MotionShineShort answer: a screencast is a video recording of what happens on a computer screen, usually with the maker's voice added to explain it. People use screencasts to teach a skill, show how software works, report a bug or give a demo. A screenshot is a still picture of the screen. A screencast is that picture in motion, with sound.
Screencast, screen recording and tutorial: what is the difference?
The words overlap, and people use them loosely.
| Term | What it means | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Screen recording | The raw capture of the screen, with or without sound | Saving what happened |
| Screencast | A screen recording made to explain something, usually with a voice | Teaching or showing |
| Tutorial video | A screencast with a plan: steps in order, a goal, a result | Teaching a task from start to end |
| Screenshot | A single still image of the screen | A quick reference |
In practice, every screencast starts as a screen recording. What makes it a screencast is the purpose: someone is talking you through what you see.
Examples of screencasts
- A teacher shows students how to use a spreadsheet formula.
- A support person records the steps to fix a setting, so a customer can follow along.
- A developer records a bug so a teammate can see exactly what happened.
- A founder shows a product in two minutes for a landing page or an email.
For more ideas on what to record, see YouTube video ideas with a screen recorder.
How to make a screencast on a Mac
- Write a short plan. List the steps you will show, in order. A script is optional, but even five bullet points help. The tutorial video script template gives you a format.
- Record the screen with your voice. The built-in way is the Screenshot toolbar, opened with Shift-Command-5. How to screen record on Mac has every step and setting, and how to screen record on Mac with audio covers the microphone.
- Trim the mistakes. Cut the start, the end and any long pauses.
- Export and share. Save the video, or upload it somewhere and send a link.
MotionShine is a free Mac screen recorder, made by the author of this site. It records a display, a window or an area, zooms in on clicks automatically, smooths the cursor, and has an editor with text, pictures, music, voice over and captions made on your Mac. The free version exports up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark and no time limit. It is made for Mac only, so it is not for Windows users.
What makes a good screencast?
This is general advice, not from an official source.
- Keep it short. One screencast, one task.
- Say what you are about to do, then do it. Viewers cannot see your mind, only your cursor.
- Make sure the sound is clear. Viewers forgive a plain screen. They rarely forgive bad audio. How to record your voice on a Mac has the steps.
FAQ
What does screencast mean?
A video recording of a computer screen, usually with a voice explaining what is shown.
Is a screencast the same as a screen recording?
Nearly. A screen recording is the capture itself. A screencast is a recording made to explain or teach something.
What is the difference between a screencast and a webcast?
A screencast shows a screen that was recorded. The word webcast usually means a live or recorded broadcast over the internet, such as a talk. This is general usage, not an official definition.
Can I make a screencast for free on a Mac?
Yes. The Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime Player are free and already on your Mac, and so is the free version of MotionShine.
