In this article, we will discuss various methods to record screen and webcam simultaneously on Ubuntu. This can be particularly useful for creating tutorials, presentations, or even for live streaming.
To record screen and webcam simultaneously on Ubuntu, you can use various methods such as using guvcview and recordmydesktop, ffplay from ffmpeg, Kazam, vokoscreen, Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), Cheese and Kazam, or the Loom Chrome extension. Each method has its own installation process and features, so you can choose the one that suits your needs best.
Method 1: Using guvcview and recordmydesktop
guvcview is a video viewer and capture software for the webcam device. recordmydesktop is a desktop session recorder for GNU/Linux.
To install these, open your terminal and type the following command:
sudo apt-get install guvcview recordmydesktopThis command installs both guvcview and recordmydesktop. The sudo command is used to run operations that require root or administrative access, apt-get is the package handling utility in Ubuntu, and install is the command to install new packages.
After installation, open guvcview to display the webcam output. Then, open recordmydesktop to start recording the screen. You can make the guvcview window always on top by right-clicking on the top bar of the window and selecting “Always on Top”. This ensures that your webcam output is visible in your screen recording.
Method 2: Using ffplay from ffmpeg
ffmpeg is a free and open-source software project that produces libraries and programs for handling multimedia data. ffplay is a simple media player utilizing SDL and the FFmpeg libraries.
To install ffmpeg, use the following command:
sudo apt install ffmpegTo display the webcam output, use the command:
ffplay /dev/video0Here, /dev/video0 is the device file that corresponds to your webcam. If you have more than one webcam, you might need to use /dev/video1, /dev/video2, etc.
Method 3: Using Kazam
Kazam is a simple screen recording program that will capture the content of your screen and record a video file that can be played by any video player that supports VP8/WebM video format.
To install the latest version of Kazam, use the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kazam-team/unstable-series
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install kazam python3-cairo python3-xlibIn the above commands, add-apt-repository is used to add a new repository, ppa:kazam-team/unstable-series is the Personal Package Archive (PPA) for the Kazam team’s unstable series, update is used to update the package list, and install is used to install the Kazam program along with the python3-cairo and python3-xlib packages that Kazam depends on.
After installation, open Kazam and enable the webcam option to capture both the screen and the webcam.
Method 4: Using vokoscreen
vokoscreen is an easy to use screencast creator to record educational videos, live recordings of browser, installation, videoconferences, etc.
To install vokoscreen, use the following command:
sudo apt install vokoscreenAfter installation, launch the program and enable the webcam option to capture both the screen and the webcam.
Method 5: Using Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)
OBS is a popular choice for live streamers and instructors. It allows you to live stream or record your screen and webcam simultaneously. You can implement green screen effects and add overlays. OBS can be downloaded from obsproject.com.
Method 6: Using Cheese and Kazam
Cheese is a program for the GNOME Desktop which allows you to take photos, videos, and anything else you can think of with your webcam. Just start it up and shoot!
To install cheese and kazam, use the following command:
sudo apt install cheese kazamAfter installation, open cheese to display the webcam output and use kazam to record the screen.
Method 7: Using Loom Chrome Extension
Loom is a browser-based screen and webcam recording tool. It can be installed as a Chrome extension and allows you to capture both the screen and the webcam simultaneously. However, note that it requires downloading the videos after capture to keep them for free.
Please note that some users have reported issues with certain programs, such as Kazam 1.5.3 being buggy and recording the webcam as a black square. It is recommended to test different programs and find the one that works best for your setup.
In conclusion, there are several methods to record screen and webcam simultaneously on Ubuntu. Depending on your specific needs, you may find one method more suitable than others. Happy recording!
No, you will need to install additional software to record screen and webcam simultaneously on Ubuntu.
Yes, you can use these methods on other Linux distributions as well, as long as you have the required software installed.
You can determine the device file for your webcam by using the command ls /dev/video* in the terminal. It will display a list of device files corresponding to the connected webcams.
Yes, most of the methods mentioned in this article allow you to record audio along with the screen and webcam. You can configure the audio settings in the respective software.
Yes, you can customize the output format and quality of the recorded video in most of the software mentioned. Refer to their respective documentation for instructions on how to do so.
Yes, some of the software mentioned, such as Kazam and OBS, allow you to select specific windows or areas of the screen to record. You can configure these settings within the software.
Yes, you can use software like OBS to record screen and webcam simultaneously while live streaming. OBS provides additional features for live streaming such as overlays and green screen effects.
Yes, the Loom Chrome Extension requires you to download the videos after capture to keep them for free. Additionally, it may have limitations in terms of features compared to other software mentioned in this article.
No, these methods are specifically for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. For other operating systems, there are different software options available.
Yes, if you have multiple webcams connected to your system, you can use software like OBS or vokoscreen to select and record from multiple webcams simultaneously.
