Part One: What is CamStudio?

Logo image for CamStudio. CamStudio is a free piece of software which allows you to record your PC's screen together with audio (if required), producing a single .AVI video file. Although CamStudio does not have some of the more advanced features that commercial screencasting software may have (e.g. Camtasia), its simplicity makes it a strightforward application that requires little technical know-how.

Suggested uses of CamStudio may include:

  • Pre-recording lecture slides with audio narration for students unable to attend campus-based classes (e.g. collaborative partnerships).
  • Pre-recording lecture slides with audio narration where live alternatives are not viable (e.g. a lack of bandwidth to conduct a Skype call).
  • Audiovisual feedback of a student's assignment.
  • Demonstrating a process to a colleague or student (e.g. how to submit an assignment via Turnitin).

Installing CamStudio for Your PC

Installing CamStudio for Your PC

Camstudio can be safely downloaded here. Make sure to click the green 'Download' button and not any other links on this page.

Once downloaded to your PC, follow the steps below. 

  1. Double click the installation file you have downloaded.
  2. All of the default settings can be accepted so click on the Run/Yes/I accept.../Next/Install buttons until a green bar indicates that the software has installed correctly. 
  3. Click the subsequent Next/Finish buttons to complete the installation.
  4. If the 'Launch CamStudio' box is ticked on the final screen, CamStudio will then automatically start.

Installing the CamStudio Codec

Although it may sound like a complicated technical term, "codec" simply means "compression/decompression" and is a small programme that helps to shrink large movie files so they are playable on your computer. For CamStudio to record at its best, it is recommended that you install the CamStudio codec before using CamStudio itself.

As with the installation above, this is a one-time task that will ultimately result in more pleasing results for both you and your students. To download the codec, please click here and save the file to your computer. Once downloaded, double click on the file and follow the installation instructions by clicking Yes/Next/I accept.../Install. It should only take a few seconds. You will know whether the installation has been successful when adjusting CamStudio's settings in the following step. 

If you have any problems installing CamStudio or the codec, please contact Dan Harding (d.harding@keele.ac.uk).

CamStudio Settings

CamStudio Settings

Correctly configuring the settings within CamStudio is important and usually only needs to be done once, depending on how you intend to use the software. The main reason for doing this is so that you produce good quality recordings without capturing superfluous material (e.g. recording audio when you don't need to) or creating files that are too large.

Video Settings

The general rule for video is the higher the quality, the larger the file. Large files can cause problems for staff uploading their videos, but also students/colleagues trying to view them. Although bandwidth on campus is not usually an issue, it can be for those who are elsewhere in the UK, abroad or using slower connections such as wi-fi. Finding a balance between the two is always sensible. Using the settings below should produce video files that are approximately 20Mb per minute, 1.2Gb per hour. 

To help avoid these problems, it is recommended that you use the settings as detailed in the steps below.

  1. With CamStudio open, make sure that it's set to 'Record to AVI' by toggling the button labelled 'SWF'.
  2. Go to Options -> Video Options.
  3. In the window that appears, reduce the quality to 70%.
  4. Deselect 'Auto Adjust' at the bottom of the window and change the settings to match the screenshot underneath.
  5. Click OK to save. 

Screenshot of CamStudio recommended video settings.

Setting the Region

If you only intend to record one window, e.g. a PowerPoint presentation or Word document, you can reduce the size of the file by specifying just that. To do this, select Region -> Window. Each time you begin a recording, CamStudio will now ask which window you would like to record by clicking inside of it (usually the one you already have open). There are also options to record fixed regions or the full screen, however, it is at your discression which option to use.

Audio Settings

There are limited advantages to changing CamStudio's audio settings, so are best left to default.

To record audio, you will need to have a microphone connected to your desktop PC. If you are using a fairly modern laptop, there's usually one built-in. Should you have more than one microphone (e.g. using a laptop that has an in-built microphone with a headset), you can specify which one to use by going to Options -> Audio Options -> Audio Options for Microphone. From the window that appears, you can change which microphone to use by selecting it from the top drop-down menu. 

If you do not wish to record audio, you can do this by selecting Options -> Do not record audio.   

Recording and Saving Your Video

Recording Your Video

As you've probably seen by now, the CamStudio interface is fairly simple with only 3 main controls for recording your video.  

Screenshot showing CamStudio interface.

To begin recording, simply click the Record button and depending whether you are recording a single window or full screen, continue with your screencast. If you are recording a single window, you will be asked to click inside of it first. 

If you'd like to take a break from recording, press the Pause button and once you are ready to resume, press Record to start where you left off. 

Once you have finished recording (or would like to start again), press the Stop button. You will then be asked to name your video and where you would like to save it. If you would like to discard your recording, press the Cancel button. It is recommended that you save the video onto the Desktop so that it is easy to find in later steps.

Known Issues

This section will list solutions to any problems reported with using CamStudio as they are reported. 

  • After installing Camstudio, if a message similar to "The programme can not start because MSVCR100 is missing from your computer" appears, you can download the necessary files here. If you would like some assistance doing this, please contact Dan Harding (d.harding@keele.ac.uk) or I.T. Services.

Part Two: Uploading Your Video to YouTube

Logo for YouTube. If you've created a video using CamStudio with the intention of sharing it with students or colleagues, you'll need to upload it to a site such as YouTube. All staff and students have access to their own YouTube account via Keele's subscription to Google Apps for Education, which means you can access it using your Keele username and password.

Part Three: Sharing Your Video

Although YouTube provides a means to make your video public, there are also options to share it more privately. As you can see from the previous screencast, I was able to make my video 'unlisted' which means it will not show in YouTube search results but can still be shared via a direct web link. This can then be circulated via email or added to a module section on the KLE. There are stricter privacy settings, however this can sometimes cause problems if students/colleagues are not given the correct access and also increases the administrative burden. Below is a brief screencast demonstrating how you might share an unlisted YouTube video within the KLE.