Screencast

Screencast tools for Ubuntu

>>> First of all: read this:

• Ask Ubuntu - How to create a screencast

---

Further Reading

• https://sandilands.info/sgordon/presenting-and-recording-lectures-with-ubuntu-linux

Screencast tools

Keymon

The classic key-mon tool. Just works. Simple, but effektive.

sudo apt-get install keymon

Start with:

key-mon

Screenkey

Inspired from keymon, a modern version. Paints a black (when compiz - semi transparent) area on the screen and shows all input (including what you are typing)

• See: Screenkey on Launchpad

Problems:

• Does not really work on dual screen environments becaus it spreads above both screens (nvidia twinview)
• Unstable in 11.10 (cannot alter settings)

RareXP Mousecursor

This gives you an excellent mouse cursor with a yellow background.

• http://opendesktop.org/content/show.php/Rare+XP?content=161711

Download the theme into an .icon folder in your home director so it looks like this:

~/.icons/
  └── RareXP
      └── cursorsguvcview

Now you can choose the RareXP cursor from a tool like unity-tweak-tool.

Integrate webcam

With

apt-get install guvcview

you get a handy tool getting your own picture into your screencasts.

You can configure guvcview when you start it into the control mode

guvcview -z

Probably you don't have a webcam and like to use your Android phone as a webcam? No problem

• http://www.dev47apps.com/droidcam/linuxx/

Tip for droidcam: use checkinstall ./install to make a debian package (apt-get install checkinstall).

Zoom Box via CCSM

Short: enable the Enhanced Zoom Desktop in compiz config settings manager and configure at least the Zoom In and Zoom Out Buttons (!).

Long (Youtube):

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBvNb3GkrM

Recording Software

Vokoscreen

Since Ubuntu 14.04 officially in the Ubuntu repositories. So no need for the ppa!

• [GER] http://www.tuxlog.de/ubuntulinuxadmin/2013/screencast-mit-vokoscreen-unter-ubuntu-linux-erstellen/

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vokoscreen-dev/vokoscreen
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install vokoscreen

Animated GIF

• See: http://askubuntu.com/questions/4428/how-to-create-a-screencast

Kazam

Default on tehe Gnome 3 desktop environment. See: Kazam on Launchpad

Pro

• supports dual display mode
• very easy to use
• direct output of webm format
• gstreamer backend (so guaranteed to work)
• direct video upload to e.g. youtube

Con

• Only fullscreen recording, processing might be necessary

Tibesti

Very good tool

Pro

• separate audio and video possible
• record audio out and microphone, or both
• capture screen area
• record delay adjustable

Con

• selection of the screen area in dual screen mode: The left most monitor is used and changes for selection to the main monitor. If the main monitor is smaller than the second one, you won't be able to select an appropriate area!

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ackondro/tibesti

On Ubuntu 11.10 (oneiric) change the sources.list to natty

sudo vim /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ackondro-tibesti-oneiric.list

#deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ackondro/tibesti/ubuntu oneiric main
#deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ackondro/tibesti/ubuntu oneiric main
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ackondro/tibesti/ubuntu natty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ackondro/tibesti/ubuntu natty main

Now install

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install tibesti

gtkRecordMyDesktop

Very mature and stable tool.

sudo apt-get install gtk-recordmydesktop

Features:

• Audio and video-capture
• Choose screenarea possible
• gstreamer backend

Cons:

• Saves only as ogv

Youtube upload: you have to convert the files using ffmpeg. I am using this nautilus script:

• See wiki article: Youtube#Youtube_upload_script

Eidete

--Apos 8 January 2012 (CET)

An upcoming star and at the time of writing under heavy development.

• eidete on launchpad
• OMGubuntu article on eidete