How to Record Your Screen and Voice for Tutorials: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating video tutorials is one of the best ways to share knowledge, teach skills, or build an online following. Whether you're walking viewers through software, teaching a course, or demonstrating a process, recording your screen and voice effectively is key.

Thankfully, you don’t need expensive equipment or professional studios to get started. With the right tools and a little planning, anyone can create high-quality screen recording tutorials from their computer.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to record your screen and voice, from choosing software to polishing your final video.

1. Plan Your Tutorial

Before you hit record, planning is essential. A clear structure helps your viewers follow along and improves the overall quality of your tutorial.

What to do:

• Outline your steps: Write down what you'll show and in what order.
• Write a script (optional): Even a rough script helps you stay focused and avoid awkward pauses.
• Practice: Do a test run so you’re familiar with the steps and won’t be searching for buttons mid-recording.

Tip:

Keep your tutorial focused—don’t try to cover too much in one video. Aim for 5–15 minutes per tutorial if possible.

2. Choose the Right Screen Recording Software

The software you choose should allow you to capture your screen, microphone, and optionally, your webcam. Here are some of the best options depending on your needs and budget:

Free Options:

• OBS Studio (Windows, Mac, Linux): Powerful and free. Great for tutorials, but has a learning curve.
• Loom (Web, Windows, Mac): Super simple, lets you record screen and webcam at once. Free plan has a 5-minute limit per video (longer with paid version).
• ShareX (Windows): Lightweight and highly customizable. Great for tech-savvy users.

Paid Options:

• Camtasia (Windows, Mac): Excellent all-in-one tool for recording and editing. Very user-friendly but pricey.
• ScreenFlow (Mac): Great interface and built-in editing tools.
• Snagit (Windows, Mac): Easier than Camtasia, ideal for quick how-tos and training videos.

3. Set Up Your Audio and Microphone

Your voice is just as important as your visuals. Clear audio keeps your viewers engaged and makes your tutorial sound professional.

How to get good audio:

• Use a decent microphone: A USB mic like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica ATR2100x works well. Even a good headset is better than your laptop mic.
• Record in a quiet space: Reduce background noise by closing windows, turning off fans, and silencing phones.
• Use a pop filter or windscreen: This helps reduce popping sounds when pronouncing “P” and “B.”

Bonus:

Use free software like Audacity or built-in tools to reduce noise or enhance your voice later if needed.

4. Choose What to Show on Screen

Decide whether you're recording your entire screen or just a specific window or region.

Why it matters:

• Recording your full screen gives flexibility but may include distracting notifications.
• Recording a specific window keeps things cleaner and more focused.

Close any unnecessary apps or tabs before you start recording to avoid pop-ups or distractions.

5. Record Your Tutorial

Now it's time to record! Here's a typical process:

Step-by-step:

1. Open your screen recorder.
2. Select the area to record (entire screen or app window).
3. Choose your microphone input.
4. (Optional) Turn on webcam recording if you want your face visible in the corner.
5. Hit “Record” and begin your tutorial.

Speak clearly, follow your script or outline, and try to maintain a steady pace. It’s okay to pause or mess up—editing will clean that up later.

Tips:

• Use the mouse cursor intentionally: highlight where you're clicking or slow down your cursor when explaining.
• Use shortcut keys if the software supports them (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+R to start/pause in OBS).
• If you make a mistake, pause, take a breath, and repeat the sentence—you can trim it out later.

6. Edit Your Tutorial

Once your recording is complete, basic editing will make your video look polished and professional.

Basic edits you should make:

• Trim dead space or mistakes
• Add annotations or text to highlight key points
• Zoom in on important areas of the screen
• Overlay music or sound effects if needed (sparingly!)
• Add a title screen and outro

Tools for editing:

• Camtasia and ScreenFlow have built-in editors tailored for tutorial videos.
• DaVinci Resolve (free and powerful) for more advanced editing.
• Shotcut, iMovie, or Windows Clipchamp for lighter editing needs.

7. Export and Share Your Video

After editing, export your video in a widely supported format like MP4, which balances quality and file size well.

Consider:

• Resolution: Export in 1080p (Full HD) for clarity.
• Frame rate: 30 fps is standard for tutorials.
• Audio quality: Aim for 128kbps or higher.

Once exported, you can upload the video to platforms like:

• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Loom
• Google Drive or Dropbox (for private sharing)

Make sure to write a clear title and description so viewers know what your tutorial covers.

8. Add Captions (Optional but Recommended)

Captions make your tutorial more accessible and easier to follow, especially for non-native speakers or viewers with hearing loss.

• YouTube can auto-generate captions, which you can edit.
• Use tools like Descript, Kapwing, or Happy Scribe to create and customize captions.

Captions also improve your video’s SEO, helping it reach a wider audience.

9. Promote and Get Feedback

Once your tutorial is live, share it where your audience is:

• On social media
• In online forums or communities (e.g., Reddit, Stack Overflow)
• On your blog or website
• With your email list

Ask viewers for feedback in the comments to improve future tutorials. Don’t worry if your first video isn’t perfect—consistency and learning are more important.

10. Keep Improving

Each time you create a tutorial, you’ll get better:

• Watch your own videos and note what could be clearer.
• Learn new editing techniques.
• Upgrade your equipment over time.
• Respond to viewer questions and suggestions.

The best tutorial creators evolve with their audience. Don’t aim for perfection—aim for progress.

Final Thoughts

Recording your screen and voice to create tutorials is one of the most effective and rewarding ways to share knowledge. Whether you're teaching a complex skill or a simple how-to, the tools are more accessible than ever.

With some basic planning, a decent microphone, and free or low-cost software, you can start producing clear, engaging tutorial videos that help others—and possibly grow your brand or business in the process.