Windows users have many options when it comes to taking screenshots of windows, areas of the screen or the whole screen. There is not nearly as much choice when it comes to recording video. Only a few free screen recorders are available, We Game or Camtasia come to mind.
Screen2Avi is another lightweight free program to record avi videos. The program is available as a portable version and installer. The application uses tabs to configure the screen recording session. Available for selection are fullscreen, predefined and custom dimensions for the video.
It is not only possible to select the recording dimensions, but also the position of the recording frame. You can select one of the nine fixed positions like center left or bottom right, or define a custom position on screen. There is unfortunately no option to directly select a program window for recording. The only option to record a window is to use the custom positioning to set its position on the screen. The position and dimension are shown with a green frame directly on the screen.
All installed video compression codecs are available for selection under video. This is also the location where the frame rate of the recording is defined.
Screen2Avi can record audio, but that feature needs to be enabled separately. The program supports only audio recording from external sources like microphones, it cannot record the system sound directly. You can select audio devices available on the computer.
The output path for the screencast is defined under General. Other available options are enabling or disabling the mouse cursor or configuring hotkeys to start pause and stop the recordings.
A click on the red recording button starts the recording. It is usually easier to use hotkeys (F1 start, F5 stop) than the buttons in the program window, especially when recording in fullscreen.
Screen2Avi has a few usability issues, like the previously mentioned audio recording limitations or selection of windows. It is nevertheless a handy tool for users who need to create a screen recording, especially if they can live with those limitations.
Windows users can download the screen recording software Screen2Avi from the developer website. It is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the Windows operating system. The developers have uploaded a tutorial to their website that walks new users through the configuration and creation process.
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Hello ! I am the author of Screen2Avi.
Screen2Avi can record from line in directly and not oblyh from the microphone. If you are under win7 / vista and can not find the line in option from the Audio options of Screen2Avi just go to the Control panel audio, recording secition and disable the microphone and enable line in.
You can record all the windows sounds real time.
A video demonstrating this feautre is here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJT2CRcxank
Thanks, corrected.
Thank you and really thank for the review and your time !
Martin, this apps seems to end my lookout for a portable screen recorder.. thanks a lot .. will try now to create video for my posts ..
The only feature I would want to see in this .. cursor follow and zoom on click .. .. I may be asking for more in a freeware .. but sure be very helpful..
-Thanks Martin and Anastasios Karidis Trustfm
Great, let me know how it works out for you.
@Avinash : In fact these features are not implemented yet .
The window selection right now can be “bypassed” with this small tip :
Let’s say you want to capture a 400*400 square window. Even if you could select automatically this type of window the video Aspect ratio would be horrible. The tip here, at least for me, is to select a “predefined” screen option that fits the window (lets say 640*480 in this case) and then use (enable) the background color option. Notice that you can toggle the backround even when you recording.
Another tip for the zoom option in is to make screenshots during the screencast and when you edit the video could easily add the dedicated (cropped) photo. Remember that you can take snapshots even wher you are recording…
Hey Martin,
Did you try recording with this? I don’t know if it’s just me, but the output avi always shows up blank for me. The avi file plays, but I only see a blank screen.
nvm! It was a codec issue of mine. The portable version is so small, but works great! Guess good things do come in small packages. Thanks for sharing!