![shadowplay recording software](https://images.wondershare.com/filmora/article-images/shadowplay.png)
It is free game video capture software created by Nvidia GeForce for streaming game videos. There are two modes of this video recording tool i.e. Manual mode and Shadow mode.
Features:
Instant replay and record
Excellent hardware i.e. a GPU-accelerated video encoder
It has a minimal performance impact
Records up to 4K resolution at the speed of 130 Mbps
Compatibility: Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
Pros:
Unlimited recording time in manual mode
Allow it users to capture full desktop screen
Cons:
Geforce GTX 600 and above is required to operate this software.
Price: It is available free of cost.
We have researched about how to record gameplay with Nvidia ShadowPlay, check this article How to Use Nvidia Share or ShadowPlay to Record Gameplay for the detailed information.
2. Camtasia
It is one of the best game recorders for recording professional videos on your PC. You can also import HD videos from an external source. The interactive videos can also be created by using this software.
Features:
Stunning graphics
Direct link to social media
Effective recording option
Drag and drop editing
Google Drive integration
Compatibility: Windows 10, 8 and 7 SP1
Pros:
You can easily include animated items
Video, audio and cursor tracks can be edited individually
Provides panning and zooming options
Incorporates webcam
You can also use the green screen effect
Cons:
Free trial for only 30 days.
The users cannot record videos for commercial use in the free version
Very expensive
Works slowly on large projects
Price: $299.00 USD but it can be reduced if you buy 5-9 licenses
3. Open Broadcast Software
It is an open-source game recording tool having unlimited customization options. You can get idea about this software by its name i.e. the game streams can be broadcasted on various websites such as Twitch, YouTube, Hitbox etc.
Features:
Simple interface
Limitless scenes and sources
It has file output to FLV or MP4
GPU-based video game capture
Compatibility: Windows 10, 8, 8.1, Vista and 7, Version for Linux and Mac OS X is also in the pipeline
Pros:
Easy to use
High-speed performance
Keyboard shortcuts
Cons:
A sharp learning curve
Difficult to construct scenes
Price: Free
4. Bandicam
It is a perfect choice for beginners as it is easy to understand. You can also record a video game that utilizes the Direct X or OpenGL technology and share on YouTube with a single click. The size of the window can also be adjusted according to your need.
Features:
Built-in compression feature ensuring high-quality videos
Recording can be done for more than 24 hours
You can record videos at 4k Ultra HD resolution
Compatibility: Windows XP, 10, 8.1, 8, and 7
Pros:
Maximum frame rate i.e. 120 fps
Two different audio inputs can be recorded at the same time
Cons:
It does not proffer live streaming
Price: Free trial, $59 for two licenses, $39 for one license
5. EpicRewind
This software is developed recently introducing a unique feature i.e. RAM Rolling Buffer mode. It enables the user to replay the recording instantly. The buffer contents can also be saved by pressing a hotkey.
Features:
You can conveniently capture screenshot and video from browser games or flash games.
Direct-To-Disk capture mode
Video Output Format and Codec can be configured with great ease.
Compatibility: It does not support windows
Pros:
Videos are not encoded all the time.
Cons:
It cannot be run on the Windows operating system.
Price: Free trial of the base version
6. D3DGear
It is a very simple and light recorder. This software compresses the recorded files in real-time mode i.e. you are able to record screen activity even if there is less space in your storage drive. The videos can be shared over any social networking website.
Features:
User-friendly interface
Built-in compression system
Compatibility: Windows XP, 7, 10, 8, 8.1 and Vista
Pros:
You can do live video streaming
The audio files can be saved separately.
Cons:
Pro version is very costly
Price: 15-day free trial otherwise it costs $34.95.
7. Fraps
It is one of the most famous game screen recorders having superb features. The average performance rate can also be measured by using this recorder. You can also save these statistics in a different file. It is also very light software similar to D3DGear.
Features:
It can be used as a benchmark tool.
Capture high-quality footage
Compatibility: Windows Vista, XP, 7, 10, 8.1 and 8
Pros:
You can record videos at 7680×4800 resolution
Frames can be adjusted up to 120fps
Cons:
It does not have streaming options
Price: Free version with few features, full version at $37
8. Microsoft Screen Encoder 4
It is an advanced version of Microsoft screen encoder 3. It has wonderful graphics and live IIS (Internet Information Services) smooth streaming options. The Windows Media video, as well as audio files, can be produced with the help of this software.
Features:
Screen capture
GUI interface
Live template support
Compatibility: Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP service pack2
Pros:
High-quality playback
Enables encoding using H.261Intuitive interface
Cons:
Less editing tools in comparison to other software
You cannot export your recordings to Sony Vegas11
Price: Pro version costs $199.95 while the standard version is free having limited features
9. Tinytake
This game recorder is an ideal choice for making commercial presentations. This software allows its users to capture video from the selected region and upload it directly on YouTube or any other social media.
Features:
Drag and drop option
You can conveniently annotate the videos
Inbuilt online file viewer
Compatibility: It can work with Windows as well as Mac operating system
Pros:
You can develop custom shortcut keys
Bulk files sharing
You can run this software on mobile devices
Cons:
Files are saved only in MP4 format
Video recording can be done up to 2 hours
No free version is available for business purposes
Price: It ranges between $29.95 and $199.95 for a yearly plan. You will also get storage memory space up to 2TB with a business plan.
10. Ezvid
PearlMountain Image Converter
This screen software is specially designed for saving the time of the users. It also increases the recording speed and video editing capabilities. You can also add text and watermark to the videos.
Features:-
Videos are uploaded on YouTube in a fast manner.
It provides computer speech for narrative purposes.
Modern and sleek interface
Compatibility: Windows XP SP3, 7 and Vista
Pros:
High-quality video resolution
You can also select the most popular music tracks
It also has a facecam and a video editor
You can also drag and drop videos
Professional videos can be created in a few minutes
Cons:
It is glitch and leggy.
It requires 10GB free space
Fewer features as compared to Camtasia software
Price: Free
11. Gecata
Gecata by Movavi is a lightweight video recording tool designed to capture gameplays. Screen recording with this program is easy without needing external hardware. You can capture all screen activities and save recordings in major video formats, including .MOV, .MP4, .AVI, and GIF.
Features:
One-click screenshots
Game mode for automatic recording
Screen and audio recording simultaneously and separately
Graphics hardware integration option (NVIDIA or Intel) for 400% faster encoding
Compatibility: Windows 7/8/10
Pros:
Simple interface
Speedy capturing
Tested on dozens of games
Game recording up to 120fps
Cons:
The free version pastes a watermark on the recording
Lagging
Price: $30.95 for a lifetime
12. EaseUS RecExperts
PDF application, powered by AI-based OCR, for unified workflows with both digital and scanned documents.
RecExperts by EaseUS is a premium screen recorder with many exciting features. For instance, you can record a particular part of the screen by making a selection through your mouse. Likewise, you can also record multiple screens side by side.
While RecExperts is made for gamers and YouTubers, you can use this tool for a wide range of purposes. Such as recording an online meeting, video tutorial, and more.
Features:
Sound recording and extracting
Web camera capturing
Saving captured video into GIF
Screenshots
Schedule recording with automatic stop and split options
Compatibility: Windows 7/8.1/10/11 and macOS 10.13 or later
Pros:
Simple software design
Allows editing on the captured screen
Supports different video and formats, including MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI
Cons:
Limited editing, such as trimming and cutting
Price: $19.95 per month, $39.95 per year, and $79.95 for a lifetime
13. Flashback Express (Free Version)
VSDC Pro Video Editor is a light professional non-linear video editing suite for creating a movie of any complexity. It supports the most popular video/audio formats and codecs, including 4K, HD and GoPro videos. Preconfigured profiles make the creation of videos for various multimedia and mobile devices absolutely hassle-free.
Key features:
• Import from any devices and cams, including GoPro and drones. All formats supported. Сurrently the only free video editor that allows users to export in a new H265/HEVC codec, something essential for those working with 4K and HD. • Everything for hassle-free basic editing: cut, crop and merge files, add titles and favorite music • Visual effects, advanced color correction and trendy Instagram-like filters • All multimedia processing done from one app: video editing capabilities reinforced by a video converter, a screen capture, a video capture, a disc burner and a YouTube uploader • Non-linear editing: edit several files with simultaneously • Easy export to social networks: special profiles for YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitter and Instagram • High quality export – no conversion quality loss, double export speed even of HD files due to hardware acceleration • Stabilization tool will turn shaky or jittery footage into a more stable video automatically. • Essential toolset for professional video editing: blending modes, Mask tool, advanced multiple-color Chroma Key
Flashback Express is a screen recording and editing software. It is a powerful tool for recording desktop screens simultaneously with mic sounds. You can also add webcam recordings to recorded gameplays as most YouTubers do.
Besides, there’s no time limit on the recording. So whether you want to capture a small portion of your video or screen record several hours of gameplay, feel free to do it.
Features:
Video trimming
Multi-screen recording
Webcam overlay
Direct YouTube uploading option
Compatibility: Windows 7/8.1/10/11
Pros:
Easy interface
No watermark
Voice over during screen capturing
Selected and full-screen recording
You can save the recordings in MP4
Cons:
Difficult export settings
Unable to export audio in the free version
You need to convert the video using other programs if you want your recording in different video formats
Price: Free
14. Snagit
Snagit is another product by TechSmith (the developers of Camtasia). It’s a super easy tool to take screenshots and record screens.
You can save the captured video in MP4 and directly send the file through email. You can also upload files on different platforms and applications, including YouTube, Twitter, Slack, Google Drive, and more.
Features:
Screen and audio recording
Annotations
Video trimming
Webcam recording
Cloud library
Video conversion to GIFs
Panoramic screen capturing
Compatibility: Windows 10/11 and Mac 11 or later
Pros:
Simple user interface
Fast video uploading to various platforms
Cons:
Saved videos are only available in MP4 format
Price: $62.99 for a lifetime, including first-year maintenance (regular maintenance charges are $12.6 per year applicable after completing the first year)
15. Filmora
Filmora is an all-in-one program and is one of the top video editing tools cherished by all types of users – beginners and professionals. But what makes this software super cool for gamers and YouTubers is its screen recording option. With comprehensive features, you can record your gameplay and edit your screen recordings by using a wide range of features.
Features:
Support 4K editing
Noise removal
Advanced text editor
Color tuning
Audio mixing
Compatibility: Windows 7/8/10/11 (64-bit) and macOS V10.1/V10.13/V10.14/V10.15/V11/V12
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Huge effects library
Affordable perpetual licensing
Wide range of features
Support various video formats
High-quality results
Cons:
The free version includes a watermark
You need to purchase the product to use some important features, such as keyframing
Price: $29.99 per month, $69.99 per year, and $79.99 for a perpetual
What to look for game screen recorder There are many people who do not have any knowledge regarding game capture software. You must look for the following things before choosing a game screen recorder.
The option of personalizing the hotkeys
Number of built-in tools
How to begin and pause recording
Number of codes offered by it
Recording time
Editing features like cut and paste
Custom-made Recording Resolution
Adjustable video frames
In addition to this, some game recorders also affect your in-game fps (Frame per second). You should also check whether it is compatible with large-sized files or not. The quality of the video also depends upon the file size. The larger is file size, the higher is video quality. However, you can face problems while uploading huge-sized videos as online content distributors hardly support such files. So you must compress your video before sharing anywhere. There are also some recorders that provide a direct link to social networking sites. Thus you should consider these factors also before purchasing the game recording software.
You can easily run this recorder on your computer if it is updated and has 8GB of RAM. PC should also have two storage drives so as to install gaming software on one drive and record videos on another drive. It is also advisable to use computers than laptops for recording screen activities because laptops rarely have two storage drives.
You can easily run this recorder on your computer if it is updated and has 8GB of RAM. PC should also have two storage drives so as to install gaming software on one drive and record videos on another drive. It is also advisable to use computers than laptops for recording screen activities because laptops rarely have two storage drives.
FAQs
Q1. What software do YouTubers use to record gameplay? Most gamers on YouTube use Open Broadcast System (OBS) and Bandicam to record their gameplays. However, there are a few more authentic screen recording tools for high-quality video recording, such as Filmora.
Using Filmora to record your gameplay will help you save the video in all major video formats. Moreover, the tool is also compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems.
Screensaver Factory, Create stunning professional screensavers within minutes. Create screensavers for yourself, for marketing or unlimited royalty-free commercial distribution. Make screensavers from images, video and swf flash, add background music and smooth sprite and transition effects. Screensaver Factory is very easy to use, and it enables you to make self-installing screensaver files and CDs for easy setup and distribution. Screensaver Factory is the most advanced software of its kind.
Q2. How do I record my screen smoothly? You should do a couple of things to avoid lagging while screen recording your gameplay. For example, do not use your built-in microphone to record your voice during screen recording. Instead, use an external microphone.
Only record what is important. Use high RAM and have a good graphics card. And most importantly, get screen recorders with at least 60fps.
Q3. Does screen recording decrease FPS? Yes, it does affect your overall gaming performance. However, it depends on several factors. For instance, the fps won’t be affected much if you’re playing a less CPU-intensive game. The only way to sustain FPS is to have a high-quality screen recorder, such as OBS, Filmora, Bandicam, and Fraps.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett