Recording apps on a Mac is a thankfully straightforward process. There are several nifty apps that help you accomplish this task, and your Mac has the technology built in. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in and discover how to make a video of a specific app window.
Times When Specific App Window Recording Can Save Your Life!
There are times when recording an app window can enhance your life and indeed get you out of trouble. You’re maybe a businessperson that needs to be able to record an app to give a presentation that seals the deal. You may be a vlogger and that recording can help emphasise your point or show a piece of gameplay. There are a lot of times when being able to show a video is a lifesaver.
What to Look for in an App That Records Your Apps
As mentioned, there are plenty of offerings when it comes to specific window recording in the App Store. As such, finding the right one can be a time consuming process. So, what should a good window recording app feature?
Isolate and Record Specific App Windows
One feature that any app you choose should feature is that it can isolate and record a specific window rather than a whole screen. This is invaluable as it declutters the video you are making and pinpoints exactly what you want.
Some apps go into the nth degree in this regards and offer things like:
- Records a window no matter how many windows are open.
- Customisable, so do you have control over aspects such as cursor appearance, max colours, windows shadows and so on and so forth.
- Technical aspects such as controlling and viewing fps. (Frames per second)
- Audio as well as video, do you need this and can the app record sound as well as vision?
- Usability is your app easy to use and has a good friendly user interface, or is it a little clumsy in this regard?
In many respects, there is no such thing as too many features when it comes to screen recording apps. In most cases, you’ll find all the good stuff, all the feature options in settings.
Recording Apps on Your Phone
In the course of your day, you may find that you have a need to record your iPhone screen. Depending on the version of the iPhone you have, you will find that it has this capability built in. Again, like your Mac, the dedicated apps to this process have more features and are more sophisticated.
If you do need to record the screen of your phone, some apps allow you to connect your phone to your Mac. From here, you can record and edit your iPhone screen directly from it. This makes working and sharing the content much easier and faster which is groovy.
Using Mac Native Tools
As mentioned, those nice people at Apple have given you the capability of recording your screen without the use of another app. So here are a few shortcuts to accomplish the everyday things you may need to do. These are great if you are on the fly and need to accomplish a task yesterday.
Take a Screenshot including Dropdown Menus
- Select the menu you want to capture ensuring it is visible on the screen.
- Open the Screenshot App. Note, if you want to capture a dropdown menu use the shortcut. (Shift, Command, 5 together).
- Click Options, you’ll find it in the toolbar and select Captured Selected Window.
- Move the cursor over the part of the screen you want to capture, this will be the menu if you’re capturing a dropdown. When you’re done click on the highlighted area to capture it.
You’ll find the captured image as a thumbnail bottom right. From here you’re free to edit, save, share, etc, whatever you want.
Recording Part of a Screen Using Mac Native Tools
Just when you thought it couldn’t get better, the guys and girls at Apple have built in the capability to record part of a screen, allowing you to capture what you want. Again, the tool lacks sophistication but it is good to get you out of a hole, or if you’re on the fly. So:
- Open your trusty Screenshot App.
- In the toolbar, you’ll find Record Selected Portion, select it.
- Drag the cursor over the part of the screen you want to record and click Record. When you’re done, click Stop.
This is great but what if you want to add narration? You can use a third party app but if you want to keep things native, you may want to try QuickTime.
So:
- Open QuickTime, File, New Screen Recording
- From the small recording menu that appears, click the dropdown, and select which microphone you want to use.
- Selecting Record Entire Screen allows you to select specific windows, or you can drag the cursor over the part of the screen you want to record.
- Click Record to start, and stop to end the recording.
- Save the file and you’re done.
Enjoy your Mac screen recording experience.
