PC Desktop Recording: CamStudio

For a group project this year, we had to design an airline reservation system written for a CLI (Command Line Interface and what was formerly known as DOS) using C++. One of the new requirements (wasn't in the original) was that we needed to provide documentation on how to use the application. 

Our group spent a lot of time making sure the application was easy to use since the application and source code was to be given to another team. We originally thought it was simple enough so we didn't have to do an instructional guide. Instead, we focused on fine tuning our group's requirements and assumptions (to cover our butts if something was not implemented the way the tutor wanted). Plus, we provided extra documentation in how we wrote the application to help them debug our code. We expected the same favour but of course, we don't live in a perfect world. 

So instead of spending hours of screen shotting and writing boring instructions such as:

"To create a new passenger and booking information, please enter the following combination if you are the main menu: 1-1-1-1" 

Fun. So instead, I suggested we make instructional videos since I knew about this free tool I've used way back when. It was such a good idea, and made our life easier. We only spent 30minutes making the videos and went right back to our other work (life is never dull as an engineer).

The tool we used is called Cam Studio and its FREE (AND OPEN SOURCE). The tool allows you to make video and annotate them visually with shapes and text. It also records audio so you can talk or record what your speakers are outputting.

The only issue I encountered was with the encoders that are supported. Apparently, the settings need to be tweaked a bit to work. They won't work right off the bat. Only the Microsoft Video encoder works from a fresh install. It works but the file sizes are ridiculously large. Thankfully, we were using the school's internet so we had over 10 mpbs to use so we uploaded hundreds of megabytes in a few minutes.

But at home, we don't have that luxury (well I don't at least - 1 mbps up for me). The forums has a guide to get the DivX working.

The instructions (taken from the forum)

[MAIN TAB]

1080HD Profile

Encoding Preset = 1

1-pass - 6000kbps

Everything else as default.

[VIDEO OPTIONS IN CAMSTUDIO]

Quality = 85

Keyframes = Every 120 frames

Capture Frames Every = 33 frames

Playback rate = 30 frames per second

Auto Adjust = unchecked

If you want to see the video of our work, we have it on youtube.