Have you ever watched some tutorial about recording a video on Ubuntu or other Linux operating system and wish it were simpler? Do you want to record the screen without installing any additional software? That’s exactly the purpose of this article – I’m going to show you how too install, setup, and use a command line tool called Imarecorder to record desktop sessions on Ubuntu.
Screen recorder is a software application that records activities on your computer screen and saves it as video file. The process of screen recording can be defined as the act of capturing activity on the screen of your computer in real-time and producing audio and video data that can be saved as a video file.
This is a package to record your screen in Ubuntu. It supports recording the full screen, an area of the screen, and/or a webcam. It also allows you to save your video as animated GIF. If you love to play games on Ubuntu or want to make a video tutorial this is the application that you need!
Modern screen recorders are used to capture video calls, streaming videos, and create a wide range of content, and explain issues. In this article, we are going to discuss the top screen recorders for Ubuntu 20.04 with their installation process.
How to choose the best Linux screen recorder
When choosing the screen recorder with audio that best suits your personal and professional needs, there are a few points to consider. Depending on your computer setup, you may need to make sure the software supports multiple video and audio output formats. What file format do you require? Do your due diligence on the quality of the final recording? Does the Linux screen-recording software you are considering record in HD? Are you sure you can capture your desktop activity and also record from your webcam? In terms of audio, check the audio input functionalities and make sure you have the choice between recording via your microphone and through the computer audio.
Are you planning on sharing your video clip online? Streaming or broadcasting it? Or will you edit it and upload it to an online platform? Is your file secure? Are you producing a video as part of a paid, professional project? Are you looking for an encoder and renderer? If so, think of choosing a software option that allows you to create your video without a watermark. These are all important details to take into account when choosing the Linux screen-recording software that is the best fit for your projects.
1. Kazam
Kazam is a simple and lightweight tool that is used for screen-casting in Linux. It has a compact user interface. It also provides the facility of capturing screenshots. It can capture the screen content and transform that into a video as it supports multiple video formats. Kazam can also record the input from the sound device such as a speaker or microphone.
To install Kazam on your Ubuntu 20.04, write out the following command on your terminal.
$ sudo apt install kazamYou can open the Kazam by searching it manually in the ‘Activity’ search bar.
2. Simple screen recorder
Simple Screen Recorder is considered as one of the popular screen recorders of Ubuntu 20.04. It has a Qt-based interface. You can use this application for recording the screen partially or completely. Another amazing feature of the Simple Screen Recorder application is that it can also record steam games. It supports Hotkey and a live preview of recording and its statistics. It works smoothly on the system by properly syncing the audio and video.
To install Simple Screen Recorder on your Ubuntu 20.04, write out the following command on your terminal.
$ sudo apt install simplescreenrecorderYou can open the Simple Screen Recorder by searching it manually in the ‘Activity’ search bar.
3. Voko screen
Voko screen is easy to use and a tiny application that is used for screen capturing. Voko screen can support various formats of audio and videos. It is also used to capture the screen either fully or in a specific region. This tool can be used to record videos from external cameras, from your computer screens, or through webcams. Voko screen is utilized to create educational videos, installation tutorials, to record the browser activity, or video conferences. It also fixes the screen detection according to the screen resolution.
Use the given command to install the Voko screen on your Ubuntu 20.04.
$ sudo apt install vokoscreen-ngOpen it manually by searching ‘VokoScreen’ in the Activities search bar.
4. Obs studio
Another popular screen recorder to be on the list is Obs studio. Obs stands for Open Broadcaster Software Studio. Its online streaming option makes it possible to post videos on Twitch, YouTube, and Dailymotion. Obs is a free, and open-source tool compatible with Linux, Mac, and Windows. It also provides flexibility in the configuration settings. It is also combined with various audio or video editing software to turn it into a screen-casting video production tool.
If you want to install obs studio on your Ubuntu 20.04, type the given command.
$ sudo apt install obs-studioType ’obs studio’ in the search bar of activities to interact with this tool.
5. Peek
Peek has a very easy to use interface for screen recording. Peek was designed for recording specific screen areas for example, when you are viewing a bug report, or the system is showing you the user interface features of applications. Place the cursor on the area you want to capture or record and hit the ‘record’ button yes it is that simple to use. Peek can be also utilized on your system for creating Mp4 videos, or GIF animations.
If you want to have ‘Peek’ on your Ubuntu 20.04, write-out the following command on your terminal.
$ sudo apt install peekNow open it using the activities search bar.
6. Peek
Peek is a simple tool that lets us create an animated gif for the desktop screen. The main features of this app are that it let you set up the frame rate and delay time. It offers a modern and sleek graphical user interface.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:peek-developers/stable sudo apt update sudo apt install peek
7. ScreenStudio
ScreenStudio is yet another easy-to-go but powerful screencasting software for Linux. It provides a simple option for recording the desktop as a video format, which, later on, can be directly streamed through Youtube, Twitch, or any other video host services.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:soylent-tv/screenstudio sudo apt update sudo apt install screenstudio
8. Byzanz
Byzanz is a CLI-based screencasting app for Linux. This tool can record video and audio in OGG and FLV formats. It also can be used to create an animated gif.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossfreedom/byzanz sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install byzanz
9. Gifine
Unlike Peek, Gifine is a screencasting tool for Linux used to record and stitch together small animated gifs or videos. It supports both GIF and MP4 video output.
Install on Ubuntu
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/lolilolicon/xrectsel.git cd xrectsel ./bootstrap && ./configure sudo make install sudo apt install gifsicle luarocks libgirepository1.0-dev sudo luarocks install --server=https://luarocks.org/dev gifine
For running gifine, type the following command:
gifine
10. VLC
There might be none who have not heard the name of VLC – the most powerful and popular Linux Multimedia Player. It comes prepacked with lots of features, and screencasting is one of them. You need to change the capture mode into a desktop mode in the options setting. You can also save the recording video or live-streaming it online.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install vlc
11. Wink
Wink is mainly used for creating interactive tutorial content. This Linux screen capture software comes with very competitive features for screen recording. It also supports all the major OS platforms, including Windows, Linux, and other Unix-based systems.
12. Freeseer
Freeseer is created for making distant conference streaming simple and easy. Both video and audio streaming are supported simultaneously. It’s a free screencasting app and offers cross-platform resources.
Install on Ubuntu
Download App Package Quick Start Guide
13. Shutter
Shutter is one of the best Linux screen recorders but yet simple and offers a modern user interface. It also provides an image editing tool that can be used for customizing the captured image. You can capture the entire portion of the desktop screen or just a selected area.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:shutter/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install shutter
14. Krut
Though the interface of Krut doesn’t look nice, it’s one of the lightest Linux screen recorders available in the market. This Linux screen capture software is developed with Java, and that’s why it portable and simple to use on other systems. You can do all the tasks that a full-fledged Linux screen recorder should do without any hassle.
Install on Ubuntu
15. Green Recorder
Screen Recorder is an essential productivity tool to record your screen. There are several screen recorder apps for Linux that work really well. But, at present, Green Recorder will provide you some great features which will blow your mind. It is a simple screen recorder app that supports Xorg as well as Wayland – Gnome Session. It’s built on top of Python, GTK+ 3, and ffmpeg.
Install on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossproject/ppa sudo apt update sudo apt install green-recorder
What is the safest Linux screen-recording software?
All Linux recording software options are well-protected by the Linux operating system, which is more secure than other popular operating systems.
A built-in Linux screen recorder
There is a built-in Linux screen recorder available in Ubuntu, integrated into the GNOME Shell desktop. It is a good option for simple screen captures that don’t require audio. To access it, you can use the following keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R. When a red dot appears on the top right-hand side of your screen, you are recording.
Comparing screen-recording software capabilities
Based on your requirements, you will have to select the most appropriate Linux screen recorder software. Do you plan to record just your browser and desktop activity or your webcam video too? Are you planning to stream your video or record and edit it then share it online by uploading it to a platform? Do you need to simultaneously record audio and video? Do you want to enhance your video with fade in/fade out, background music? Are you looking at a tool that is minimalist and easy to use for quick screen captures? Or are you creating an animated GIF video?
Screen-recording apps vs. online screen recorders
You will have the choice between screen-recording apps that you download and install to your computer and online screen recorder software. The apps often offer more features but take up more space and memory, potentially leading to lag. They also allow you to record offline. On the other hand, online screen recorders for Linux are easy to access, always up to date, and can be used on multiple devices.
Conclusion:
After trying out several different screen recorders, here I am going to tell you which is the best screen recorder for ubuntu. I tested a bunch of them and finally I was able to test the most promising one so far. Now, you cannot get a proper recording solution without spending some money but don’t worry because there’s a lot of good free screen recorders out there. You can use Greenshot or XRecord on Ubuntu, that’s probably your best bet. Screen recorders are one of the most underrated tools in the software industry. We cannot deny the fact that they can be listed as the most essential core tools that every system must-have.
Ubuntu is a famous and very popular operating system. It is used by a lot of people in the world. It is fast, stable, powerful and flexible. It can be used for anything from theatre performances to data center hosting to desktop editing or coding and everything in between.