One tool, one way of conveying information to others, always keeps on slipping people’s minds. That would be screen recording. Why not simply share what you are doing and see it on your own screen with either your audience, viewers, team, etc. If you are a Mac user, there are several options you can choose from. In this article we will dive into which screen recorder would fit whose needs the best and also share some tips and tricks on the way as well.

Why Screen Recording is Important

Screen-recorded content can both serve entertaining and educational purposes as well. It all depends on the purpose behind the generated recording and who the target audience is. Gamers, influencers on social media, educators and marketers all alike make good use of screen recorders on a daily basis. Naturally, a lot depends on the user’s level of experience as well, and to what levels can they take advantage of everything each screen recorder can offer. With some practice and a tutorial here and there, anyone can produce high-quality and valuable screen recordings.

Top Screen Recorders for Mac

Here are five of the most widely recommended and most widely used screen recorders for Mac:

Movavi Screen Recorder

The best screen recorder for both experienced users and beginners. Movavi is well-known for its user-friendly interface and easy-to-use features. With its built-in editing tools, screen recording on Mac with Movavi will result in high-quality screen recordings.

A feature that could prove to be crucial is record scheduling, with which you can record webinars or live streams automatically. You can also save the screen recordings in multiple formats, ensuring compatibility with different devices and platforms.

OBS Studio

A very popular choice among streamers and content creators. OBS is free and open-source, it offers very advanced features for those who like to fiddle around with both audio and video settings. Yet again, this all depends on a bit of your own hardware as well, including how great the processing power of your machine is and how good the quality of your input devices is. Other than screen recording, you can also utilize OBS for live-streaming as well.

Multiple sources and layers can be set up within OBS, so feel free to experiment around a bit. Who knows? Maybe it will end up being a career change. A bit of editing here, a bit of content magic there, and you are set to become the next big streamer. Thanks to it being open source, OBS has countless plugins and add-ons that have been developed over the years by various users and developers.

QuickTime Player

This screen recorder comes pre-installed on all Macs, making it an accessible option for all users. This is a really simple tool that allows you to record your screen with the press of a button right away. Optimal for users who just want to have the job done without tempering with any settings within the software.

Sometimes simpler is better, but do not fear, as QuickTime Player has basic editing and trimming features as well.

ScreenFlow

After talking a bit about the simplest tool for the job, now it is time to talk about the screen recording tools at the other end of the spectrum, the ones meant for professional content creators. ScreenFlow has high-quality screen recording options for high-resolution videos. It excels the best when it comes to creating professional tutorials and presentations.

ScreenFlow offers multichannel audio recording and editing tools with which you can make eye-catching overlays and animations. This screen recorder really shines when it comes to post-recording editing, adding transitions, annotations and effects.

Snagit

Snagit represents a versatile tool, as it offers both screen capture and screen recording capabilities. Just like the other screen recorders, it has a user-friendly interface, which is ideal for those who want to create quick tutorials or share visual feedback with others.

Tips for Seamless Screen Recording

Even if you are making a simple screen recording, it needs some preparation, as usually you want to show something specific with the recording itself. When it comes to high-quality screen recordings, things can get a bit complicated. But do not worry, as with the following tips and tricks, you will be able to make screen recordings without any hiccups or difficulties.

Clean Up Your Desktop

One of the most crucial and self-explanatory steps you need to take before hitting the start recording button. Nobody likes a cluttered and messy desktop, it screams unprofessionalism and sloppiness. Shut down any unused applications that do not contribute to the screen recording. If you are planning to record your browser, then close any unused tabs. Another thing you can do is hide your bookmarks, simply by holding down the Cmd and Shift buttons at the same time and pressing B.

Optimize Recording Settings

Selecting the right recording settings is important, no matter what purpose your recording has. Most screen recorders offer a wide range of resolution settings. For general tutorials, 1080p is typically enough. When it comes to frame rates, 30 fps is a standard nowadays, but if possible, make your recordings at 60 fps. Especially if you are making a screen recording of fast-moving content, like gameplay. It is also important not to overlook audio settings, either. Test your input devices, such as your microphone. Some software allows noise-canceling as well, which can further aid the quality of your screen-recorded content.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcuts always come in handy, no matter what you are doing on your Mac. Some of them are the same all around and some differ depending on the software you are using. It is really neat and gives your screen recordings a professional feel if people viewing them can’t see how you pull your cursor away to start or stop a recording. Generally, all screen recording software’s websites contain these shortcuts, or you can look around in the settings. Making screenshots can also be handy if you want to show something specific and add an extra layer to your content.

Plan Your Content

No matter what you do, planning and preparation are always key. If you thought that doing a one take was enough, then just imagine how good your content will become with a bit more work put into it. First, you’ll need to outline your main points. Create a detailed outline or script of what you want to cover in the video. Practice and rehearse your presentation a couple of times before recording. Practice makes perfect, they say, but don’t be discouraged even if your live recordings don’t turn out as well as you initially planned. Adding visual aids like slides, images and visual aids can greatly enhance your explanations.

Recording in Segments

Splitting your content into segments can make both the recording and editing process a lot easier. Creating natural breaks can ensure that you won’t lose your train of thought. These pauses or breaks can be covered up with some visuals or neat editing. Ask any professional or even casual content creator, segmenting your recordings will allow more effective editing. It will let you trim or enhance specific parts of your content without having to deal with lengthy and drawn out video.

Edit for Clarity

Post-recording editing is important if you want to polish your video a bit to make it really shine. You might have to work from frame by frame, but it will be completely worth it if you cut out unnecessary content. Those benign long pauses, mistakes or irrelevant parts of your recording. Adding annotations and captions will not only ensure that your content is suitable for everyone, even if they are hearing or visually impaired. Adding background music or sound effects can also enhance the overall feel of your recordings.

Test Your Setup Before Recording

Doing a test run or two never hurts. Before you actually start recording, check your audio levels. Record a short clip and listen to the playback. Avoid audio that is too soft or if it distorts from being too loud. Review your video settings during the test recording. Tweak it here and there, or anywhere it is necessary, and remember which setting you have used in which part of the test footage. Lighting plays a major role if you are adding webcam-recorded footage to your videos.

As with any content creation, take your time with it. The more you do it, the more content you make, the easier you’ll be able to identify any potential issues.

Conclusion

Learning how to make screen recordings that are up to your own standards takes time. With these tips and tricks, you can speed up the learning process and assure that your content will stand out from the crowd. Pairing this knowledge with the right screen recorder for your Mac is also important.  Whether you opt to go with Movavi, OBS Studio, the ready available QuickTime or any other, you will always have a reliable screen recorder at your proposal.