A brief overview of screencasting.

1. Screencasting: Best Practice

2. The Basics
• If you are recording more than one video, decide on a standard set of options for your organization.
For example, will your videos highlight the cursor? Should your videos all be the same size ? Will
you record with a caption or system stamp?
• Practice, practice, practice. Overall, how much and how often you practice will be the key to
creating professional videos. It takes practice to learn how to correctly move the cursor or open
applications so they appear in the recording area. You will need to practice to get the positioning of
browser windows and other applications just right.
• Perform several "takes," replaying them after production to see ways of improving the video. By
viewing glitches and correcting them in succeeding takes, you will eventually come up with a
professional-looking video sequence that you can save.
• Be patient. Even a one-minute video can take a while to set up and record. A beginner might need
30 minutes or longer to get it right. Leave plenty of time for extra
• To ensure you get the best looking videos, clean up your browser and desktop by closing or
removing all nonessential applications, browser toolbars, and desktop icons. Also, a plain
background on your desktop is better than a busy wallpaper image. Keep in mind that a cluttered
work space can draw attention away from what you are actually trying to show.
• Practice using the mouse around the screen in a slow, fluid motion .Also, when showing cursor
movement, pause a fraction of a second over the element, then click. This will allow cursor position
to be established in the video before the next action takes place.

3. Scripting
• For lengthy or involved sequences of action, write a script before recording. With a
script it is easy to go back redo parts of the audio that you don't like. It also helps
define what should be happening on the screen, and help avoid any unnecessary
tangents or extra information.
• Think through the actions, in detail, that you want to capture, and then write them
down in sequential steps making sure that the script accurately reflects what's
currently happening on the screen. The script should also contain the exact words
that you will record. Avoid using repetitive statements or words and avoid long
pauses or hesitations in the narration.
• Avoid narration filler by using words such as “umm” or “ahh.”
• Know your lines and practice them over and over in front of a mirror so it comes
naturally to you. This way you don't have to think about the script while you’re
running through the recording phase.
• Include an overview of the recording in the first line or two of the script.
• Print the script in large type to make it easy to read while recording.
To eliminate the sound of paper shuffling, tape the script pages together and hang
them near the monitor so they are easy to read.
• Speak slowly and enunciate properly.

4. BBFlashback Pro: Screencasting
Software
• Advanced Technology: BB FlashBack can
record high frame rate, high quality movies
without affecting PC performance, even on
lower powered PCs.
• WebCam Recording: Give your movies the
personal touch. Make an appearance with a
picture-in-picture webcam recording. One
click, and BB FlashBack records from the
webcam while it records the screen.

5. • Export to a Range of Formats: Reach the widest
possible audience. The BB FlashBack screen
recorder exports to the most widely used video
formats: MP4, Flash, QuickTime, AVI, GIF and
Windows Media Video. The Pro edition also
creates a standalone EXE that viewers run to see
your creation.
• Annotation: Make sure your viewers get the
message. Add textboxes, highlights, images and
interactive buttons. Customise their appearance,
and add fade-in/out effects. BB FlashBack screen
recorder helps you make your point.

6. • Keep up with the action: Need to fit that
movie into a smaller space? Crop it down and
use the Autoscroll feature to keep the action
visible automatically.
• Localization: BB FlashBack comes with
features to enable easy localization of movies.
Export text to files ready for translation.
Import translated text to create multiple
languages in one movie file. Select which
language to play, share and export to video.

7. Example