How to Screen Record with Sound: The Complete Guide

If you've been trying to figure out how to screen record with sound, this post is for you. You may have already downloaded some screen recording software and then been surprised that it didn't do what you needed it to do.

Perhaps you are just being diligent and want to understand the whole process before getting started. Either way, this post will explain the difficulties that may arise when you try to screen record with sound. By the end, you'll be able to spend less time fighting with your tools and more time getting some quality recording done.

How to screen record with sound

How you approach recording your screen depends on what you are trying to do. This applies not only to the audio portion but to other areas as well. For example, if you want to have a video of yourself in the corner of the screen, you'll need a camera set up in addition to your audio recording equipment. Let's take a look at what all goes into recording a screen.

Camera

If you want a video of yourself on screen, you'll need some way to capture it. Although you can use your webcam, those tend to have grainy pictures and do not provide the highest quality. A point-and-shoot camera of good quality is generally sufficient for recording simple video like you talking into a microphone. If you find you need more control over the image, a DSLR camera can be used, though the learning curve is higher.

Audio Types

So, how can you screen record with sound? The answer depends on the capabilities of your software, which we'll discuss later, and the type of audio you want to record. There are two ways that a screen recording can capture audio. Not realizing this is a major reason why people end up with software that doesn't fit their needs. Let's look at the two ways now.

  • System audio — Your system audio is that sound that comes out of your speakers. If you are screen recording yourself playing a game, you certainly want to capture the system sound. The same is true if you are recording a webinar or other video.
  • Microphone audio — Many times, you want to put your own voiceover on top of the recorded audio as you record. In those cases, you want a tool that will allow you to record audio from the microphone.

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How to choose a screen recorder with sound capabilities

One thing to keep in mind when choosing which software to use is that your requirements now might not be your only requirements in the future. It's a good idea to look for a screen recorder, like VideoStudio, that can handle both system sound and microphone sound. VideoStudio is a complete video editing solution, which is something else you should be considering. Even if you don't need it right away, at some point, you'll need to edit the video. Getting to know your way around a powerful video editor right from the start will ease that transition.

Good video editing software will offer you a free trial. Be sure to take advantage of that for any software you are considering, so you can be sure that it suits your needs.

Conclusion

Once you understand that there are two separate ways of recording sound on Windows 10 computers, it becomes much easier to find the tools you need in order to accomplish that task at hand. With a tool like VideoStudio at your disposal, you'll be creating professional-looking videos, with all the sound you want, in no time.

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