If you’re looking for a free app that can record your desktop movements, CamStudio would be among one of the best options, and this is not because it’s a free application.

CamStudio actually does slightly more than recording your desktop environment and then outputting the video in a known video format.

Apart from recording desktop movements, CamStudio can also take still images of your desktop, and you also get to choose the region that you want to take a screenshot of.

This makes it favorable to anyone who needs to clearly explain technical details about an app with the use of screenshots and instructional videos.

It outputs its video formats in either AVI or FLV, both of which do not require conversion to other formats especially when one is planning to upload them to a site like YouTube.

You also have the option of choosing the codecs that will be used when encoding your screen captures. Advanced users can also manipulate the frame rate so that the final video will look more fluid.

The method of capturing a screen is not any different from what other screen capture apps use. A user will only need to drag the mouse over to the area that he/she wishes to capture.

Texts can optionally be added to a video illustration for better emphasis. Moreover, an auto-tracking feature can also be used so as to show the location of the mouse in the video.

Pros and Cons of CamStudio

Pros

- It is a free application

- Has plenty of useful tools that allow you to effectively record your desktop environment

- It’s user interface is simple and easy to understand

- It uses very little of the computer’s resource, especially in terms of storage

Cons

- The application is only limited to outputting videos in AVI and FLV formats