Video Game Recording 101: A Comprehensive Guide

Video gaming has evolved way beyond personal enjoyment these days. Now, it’s a social and creative experience for more than just one person to enjoy. Video gamers have morphed into content creators, sharing thrilling gameplay highlights, crafting in-depth tutorials, and participating in the vibrant video game livestreaming ecosystem. Today, recording and sharing your gaming experiences has become almost essential for any modern gamer venturing into the content creator space.

As a prominent leader in the video game screen recording space, we’re here to help you succeed! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to record, edit, and share your gameplay like a pro. We’ll also discuss the top video editors on the market and the best methods for boosting your visibility and enhancing your gaming experience.

Choosing the right equipment

The foundation of any solid recording setup begins with the equipment you choose. From camera to microphone to console, here are our recommendations. 

High-quality cameras

For vlog-style, face-cam integration videos, investing in a good-quality webcam or DSLR is crucial. It ensures human reactions and interactions don’t detract from your full-screen game. Camera models from brands like Logitech, Razer, and Elgato can offer superior video resolution and frame rates for your videos, ensuring the clarity of your expressions and reactions. Don’t have the ability to purchase a standalone camera just yet? Your iPhone or Android will work wonders in a pinch.

Microphones

Sound quality is often neglected in video game recording but is equally essential to the viewing experience. Whether narrating the game, interacting with an audience, or simply capturing in-game audio, a solid microphone can make a huge difference in how your content is received and heard. 

Condenser microphones are great for capturing a wide range of frequencies and making your voice sound richer and more full-bodied. However, they can be sensitive to background noise. Dynamic microphones are more rugged and less sensitive to noise, which means they’re ideal for environments that aren’t fully soundproofed.

The industry’s most recommended products (like Blue Yeti and Audio-Technica microphones) are known for their exceptional quality in capturing voice and other audio effects. Check them out if you’re in the market for a new mic!

Capture cards

If you play on consoles like Xbox and PlayStation, you need an excellent capture card to record video game footage correctly. A capture card is a device that plugs into your console and computer, allowing you to record gameplay directly from the source without compromising video quality or computer performance.

When choosing a capture card, first consider the resolution and frame rate it supports. If you’re aiming for 4K UHD resolution at 60 frames per second (FPS), your chosen capture card needs to be able to handle this output. Next, consider its compatibility with your console’s central processing unit (CPU) and whether the video capture card offers additional features, such as pass-through capabilities (allowing the video stream to display on a monitor) or built-in streaming functions.

Industry-recommended brands like Elgato and AVerMedia provide robust options that capture gameplay in near-perfect quality and then seamlessly transfer that data to your recording device. Do your research to find the best fit for your situation. 

Setting up video game recording software

Once your hardware is sorted, it’s time to focus on the software you’ll use to screen record, edit, and upload. Here are some popular game capture software tools of the trade, along with their pros and cons.

Camtasia

An industry leader, and for a good reason, Camtasia allows you to record gameplay and then adjust your recordings with a suite of powerful video editing tools. Its user interface (UI) is straightforward, and its extensive features make it a top choice for beginners and seasoned content creators searching for a one-stop-shop screen recording software solution. 

OBS Studio

If you’re familiar with the video game streaming and recording space, you have ultimately heard of OBS. This open-source software offers a range of features, including live streaming, video recording, and more. It is highly configurable and an excellent choice for a versatile, free game recording solution. On the flip side, OBS can be pretty challenging to master and extremely time-consuming to use. Unlike other recording software, OBS does not have built-in video editing tools.

EaseUS RecExperts

EaseUS RecExperts is a newcomer to the screen recording software space. Its user-friendly interface is great for gamers looking for high-quality recordings without the overwhelming features of some other apps in the market. While EaseUS RecExperts is excellent for general use, professionals might find it lacking in advanced features compared to other software. Users with older or less powerful PCs might also experience performance issues when recording high-quality 60FPS video games due to the software’s system resource demands.

Xbox Game Bar

For an integrated Windows 10 gameplay recording experience, the Xbox Game Bar has various widgets for capturing gameplay, monitoring system performance, and even social features. To activate the Xbox Game Bar, press the Windows key + G on your keyboard while in your game. While convenient, it doesn’t offer the depth of functionality of dedicated screen recording and editing software.

Optimizing settings

It’s important to configure your settings correctly—it can mean the difference between a professional-looking video and a grainy, pixelated mess.

Resolution and frame rate

Resolution refers to the number of pixels displayed on the screen, which influences the clarity and detail of your video. Common resolutions include 1080p (Full HD), 1440p (Quad HD), and 2160p (4K). Higher settings can lead to better-looking videos but require more from your computer. 

Frame rate, measured in FPS, indicates how smoothly your game plays and is captured in your screen recordings. A higher frame rate (such as 60 fps or more) provides a more fluid motion, vital for fast-paced games where precision and clarity are everything. But, the balance between frame rate and game performance must be carefully managed, especially on less powerful systems.

You also need to consider the final output medium. Streaming platforms like Twitch have specific recommendations for stream quality, while YouTube favors videos with higher resolutions. 

Encoding options

Choosing the right encoding options can reduce your video files without sacrificing video quality. It’s all about finding the right balance between file size and video clarity. Encoding is the process of compressing video files, making them easier to store, stream, and share.

Modern encoding standards, such as H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC), offer advanced compression techniques that maintain high video quality at lower bitrates. 

• H.264 is widely supported and delivers excellent quality at small file sizes.
• H.265 offers even more efficient compression, reducing file sizes further without losing video quality, but it demands more from your hardware during encoding.

YouTube can handle high-resolution videos well and even recommends higher bitrates for uploading while streaming platforms like Twitch might have limitations on bitrate and resolution to ensure smooth live streams for viewers across different internet speeds. Luckily, recording software tools can help automate this balance! Look for features like “dynamic bitrate” that adjust the bitrate based on the complexity of the scene being recorded to optimize file size and quality. Some software also offer presets for recording scenarios (e.g., “High Quality, Small File”).

Recording techniques

Whether you’re recording cinematic gameplay, narrated walkthroughs, or raw live streams, the technique behind the recording plays a pivotal role. We’ve got some expert advice on recording techniques that will change the game—literally. 

Gameplay capture

When you’re capturing gameplay footage with your recording software, think strategically. You need to plan your recordings, consider the narrative of your video, and ensure your content is meaningful and engaging. To help in the process, use Camtasia’s real-time recording, which allows you to pause and resume the video gameplay as needed, ensuring you record only the top-tier moments. Some video game recording software also allows you to take high-quality screenshots with the click of a hotkey, which can be necessary for thumbnails, gifs, and adding something extra to slow points in your video.

Voice overs

You might need to add a few moments of off-screen narration or character voices to your video game footage. Our advice? Practice your scripts, adjust the tone of your voice to match the gameplay elements, and use Audiatе, an excellent audio recording and editing tool from TechSmith, to fine-tune the audio and eliminate any background noise.

Facecam integration

Facecam is a live recording of your face, or multiple faces, that can be added to a corner of your online video. It adds a personal touch to your videos, hopefully enhancing your viewer’s connection with the content. Camtasia and many recording software platforms can easily integrate Facecam footage into your gameplay recordings, aligning your off-screen reactions with the on-screen action.

Editing and enhancements

Editing can turn a good video into a great one. Here are a few easy ways to enhance your recordings.

Adding overlays and effects

Brand your content! Include an overlay or watermark of your logo to add a professional touch to your gameplay videos, making your channel unique. But make sure to use these effects sparingly to avoid overwhelming your viewers with visual noise. Camtasia’s wide range of built-in assets, as well as stock photos and custom assets available for purchase, can help you create an impactful visual narrative to complement your recorded footage.

Transitions

Clean, well-timed transitions make your video flow seamlessly from one segment to another. With Camtasia, you can choose from various transitions to build anticipation, soften scene changes, or signify the passage of time within your video.

Sound design

No video is complete without audio. Incorporate music, sound effects, and a balanced audio mix to hit the right emotional notes with your audience. Audiate’s sound design capabilities can help you create an audio experience that enhances the story of your video, and Camtasia’s library of royalty-free music and sound effects makes it a comprehensive solution for gamers.

SEO for video game content

You’ve recorded and edited. Now, it’s time to get noticed. If you want your content to be seen online, people will need to find it. Increase the visibility of your content with the search engine optimization (SEO) tactics below. 

Tagging your videos

All video platforms have a categorization function, mostly called “tags.” Think about which tags are relevant to your video and use them wisely. Consistently using the same tag in the videos you publish can significantly boost the visibility of your recordings as you continue to create and upload content in your specific lane. For video gaming, a few popular tags could be “let’s play,” “tutorial,” or “PC gaming.”

Metadata matters

Video metadata is the collection of information that describes a video’s content, quality, format, and other attributes. Think of it as the “who, what, when, where, and how” of a video. Metadata includes your video descriptions and titles, which you can optimize with relevant keywords and a compelling call to action to increase your rankings and click-through rates. For assistance, use Camtasia’s search-engine-friendly metadata presets. 

Sharing and distribution

The world needs to see your content! Here are some tips on where and how to promote your new video creation. 

Uploading to platforms

Many platforms, such as YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook Gaming, now cater to the gaming community. When you upload videos, use hashtags, join relevant communities for your niche, and engage with your audience to foster a loyal following. Even better, Camtasia has direct sharing functions that simplify uploading to platforms like YouTube straight from the software.

Social media

Don’t just upload your video and expect it to go viral. Use social media to engage with your audience, create a community, and promote your content strategically. Share video clips on TikTok and Instagram, create YouTube Shorts to promote your content to a new audience and hype your next video on Twitter (X). 

Live streaming

Live streaming your gameplay can be an exciting way to interact with your audience in real-time. Tools like OBS Studio and Twitch’s built-in broadcasting feature make it easy to go live and share your gaming adventures as they happen. But don’t forget to record! With a little bit of editing magic, you can turn excellent livestream content into a completely new video.

FAQs

Video game recording involves many intricacies that can make your head spin. Here are a few frequently asked questions and answers from our team of experts. 

How do I record gameplay on my PC with audio?

Using software like Camtasia, set the desired recording area to capture your game window. Ensure the audio input is configured to record from the correct device (e.g., headset or desktop speakers) and the microphone if needed. Test the audio levels and start recording your gameplay. Camtasia’s intuitive interface and real-time adjustments make the recording process straightforward.

Can I record high-quality gameplay on my PC?

Absolutely! With high-quality hardware such as a solid-state drive (SSD), a strong graphics card (GPU)—we recommend the AMD Radeon, Intel, and NVIDIA GeForce graphic cards—and sufficient RAM, you can record PC games in exceptional quality. Combine this hardware with software like Camtasia, and you’ll be able to capture your gaming moments in impressive detail.

Can I record high-quality gameplay on my Mac?

Yes, you can record high-quality gameplay on your Mac using various software options. Recording tools like QuickTime Player, pre-installed on macOS, allow for straightforward screen recording, including audio. For more advanced options, applications such as OBS Studio and ScreenFlow offer settings that can be tweaked for higher-quality recordings, including adjusting the FPS and resolution. To achieve the best results, ensure your Mac is updated to the latest OS version, and consider upgrading your hardware, like the RAM and SSD, for optimal performance during game recording sessions.

What apps do gamers use to record?

Numerous apps are available for gamers to record their gameplay. Popular choices include Camtasia, OBS Studio, Bandicam, and ShadowPlay, all offering unique features tailored to gamers’ recording and live-streaming needs. These platforms allow you to capture videos in MP4 and AVI formats.

Hopefully, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to feel comfortable and confident enough to start recording, editing, and sharing gameplay. Optimize your recording toolkit for the most successful gaming endeavors, and remember that fantastic game recording software (like Camtasia!) can give you a serious edge. Try it out to discover how effective and fun it is to level up your content creation and gaming experience!