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Re: What's a good free desktop screen recorder?
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Arlen_Holder
Nov 11, 2018, 4:13:50 PM11/11/18
to
On Sun, 11 Nov 2018 17:07:31 -0200, Shadow wrote:
> Not sure what the limitations are vs the PRO version. If you
> do try it, some feedback would be nice.
It's a good question of which free screen recorder is best on Windows.
Of course, the limitations matter greatly, where
o It should be truly free (open source is good, no trialware accepted)
o It should have zero ads
o It should record any length of time
o It should have no watermark
o It should work offline
o It should handle common formats
o It should not require registration
o etc.
I don't use them, where I would ask folks who use them to comment
since we learn most from users of the software whose opinions we trust.
I wonder if one of the freeware classics (like vlc, irfanview?, ffmpeg?
shotcut?) can be used in a script to capture the screen in enough screens
per second to count as video?
What would a minimum number of screens per second would we need anyway?
Googling, I see these (I searched for "freeware screen recorder windows"):
The best free screen recorder 2018 | TechRadar
<https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-screen-recorder>
1. OBS Studio <https://obsproject.com/download>
2. Flashback Express <https://www.flashbackrecorder.com/express/>
3. Debut Video Capture <https://www.nchsoftware.com/capture/index.html>
4. ShareX <https://getsharex.com/>
Generally, I look at a few "best" lists to see which overlap.
To that end, let's look at this next Windows freeware listing...
8 Free Screen Recording Software For Windows 10 | 2018 Edition
<https://fossbytes.com/best-screen-recorder-windows-free/>
1. VLC <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.php>
2. Game DVR <https://github.com/FunkyFr3sh/GameDVR_Config>
3. OBS Studio <https://obsproject.com/download>
4. Flashback Express <https://www.flashbackrecorder.com/express/>
5. ApowerREC <https://www.apowersoft.com/record-all-screen>
3. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
7. XSplit Broadcaster <https://www.xsplit.com/broadcaster>
Well, that's scary in that there isn't a whole lot of overlap.
That's generally bad news, when it comes to functional freeware.
Moving to a third listing, we need a better venn overlap...
5 Best Free Screen Recorder For Windows of 2018
<https://www.viralhax.com/best-free-screen-recorder/>
1. ApowerREC <https://www.apowersoft.com/record-all-screen>
3. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
3. Icecream (10m webm) <https://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/>
4. XSplit Broadcaster <https://www.xsplit.com/broadcaster>
5. CamStudio <https://camstudio.org/>
Let's try more, because we need more overlap to save test efforts:
Top 10 Screen Recording Software for Windows
<https://elearningbrothers.com/blog/top-10-screen-recording-software-for-windows/>
1. DVDVideoSoft
<https://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-Screen-Video-Recorder.htm>
2. CamStudio <https://camstudio.org/>
3. Ezvid <https://www.ezvid.com>
4. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
5. SmartPixel (watermark) <http://www.smartpixel.com/>
6. Icecream (10m webm) <https://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/>
7. Screencast-o-matic (15m, watermark) <https://screencast-o-matic.com/>
8. iSpring Free Cam (wmv)
<https://www.ispringsolutions.com/ispring-free-cam>
Let's try one more, because the overlap can save time & effort:
Best Free Screen Recorders, Lifewire
<https://www.lifewire.com/best-free-screen-recorders-4151715>
1. OBS Studio <https://obsproject.com/download>
2. Flashback Express <https://www.flashbackrecorder.com/express/>
3. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
4. Icecream (10m webm) <https://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/>
Finally we begin to have some overlap (assuming independent reviews).
Which do you trust?
Dunno.
Everyone loves VLC, so that would be the first I'd test.
But I'd defer, as always, to someone I trust who uses this stuff daily.
That lessens the immense cost of freeware (which is the cost of picking the
best one).
> Not sure what the limitations are vs the PRO version. If you
> do try it, some feedback would be nice.
It's a good question of which free screen recorder is best on Windows.
Of course, the limitations matter greatly, where
o It should be truly free (open source is good, no trialware accepted)
o It should have zero ads
o It should record any length of time
o It should have no watermark
o It should work offline
o It should handle common formats
o It should not require registration
o etc.
I don't use them, where I would ask folks who use them to comment
since we learn most from users of the software whose opinions we trust.
I wonder if one of the freeware classics (like vlc, irfanview?, ffmpeg?
shotcut?) can be used in a script to capture the screen in enough screens
per second to count as video?
What would a minimum number of screens per second would we need anyway?
Googling, I see these (I searched for "freeware screen recorder windows"):
The best free screen recorder 2018 | TechRadar
<https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-screen-recorder>
1. OBS Studio <https://obsproject.com/download>
2. Flashback Express <https://www.flashbackrecorder.com/express/>
3. Debut Video Capture <https://www.nchsoftware.com/capture/index.html>
4. ShareX <https://getsharex.com/>
Generally, I look at a few "best" lists to see which overlap.
To that end, let's look at this next Windows freeware listing...
8 Free Screen Recording Software For Windows 10 | 2018 Edition
<https://fossbytes.com/best-screen-recorder-windows-free/>
1. VLC <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.php>
2. Game DVR <https://github.com/FunkyFr3sh/GameDVR_Config>
3. OBS Studio <https://obsproject.com/download>
4. Flashback Express <https://www.flashbackrecorder.com/express/>
5. ApowerREC <https://www.apowersoft.com/record-all-screen>
3. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
7. XSplit Broadcaster <https://www.xsplit.com/broadcaster>
Well, that's scary in that there isn't a whole lot of overlap.
That's generally bad news, when it comes to functional freeware.
Moving to a third listing, we need a better venn overlap...
5 Best Free Screen Recorder For Windows of 2018
<https://www.viralhax.com/best-free-screen-recorder/>
1. ApowerREC <https://www.apowersoft.com/record-all-screen>
3. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
3. Icecream (10m webm) <https://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/>
4. XSplit Broadcaster <https://www.xsplit.com/broadcaster>
5. CamStudio <https://camstudio.org/>
Let's try more, because we need more overlap to save test efforts:
Top 10 Screen Recording Software for Windows
<https://elearningbrothers.com/blog/top-10-screen-recording-software-for-windows/>
1. DVDVideoSoft
<https://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-Screen-Video-Recorder.htm>
2. CamStudio <https://camstudio.org/>
3. Ezvid <https://www.ezvid.com>
4. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
5. SmartPixel (watermark) <http://www.smartpixel.com/>
6. Icecream (10m webm) <https://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/>
7. Screencast-o-matic (15m, watermark) <https://screencast-o-matic.com/>
8. iSpring Free Cam (wmv)
<https://www.ispringsolutions.com/ispring-free-cam>
Let's try one more, because the overlap can save time & effort:
Best Free Screen Recorders, Lifewire
<https://www.lifewire.com/best-free-screen-recorders-4151715>
1. OBS Studio <https://obsproject.com/download>
2. Flashback Express <https://www.flashbackrecorder.com/express/>
3. TinyTake (5m) <https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
4. Icecream (10m webm) <https://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/>
Finally we begin to have some overlap (assuming independent reviews).
Which do you trust?
Dunno.
Everyone loves VLC, so that would be the first I'd test.
But I'd defer, as always, to someone I trust who uses this stuff daily.
That lessens the immense cost of freeware (which is the cost of picking the
best one).
J. P. Gilliver (John)
Nov 12, 2018, 7:47:42 AM11/12/18
to
In message <psa62b$8gr$1...@news.mixmin.net>, Arlen_Holder
<a%rle%20nh....@no.spam.net> writes:
[]
this thread does)
[]
An interesting seed for discussion.
It depends what you're going to use the capture software _for_. If it's
actually capturing streaming video, then see Paul's post - but, in
general, "if I was going there, I wouldn't start from here" - screen
capture software is not the right _tool_ for that. So what _are_ you
going to use it for? I'd say mainly for making "how to do" videos. [Note
that I've avoided a contentious term there (-:.]
Since we've separated the light source from the frame rate, we can
realise that a lot lower frame rate can be used. In the days of CRTs, we
needed a _refresh_ rate greater than - it varies between people, but I'd
say at _least_ about 45 Hz - frame rate to avoid _flicker_. But (and
even with CRTs, provided you had a _refresh_ rate different from a
_frame_ rate), you can have a frame rate of quite low - I'd say below 10
a second - even if you wanted to give the impression of movement, except
for very complex or detailed scenes. If you're only wanting to show how
to do something in software, one a second is probably sufficient -
though if you want to at least give the impression of mouse pointer
movement, I'd go for three or four a second (and with pointer trails
turned on).
The one time I wanted to do such a capture (to show an energy company
how their website worked, or rather didn't!), I used something called
Debut Video Capture software (works under 7, but I'm not recommending it
- or not, for that matter), and the hardware I had at the time _did_
produce only one or two frames per second. (Which sufficed for the
purpose.)
So, apart from capturing streams (see above) and making "how-to" clips,
is there anything _else_ people might _want_ to do with capture software
(including the above suggestion of using IrfanView or other to just take
pictures fast)?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
So, Heresy be damned (well, it would be, wouldn't it?).
Radio Times 24-30 July 2010 (page 24)
<a%rle%20nh....@no.spam.net> writes:
[]
>It's a good question of which free screen recorder is best on Windows.
>
>Of course, the limitations matter greatly, where
>o It should be truly free (open source is good, no trialware accepted)
>o It should have zero ads
>o It should record any length of time
>o It should have no watermark
(Or let _you_ specify your own, as the one mentioned in another post in
>
>Of course, the limitations matter greatly, where
>o It should be truly free (open source is good, no trialware accepted)
>o It should have zero ads
>o It should record any length of time
>o It should have no watermark
this thread does)
>o It should work offline
>o It should handle common formats
>o It should not require registration
>o etc.
A good wishlist (-:!
>o It should handle common formats
>o It should not require registration
>o etc.
[]
>I wonder if one of the freeware classics (like vlc, irfanview?, ffmpeg?
>shotcut?) can be used in a script to capture the screen in enough screens
>per second to count as video?
>
>What would a minimum number of screens per second would we need anyway?
[]
>shotcut?) can be used in a script to capture the screen in enough screens
>per second to count as video?
>
>What would a minimum number of screens per second would we need anyway?
An interesting seed for discussion.
It depends what you're going to use the capture software _for_. If it's
actually capturing streaming video, then see Paul's post - but, in
general, "if I was going there, I wouldn't start from here" - screen
capture software is not the right _tool_ for that. So what _are_ you
going to use it for? I'd say mainly for making "how to do" videos. [Note
that I've avoided a contentious term there (-:.]
Since we've separated the light source from the frame rate, we can
realise that a lot lower frame rate can be used. In the days of CRTs, we
needed a _refresh_ rate greater than - it varies between people, but I'd
say at _least_ about 45 Hz - frame rate to avoid _flicker_. But (and
even with CRTs, provided you had a _refresh_ rate different from a
_frame_ rate), you can have a frame rate of quite low - I'd say below 10
a second - even if you wanted to give the impression of movement, except
for very complex or detailed scenes. If you're only wanting to show how
to do something in software, one a second is probably sufficient -
though if you want to at least give the impression of mouse pointer
movement, I'd go for three or four a second (and with pointer trails
turned on).
The one time I wanted to do such a capture (to show an energy company
how their website worked, or rather didn't!), I used something called
Debut Video Capture software (works under 7, but I'm not recommending it
- or not, for that matter), and the hardware I had at the time _did_
produce only one or two frames per second. (Which sufficed for the
purpose.)
So, apart from capturing streams (see above) and making "how-to" clips,
is there anything _else_ people might _want_ to do with capture software
(including the above suggestion of using IrfanView or other to just take
pictures fast)?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
So, Heresy be damned (well, it would be, wouldn't it?).
Radio Times 24-30 July 2010 (page 24)
Arlen_Holder
Nov 12, 2018, 2:44:57 PM11/12/18
to
On Mon, 12 Nov 2018 10:53:18 -0500, Mayayana wrote:
> I just found this:
>
> CamStudio
> https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/camstudio.html
>
> Reasonable size. Free, open source. Works on XP. Doesn't
> call home. Has limited editing tools and a help file. (The help
> is a bit funky, but informative.) Can only save to AVI. That
> can be converted to SWF but another program would
> be needed to save to mp4.
>
> I'm posting the MajorGeeks link because the website
> doesn't have a real download. The download there is
> a small kickoff installer that then wants to go online
> to get files.
>
> I was able to convert the AVI to mp4 in VLC easily,
> but for some reason the video is diagonal after conversion.
> I don't know what's doing that. (AVI is far to big to leave
> as a format for most uses.)
Camstudio was in my original list:
That list was based only on a half dozen recent (mostly 2018 dates) reviews
of supposedly free Windows screen recording software (some of which is
likely crippleware or bundleware, as always).
So it's GREAT that you tested some of the software found on that search!
I downloaded it from the canonical web site and now downloaded it from your
link to report back to users what the hashes and file size differences are.
https://camstudio.org/
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: camstudio.exe
Size: 3014376 bytes (2 MB)
SHA256: BF7BBCE5065083934528B540D67168A411F12B4D3676BEDD25E136A61514F472
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/camstudio.html
https://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/getmirror/camstudio,1.html
https://www.majorgeeks.com/index.php?ct=files&action=download&
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: CamStudio_Setup_2-7_r316.exe
Size: 11438475 bytes (10 MB)
SHA256: 370209DCB723B18A590430C9C8989F6ECBB2C563CDA97442EF74C7766F26FD3F
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
As you noted, they are VERY DIFFERENT!
Thanks for warning us, as the cost of freeware is making all the same
mistakes that everyone makes (and that they sometimes want you to make!).
> I just found this:
>
> CamStudio
> https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/camstudio.html
>
> Reasonable size. Free, open source. Works on XP. Doesn't
> call home. Has limited editing tools and a help file. (The help
> is a bit funky, but informative.) Can only save to AVI. That
> can be converted to SWF but another program would
> be needed to save to mp4.
>
> I'm posting the MajorGeeks link because the website
> doesn't have a real download. The download there is
> a small kickoff installer that then wants to go online
> to get files.
>
> I was able to convert the AVI to mp4 in VLC easily,
> but for some reason the video is diagonal after conversion.
> I don't know what's doing that. (AVI is far to big to leave
> as a format for most uses.)
Camstudio was in my original list:
That list was based only on a half dozen recent (mostly 2018 dates) reviews
of supposedly free Windows screen recording software (some of which is
likely crippleware or bundleware, as always).
So it's GREAT that you tested some of the software found on that search!
I downloaded it from the canonical web site and now downloaded it from your
link to report back to users what the hashes and file size differences are.
https://camstudio.org/
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: camstudio.exe
Size: 3014376 bytes (2 MB)
SHA256: BF7BBCE5065083934528B540D67168A411F12B4D3676BEDD25E136A61514F472
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/camstudio.html
https://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/getmirror/camstudio,1.html
https://www.majorgeeks.com/index.php?ct=files&action=download&
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: CamStudio_Setup_2-7_r316.exe
Size: 11438475 bytes (10 MB)
SHA256: 370209DCB723B18A590430C9C8989F6ECBB2C563CDA97442EF74C7766F26FD3F
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
As you noted, they are VERY DIFFERENT!
Thanks for warning us, as the cost of freeware is making all the same
mistakes that everyone makes (and that they sometimes want you to make!).
Arlen_Holder
Nov 12, 2018, 2:44:58 PM11/12/18
to
On Mon, 12 Nov 2018 09:04:58 -0500, Mayayana wrote:
> Then the window came up and asked me to buy
> or "evaluate". That's sleazy. Even the download
> name calls it the free version. But the program is
> not free. It's just a trial version. I never tried it to
> see whether it works.
While I don't know if the half dozen "reviews" I found for "free windows
screen recorders" are shills or not, that app didn't show up even once.
<http://www.gilisoft.com/free-screen-recorder.htm>
Sometimes that's a good thing (e.g., lots of editing reviews skip over
Irfanview) but usually that's a bad thing.
I think you found out that it's not viable software, given it's not
freeware, so it's not of general use to everyone (which is always the
entire point).
> Then the window came up and asked me to buy
> or "evaluate". That's sleazy. Even the download
> name calls it the free version. But the program is
> not free. It's just a trial version. I never tried it to
> see whether it works.
While I don't know if the half dozen "reviews" I found for "free windows
screen recorders" are shills or not, that app didn't show up even once.
<http://www.gilisoft.com/free-screen-recorder.htm>
Sometimes that's a good thing (e.g., lots of editing reviews skip over
Irfanview) but usually that's a bad thing.
I think you found out that it's not viable software, given it's not
freeware, so it's not of general use to everyone (which is always the
entire point).
Arlen_Holder
Nov 12, 2018, 2:44:59 PM11/12/18
to
On Mon, 12 Nov 2018 12:46:48 +0000, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> A good wishlist (-:!
Hi J. P. Gilliver,
> A good wishlist (-:!
I agree it's only a 'freeware wishlist', where, it seems the tricks,
subterfuge, & shenanigans "free to download" software plays on the hapless
user is more prevalent in the "video" category than almost any other
category.
I don't know why, but, for example, you get far fewer of those shenanigans
like crippleware posing as freeware in, oh, say, Android Emulation
Freeware, or in Vector Graphics CAD freeware, etc.
Given the propensity of "screen recording" freeware to play crippleware
games, I suspect half (or more) of the finds I listed have them.
That's why freeware is expensive - because you need to know someone who
already knows the answer if you're going to find the best ones.
>>What would a minimum number of screens per second would we need anyway?
> screen capture software is not the right _tool_ for that.
The advantage of "frequent screen capture" freeware would be the
simplicity. The disadvantage is that you have to dub the audio (but most of
the time, that wouldn't be a disadvantage in a tutorial).
> Since we've separated the light source from the frame rate, we can
> realise that a lot lower frame rate can be used.
> I'd go for three or four a second (and with pointer trails
> turned on).
> So, apart from capturing streams (see above) and making "how-to" clips,
> is there anything _else_ people might _want_ to do with capture software
> (including the above suggestion of using IrfanView or other to just take
> pictures fast)?
capturing, where, it might be nice, to have something running all the time
which rolls over like a dash cam rolls over.
That way it wouldn't fill the disk space but it would have a pre-set time
of, oh, I don't know, the last five minutes. That way, any "mistake" I made
in the past five minutes would be captured as long as I realized that
mistake within that five minute period.
Other than that, I have no need for screen-recording software, but, I can
see, if you're doing facetime or some kind of real-time video display, that
having a screen recording of a conference call (with audio) would be
useful.
Arlen_Holder
Nov 12, 2018, 5:11:09 PM11/12/18
to
On Mon, 12 Nov 2018 14:02:45 -0700, Bill in Co wrote:
> (Coming into this a bit late, so I might have missed something).
> I was going to suggest another video converter (to mp4), but did you check
> out some of the screencasting software listings mentioned below? And some
> of them have direct mp4 output, it seems (Open Broadcaster Software and
> Screen O Matic):
>
> https://www.nextofwindows.com/6-best-free-screencast-recording-tools-for-windows
I covered both of them in my post earlier on this topic, where my list
seems extensive based on the responses so far, but where I'm not sure of
all the shenanigans that each software tries to pull on unsuspecting users.
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.comp.freeware/PmJ0dn3gots>
Where, for example, Screenomatic has both a watermark & 15-minute limit.
All the work, IMHO, of this freeware, is going to be in finding the last
crippled of the freeware (and the ones with the fewest shenanigans).
There is only one way to tell which have the fewest shenanigans though.
J. P. Gilliver brought up a good point in that the free screen recorders
don't always save videos in the format you want them to, where Mayayana
brought up a good point that those he tested were limited in some way as to
their output (AVI, for example).
While conversion has its own additional problem sets, I looked up the
converter programs so as to add value to this conversation, where the ones
I found to be good are listed below, with the latest tested URLs as of
today.
o *ShotCut* freeware pretty much handles everything fantastically
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
o *Handbrake* freeware is cross platform compatible
<https://handbrake.fr/>
o *Super* freeware used to be the best (but get the older versions!)
<http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER/old-versions> (no longer there)
o Others are *VirtualDub, AviDemux, AviSynth, oxelon, totallyfreeconverter*, etc.
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualdub/files/virtualdub-win/>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avidemux/files/latest/download>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avisynth2/files/latest/download>
<http://www.oxelon.com/media_converter.html>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/oxelonmediaconv/files/oxelonmediaconv/oxelonplugins/oxelonplugins.exe/download>
<http://www.sabsoft.com/TotallyFreeConverter.htm>
o US/Euro patents expired on ffmpeg so it may also come in handy.
<https://www.ffmpeg.org/legal.html>
Since the immense cost of freeware is in all the efforts to find the best
ones, my vote, from experience using only "some" of those above, is
Shotcut.
Once you've used Shotcut, you'll never want to use Pinnacle Studios, for
example, IMHO.
> (Coming into this a bit late, so I might have missed something).
> I was going to suggest another video converter (to mp4), but did you check
> out some of the screencasting software listings mentioned below? And some
> of them have direct mp4 output, it seems (Open Broadcaster Software and
> Screen O Matic):
>
> https://www.nextofwindows.com/6-best-free-screencast-recording-tools-for-windows
I covered both of them in my post earlier on this topic, where my list
seems extensive based on the responses so far, but where I'm not sure of
all the shenanigans that each software tries to pull on unsuspecting users.
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.comp.freeware/PmJ0dn3gots>
Where, for example, Screenomatic has both a watermark & 15-minute limit.
All the work, IMHO, of this freeware, is going to be in finding the last
crippled of the freeware (and the ones with the fewest shenanigans).
There is only one way to tell which have the fewest shenanigans though.
J. P. Gilliver brought up a good point in that the free screen recorders
don't always save videos in the format you want them to, where Mayayana
brought up a good point that those he tested were limited in some way as to
their output (AVI, for example).
While conversion has its own additional problem sets, I looked up the
converter programs so as to add value to this conversation, where the ones
I found to be good are listed below, with the latest tested URLs as of
today.
o *ShotCut* freeware pretty much handles everything fantastically
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
o *Handbrake* freeware is cross platform compatible
<https://handbrake.fr/>
o *Super* freeware used to be the best (but get the older versions!)
<http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER/old-versions> (no longer there)
o Others are *VirtualDub, AviDemux, AviSynth, oxelon, totallyfreeconverter*, etc.
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualdub/files/virtualdub-win/>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avidemux/files/latest/download>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avisynth2/files/latest/download>
<http://www.oxelon.com/media_converter.html>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/oxelonmediaconv/files/oxelonmediaconv/oxelonplugins/oxelonplugins.exe/download>
<http://www.sabsoft.com/TotallyFreeConverter.htm>
o US/Euro patents expired on ffmpeg so it may also come in handy.
<https://www.ffmpeg.org/legal.html>
Since the immense cost of freeware is in all the efforts to find the best
ones, my vote, from experience using only "some" of those above, is
Shotcut.
Once you've used Shotcut, you'll never want to use Pinnacle Studios, for
example, IMHO.
Arlen_Holder
Nov 13, 2018, 12:41:48 AM11/13/18
to
On Mon, 12 Nov 2018 21:54:33 -0600, Ant wrote:
> Well, I don't want to download the whole video. Just parts of the very
> long and huge live streams.
Hi Ant,
I usually see you over in the iOS groups.
Good to see you on the Windows freeware section of Usenet!
Lots of ways to accomplish what you want, but, if you do use the youtube-dl.exe
that Mayayana seems to be hinting at, you'll need to know _how_ to install
it (which isn't intuitive).
To save you the effort (which is what Usenet is all about), and since
I'm not about imaginary solutions like so many others are, here are
my hard-won reproducible real-world notes on exactly how to install
the command line youtube download utility successfully.
01. Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=5555
02. Upate Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26999
03: Get ffmpeg
http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/
http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/win64/static/ffmpeg-20170711-0780ad9-win64-static.zip
Put the three executables in the same directory as the youtube-dl.exe
ffmpeg.exe
ffplay.exe
ffprobe.exe
The -x is what needs ffmpeg although you can set it to
-x, --extract-audio = Convert video files to audio-only files
(requires ffmpeg or avconv and ffprobe or avprobe)
You can also just point to the FFMPEG directory:
--ffmpeg-location PATH = Location of the ffmpeg/avconv binary;
04. Then get the right youtube-dl.exe that uses Visusal C & not python!
https://youtube-dl.org/
http://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/download.html
https://yt-dl.org/downloads/2018.08.28/youtube-dl.exe
05. Check the hash!
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: youtube-dl.exe
Size: 7955964 bytes (7 MB)
SHA256: 935D5FD32932BF0A6D842F28E168D84F7FC674CD995A5A4646D9A70145B6B255
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
06. Then download a video as an OPUS file:
youtube-dl.exe http://whatevervideourl.com
07. Download a video as an MP4 file:
youtube-dl.exe -f 18 http://whatevervideourl.com
08. Download and extract just the audio as an M4A:
youtube-dl.exe -f 140 http://whatevervideourl.com
09. Download and extract just the audio as an MP3:
youtube-dl.exe -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 0 http://whatevervideourl.com
10. Download the videos in a playlist text file:
youtube-dl.exe -ciwo "%(title)s.%(ext)s" -a myPlayList.txt
Where the myPlayList.txt simply contains a list of URLs, one per line
As Mayayana noted, you have other options, e.g., to download
the offline installer for camstudio.
To always add value to every thread, here's my list, so far, of the
free tools you _can_ use, in order of best to worst but this order is
super preliminary until more data is known about the shenanigans they pull.
o camstudio
o vlc
o apowerrec
o debut
o dvdvideosoft
o ezvid
o flashback
o goplay
o obs
o gamedvr
o sharex
o smartpixel
o tinytake
o icecream
o screenomatic
> Well, I don't want to download the whole video. Just parts of the very
> long and huge live streams.
Hi Ant,
I usually see you over in the iOS groups.
Good to see you on the Windows freeware section of Usenet!
Lots of ways to accomplish what you want, but, if you do use the youtube-dl.exe
that Mayayana seems to be hinting at, you'll need to know _how_ to install
it (which isn't intuitive).
To save you the effort (which is what Usenet is all about), and since
I'm not about imaginary solutions like so many others are, here are
my hard-won reproducible real-world notes on exactly how to install
the command line youtube download utility successfully.
01. Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=5555
02. Upate Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26999
03: Get ffmpeg
http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/
http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/win64/static/ffmpeg-20170711-0780ad9-win64-static.zip
Put the three executables in the same directory as the youtube-dl.exe
ffmpeg.exe
ffplay.exe
ffprobe.exe
The -x is what needs ffmpeg although you can set it to
-x, --extract-audio = Convert video files to audio-only files
(requires ffmpeg or avconv and ffprobe or avprobe)
You can also just point to the FFMPEG directory:
--ffmpeg-location PATH = Location of the ffmpeg/avconv binary;
04. Then get the right youtube-dl.exe that uses Visusal C & not python!
https://youtube-dl.org/
http://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/download.html
https://yt-dl.org/downloads/2018.08.28/youtube-dl.exe
05. Check the hash!
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: youtube-dl.exe
Size: 7955964 bytes (7 MB)
SHA256: 935D5FD32932BF0A6D842F28E168D84F7FC674CD995A5A4646D9A70145B6B255
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
06. Then download a video as an OPUS file:
youtube-dl.exe http://whatevervideourl.com
07. Download a video as an MP4 file:
youtube-dl.exe -f 18 http://whatevervideourl.com
08. Download and extract just the audio as an M4A:
youtube-dl.exe -f 140 http://whatevervideourl.com
09. Download and extract just the audio as an MP3:
youtube-dl.exe -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 0 http://whatevervideourl.com
10. Download the videos in a playlist text file:
youtube-dl.exe -ciwo "%(title)s.%(ext)s" -a myPlayList.txt
Where the myPlayList.txt simply contains a list of URLs, one per line
As Mayayana noted, you have other options, e.g., to download
the offline installer for camstudio.
To always add value to every thread, here's my list, so far, of the
free tools you _can_ use, in order of best to worst but this order is
super preliminary until more data is known about the shenanigans they pull.
o camstudio
o vlc
o apowerrec
o debut
o dvdvideosoft
o ezvid
o flashback
o goplay
o obs
o gamedvr
o sharex
o smartpixel
o tinytake
o icecream
o screenomatic
J. P. Gilliver (John)
Nov 13, 2018, 6:07:54 AM11/13/18
to
In message <psdo6o$quo$1...@news.mixmin.net>, Arlen_Holder
<a%rle%20nh....@no.spam.net> writes:
[]
>05. Check the hash!
Thanks for that.
From how you've presented them, those appear to be steps that have to be
performed in sequence - i. e. you have to do all five of them.
[]
But in contrast, those appear to be _alternatives_, so I wouldn't have
continued the number sequence.
Also:
When you say "download ... <command> http://whatevervideourl.com", does
whatevervideourl.com have to be the URL of the actual video itself, or
can it be the URL of the containing webpage (such as a YouTube page)? If
it has to be the actual video component, does anything you've done in
steps 01 to 05 help you actually find what URL to use?
A. Thank you so much for asking your question.
Are you still having this problem? I'll be delighted to help you. Please
restate the problem twice and include your Windows version along with
all error logs.
- Mayayana in alt.windows7.general, 2018-11-1
<a%rle%20nh....@no.spam.net> writes:
[]
>To save you the effort (which is what Usenet is all about), and since
>I'm not about imaginary solutions like so many others are, here are
>my hard-won reproducible real-world notes on exactly how to install
>the command line youtube download utility successfully.
>
>01. Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)
[]
>I'm not about imaginary solutions like so many others are, here are
>my hard-won reproducible real-world notes on exactly how to install
>the command line youtube download utility successfully.
>
>01. Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)
>05. Check the hash!
Thanks for that.
From how you've presented them, those appear to be steps that have to be
performed in sequence - i. e. you have to do all five of them.
[]
>06. Then download a video as an OPUS file:
> youtube-dl.exe http://whatevervideourl.com
>07. Download a video as an MP4 file:
> youtube-dl.exe -f 18 http://whatevervideourl.com
>08. Download and extract just the audio as an M4A:
> youtube-dl.exe -f 140 http://whatevervideourl.com
>09. Download and extract just the audio as an MP3:
> youtube-dl.exe -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 0
>http://whatevervideourl.com
>10. Download the videos in a playlist text file:
> youtube-dl.exe -ciwo "%(title)s.%(ext)s" -a myPlayList.txt
> Where the myPlayList.txt simply contains a list of URLs, one per line
[]
> youtube-dl.exe http://whatevervideourl.com
>07. Download a video as an MP4 file:
> youtube-dl.exe -f 18 http://whatevervideourl.com
>08. Download and extract just the audio as an M4A:
> youtube-dl.exe -f 140 http://whatevervideourl.com
>09. Download and extract just the audio as an MP3:
> youtube-dl.exe -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 0
>http://whatevervideourl.com
>10. Download the videos in a playlist text file:
> youtube-dl.exe -ciwo "%(title)s.%(ext)s" -a myPlayList.txt
> Where the myPlayList.txt simply contains a list of URLs, one per line
But in contrast, those appear to be _alternatives_, so I wouldn't have
continued the number sequence.
Also:
When you say "download ... <command> http://whatevervideourl.com", does
whatevervideourl.com have to be the URL of the actual video itself, or
can it be the URL of the containing webpage (such as a YouTube page)? If
it has to be the actual video component, does anything you've done in
steps 01 to 05 help you actually find what URL to use?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
Q. How much is 2 + 2?
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
A. Thank you so much for asking your question.
Are you still having this problem? I'll be delighted to help you. Please
restate the problem twice and include your Windows version along with
all error logs.
- Mayayana in alt.windows7.general, 2018-11-1
Ant
Nov 13, 2018, 3:15:54 PM11/13/18
to
In alt.windows7.general Arlen_Holder <a%rle%20nh....@no.spam.net> wrote:
> On Mon, 12 Nov 2018 21:54:33 -0600, Ant wrote:
> > Well, I don't want to download the whole video. Just parts of the very
> > long and huge live streams.
> Hi Ant,
> I usually see you over in the iOS groups.
> Good to see you on the Windows freeware section of Usenet!
Yeah, and Linux too.
> On Mon, 12 Nov 2018 21:54:33 -0600, Ant wrote:
> > Well, I don't want to download the whole video. Just parts of the very
> > long and huge live streams.
> Hi Ant,
> I usually see you over in the iOS groups.
> Good to see you on the Windows freeware section of Usenet!
> Lots of ways to accomplish what you want, but, if you do use the youtube-dl.exe
> that Mayayana seems to be hinting at, you'll need to know _how_ to install
> it (which isn't intuitive).
But I will have to download the whole video which I don't want. I just
parts of the desktop and live stream videos in web browsers (not
fullscreen).
> To always add value to every thread, here's my list, so far, of the
> free tools you _can_ use, in order of best to worst but this order is
> super preliminary until more data is known about the shenanigans they pull.
> o camstudio
> o vlc
> o apowerrec
> o debut
> o dvdvideosoft
> o ezvid
> o flashback
> o goplay
> o obs
> o gamedvr
> o sharex
> o smartpixel
> o tinytake
> o icecream
> o screenomatic
Screen Recorder only does five minutes and watermarking. :(
OBS & VLC, I cannot figure how to only video capture parts of my desktop
like a streaming live video in a web browser. I don't need HQ and
fullscreen/everything.
--
Quote of the Week: "Ants! Why don't we all line up like a [bleeped]
bunch of ants! It's the most beautiful part of the day!" --Robert Eroica
Dupea in Five Easy Pieces movie
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org / http://antfarm.ma.cx
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail privately. If credit-
| |o o| | ing, then please kindly use Ant nickname and URL/link.
\ _ /
( )
Arlen_Holder
Nov 13, 2018, 8:19:35 PM11/13/18
to
On Tue, 13 Nov 2018 11:05:40 +0000, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> But in contrast, those appear to be _alternatives_, so I wouldn't have
> continued the number sequence.
You are 100% correct.
> But in contrast, those appear to be _alternatives_, so I wouldn't have
> continued the number sequence.
Those are actually a cut and paste from my log file.
(I keep a log file on all installations.)
So _next_ time I post those instructions, I'll break up the number scheme.
To remember, I already made the changes in my log file. :)
>
> Also:
> When you say "download ... <command> http://whatevervideourl.com", does
> whatevervideourl.com have to be the URL of the actual video itself, or
> can it be the URL of the containing webpage (such as a YouTube page)?
I'm not the best person to ask that question but I'll answer from what I
know which is only from experience.
Both methods work depending on what you're downloading.
For example, if you're downloading a Youtube video, you can use the page
that got you to that youtube video, or you can use the video itself.
Remember this youtube-dl works on, oh, I don't know, a hundred different
web sites or so, so it's not just for youtube.
For those web sites, like news sites or whatever, most of the time the main
URL that got you to the web page works the same as the url to the actual
video inside the web page, but not always.
I'm sure you're mileage will vary depending on the web page.
If you have a specific video you're interested in, I can test it for you.
Also others will know a LOT more than I do as I only use it to download
documentaries for the most part, and now Android tutorials. SO I'm not a
heavy user.
The manpage is extensive though...
> If
> it has to be the actual video component, does anything you've done in
> steps 01 to 05 help you actually find what URL to use?
there is other crap on the page, generally _that_ url works (but not
always).
I can't really describe it better as I only rarely download a video that
isn't on Youtube where, on Youtube, both the main (long) URL works as does
the short one.
For example, this week I was writing Android apps from Windows using
freeware, where I'm a complete noob (these are my first five apps ever)
Your first Android app takes about a hour from start to finish
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/aW64zYeBtF0>
As always, so that others could follow in my footsteps, I posted these URLs
into that thread, where I used the youtube downloader so that I could start
and stop them at will without having to be in a browser online (they were
actually loaded to the iPad using Linux dual boot to do so).
Android Studio For Beginners Part 1, 2, 3, 4
by Bill Butterfield, Published on Jun 13, 2017 (mp4)
https://youtu.be/dFlPARW5IX8 (part 1)
https://youtu.be/6ow3L39Wxmg (part 2)
https://youtu.be/rdGpT1pIJlw (part 3)
https://youtu.be/bu5Y3uZ6LLM (part 4)
But, in reality, these are the URLs I originally used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFlPARW5IX8&feature=youtu.be (part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ow3L39Wxmg&feature=youtu.be (part 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdGpT1pIJlw&feature=youtu.be (part 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu5Y3uZ6LLM&feature=youtu.be (part 4)
Both styles of URLs work
o The top of the page
o The video embedded inside the page
If I understand your question correctly (and I might not), then both URLs
work fine, one of which is the page and the other the video in the page.
Playlists also work, but I don't use them, but you can point to a playlist
that you have on Youtube and it will download everything in the playlist.
Again, the manpage has more than you could ever ask for, and, again,
I just use it for simple stuff where it does more than what I know.
Arlen_Holder
Nov 13, 2018, 8:19:36 PM11/13/18
to
On Tue, 13 Nov 2018 12:22:19 GMT, mick wrote:
> Have you tried Handbrake for conversion?
> https://handbrake.fr/
I don't recommend handbrake, although I used it and loved it for years,
especially since Super went to the dark side.
I currently recommend ShotCut, although it's completely different than
Handbrake.
HandBrake is a cross platform converter.
ShotCut is mostly for video editing, so it's a complex GUI (like Pinnacle
Studio is); but ShotCut converts just about any audio format you can give
it.
Both are great though - but I put my vote on ShotCut having used both.
============================================================================
> Have you tried Handbrake for conversion?
> https://handbrake.fr/
I don't recommend handbrake, although I used it and loved it for years,
especially since Super went to the dark side.
I currently recommend ShotCut, although it's completely different than
Handbrake.
HandBrake is a cross platform converter.
ShotCut is mostly for video editing, so it's a complex GUI (like Pinnacle
Studio is); but ShotCut converts just about any audio format you can give
it.
Both are great though - but I put my vote on ShotCut having used both.
============================================================================
o *ShotCut* freeware pretty much handles everything fantastically
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
o *Handbrake* freeware is cross platform compatible
<https://handbrake.fr/>
o *Super* freeware used to be the best (but get the older versions!)
<http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER/old-versions> (no longer there)
o Others are *VirtualDub, AviDemux, AviSynth, oxelon, totallyfreeconverter*, etc.
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualdub/files/virtualdub-win/>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avidemux/files/latest/download>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avisynth2/files/latest/download>
<http://www.oxelon.com/media_converter.html>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/oxelonmediaconv/files/oxelonmediaconv/oxelonplugins/oxelonplugins.exe/download>
<http://www.sabsoft.com/TotallyFreeConverter.htm>
============================================================================
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
o *Handbrake* freeware is cross platform compatible
<https://handbrake.fr/>
o *Super* freeware used to be the best (but get the older versions!)
<http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER/old-versions> (no longer there)
o Others are *VirtualDub, AviDemux, AviSynth, oxelon, totallyfreeconverter*, etc.
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualdub/files/virtualdub-win/>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avidemux/files/latest/download>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avisynth2/files/latest/download>
<http://www.oxelon.com/media_converter.html>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/oxelonmediaconv/files/oxelonmediaconv/oxelonplugins/oxelonplugins.exe/download>
<http://www.sabsoft.com/TotallyFreeConverter.htm>
Arlen_Holder
Nov 13, 2018, 8:19:38 PM11/13/18
to
On Tue, 13 Nov 2018 04:38:41 -0500, Paul wrote:
> CamStudio is a dumpster fire.
Hi Paul,
I am trying to keep up on which work and which sucks of the ones I
originally listed (where nothing new has come up since).
Where would you put camstudio on this list of freeware, best to worst
for the purpose of freeware to video capture sound/screen on Windows?
> CamStudio is a dumpster fire.
Hi Paul,
I am trying to keep up on which work and which sucks of the ones I
originally listed (where nothing new has come up since).
Where would you put camstudio on this list of freeware, best to worst
for the purpose of freeware to video capture sound/screen on Windows?
Arlen_Holder
Nov 13, 2018, 8:29:58 PM11/13/18
to
On Wed, 14 Nov 2018 01:19:36 -0000 (UTC), Arlen_Holder wrote:
> I am trying to keep up on which work and which sucks of the ones I
> originally listed (where nothing new has come up since).
Hi Paul,
> I am trying to keep up on which work and which sucks of the ones I
> originally listed (where nothing new has come up since).
This is the latest list after reading all the posts on this thread.
Do you concur with the rough order below? (It's preliminary.)
Screen recorders
o camstudio
o vlc
o ezvid (mayayana tested)
o apowerrec
o debut video capture
o dvdvideosoft
o goplay
o obs studio
o gamedvr
o xsplit broadcaster
o iSpring free cam (wmv only)
o sharex (needs addon)
o smartpixel (watermark)
o tinytake (5 min)
o icecream (watermark, 5min, only webm)
o flashback express (mayayana tested, spyware)
o screencastomatic (mayayana tested, 15-min, watermark, stay away from it)
o gilisoft free screen recorder (mayayana tested, trialware, watermark)
Downloader:
o youtube-dl
Converters:
o ShotCut
o Handbrake
o Super (use the older version)
Paul
Nov 13, 2018, 11:02:29 PM11/13/18
to
capture region. At the time, other applications weren't
as easy to use.
CamStudio used AVI for the output container. And as
far as I know, doesn't have AVI2 OpenDML output capability,
which limits non-corrupted output to 4GB. Even when two
Google Summer Of Code people were available to work
on CamStudio, they didn't fix the AVI part. I could
have fixed that in five minutes, by gluing FFMPEG
to the butt end :-/ The SOC people were supposed to
have added multi-monitor support (think how quickly
that would deplete your 4GB max file size).
I think the "CamStudio CODEC" may have disappeared. They
had their own CODEC at one time, and it may have been
added to some other programs so you could actually use
the output. The program would pretend to copy at 200FPS,
when the engine was actually capturing at 7FPS and
repeating each frame close to 30 times.
But the rest of the feature set, is bonkers.
If you wrote a program in 1980, slid it into a
box, closed the lid, then opened it in 2018, what
do you think the program would look like ? Like
it was from 1980 or something. The controls make
no sense. The CODEC choices offered are... prehistoric.
Imagine using Cinepak when grabbing 1920x1080 screen ?
Think how slow that's going to be. (Some Cinepak
render runs operate at sub-1FPS rates. Such a choice
cannot end well. Cinepak was wonderful back when it
was used for 160x120 videos. Cinepak is not based
on frequency domain analysis of the picture.)
In my opinion, when there are many many competitors,
and a lot of them are re-using an existing engine,
we should use "Chrome" analysis. On browsers, anything
based on Chromium gets the "Hey, it's Chrome" description.
We're less likely to test such things, because a typical
developer doesn't really change much. It doesn't matter
if the developer dolled it up a bit (put his name on it),
it's still Chrome.
That might reduce the playing field to the level
that you could spot innovation.
Back in the day, there were people bootstrapping off
the AMCAP code (to do webcam capture). There were
people bootstrapping off the Microsoft RAMDisk
demo code (which set back the development of good
RAMDisks by about 15 years - tremendous damage...).
When code gets reused, the results aren't always
exemplary. Lazy guys like me paste an extra three
lines of code into it, put our name on it, and
suddenly you have another item on your list
to test.
As for the IceCream, I seem to have lost my copy :-)
I can't be sure what the download filename was.
I tried looking for IceCream but didn't find it.
It was a pretty large download for such a "simple"
operation. Look at the size of AMCAP for inspiration.
IceCream bolted together a whole pile of Open Source
stuff.
Paul
arlen michael holder
Nov 14, 2018, 12:03:05 PM11/14/18
to
On Tue, 13 Nov 2018 23:01:26 -0500, Paul wrote:
> As for the IceCream, I seem to have lost my copy :-)
> I can't be sure what the download filename was.
> I tried looking for IceCream but didn't find it.
Hi Paul,
> As for the IceCream, I seem to have lost my copy :-)
> I can't be sure what the download filename was.
> I tried looking for IceCream but didn't find it.
As you know, the huge expense of freeware is finding the best ones.
For that, we rely on others we trust, and our own test instincts.
To that end, both you and Mayayana (both of whom we trust) have
reported on most of the following screen recording free software
(e.g., I will demote camstudio based on your response above).
And yet...
Both you and Mayayana can't find downloads that I'm sure I listed
the URLs for (multiple times) in this thread (almost all of which,
if not all of which, I recently tested before posting them);so, as
to help everyone at the same time I help you, I created this list
just now that contains _all_ the suggested programs (with a short
description of test results), and where I ordered the programs as
best I could based on the reviewer's tone in this thread.
As always, this is for everyone to benefit so please improve as needed!
Freeware Screenrecorders (best to worst):
See also: <https://www.videohelp.com/software/sections/desktop-screen-capture>
o cutescreenrecorder (mayayana tested, mp4, worked best so far)
<http://www.videotool.net/screen-recorder-free-version.htm>
<http://www.videotool.net/download/screenrecorderfree.exe>
o vlc
<https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.php>
o iSpring free cam (records in wav/avi & saves as wmv only, 15fps)
<https://www.ispringsolutions.com/ispring-free-cam>
o ezvid (mayayana tested)
<https://www.ezvid.com>
o camstudio
<https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/camstudio.html> (full installer)
<https://camstudio.org/> (web stub)
o apowerrec
<https://www.apowersoft.com/record-all-screen>
o debut video capture
<https://www.nchsoftware.com/capture/index.html>
o dvdvideosoft
<https://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-Screen-Video-Recorder.htm>
o goplay
o obs studio
<https://obsproject.com/download>
o obs studio
o gamedvr
<https://github.com/FunkyFr3sh/GameDVR_Config>
o xsplit broadcaster
<https://www.xsplit.com/broadcaster>
o sharex (needs addon)
<https://getsharex.com/>
o smartpixel (watermark)
<http://www.smartpixel.com/>
o tinytake (5 min)
<https://tinytake.com/tinytake-download>
o icecream (watermark, 5min, only webm)
<https://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/>
o flashback express (mayayana tested, spyware)
<https://www.flashbackrecorder.com/express/>
o screencastomatic (mayayana tested, 15-min, watermark, stay away from it)
<https://screencast-o-matic.com/>
o gilisoft free screen recorder (mayayana tested, trialware, watermark)
<http://www.gilisoft.com/free-screen-recorder.htm>
Freeware Downloaders (best to worst):
o youtube-dl
<https://youtube-dl.org/>
o ?
Freeware Converters (best to worst):
o *ShotCut* freeware pretty much handles everything fantastically
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
o *Handbrake* freeware is cross platform compatible
<https://handbrake.fr/>
o *Super* freeware used to be the best (but get the older versions!)
<http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER/old-versions> (no longer there)
o Others *VirtualDub, AviDemux, AviSynth, oxelon, totallyfreeconverter*, etc.
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
o *Handbrake* freeware is cross platform compatible
<https://handbrake.fr/>
o *Super* freeware used to be the best (but get the older versions!)
<http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER/old-versions> (no longer there)
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualdub/files/virtualdub-win/>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avidemux/files/latest/download>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avisynth2/files/latest/download>
<http://www.oxelon.com/media_converter.html>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/oxelonmediaconv/files/oxelonmediaconv/oxelonplugins/oxelonplugins.exe/download>
<http://www.sabsoft.com/TotallyFreeConverter.htm>
o ?
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avidemux/files/latest/download>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/avisynth2/files/latest/download>
<http://www.oxelon.com/media_converter.html>
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/oxelonmediaconv/files/oxelonmediaconv/oxelonplugins/oxelonplugins.exe/download>
<http://www.sabsoft.com/TotallyFreeConverter.htm>
As always, this is a work in progress compiled and posted for the
benefit of all - hence - please improve where you see improvement needs.
arlen michael holder
Nov 14, 2018, 1:50:07 PM11/14/18
to
On Wed, 14 Nov 2018 10:39:53 -0500, Paul wrote:
> It's not in the list here either.
>
> https://www.videohelp.com/software/sections/desktop-screen-capture
>
> It's also weird that I'm getting so many
> foreign language hits for it, and then
> nothing much in English. Maybe I'll have to wait
> later in the day for Google search to "fully wake up".
Hi Paul,
So that others benefit, here's my install log for the program Mayayana
suggested, which includes information about codec analysis at the bottom
where I think others may benefit from both the codecs and the analysis
tools, so I post the ad-hoc log below with those additions at the end.
============================================================================
"Cute Screen Recorder free version 3.903" log
============================================================================
Download from
<http://www.videotool.net/screen-recorder-free-version.htm>
Actual file
<http://www.videotool.net/download/screenrecorderfree.exe>
Help at:
<http://www.videotool.net/screen-recorder-free-version-help.htm?sr>
Related products:
<http://www.videotool.net/download.htm?sr>
Download to
c:\software\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec\
============================================================================
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: screenrecorderfree.exe
Size: 6871846 bytes (6 MB)
SHA256: DC77C068A4ED42BC3A1D80CBEA1AD67DCD254DAD68EA72B62F8D0480BD074F36
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
============================================================================
It wants to install into C:\Program Files (x86)\Cute Screen Recorder
I put it in C:\app\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec
It created a desktop icon named Cute Screen Recorder Free Version
Target of C:\app\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec\cutescreenrecorder.exe
Start in of C:\app\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec
============================================================================
It brings up a GUI saying "Cute Screen Recorder free version 3.903"
The default settings seem erasable except for the "Output Directory"
Change from Output Directory = C:\ProgramData\screenrecorder
Change to Output Directory = C:\tmp\screenrec\
============================================================================
For my first test...
o I hit the "full screen" button (as the manual GUI was a bit clumsy)
o I set it to mp4, 20 frames per second, sound, mouse, 10 seconds
o When the time was up, it popped open the save directory (which is nice)
CuteScreenRecorder-1920-1080_(new).mp4
o The file played fine in Media Player Classic (which is my default player)
============================================================================
To determine what codecs were used...
I slid the file onto GSpot but it said "Codec Status Undetermined".
Admittedly GSpot is old so I searched for newer codec analysis tools.
============================================================================
Codec Installer reported it was MPEG-4 (Video) mp4:
Of possible formats: .3G2 84.3% .MOV 8.6% .MP4 5.2% .ABR 1.7%
============================================================================
MediaInfo reported:
General
Complete name :
C:\tmp\screenrec\CuteScreenRecorder-1920-1080_(new).mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom (isom/iso2/mp41)
File size : 1.51 MiB
Duration : 10 s 150 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 999 kb/s
Writing application : Lavf54.63.104
Video
ID : 1
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Simple@L1
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Codec ID : mp4v-20
Duration : 10 s 150 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 998 kb/s
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 5:4
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 20.000 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.038
Stream size : 1.51 MiB (100%)
Writing library : Lavc54.92.100
============================================================================
So that others can reproduce what I did above, as always, here are
sufficient details to download the codecs and the codec analysis tools.
============================================================================
Free Codec Detectors
o avicodec
<http://avicodec.free.fr/>
o codecinstaller
<http://www.jockersoft.com/downloads/CodecInstaller/setup_CodecInstaller_full.exe>
o gspot
<http://gspot.headbands.com/>
o mediainfo
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/mediainfo/files/latest/download>
<https://ayera.dl.sourceforge.net/project/mediainfo/binary/mediainfo-gui/18.08.1/MediaInfo_GUI_18.08.1_Windows.exe>
o videoinspector
<http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?vtb>
<https://kcsoftwares.com/files/videoinspector_lite.exe>
o ? others ?
============================================================================
Free codec packs <http://www.codecguide.com/>
o Klite
<http://www.codecguide.com/download_kl.htm>
<http://www.codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_full.htm>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Basic.exe>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Standard.exe>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Mega.exe>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/klcp_update_1455_20181106.exe>
o Cole2K
<http://www.cole2k.net/>
<http://node-20bde4a35e5c.cole2k.net/files/no-tb/cole2k.media.-.codec.pack.v8.0.6.-advanced-.setup.exe>
o ? others ?
============================================================================
> It's not in the list here either.
>
> https://www.videohelp.com/software/sections/desktop-screen-capture
>
> It's also weird that I'm getting so many
> foreign language hits for it, and then
> nothing much in English. Maybe I'll have to wait
> later in the day for Google search to "fully wake up".
Hi Paul,
So that others benefit, here's my install log for the program Mayayana
suggested, which includes information about codec analysis at the bottom
where I think others may benefit from both the codecs and the analysis
tools, so I post the ad-hoc log below with those additions at the end.
============================================================================
"Cute Screen Recorder free version 3.903" log
============================================================================
Download from
<http://www.videotool.net/screen-recorder-free-version.htm>
Actual file
<http://www.videotool.net/download/screenrecorderfree.exe>
Help at:
<http://www.videotool.net/screen-recorder-free-version-help.htm?sr>
Related products:
<http://www.videotool.net/download.htm?sr>
Download to
c:\software\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec\
============================================================================
---------------------------
Checksum information
---------------------------
Name: screenrecorderfree.exe
Size: 6871846 bytes (6 MB)
SHA256: DC77C068A4ED42BC3A1D80CBEA1AD67DCD254DAD68EA72B62F8D0480BD074F36
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
============================================================================
It wants to install into C:\Program Files (x86)\Cute Screen Recorder
I put it in C:\app\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec
It created a desktop icon named Cute Screen Recorder Free Version
Target of C:\app\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec\cutescreenrecorder.exe
Start in of C:\app\editor\screenrec\cutescreenrec
============================================================================
It brings up a GUI saying "Cute Screen Recorder free version 3.903"
The default settings seem erasable except for the "Output Directory"
Change from Output Directory = C:\ProgramData\screenrecorder
Change to Output Directory = C:\tmp\screenrec\
============================================================================
For my first test...
o I hit the "full screen" button (as the manual GUI was a bit clumsy)
o I set it to mp4, 20 frames per second, sound, mouse, 10 seconds
o When the time was up, it popped open the save directory (which is nice)
CuteScreenRecorder-1920-1080_(new).mp4
o The file played fine in Media Player Classic (which is my default player)
============================================================================
To determine what codecs were used...
I slid the file onto GSpot but it said "Codec Status Undetermined".
Admittedly GSpot is old so I searched for newer codec analysis tools.
============================================================================
Codec Installer reported it was MPEG-4 (Video) mp4:
Of possible formats: .3G2 84.3% .MOV 8.6% .MP4 5.2% .ABR 1.7%
============================================================================
MediaInfo reported:
General
Complete name :
C:\tmp\screenrec\CuteScreenRecorder-1920-1080_(new).mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom (isom/iso2/mp41)
File size : 1.51 MiB
Duration : 10 s 150 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 999 kb/s
Writing application : Lavf54.63.104
Video
ID : 1
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Simple@L1
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Codec ID : mp4v-20
Duration : 10 s 150 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 998 kb/s
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 5:4
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 20.000 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.038
Stream size : 1.51 MiB (100%)
Writing library : Lavc54.92.100
============================================================================
So that others can reproduce what I did above, as always, here are
sufficient details to download the codecs and the codec analysis tools.
============================================================================
Free Codec Detectors
o avicodec
<http://avicodec.free.fr/>
o codecinstaller
<http://www.jockersoft.com/downloads/CodecInstaller/setup_CodecInstaller_full.exe>
o gspot
<http://gspot.headbands.com/>
o mediainfo
<https://sourceforge.net/projects/mediainfo/files/latest/download>
<https://ayera.dl.sourceforge.net/project/mediainfo/binary/mediainfo-gui/18.08.1/MediaInfo_GUI_18.08.1_Windows.exe>
o videoinspector
<http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?vtb>
<https://kcsoftwares.com/files/videoinspector_lite.exe>
o ? others ?
============================================================================
Free codec packs <http://www.codecguide.com/>
o Klite
<http://www.codecguide.com/download_kl.htm>
<http://www.codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_full.htm>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Basic.exe>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Standard.exe>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Mega.exe>
<http://files2.codecguide.com/klcp_update_1455_20181106.exe>
o Cole2K
<http://www.cole2k.net/>
<http://node-20bde4a35e5c.cole2k.net/files/no-tb/cole2k.media.-.codec.pack.v8.0.6.-advanced-.setup.exe>
o ? others ?
============================================================================
arlen michael holder
Nov 14, 2018, 9:20:56 PM11/14/18
to
On Wed, 14 Nov 2018 14:25:24 -0700, Bill in Co wrote:
> Also, from the posting Arlen gave, you'll notice it's using an old mp4
> codec, and not the h.264 version.
Hi Bill in Co,
That's a good catch on the older codecs, which I hadn't actually noticed.
Hence, I appreciate that you brought it up since I, like you, did NOT see
this program on _any_ review that I had summarized prior in this thread.
I also ran the mp4 file through the latest Handbrake converter freeware:
<https://handbrake.fr/>
Which defaults to re-encoding it as H.264 (if that's needed).
(I'm a noob on video codecs so I'm just bringing this up as a possibility.)
I also use Shotcut freeware to convert from anything to anything, where
Shotcut creates, by default, an H.264/AAC MP4 file, but where Shotcut
can read anything and write anything (IMHO).
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
Since ShotCut is probably the best video editor freeware on Windows (IMHO),
I would use that first, before any others, if editing was needed.
> Also, from the posting Arlen gave, you'll notice it's using an old mp4
> codec, and not the h.264 version.
Hi Bill in Co,
That's a good catch on the older codecs, which I hadn't actually noticed.
Hence, I appreciate that you brought it up since I, like you, did NOT see
this program on _any_ review that I had summarized prior in this thread.
I also ran the mp4 file through the latest Handbrake converter freeware:
<https://handbrake.fr/>
Which defaults to re-encoding it as H.264 (if that's needed).
(I'm a noob on video codecs so I'm just bringing this up as a possibility.)
I also use Shotcut freeware to convert from anything to anything, where
Shotcut creates, by default, an H.264/AAC MP4 file, but where Shotcut
can read anything and write anything (IMHO).
<https://www.shotcutapp.com/download/>
Since ShotCut is probably the best video editor freeware on Windows (IMHO),
I would use that first, before any others, if editing was needed.
arlen michael holder
Nov 14, 2018, 11:39:50 PM11/14/18
to
On Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:00:03 -0700, Bill in Co wrote:
> I do like PSP, and actually use it,
> but only an older version, which satisfies me just fine).
Hi Bill in Co,
I looked into my log file to see where my PSP came from, which was here:
<http://www.oldversion.com/windows/download/paint-shop-pro-5-01>
> I have no need or
> use for Photoshop and all it's "elegance" and bloat.
There _is_ a (sort of kind of pretty much effectively) "free" version of
PhotoShop, where it's an older version (creative suite 2 version) that was
made available by Adobe for re-use (but which works fine for occasional
use).
<https://www.techspot.com/downloads/4948-adobe-creative-suite-free.html>
The "legal" pundits here love to wax philosophically about that URL, but
that doesn't change the fact that it's (kind of sort of) available from
Adobe & that it certainly works.
> I do like PSP, and actually use it,
> but only an older version, which satisfies me just fine).
Hi Bill in Co,
I looked into my log file to see where my PSP came from, which was here:
<http://www.oldversion.com/windows/download/paint-shop-pro-5-01>
> I have no need or
> use for Photoshop and all it's "elegance" and bloat.
There _is_ a (sort of kind of pretty much effectively) "free" version of
PhotoShop, where it's an older version (creative suite 2 version) that was
made available by Adobe for re-use (but which works fine for occasional
use).
<https://www.techspot.com/downloads/4948-adobe-creative-suite-free.html>
The "legal" pundits here love to wax philosophically about that URL, but
that doesn't change the fact that it's (kind of sort of) available from
Adobe & that it certainly works.
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