Enterprise Technology Services has created this KB guide at the request of UVM faculty and the Center for Teaching and Learning. This guide is meant to serve as an aid to students who need to capture presentations and share them remotely.
Screencast-o-matic is an easy-to-use screen recorder that can be used to capture any area of your screen with the option to add narration from your microphone and video from your webcam.
Installation
Install Screencast-O-Matic (FREE Screen Recorder version)
The steps below will walk you through the installation of Screencast-O-Matic FREE edition.
- Navigate to https://screencast-o-matic.com/, then click the “Start recording for free” button.
- On the next page that loads, click the “Launch Free Recorder” button.
Create and Share a Recording
Create a Screen Recording
This portion of the guide assumes that you’ve already installed the Screen Recorder software using the “Install Screencast-O-Matic (FREE Screen Recorder version)” steps above.
- Navigate to https://screencast-o-matic.com/, then click the “Start recording for free” button.
- On the next page that loads, click the “Launch Free Recorder” button.
- You’ll receive a prompt, click the “Open Screen Recorder Launcher” button.
- The Screen Recorder will open. The dash rectangle outlines the area of your screen that will be recorded. You can adjust the frame by click-and-dragging the corner or center marker that sit inside the frame.
- An overview of the Screen Recorder controls – depending on the type of recording you need to make you may want to record a portion of your screen, video from your webcam, or use both:
- Screen – Record a screen capture (for things like PowerPoint presentations).
- Webcam – Record using your built-in webcam.
- Both – Record an area of your screen and use the webcam.
- Narration – Select a microphone for voiceover narration. The sound meters
green bars indicate you have sound. Orange and red is a sign that the mic is too loud and is causing distortion. If there is no color change the microphone is not picking up sound, try selecting a different microphone.
- Before you begin recording, close or minimize any unwanted applications. If recording a PowerPoint presentation, open your PowerPoint file and adjust the recording frame to capture the slides. To start your presentation, select “Slide Show” from the ribbon menu, then click “Play from Start”
- The PowerPoint will fill the entire screen. Stretch the frame recording area over the entire screen.
- When you’re ready, click the “Record” button to start. A countdown will display 1, 2, 3 – GO, begin presenting.
- Use the “Pause” button to stop/restart the recording.
- When you’re finished your recording, press the “Pause” button, then select “Done” and choose “Save/Upload”
- Save as “Video File”
- Click the Publish button to save the recording to your computer.
Create a Webcam Recording
This portion of the guide assumes that you’ve already installed the Screen Recorder software using the “Install Screencast-O-Matic (FREE Screen Recorder version)” steps above.
- Navigate to https://screencast-o-matic.com/, then click the “Start recording for free” button.
- On the next page that loads, click the “Launch Free Recorder” button.
- You’ll receive a prompt, click the “Open Screen Recorder Launcher” button.
- An overview of the Screen Recorder controls – depending on the type of recording you need to make you may want to record a portion of your screen, video from your webcam, or use both:
- Screen – Record a screen capture (for things like PowerPoint presentations).
- Webcam – Record using your built-in webcam.
- Both – Record an area of your screen and use the webcam.
- Narration – Select a microphone for voiceover narration. The sound meters
green bars indicate you have sound. Orange and red is a sign that the mic is too loud and is causing distortion. If there is no color change the microphone is not picking up sound, try selecting a different microphone.
- When you’re ready, click the “Record” button to start. A countdown will display 1, 2, 3 – GO, begin presenting.
- Use the “Pause” button to stop/restart the recording.
- When you’re finished your recording, press the “Pause” button, then select “Done” and choose “Save/Upload”
- Save as “Video File”
- Click the Publish button to save the recording to your computer.
Share a Recording via UVM Streaming
The Center for Teaching and Learning has created a quick tutorial for uploading video content to the UVM Streaming service.
Troubleshooting and FAQ
Permission Settings for macOS Catalina Users
macOS Catalina 10.15 introduced new security controls to better protect your computer. For example, apps are now required to ask your permission before accessing your webcam, microphone, or recording/sharing your screen.
To configure your security settings for Screen Recorder, please do the following:
- Check your macOS version – the following steps are only available in macOS 10.15 and higher. To check your macOS version click the menu in the top-left corner, then select “About This Mac“.
- Click the menu in the top-left corner, then select “System Preferences…“. From the window that appears, select “Security & Privacy”
- Click the padlock in the lower-left corner of the window. Enter your computer username and password – this will allow you to make the necessary changes.
- Select the “Privacy” tab. You’ll need to allow Screen Recorder to access your Camera, Microphone, Accessibility, Files and Folders, and Screen Recording. To do this, select the item from the left column, scroll through the list of applications, and make sure that Screen Recorder is checked.
- Repeat this process for:
- Camera
- Microphone
- Accessibility
- Files and Folders
- Screen Recording
- Quit and relaunch Microsoft Teams for these changes to take effect.