the recording or mute the microphone at any time during your demonstration.
5- Click on the Stop button to stop your video recording
6- Your video capture is in your Videos folder. That’s it!