5 Online Best Tools to Record Lectures

Now that the world has gone virtual, everything that we used to value in the physical world is being reassessed for its potential online quality. Educational tools are, of course, a major part of this. During the pandemic, people globally were forced to listen to online lectures and get used to asking questions by clicking a hand on their PCs.

Online lectures can be very useful, though, especially if you have the right way of recording them. Rather than furiously taking notes in an effort to catch the details of your lecturer, set up and record a video and pick out the important points. In addition, the ability to record lectures makes life easier for people living in different time zones or remote geographical areas that might not have physical access to speakers.

Let’s take a look at the major features you should be looking for in lecture recording apps and see what some of the best products on the market are now.

Features you should be looking for in lecture recording software

Scheduled recording – You want to avoid running the risk of missing important lectures. Particularly if you have a full schedule, you should find software that allows you to schedule all your recordings in advance so that you can be sure you have all your lectures together.

Screen area capture – If you’re potentially looking at complicated screens with a lot of diverse visual elements on them, you’ll want a program that allows you to capture parts of your screen that are essential for you to focus on.

The ability to display captions, keystrokes, and draw on videos – If you’re dealing with a complicated subject, you’ll want to have the ability to display captions so that you can better learn the terminology.

Possible additional equipment you might need, including a headset or other audio-related equipment.

There are also handy guides you can find online that will provide tips on editing to help get you started.

5 Best Online Tools to Record Lectures

Screen Capture

Screen Capture offers a quality free video recorder online for Mac or Windows that contains all of the above features. It also allows you to do the following:

• Add your own webcam to lectures
• Include sound from a microphone if you want to add any commentary
• Capture the full screen, a part of it, or a certain window
• Record in HD

Screen Capture is web-based so you don’t need to download anything. The free version has a watermark on recordings. To remove the watermark, you can purchase the paid subscription: $9.95/month or $39.95/year.

TinyTake Screen Recorder

TinyTake is a recorder for Mac or Windows is an easy option for people wanting an easily navigable simple tool. With this tool, you’ll get the following features for recording lectures:

• A visual history of your recording, so that you can easily go back to certain clips in a lecture and review them
• Recording time of up to 120 minutes for lectures that might include lengthy Q&A sessions
• Ability to share bulk videos together

Although it is a bit pricier than the other options, the screen recorder is a preferable solution for people that would rather not deal with many complications. The program offers four different levels of its recorder, and the “Jumbo” version is the best choice for lectures as the other versions have stricter time limits. This version goes for $99.95 a year.

Cleanshot

You might be interested in this screen capturing tool if your lectures involve many components that you’d like to be able to piece together later. Cleanshot allows for easy re-assembling of video parts in an easily navigable timeline. It also provides other useful features, including:

• The ability to annotate on your screen
• Cloud storage
• Variable audio and video input

Cleanshot offers two different versions, “Basic” and “Pro.” The Basic version goes for a one-time payment of $29 and includes 1 GB of cloud storage. The Pro version costs $8 per user per month and includes unlimited cloud storage, plus additional editing and security features. It is for Mac only.

ScreenRec

ScreenRec is a free screen recording option that is compatible with PC, Mac, or Linux. In addition to no watermark in the output videos, ScreenRec has the following advantages:

• Variable audio input
• Instant sharing ability
• The ability to record offline if you don’t have Internet access
• An easily navigable recording history

Although it may not be as sophisticated as some of the paid options, ScreenRec is a solid choice for those looking to save money.

Acethinker Screen Grabber Pro

Acethinker is a good screen grabber to capture whatever is happening on your screen. Compatible with Mac, Windows, as well as iPad and iPhone, Acethinker offers the following features:

• Different recording modes, including the option of recording partial screen, audio only, and webcam capture separately or at the same time as screen recording
• A choice of audio input
• A range of formats to save in
• The ability to annotate and edit your recording as soon as you’ve completed it

Acethinker offers three different levels of recorders. If you’re recording lectures, you’ll want to go for the “Screen Grabber Pro,” as the two more basic versions only allow for either audio or video only. The Screen Grabber Pro starts at $9.95 for a personal one-month subscription and goes up to $79.90 for a lifetime family subscription.

Think about the details of your lectures, and stay up-to-date

So, if you’re looking for the best app for recording lectures, you’ve got a range of options to choose from. You’ll want to select carefully though because you’ll want to be sure your chosen product has the right specifications for you.

For example, if you’ve got a complicated subject to deal with, be sure that the option you pick allows for captions, high-quality sound, or easy navigation between clips as you might need. If you’re looking for simplicity, you might start by doing a search for the most user-friendly software on the market.

Whatever you decide, it wouldn’t hurt to look up some updated third-party reviews to make sure you’re still getting the best option available, and also to see if there have been any upgrades recently. Remember, being able to capture the details of lectures is a critical part of mastering their subject, so you want to be sure you’re fully prepared with the best tools available.