Recording software and apps Without audio software programs, computers don’t do a whole lot to help you record and mix music. The software that musicians and engineers use for their music production is commonly referred to as a digital audio workstation (DAW) program, and there are a lot of different DAW options to choose from. The Audio Production and Recording category contains programs developed to let users edit, record, mix, tweak, encode, and compose digital audio files, including applications that convert MP3.
Video is the way of the future, and free video recording software is on the rise. From crazy cat videos on YouTube to in-depth training on tutorial software sold by mega corporations, our society just can't get enough of those moving pictures. But video is more than just an entertainment option or revenue channel. It can also assist you in your daily workflow and turn you into a productivity machine at work!
Best Paid Audio Recorder Software 1. We are starting our list of top picks with the most accessible software to record & edit your audio files. Designed & developed by musicians for musicians, Mixcraft is an amazing tool and one of the best audio. Best Paid Audio Recorder Software 1. We are starting our list of top picks with the most accessible software to record & edit your audio files. Designed & developed by musicians for musicians, Mixcraft is an amazing tool and one of the best audio.
The eight video recording software mentioned below will help you communicate quicker, increasing the amount of work you can get done on any given day. Does that sound like something you might be interested in? Then keep reading.
In this post we'll explain what kind of video recording software we're talking about and the eight best options you should consider adding to your technology stack in 2020.
The Purpose of Video Recording Software
The video recording software we'll be talking about in this blog post is NOT the kind you would use to record and edit a Hollywood blockbuster, or even a silly home movie. You won't find Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro on this list.
Instead, we've rounded up the top eight software tools that will allow you to record your personal computer screen in 2020. These kinds of programs can be extremely useful to business professionals and boost both productivity and efficiency by giving users the ability to easily share everything they see on their computer screens.
The most common uses of video recording software are to demonstrate tasks, troubleshoot problems, and craft intuitive tutorials.
The Top 8 Video Recording Software
The following eight pieces of video recording software have been carefully selected. You'll find both paid and free tools, but each is well designed and would be a worthy addition to your business software suite in 2020. Let's dive in!
1. CloudApp
Let's start with our absolute favorite video recording software, CloudApp. Are we biased? Sure, but after a quick look at the facts, we have no doubt that you'll agree with us in thinking that CloudApp is quite an amazing tool!
CloudApp is an all-in-one, visual collaboration platform that gives users easy access to its screen recorder and webcam recording, and GIF maker features. Once content has been recorded, CloudApp also allows its users to edit their visuals with a convenient annotations tool to add drawings, arrows, emojis.
What do you do when your content has been shot and edited to perfection? Distribute it, of course! Our cloud-based software makes it easy to share your work via links that include password protection options, expiration dates, and detailed analytics. Quickly see who has viewed your content and enable real-time notifications when your links have been opened.
CloudApp packs in a lot of features, but fortunately, all this functionality won't cost your business an arm and a leg. Plans including premium features start at just $9 a month, though our entry-level plan is free-forever and allows you to begin sharing videos, GIFs, and screenshots immediately. Become more productive and save up to 56 hours a week with CloudApp!
2. SnagIt
SnagIt is a popular video recording software that is specially designed to help users make amazing step-by-step instruction videos and how-to guides. If that will be your main goal when using this kind of tool, then you may find this app is exactly what you're looking for.
In a nutshell, SnagIt gives you the ability to capture a video of your computer screen or, using your webcam, a video of yourself, and share the result with whomever you wish.
One of SnagIt's most useful features is 'Favorites', which will allow you to add each of your favorite tools inside the app to one specific tab and group them together for easy access. This is a valuable, time-saving feature that will keep you from constantly digging through multiple menus to find what you need.
A license to use this tool costs $49.95 and can be installed on up to two different computers.
3. ShareX
When it comes to the best free video recording software on the market, you'd be hard pressed to find a better tool than ShareX. This app makes it incredibly simple to capture a video of your screen with just one (configurable) click.
One great feature included with ShareX is the ability to record just a portion of your computer screen when needed. Perhaps you don't want your entire screen visible in the video you plan to record and share. No problem, simply select the area you wish to record in ShareX and only capture that space in your video.
Once a video is recorded, users are able to edit it, though the editing features aren't as extensive as other apps on this list. But for a completely free tool, the functionality is impressive and ideal for those on a tight budget, or those who only need basic video recording features.
![Basic Recording Software Basic Recording Software](https://cdn.makeuseof.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/best-music-prod0soft-994x400.jpg)
4. Debut Video Capture
Debut Video Capture (DVC) is a powerful and free (for personal use only) video recording software that can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, DVC can be used to capture video of your computer screen as you work, which is great for explaining processes.
But this app also allows video to be recorded from external devices, such as a high-end video recorder or network IP camera (surveillance camera). This is a unique and useful feature for those looking to record higher quality videos than their webcam can provide, or those who need to set up a security system at their place of business.
While the interface is unattractive and dated, the functionality of this app is great and the main reason why it's secured a place on our list. It should be noted, however, that use of this tool for non-personal related reasons will cost your company $39.95.
5. ScreenFlow
Apple user? Then consider using, ScreenFlow, an intuitive, Mac-only video recording software. This app has many of the standard screen recording features we've talked about in this article already, such as GIF creation and image annotation abilities.
But there are two features we especially like about ScreenFlow:
- This app allows users to record the screens of the iOS devices. Looking to demonstrate how to use a specific mobile app? Simply connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer, ensure the device is recognized, and click 'record iOS device'.
- ScreenFlow gives its users access to a stock media library of over half a million media clips that can be used in their own videos. This includes visual clips, background music, and more. Just find what you need and drag it into the ScreenFlow timeline.
When your video is done, save time and export it directly to YouTube, Wistia, Facebook, DropBox, or Google Drive.
Does ScreenFlow sound intriguing? You can buy the program for $129. It should be noted that the media library is an additional cost and will run you $60 a year. Premium support is also not included in the price of the software, but can be had for $39 a year.
6. GoPlay
We just gave you a Mac-only application, how about a Windows video recording software next? GoPlay is a screen recording app that allows users to easily create high-definition videos, edit them in a jiffy, and then export the final product to social media with the click of a button.
Some might find the picture in picture (PIP) option especially useful. This feature will let you record both your computer screen and yourself (via a webcam) at the same time. Once your video has been created, editing options include trimming, cropping and various filters.
Finally, we should mention the captioning feature. Add subtitles to every video so that the information your sharing is never lost or misinterpreted.
GoPlay is mainly geared towards those who plan to publish their work on YouTube and other social media channels. But if you use a Windows computer, there's no reason why this app can't also be used for more traditional business video projects. Prices start at $4.90 a month.
GoPlay is mainly geared towards those who plan to publish their work on YouTube and other social media channels. But if you use a Windows computer, there's no reason why this app can't also be used for more traditional business video projects. Prices start at $4.90 a month.
7. Camtasia
Camtasia is known for being very easy to use. It combines screen recording features with more traditional video editing options (much like the ScreenFlow and GoPlay apps that we mentioned earlier) to give its users a comprehensive video recording software suite.
A typical workflow using this app might look something like this:
- First, record your screen. You can choose to capture the entire thing or just part of it, whatever suits your video-making needs best.
- Second, edit your footage. Cut out sections; combine multiple takes into one seamless shot; and add in external videos, images, and presentation slides as you see fit.
- Third, add effects and give your video a professional, polished feel. Effects include annotations, titles, music, and more.
As you can see, working with Camtasia is a straightforward process. And while this app doesn't have as many screen recording features as other tools on this list, or the editing options of a fully-featured video editing software, it strikes a good middle ground between the two.
For those looking for basic screen recording functionality and a few higher-end video editing options, Camtasia is a good bet and can be had for $249.
8. Screencastify
Finally, we have Screencastify, a unique option because this tool is actually a Google Chrome extension rather than a stand-alone app. It's perfect for those using the Chrome web browser and looking for a basic video recording software — especially if they're on a tight budget.
Screencastify gives users a few different options when recording. Do you want to capture your entire desktop, one specific browser tab, or yourself via a webcam? Each option is available. In fact, you can record your screen and yourself at the same time and embed the webcam feed in the screen recording.
Finished recordings can be edited with annotations and mouse highlights (so viewers always know what you're clicking on), and then cropped and trimmed to perfection.
When it comes to cheap video capture software, Screencastify is a solid option at only $49 a year. Can't justify the price tag? Use the app for free. Just know that you'll only be able to record up to 5 minute long videos.
The Right Video Recording Software For You
If you're hoping to become more productive in 2020, any of the video recording software mentioned in this blog post will help you reach that goal. Visual communication is on the rise and is, in our humble opinion, a worthy investment for just about every business.
CloudApp is the best option when it comes to video recording software. Our tool's powerful screen and webcam recording, snipping tool for Windows and Mac, GIF creation, and image annotation features will help you boost productivity immediately. Learn more about the CloudApp solution here.
If you’re a serious musician, podcaster, or budding audio engineer, you care about the quality of your recordings–or you should. And that’s why the audio recording programs you use matter.
However, I’d like to add that it’s not the software that makes the music. It’s your skills as an audio engineer.
To illustrate, I’d like to tell you a story of an interesting email thread a while back. This guy was looking for a home studio, and he was asking around for where to go.
An acquaintance of mine chimed in with his answer, with some details about studios and such but there was one comment that infuriated me:
“You might want to have someone who’s recording onto protools. (sic)”
Ugh…
Now, I know that not all musicians are engineers so I should let that slide. And this person is a great musician, but he’s a little off in what makes up a great studio.
The thing that bothers me is that software companies are so good at brainwashing the public into believing that their software is crucial to the makings of a good record.
It REALLY isn’t.
It doesn’t matter whether you use Pro-Tools, Nuendo, Cubase, Sonar Producer, Logic Pro, Digital Performer, GarageBand, Live, or any of the other software that’s for sale out there.
It’s the least important thing in the grand scheme of:
“hey I want to know how to record my songs or have someone do it for me….what should I buy first?“
The software isn’t going to tell you what sounds good. It’s not a robot that knows how to engineer a great guitar sound. It can’t tell you if you’re overcompressing your drums or flooding your vocals with reverb. This is something that the engineer needs to know. This is the skill of the engineer, regardless of what software he’s using.
Pro-Tools is not going to make your music sound any better.
![Basic Basic](https://www.delicatesoft.com/images/hr-payroll-software/employee-basic-detail.jpg)
Ask yourself:
If you install [insert preferred software here] onto your computer, is it going to make the acoustics in your room any better?
No.
Is it going to make the sound of your pre-amps any better?
No.
Will it walk out of the computer, look at your monitors and say, “Gee, maybe you should space those monitors a little further apart for better imaging.”
No, it’s not some mega nerdy Cylon engineer.
It’ll just do what you tell it to do. And if you feed it garbage it will give you trash.
Skills Make Sounds – Not Software
So think more about what skills you need to record a great sound than the software that “they” tell you that you desperately need to get.
Yes, you need software. But any software is great if you, or the engineer you hire, is excellent at using it. I use Logic. Do I recommend Logic to everybody. Not really.
My philosophy is that any software that you’re comfortable using is the best software for your situation. The skills and knowledge of engineering are infinitely more important than any audio recording software that’s out there.
Now that we’ve got that rant out of the way let’s talk about what software solutions you have available, both free and paid.
A quick search on Amazon will show you a lot of different options that will give you decision anxiety, so we’ve compiled a list for you to reduce your hyperventilating so that you can go back to what you set out to do before, make music.
71 Free Shortcuts to Easy Separation and Balance in Your Mixes
If you’ve been struggling to hear all the instruments in a mix, my EQ cheatsheet will help you out.
- Learn to clean up your low-end, reduce bleed in your drums and eliminate annoying resonant frequencies from your recordings.
- Get rid of muddiness in your low-mids, tame the harshness in your mix, and get rid of your boxy sounding drums.
- Learn where to add presence to your vocals, brilliance to your acoustic guitars, thickness to your keyboards or weight to your bass. These tips are broken down by instrument and help you fix your frequency problems with simple solutions that you can use right away.
Top 5 Free Audio Recording Programs
Most run-of-the-mill, audio recording apps that come pre-installed on your computer just won’t cut it (with the possible exception of GarageBand for Macs, a reasonably high-quality recorder for simple projects), and you also may not be willing or able to spend an arm and a leg for professional grade software.
However, you’re in luck. There are some great free tools that actually don’t suck and can produce the kind of quality recording that will make anybody who listens to your works of art — or wit if you’re a podcaster — it up and take note of what you have to offer.
Here are some of the very best, completely free recording tools that will help bring your sounds to life.
1. Audacity
Available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux
Audacity is the go-to open-source audio recording application, and as long as your goals aren’t overly ambitious, it puts an enormous amount of power in your hands. It can record just about anything you throw at it, whether it’s from a microphone, through the line-in jack, or live streaming audio (if supported by your sound card), all in a lightweight and clean interface. Many recording enthusiasts, especially podcasters, appreciate Audacity’s uncomplicated user experience and ease of use.
Audacity supports recording in sample rates from 44.1 to an excessive 192 kHz, which sets the stage for studio-caliber and even ultrasonic recordings if you have the hardware to handle it. Also included is support for 32-bit floating point, providing ample headroom for your recorded signal.
It comes with effects such as an equalizer with helpful presets, pitch, speed and tempo controls, delay, reverb, compressor, fade in/out, and a noise remover. You can expand this palette thanks to Audacity’s generous support of VST, LADSPA, Nyquist and Audio Unit plugins.
Audacity’s strength is its simplicity. While you can make it do multi-track recording if you’re so inclined, it will never gain centerpiece status in a true recording studio. However, it is beginner-friendly, easy to use for quick edits you need to make on the fly (whether that means filtering out unwanted noise, boosting vocals or other frequencies through equalization, or just cutting and pasting), and extremely well-suited for hobbyist and podcast recording applications.
2. Garageband
Available for Mac OS only
Garageband comes free with any Mac computer and is pretty legit for most recording needs.
Although it can’t do major processing like its big brother Logic, it’s more than able to do any multi-track recording and minor mixing work.
Highly recommend for the bedroom recordist that’s just starting out and needs a simple solution to lay down some demos.
3. Traverso
Available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux
Traverso, another fully featured DAW that’s sure to meet common recording needs, is all about convenience.
This program eschews a traditional “menu” structure in favor of innovative keyboard and mouse shortcuts, which brings a crisp immediacy to recording tasks. There’s no doubt about it–there will be a bit of a learning curve–but the developers claim to have integrated input and execution so seamlessly that you practically learn how to do things as you go along. Furthermore, users have an array of options that make recording demo CDs a snap. You can create tables of contents and burn discs without ever leaving Traverso.
Other features that dovetail nicely with the “stay out of the way” philosophy behind Traverso include non-destructive editing, or the ability to use plugins and make edits without changing the actual sample, and lockless real-time audio processing, which reduces latency and streamlines performance. Traverso’s commitment to intuitive recording and mastering controls makes the program stand out among its similarly free counterparts.
4. Ardour DAW
Available for Mac OS and Linux
Ardour is yet another great free DAW: one that is taking aim at cream-of-the-crop professional software and is promising for real studios with low budgets.
It features non-destructive editing, 32-bit float, supports unlimited tracks, and has extremely flexible routing capabilities. With support for LADSPA, LV2, and VST plugins, you’ll be able to make your favorite customizations without a hassle. Synchronization with video is supported, and full handling of MIDI recording, playback and editing are expected with the highly-anticipated release of the third edition of Ardour.
The thing that sets Ardour apart from the rest of the pack is what’s under the hood. It runs on JACK, an underlying sound server that facilitates low-latency audio recording and communication among various programs. Although Ardour itself only runs on Mac OS and Linux at present, a Windows port has been conceptualized, and efforts towards building one are in full swing as of June 2012, and JACK is already a true cross-platform utility that runs on the aforementioned systems as well as Windows. JACK is excellent at handling MIDI so that Ardour will take full advantage of that upon the release of the third edition.
Ardour is complex and certainly not for newbies. Some have complained about the potentially confusing graphical user interface (GUI), which is quite inaccessible to someone who’s never seen or seriously worked with a DAW before. But if you’re an audio engineer of any level of experience and strapped for cash, you may find that Ardour fits the bill for your projects quite nicely.
5. Jokosher
Available for Windows and Linux
Jokosher is billed as the “musician’s DAW” and the Linux alternative to GarageBand, the standard, pre-installed, easy-to-use workstation for Macs. Here, you won’t find advanced editing and mastering tools by the names that most engineers know: it’s a program that speaks in a music maker’s language.
While not as heavyweight as its counterparts, Jokosher takes a lot of the guesswork out of the recording process for people who are new to it. All of the basic, expected editing tools are at the user’s disposal. Startup is fast, easy and straightforward. Tracks are called “instruments,” and you can set them up based on the type of instrument you intend to record. If it’s an acoustic guitar for example, simply select “Acoustic Guitar,” and the track will be clearly labeled as such with a cute picture to boot, providing an excellent visual layout of instruments used in the mix.
Jokosher supports LADSPA plugins only, and as of June 2012 it’s still in its early development stages. But for musicians and podcasters who want to record simple products and get a first taste of manipulating tracks in a DAW, this simple program is hard to beat.
Alternative to Pro-Tools That Won’t Break the Bank
Most of the big pro studios are using Avid Pro Tools to make all the records going to the radio these days, but it’s slowly losing its status as an industry standard due to the quality of its competitors. There are plenty of lower-cost DAWs and a wealth of free and inexpensive plug-ins that bring professional studio sound right to your computer.
Even though Pro Tools is the premier name in the industry, there is really no special voodoo under the hood. It is simply a graphical user interface that lets you move some bits (and thus sounds) around inside your computer. There is no difference in the way Pro Tools sounds and the way any of its competitors sound, period.
So you can comfortably make a foray into saving money by purchasing one of the many alternatives to Pro Tools –none of which will cause even your fans to hear a difference.
1. Steinberg Cubase
There is the perennially popular Steinberg Cubase, which is perhaps the granddaddy of them all so to speak. The German-engineered application is perhaps the Mercedes-Benz of DAWs, offering pioneering technology and reliable performance.
And if you need a guide to Cubase, my buddy Chris Selim over at Mixdown Online has just the training you need. (affiliate link)
2. Logic Pro X
Apple has two DAWs in its stable: Garageband, a veritable staple discussed before, and Logic Pro. In both cases, the quality of these programs is very high and both will work with a wide assortment of audio hardware.
3. Cockos Reaper
Perhaps the best-kept secret in the world of DAWs is Reaper. Reaper is a heads-on contender for any other DAW on the list, including Pro Tools. The best part is that Reaper is not only among the best, it is also one of the least expensive, coming in at only $60 for the discounted license. All the features are there: real-time recording and editing, unlimited track count, VST and DX plug-in support, and more.
4. Studio One
Presonus’s Studio One is a great option as well. It contains everything you need to produce music and seems very intuitive and easy to use.
In fact, it’s probably the only DAW that might make me switch from Logic. A lot of my producer and engineer friends use it, and they swear by it, citing its ease of use, sound quality, and simplicity with production.
There is nothing wrong with using Pro Tools, of course. But if you can’t afford to shell out the big dollars for the industry’s biggest name, you still get the great results with the above applications.
Audio Recording Programs for Any Situation
All of the above are solid apps with unique feature sets and strengths, dedicated fan bases, and active support and development teams. The free DAWs don’t have the advanced functionality of much more expensive, industry-standard solutions, but depending on your needs I’m sure you’ll find something that works for you.
Try them out and decide which combination of user experience and specific features works best for you.
Happy recording!
Parts of this post were contributed by Daniel Kimbrel and Jessica Josh. If you would like to submit a guest post, check out the guidelines here.
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Daniel is a movie buff and freelance writer. He contributes to a number of music sites online. Jessica Josh is an Australian freelance writer and blogger. Since 2007 she has been writing about weddings, fashion, and music.
Image by: Shawn Econo