Screenflow Vs Camtasia: The 2017 Edition

When it comes to quality screencasting apps, we’ve got two major players: ScreenFlow and Camtasia. How do you know which one is the best for your needs? If you are on Windows, only Camtasia is an option. But if you are on a Mac, then you have a choice so let’s break them down!

A quick introduction to screencasting

For the uninitiated, screencasting is the style of video we use for all Dotto Tech productions! Your screencasting software turns your computer into a publishing tool and lets you produce high-quality video quickly and effectively. The software records and collects all the assets and pulls them together. You can then edit each part individually and create a pretty attractive video. Screencasting is a fantastic way to make great, complex looking videos on a budget. But how do you chose your software?

A look at ScreenFlow

ScreenFlow is a Mac only product. The edit screen has a few great features. At the center, you’ve got a real-time preview window that shows you any changes you make to your video. You’ve got full control over the different elements and can use your magic editing powers to adjust them. You can see the properties of each element in the bar on the right-hand side. Things you can do include:

• Changing the size of the video
• Changing the scale
• Altering the audio
• Adding additional graphics to the video
• Adding text

At the bottom, you’ve got a multitrack editor. Every element on the screen takes up one track. You can move tracks around to determine which elements are at the front of the video and which ones belong at the back.

A look at Camtasia

Camtasia is available for both Windows and Mac and looks pretty much the same on both platforms. Like with ScreenFlow, we’ve got a preview screen in the center where you can see what’s going on. It’s an interactive screen- you can drag and drop different elements. Unlike ScreenFlow, the toolbar is on the left-hand side but otherwise, the control and functionality for this stage of the process are incredibly similar for both.

The differences between ScreenFlow and Camtasia

Both pieces of software can create the same gorgeous end result. The main difference between them is philosophical- they use different techniques to do the same thing. See how Screenflow and Camtasia handle one specific task in uniquely different ways starting at 7.15 in the video.  So how do you pick? Choose your tool based on your preferences and the way you enjoy editing. Which one feels more intuitive to you? Get it, master it, learn its idiosyncrasies and you’ll be on your way to making great screencasting videos.

Until next time, have fun storming the castle!

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