How to record screen capture videos with an external microphone

Pretty much all the videos I make demonstrating Edutige microphones are related to using a camera, with the occasional voice recording video thrown in. But making screen capture videos with an Edutige mic is probably a first. So, this week I want to talk about how to record screen capture videos with an external microphone.

What’s a screen capture video good for

Screen capture videos are quite popular. They are a video recording of what’s happening on your computer screen, making them excellent as a teaching tool. For example, I see them used a lot for recording walkthroughs of video games. I’ve personally used screen capture videos for teaching stuff or showing examples of something to clients. Usually, there’s a voiceover or some sort of narration, which is what inspired the idea to show you how to make a screen capture video using an Edutige microphone.

Why use an external microphone

If your screen capture video is to be viewed by anyone other than yourself, then audio quality is hugely important. It’s the same as any other type of video in that audio is critical to whether your video is watchable or not. And if you’re at all familiar with videos I’ve made comparing a built in mic to an external mic, you’ll likely know how much better the audio is with an external microphone.

Equipment Needed

Before I begin, I just want to say that you can do this whether you’re on a PC or a Mac. The biggest difference is the type of microphone you use.

For a PC, you’ll need a 3 pole microphone like one of the ETM series mics. And for a Mac, you’ll need a 4 pole microphone like one of the EIM series mics.

I’d also recommend looking into some sort of lavalier cable so you can place the microphone close to your mouth for the best audio quality.

For PC users, the ETM-006 or ETM-003 could be a good option, as those mics have a cable already.

For Mac users, the ESL-001 is a good choice because of the headphone jack, since Macs don’t have a separate headphone jack. And the audio input gain control on the cable gives you more control over audio levels, in case you speak softly or loudly, or if you’re in a noisy environment.

Speaking of noisy environments

If you think you might need to record when the environment is less than ideal, like how I made the video in this post while in a coffee shop, then you’ll probably want either of the unidirectional mics: the EIM-008 or ETM-008.

Screen capture software

Next, you’ll need some sort of screen capture software to record what’s on your computer screen. Although there are several free options out there, I’d suggest going with something paid because of stability, features and support.

For PCs, have a look at Camtasia. Pricey now for some reason, but it seems to be the best for PC users.

For Macs, I recommend Screenflow. It’s what I’ve used for several years and I’ve found it incredibly versatile and reliable.

Conclusion

So that’s a basic rundown of what a screen capture video is, the equipment you would need and the software necessary to make the recordings. There are endless possibilities for what you would talk about and I hope this post helps you identify what you need to create quality screen capture videos.

Let me know if you have any questions or feel free to share the types of screen capture videos you’ve made.

Thanks.