Wednesday 30 September 2015

CamStudio Review



CamStudio Screen Recording Software:
This page provides a comparison of notable screen casting software, used to record activities on the computer screen. This software is commonly used for desktop recording, game-play recording and video editing. Screen casting software is typically limited to streaming and recording desktop activity alone, in contrast with a software vision mixer, which has the capacity to mix and switch the output between various input streams.

A screen cast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration. The term screen cast compares with the related term screenshot; whereas screenshot generates a single picture of a computer screen, a screen cast is essentially a movie of the changes over time that a user sees on a computer screen, enhanced with audio narration
A screenshot, screen capture (or screen-cap), screen dump or screengrab is an image taken by a user to record the visible items displayed on the monitor, television, or other visual output device in use. Usually, this is a digital image using the operating system or software running on the computer, but it can also be a capture made by a camera or a device intercepting the video output of the display.
In the 1980s, computer operating systems did not universally have built-in functionality for capturing screenshots. Sometimes text-only screens could be dumped to a text file, but the result would only capture the content of the screen, not the appearance, nor were graphics screens preservable this way. Some systems had a BSAVE command that could be used to capture the area of memory where screen data was stored, but this required access to a BASIC prompt. Systems with composite video output could be connected to a VCR, and entire screen casts preserved this way. Screenshot kits were available for standard (film) cameras that included a long anti-reflective hood to attach between the screen and camera lens, as well as a closeup lens for the camera. Polaroid film was popular for capturing screenshots, because of the instant results and close-focusing capability of Polaroid cameras. In 1988, Polaroid introduced Spectra film with a 9.2 x 7.3 image size more suited to the 4x3 aspect ratio ofCRT screens.Click Here
Screenshots can be used to demonstrate a program, a particular problem a user might be having, or generally when display output needs to be shown to others or archived. For example, after being emailed a screenshot, a Web page author might be surprised to see how their page looks on a different Web browser and can take corrective action. Likewise with differing email software programs, (particularly such as in a cell phone, tablet, etc.,) a sender might have no idea how their email looks to others until they see a screenshot from another computer and can (hopefully) tweak their settings appropriately.
A monitor or a display is an electronic visual display for computers. A monitor usually comprises the display device, circuitry, casing, and power supply. The display device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) thin panel, while older monitors used a cathode ray tube (CRT) about as deep as the screen size. They are connected to the computer via VGA, DVI, Display Port, Thunderbolt, LVDS or other proprietary connectors and signals
Originally, computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers were used for entertainment. From the 1980s onwards, computers (and their monitors) have been used for both data processing and entertainment, while televisions have implemented some computer functionality. The common aspect ratio of televisions, and then computer monitors, has also changed from 4:3 to 16:10, to 16:9.
. "Computer technology" and "Computer system" redirect here. For the company, see Computer Technology Limited. For other uses, see Computer (disambiguation) and Computer system (disambiguation).
A computer is a general-purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a set of arithmetic or logical operations automatically. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem.
Conventionally, a computer consists of at least one processing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU), and some form of memory. The processing element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit can change the order of operations in response to stored information. Peripheral devices allow information to be retrieved from an external source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved.
Mechanical analog computers started appearing in the first century and were later used in the medieval era for astronomical calculations. In World War II, mechanical analog computers were used for specialized military applications such as calculating torpedo aiming. During this time the first electronic digital computers were developed. Originally they were the size of a large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers (PCs).
Modern computers based on integrated circuits are millions to billions of times more capable than the early machines, and occupy a fraction of the space. Computers are small enough to fit into mobile devices, and mobile computers can be powered by small batteries. Personal computers in their various forms are icons of the Information Age and are generally considered as "computers". However, the embedded computers found in many devices from MP3 players to fighter aircraft and from electronic toys to industrial robots are the most numerous.


CamStudio is an open-source screen-capture video recording software which is great to create short tutorials, capture your gaming action, record your web-based activity, and much more. With the overwhelming popularity of video and video-based sharing sites like YouTube, video is definitely the way to go when it comes to sharing information online.

CamStudio  is one of the most popular screen-capture recording applications, however, it costs around $299. No doubt, CamStudio a robust platform to record online video and includes a lot of functionality, but not everyone can afford it at that price. Therefore, CamStudio is a great alternative for creating online vids, especially for those who are just venturing out into the world of online video creation.

I've personally used CamStudio since late 2009 and have enjoyed using this free screen-capture software to capture on-screen video recording. On this web page, I will share my experience using CamStudio and show you how to effectively set it up to get the most out of this versatile video-making application. You will also see some examples of videos I've created using this free application.

Here are just a few ways you can use this software:
  • You can use it to create demonstration videos for any software program
  • Or how about creating a set of videos answering your most frequently asked questions?
  • You can create video tutorials for school or college class
  • You can use it to record a recurring problem with your computer so you can show technical support people
  • You can use it to create video-based information products you can sell
  • You can even use it to record new tricks and techniques you discover on your favourite software program, before you forget them
Don't like the sound of your voice? No problem.

CamStudio can also add high-quality, anti-aliased (no jagged edges) screen captions to your recordings in seconds and with the unique Video Annotation feature you can even personalise your videos by including a webcam movie of yourself "picture-in-picture" over your desktop.

And if all that wasn't enough, CamStudio also comes with its own Lossless Codec that produces crystal clear results with a much smaller filesize compared with other more popular codecs, like Microsoft Video.

You have total control over the output of your video: you can choose to use custom cursors, to record the whole screen or just a section of it and can reduce or increase the quality of the recording depending on if you want smaller videos (for emailing to people, for instance) or you can have "best quality" ones for burning onto CD/DVD.

But all of these features would be worthless if CamStudio wasn't easy to use ... fortunately that's not the case. CamStudio can be learned in a matter of minutes and comes with a comprehensive built-in helpfile, so if you do manage to get stuck, you can simply hit "Help" and get the answers you need.

So where can I get it and how much does it cost?

You can download and use it completely free - yep - completely 100% free for your personal and commercial projects as CamStudio and the Codec are released under the GPL (for more details on this license, click here.)
There are no royalties or any monies to pay - although if you do use it for a commercial product, I wouldn't say no to a copy of whatever you produce 
Origin of the term:
In 2004, columnist Jon Udell invited readers of his blog to propose names for the emerging genre. Udell selected the term "screen cast", which was proposed by both Joseph McDonald and Deeje Cooley.
The terms "Screen Cast" and "Screen Cam" are often used interchangeably, due to the market influence of Screen Cam as a screen casting product of the early 1990s. Screen Cam, however, is a federal trademark in the United States, whereas screen cast is not trademarked and has established use in publications as part of Internet and Computing vernacular.Click Here

Uses:
Screen casts can help demonstrate and teach the use of software features. Creating a screen cast helps software developers show off their work. Educators may also use screen casts as another means of integrating technology into the curriculum. Students can record video and audio as they demonstrate the proper procedure to solve a problem on an interactive whiteboard.
Screen casts are useful tools for ordinary software users as well: They help filing report bugs in which the screen casts take the place of potentially unclear written explanations; they help showing others how a given task is accomplished in a specific software environment.
Organizers of seminars may choose to routinely record complete seminars and make them available to all attendees for future reference and/or sell these recordings to people who cannot afford the fee of the live seminar or do not have the time to attend it. This will generate an additional revenue stream for the organizers and makes the knowledge available to a broader audience.
This strategy of recording seminars is already widely used in fields where using a simple video camera or audio recorder is insufficient to make a useful recording of a seminar. Computer-related seminars need high quality and easily readable recordings of screen contents which is usually not achieved by a video camera that records the desktop.
In classrooms, teachers and students can use this tool to create videos to explain content, vocabulary, etc. Videos can make class time more productive for both teachers and students. Screen casts may increase student engagement and achievement and also provide more time in which students can work collaboratively in groups, so screen casts help them to think through cooperative learning.
In addition, screenshots allow students to move at their own pace since they can pause or review content anytime and anywhere. Screen casts are excellent for those learners who just need an oral as well as a visual explanation of the content presented.
Most trial versions of a screen casting programs often apply a watermark automatically, encouraging users to purchase the full version in order to remove it.Click Here


Hardware:
An alternative solution for capturing a screen cast is the use of a hardware RGB or DVI frame grabber card. This approach places the burden of the recording and compression process on a machine separate from the one generating the visual material being captured.
  • A computer program is a sequence of instructions, performing a specific task when executed by a computer. A computer requires programs to function, and typically executes the program's instructions in a central processing unit.
  • A computer program is usually written by a computer programmer in a programming language. From the program in its human-readable source code form, a compiler can derive machine code: a form consisting of instructions that the computer can directly execute. Alternatively, a computer program may be executed with the aid of an interpreter.
  • A small part of a computer program that performs a well-defined task is known as an algorithm. A collection of computer programs and related data is referred to as software. Computer programs may be categorized along functional lines, such as application software or system software.
  • Computer software or simply software is any set of machine-readable instructions that directs a computer's processor to perform specific operations. Computer software is non-tangible, contrasted with computer hardware, which is the physical component of computers. Computer hardware and software require each other and neither can be realistically used without the other.
  • Computer software includes computer programs, libraries and their associated documentation. The word software is also sometimes used in a more narrow sense, meaning application software only.
  • At the lowest level, executable code consists of machine language instructions specific to an individual processor—typically a central processing unit (CPU). A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the computer from its preceding state. For example, an instruction may change the value stored in a particular storage location inside the computer—an effect that is not directly observable to the user. An instruction may also (indirectly) cause something to appear on a display of the computer system—a state change which should be visible to the user. The processor carries out the instructions in the order they are provided, unless it is instructed to "jump" to a different instruction, or interrupted.
  • Software written in a machine language is known as "machine code". However, in practice, software is usually written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are translated into machine language using a compiler or an interpreter or a combination of the two. Software may also be written in a low-level assembly language, essentially, a vaguely mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language is translated into machine language using an assembler.



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