Not sure what factors you should be looking into?

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll be sharing a list of 12 important factors that you should look for in a Mac screen recorder.

Let’s get started.

1. Ability to Record Audio

This is the first things you should look for in a Mac screen recorder. Even though all Macbooks come with two pre-installed recorders (QuickTime Player & Screenshot Tool), neither of can record internal audio. That’s why it’s important to check whether the third-party screen recording application you’re going for records both internal (system) audio and microphone audio.

2. Free Trial/Plan

Many recording software online are built with professional editors and video makers in mind.

If you’re an average user with no prior video-making experience, you might find it difficult to get accustomed to the basic functionalities and use cases of the software. Hence, it’s always safer to test the software, its interface, and its features before you plan to pay for it. Just sign up for a free trial & experience the product in action before you purchase it.

It’s always advisable to check the reviews and ratings of a recording software before you make a purchase. By doing so, you will have a clear picture of what works and what doesn’t in a product.

There are so many credible review platforms like G2, Crozdesk, and Capterra where you can check and compare the ratings, reviews, pros, and cons of your favourite products easily.

4. Pricing

There are a ton of free and paid screen recording software available online.

However, it’s important to note that most of these free screen recorders only provide basic screen recording functionalities. They don’t provide advanced editing and storage functionalities that are required to take professional videos.

If you wish to record professional screen-recorded videos, it’s better to pay a few extra dollars and go for a paid screen recorder. The pricing usually ranges from $7 to $300.

While you sign up for a free trial, check whether your screen recorder has a user-friendly interface. It should have beginner-friendly customization tools & drag-and-drop features. They will not only help you save your time and money, but also make your recording experience less stressful.

6. Customer Support

A responsive customer support team will always put their customers first, and get their issues sorted as soon as possible.

However, not all screen recorders have a solid customer support team.

That’s why it’s important to check whether your screen recorder has a responsive customer support team. To do this, you can have a look at product’s listing on any of the popular software review platforms. They will have consolidated user ratings for all these critical aspects (quality of support, ease-of-use, and ease-of-setup).

Most screen recorders require a good amount of storage space. So, it’s better to look for software that requires less storage space.

A few screen recorders like Vmaker can also be downloaded as a Chrome extension. If you’re running short on storage space, you can try out a screen recorder Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.

8. Editor

This is another important factor you should check for.

Because, without a built-in video editor, you would be forced to perform multiple retakes until you get it all right in a single shot.

Using Vmaker AI video editor, you can transform your raw video footage into publish-ready video in one click. All you have to do is upload your raw footage and select the kind of visual enhancements or elements you want to add to your video like Subtitles, B-rolls, Background Music, Text Animations, etc— Vmaker AI will automatically add them for you.

Not just AI, it also comes with an intuitive timeline. So, you can easily edit the parts of the video as you like.

9. Recording Features

As we mentioned earlier, there are a multitude of screen recorders online. While a few of them may allow you to record your entire screen, a few of them may only allow you to record a selected portion of your screen. Depending on your requirements, it’s up to you to decide what features you’d like to have in your Mac screen recorder.

Here are a few basic features that you can expect in a Mac screen recorder.

i) Background noise control feature
It filters out the unnecessary background noises from your recording and ensures your videos have high-quality audio.

ii) Recording Scheduler
It allows you to schedule your recordings in advance.

iii) Cloud storage
This feature ensures that all your recordings are saved to the cloud. That means you don’t have to worry about downloading your screen recordings to your local device.

iv) Multiple recording modes (with webcam recording)
When you have multiple recording modes, you will be able to switch between screen and webcam recording seamlessly.

v) Annotation and mouse emphasis tools
While the mouse emphasis feature highlights your mouse clicks, the annotation tools allow you to draw on the surface of your screen. Both these features help in grabbing the attention of your viewers.

10. Video Quality

Screen recordings, when compressed, lose their quality. These types of videos will not have sharper details and will end up looking pixelated. This is a huge bummer if you’re looking to record professional videos.

That’s why you should always look for a screen recorder that offers high-quality export options (at least 1080p & above).

11. Export Format

This is, again, another overlooked factor.

If you’re planning to upload your recordings on any of the popular social media platforms like (YouTube and Facebook), you should be able to export your recording in an MP4 format. So, make sure your recording software allows you to export your recordings in MP4 format.

Most screen recorders provide easy and quick sharing options.

Just check if your screen recorder allows you to share your recording in one of the formats mentioned below.

1. As a copied link
2. As a video embed link
3. Upload your videos directly to social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Vmaker is a 4K Mac screen recorder that lets you record, edit, and share professional-quality videos within a matter of a few minutes.

Sign up for free and start recording videos in a jiffy!

Recommended Reads

How to Record Internal (System) Audio on Mac? (5 Simple Ways)

How to Use Your iPhone as a Webcam on Mac?

Top 10 Screen Recorders for Mac

How to Screen Record on MacBook Pro

How to Record Screen and Talk on Mac

How to Screen Record on Mac with Voiceover

How to Screen Record on Mac with Unlimited Time

However, no matter how easy, sometimes, even the pros create screen recording videos that are far from the best.

So, here are 10 tips that will help you create easy screen recording videos in minutes!

• Prepare a script or create a rough outline of what you’re planning to record 
• Choose the screen recording software and do a mock run-up 
• Decide on the resolution and size of the recording 
• Make sure you’ve enabled the Full Screen option in case you juggle multiple tabs
• Avoid external disturbances and noises while recording
• Choose the right microphone and webcam for your recording
• Include the screen annotation tools and webcam overlay
• Avoid using the control menu and switch to hotkeys to avoid extra elements on the screen while recording 
• Add quick intro and conclusion to your recordings to add extra clarity 
• Edit out and trim portions that are extra in the screen recording

Screen recordings are done for a lot of different reasons. Even if you’re planning to create 5 min long screen recording videos, a script will:

• Help you stick to the video objective
• Create room for you to reflect and understand if you’re sticking to the topic
• Give you a balanced timeline for both screen and webcam

But, if you are one of the last-minute-unsung-heroes, then create a rough outline for the script—a simple bullet point list or notes—that help you to jump from one sub-topic to the other.

This is an essential step because having the right toolkit can help you save a lot of time. Remember, the easiest way to create a stunning screen recording video is to choose a tool that would take away 90% of the work off your shoulders.

Decide on the screen recording software in which you use to create the screen recording video. Ideally, the best screen recording software comes with features that will let you record the screen, camera, or both simultaneously with audio along with screen annotation, noise cancellation, and editor options.

Once you’re done deciding on the screen recording software and then installing the software, it’s important to quickly run through the settings and record a mock video to familiarise yourself with and check if everything is working well. 

By recording a mock video, you’ll be able to confidently talk while screen recording and also feel comfortable reading a script while looking into the camera.

Luckily you don’t have to worry about deciding on the screen recording software. Vmaker is the ideal solution for anyone looking to screen record. 

Screen recording can be done in two different ways: You can either record the screen alone or record the screen and webcam together.

First, decide on which type of screen recording you want to do. The next step would be to precisely record what you want to record.

 It is important to share only the relevant and necessary information. So decide on whether you want to record the entire screen or a tab or even a particular section of the screen.

Again, the script will help you to figure our if you have to juggle the multiple screens while recording your screen or stay on one. So, in case you have the necessity to switch to more than one tab, or even window, then make sure to disable the Current Tab option and select the ‘Full screen’ mode like shown in the screenshot below:

Identify the ideal location for recording the video. Make sure that there are no disturbances from external sources while recording. If there are disturbances it could really hinder the video flow and might require a lot of editing later.

Vmaker’s noise cancellation feature ensures that your screen recordings are void of even small background noises and disturbances.

Microphones and webcam play a huge role in deciding the quality of your screen recording and it is crucial to have a high-quality microphone and webcam for recording videos.

It is advisable to not use the internal microphones in laptops. At the same time, there isn’t a need to invest heavily in a professional microphone as a very basic one that comes with an earphone itself could do the job.

Likewise, Mac users need not worry about the webcam as the built-in one offers an unparalleled webcam recording experience. If you’re a Windows user then you might have to consider upgrading your webcam to a good enough one to create a good video. 

Ensure that the recording software has the option to connect external microphones and webcam. Vmaker enables users to choose from different microphones and webcams that are connected and made available.

Screen annotation, mouse emphasis, and movable webcam overlay allow users to make the screen recording engaging and interactive. However, overusing the tools will create an unpleasant viewing experience.

Annotating the screen create an engaging experince to the audience but keep them whereever necessary. Constantly hovering the mouse on the screen and clicking makes it difficult for the viewer to understand what is being conveyed on screen. Overusing is no good.

Similarly, screen drawing or annotations could also be a great way of creating engaging videos but it is very important to use it wisely. 

Position your webcam overlay at the right place:

If you’re recording with a webcam overlay then the position of webcam overlay plays a key role. The webcam overlay on the side of the screen mimics an in-person experience for the audience. However, it should not overshadow the screen that you’re presenting.

To tackle this practical difficulty, Vamker has introduced the option to resize or reshape the webcam overlay. But if you have a lot of white space in the background, then play along with different frames that Vmaker has for the webcam overlay.

Most of the recorders come with a control menu that has shortcuts to pause, finish, delete the recording, and much more. But each and every click on the control menu drags the focus of the users away from the mainframe.

The best way to avoid losing the user’s focus is by disabling the recording menu and using hotkeys while recording. By doing so you can freely pause recordings and finish recording without distracting the user. 

Vmaker comes with hotkeys and also the option to disable the recording menu ensuring users can record videos without the recording menu. 

An intro and outro to the video are more like a teaser and post credits! A quick intro can be a compilation of small video snippets or a dedicated inrroduction to give a sneak peak of what the audience can expect from the video.

Similarly, an outro can help you in two ways: Firstly, it can be a wrap-up or a summary of your whole video; Secondly, an outro can also be a prelude to the next video you might record. Keeping your audience in loop is the first step to stay on top their head.

No matter how focused you are while recording videos there are bound to be instances where there are few pauses and breaks. Once you finish recording the video, edit the sections that you feel are unnecessary or extra.

ou can use our very own AI video editing tool to turn your raw video footage into publish-ready content with just one click. All you have to do is upload your raw footage and select the kind of visual enhancements or elements you want to add to your video like Subtitles, B-rolls, Background Music, Text Animations, etc— Vmaker AI will automatically add them for you.

Not just AI, it also comes with an intuitive timeline. So, you can easily edit the parts of the video as you like.

Being aware of the actionable tips like these can save you a lot of time before and after your recording session.

Now that you have got a clear idea on recording videos including tips and tricks. Sign Up right away and start creating engaging videos for free using Vmaker.

Further Screen Recording Resources:

10 Best Free & Paid Screen Recorders To Checkout In 2023
How to Film Yourself Without Freaking Out | Actionable Recording Tips
How to Make an Engaging Screencast? Four Easy Steps and Tips
How to Screen Record on Windows with Chrome Extension
How to Record Screen and Webcam on Windows 10
How to Screen Record on Windows 7 with Audio