CamStudio FAQs

CamStudio is a free screen recording software that allows you to capture screen activity on your computer and create MP4 video files. It's perfect for creating video tutorials, demos, and presentations.

With CamStudio, you can record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard MP4 video files with two different codecs.

Yes, CamStudio is completely free software. There are no hidden fees, premium features behind paywalls, or subscription costs.

CamStudio is developed by volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to improve the software. If you'd like to support the project, consider making a donation or contributing to the codebase.

CamStudio 3.0 and later requires:

• Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit only)
• 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
• DirectX 11 compatible graphics
• 1GB free disk space
• Administrative privileges for installation

For older versions of Windows, please check the archive section for CamStudio 2.x releases.

1. Download the latest version of CamStudio from our download page.
2. Run the installer file (CamStudio-Setup-3.x.x.exe).
3. Follow the on-screen instructions in the installation wizard.
4. Once installation is complete, you can launch CamStudio from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Note: You may need administrative privileges to install CamStudio. If you encounter any security warnings during installation, this is normal as screen recording software requires certain system permissions.

Recording your screen with CamStudio is simple:

1. Launch CamStudio from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.
2. Select your capture settings (Only Client Area, unchecked = full screen).
3. Select your output settings (directory, limit video length or size)
4. Configure your video settings (recording area, codec, framerate, bitrate etc.)
5. Configure your audio settings if you want to record sound.
6. Configure your Keyboard Shortcuts to capture Full Screen/Window/Region only
7. When finished, press the Capture Hotkey combination again.
8. View your video in your save location.

Yes, CamStudio allows you to record audio from multiple sources:

• System Audio: Capture all sounds playing on your computer (e.g., application audio, music, etc.).
• Application: Capture only the audio from a designated application
• Microphone: >>> Temporarily Disabled but being worked on >>>

To enable audio recording:

1. Go to the "Audio" section in CamStudio.
2. Select your preferred audio source(s).
3. Adjust volume levels as needed.
4. NOTE: To record Only Current App Audio, System Audio needs to also be selected.

CamStudio 3.0 and above supports the following output audio formats:

• AAC: Lossy digital audio compression. The successor to MP3 delivering higher quality at the same bitrate..
• FLAC: Open-source format for compressing audio files without losing quality. Provides excellent quality with smaller file sizes.

CamStudio 3.0 and above supports the following output formats:

• MP4 (H.264): The default format provides excellent quality with smaller file sizes. Most widely used and distributed video compression standard in the world.
• MP4 (H.265 HEVC): High Efficiency Video Coding. Designed to improve upon H.264 to provide similar quality at around half the filesize.
• AV1: Open source video codec designed specifically for the Internet and to compete directly with H.265 HEVC.

You can select your preferred format in the "Video" section of the Settings panel before recording.

There are several ways to reduce the file size of your recordings:

1. Use a more efficient codec: Change your video codec to H.264 or H.265 for better compression.
2. Lower the frame rate: If you're recording something with minimal movement (e.g. webinar) reducing from 30fps to 15fps can significantly decrease file size for most screen recordings.
3. Record only the necessary area: Use a smaller region capture (height and width) instead of larger area or full-screen to record only what's needed.
4. Reduce bitrate: Lowering the video bitrate can help to reduce overall filesize. Take into account what you're recording. Not much colour? Test halfing the bitrate and see how much difference it makes. Adjust upward or downward as necessary.
5. Audio settings: Test adjusting audio samplerate and bitrate down to see how much difference it makes.

Spending a little time testing and tweaking these can have a massive positive impact on the final video filesize. In the future, I'll add a "Save Profile" option so you'll only need to do it once.

If CamStudio crashes during recording, try these solutions:

1. Update CamStudio: Ensure you're using the latest version from our website.
2. Check system requirements: Verify that your computer meets the minimum requirements.
3. Update graphics drivers: Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues.
4. Run as administrator: Right-click the CamStudio icon and select "Run as administrator."
5. Disable GPU encoder: You'll find it in the Capture section in the main Settings panel.
6. Try different audio/video codecs: Some codecs may work better with your specific hardware.
7. Reduce recording area: Record a smaller region instead of the entire screen.
8. Stick to known video dimensions: Try not to record a weird or non-standard recording area.

Examples:

• 640px x 480px = VGA
• 1280px x 720px = HD
• 1366px x 768px = Common in budget laptops
• 1920px x 1080px = Full HD
• 2560px x 1440px = (QHD)
• 3840px x 2160px = 4K UHD

If problems persist, check our documentation for more detailed troubleshooting steps or get in touch to report an issue.

Audio-video synchronization issues can occur for several reasons. Here's how to address them:

1. Use a consistent frame rate: Set a fixed frame rate (e.g., 30fps) instead of variable frame rate.
2. Update audio drivers: Ensure your sound card drivers are up to date.
3. Close resource-intensive applications: Other programs can interfere with recording performance.
4. Limit Recording Dimensions: On an older machine, the larger the recording dimensions and the higher the quality, the more likely you're going to run into a/v sync issues. Decreasing quality settings will help to minimize memory usage and increase sync quality.
5. For long recordings: Consider breaking long recordings into smaller segments.