Duffbert's Random Musings :: Suggestions on capturing a screen-sharing session for playback by others?

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I'm in a position where I have to work with an off-shore support group for our Notes applications, and our hours don't overlap well (actually, at all!) I have no doubt that there will be help desk calls where I will need to ask the user to demo the problem for me, and then will need to explain it via email to the support people.

What I'd like to be able to do is record these screen-sharing sessions (or even my own screen session) on my PC, then package up the video in a reasonable size/format to send off via email. That way I don't have to rely upon the written word and possible miscommunication to extend the back-and-forth email exchanges any longer than they have to be.

Any suggestions on software (Windows-based) that would help me do that? Bonus points if I can run the software on my side, and then the person on the other end does NOT have to have the same software installed to run the video (as in the video gets created in some standard video format)...

And MAJOR bonus points if I don't have to spend anything on it, as I'm reasonably sure work probably won't pay for it...

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Comments

1 - For free, quick screencasts, { Link } as long as you don't go over 10 mins (unless you pay), and, as long as you don't mind the watermark. can have issues with multiple monitors as well.
No install - all java based.

{ Link } - bit more features, but installer

from there - commercial stuff...
I've used the pro version of this one - pretty easy to use, $200, but installer

{ Link }

And there are a number of other commercial options, and, if you need editing and production type demos, I think you'd be commercial bound.

For quick, hey, show me what you are seeing, doing, that screen cast o matic can be fine.

Posted by Joseph Hoetzl At 09:00:06 On 28/01/2010 | - Website - |

2 - Take a look at Jing, by Techsmith. Been a while since I last used it, but there is a free version, limited to 5 or 10 minute captures. I think there was a way to share your videos on a web site as well. I was using it to create training and documentation screencasts, but needed more features. But, it worked great for what it did.

Posted by Tony Frazier At 09:47:14 On 28/01/2010 | - Website - |

3 - The gold standard is Camtasia, but costs $.

A free alternative that works pretty well is { Link }

Posted by Carl Tyler At 10:17:59 On 28/01/2010 | - Website - |

4 - CAMTASIA - well worth the money

Julian Robichaux's had a free tool he recommended at some point on his blog. Can't find it but you might wanna IM/tweet him.

Dan

Posted by Dan Soares At 12:25:53 On 28/01/2010 | - Website - |

5 - Tom:

Found it.. It's called Wink and here's the link to a tutorial he created using it:

{ Link }

Dan

Posted by Dan Soares At 13:18:40 On 28/01/2010 | - Website - |

6 - I always use Camtasia. The ease of production and then sending it to either Screencast (2GB download per month free and then you pay $10 for 200GB download per month) or YouTube or format for podcast etc etc is great.

Well worth the money in my view.

Posted by Adam Brown At 14:46:02 On 28/01/2010 | - Website - |

7 - It really depends how professional you want your screen-capture to look, and if you want to add audio.

If you just want to assist with support, answering questions about your product, etc, SnagIt { Link } is not a bad option. You can capture still images and annotate them as well as capture video in .avi format.

It's not free but it's alot cheaper than Camtasia.

Posted by Michelle O'Rokrke At 18:07:12 On 28/01/2010 | - Website - |