HOWTO: Proper Screencasting on Linux

[Mampir]

No, I haven't compiled anything. I'm using the version from the Trisquel's repository, which should be the same one as the Ubuntu's Karmic Koala version. Here is FFmpeg's output:

FFmpeg version SVN-r19352-4:0.5+svn20090706-2ubuntu2.2, Copyright (c) 2000-2009 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
  configuration: --extra-version=4:0.5+svn20090706-2ubuntu2.2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libgsm --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --disable-stripping --disable-vhook --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libdc1394 --extra-cflags=-I/build/buildd/ffmpeg-0.5+svn20090706/debian/include --enable-shared --disable-static
  libavutil     49.15. 0 / 49.15. 0
  libavcodec    52.20. 0 / 52.20. 0
  libavformat   52.31. 0 / 52.31. 0
  libavdevice   52. 1. 0 / 52. 1. 0
  libavfilter    0. 4. 0 /  0. 4. 0
  libswscale     0. 7. 1 /  0. 7. 1
  libpostproc   51. 2. 0 / 51. 2. 0
  built on Apr 23 2010 15:38:06, gcc: 4.4.1

If you think the problem arises because my version is older, then maybe is best to just wait for the new Trisquel release (based on Lucid Lynx) which should come out soon.

[FakeOutdoorsman]

I believe Lucid's FFmpeg is also to old, if I remember correctly.

[Mampir]

You are probably right. I've just tried version "FFmpeg SVN-r0.5.1-4:0.5.1-1ubuntu1" and with it too the cursor doesn't change.

[Cavsfan]

I used this tutorial to update ffpmeg HOWTO: Install and use the latest FFmpeg and x264

Here is my fmpeg version:

ffmpeg version
FFmpeg version SVN-r25017, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Sep  1 2010 14:13:10 with gcc 4.4.3
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-nonfree --enable-postproc --enable-libfaac --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-x11grab
  libavutil     50.24. 0 / 50.24. 0
  libavcore      0. 6. 0 /  0. 6. 0
  libavcodec    52.87. 0 / 52.87. 0
  libavformat   52.78. 3 / 52.78. 3
  libavdevice   52. 2. 1 / 52. 2. 1
  libavfilter    1.38. 1 /  1.38. 1
  libswscale     0.11. 0 /  0.11. 0
  libpostproc   51. 2. 0 / 51. 2. 0

HTH

[Hrodebert]

Greetings.
I'm sure most of you have done something more advanced but I didn't think about it when I started doing recordings so I'm posting it anyway in case someone like me is reading this.
Here's what I did, just because I'm lazy..

First I made a script

#!/bin/bash
ffmpeg -f alsa -ac 2 -i pulse -f x11grab -r 30 -s 1024x768 -i :0.0 -acodec pcm_s16le -vcodec libx264 -vpre lossless_ultrafast -threads 0 zzz.mkv
mv ~/zzz.mkv ~/recs/$(date +%F_%A_at_%H:%M:%S).mkv

Pretty self-explanatory, especially if you read verb3k's excellent post in the beginning of this thread.
It's recording to zzz.mkv. I'm using a stupid name like that because sometimes I want to know the filesize when I'm recording, and zzz.mkv makes it quick to find in Nautilus. Yes, I have a lot of crap in my ~/
When I stop recording it automagically moves the file to my recordings folder called recs and renames it to something like this 2010-09-18_saturday_at_03:51:10.mkv

Make a starter on one of your bars or panels and point it at your script.
Click starter
Press q in CLI when done
Click your starter again
????
Profit

No more manual moving and renaming! Sweet

[verb3k]

Guide update: More robust "xwininfo" usage. Previously used -geometry parameter does not always return correct values for window coordinates.

[Cavsfan]

Just curious: I have a 1920x1200 native res. monitor and have used FakeOutdoorsman's Tutorial to compile FFmpeg with x264 and all
available options. My refresh rate is 60hz and no matter what I do I get flicker when using the commands on page one. I also get the same
with Recordmydesktop. Even when I do a screen print, it is not quite right if I tilt the cube or do anything. A regular screenprint comes out OK.
I am using the absolute latest nVidia drivers and everything is amazing!

60hz is the max. for my monitor and I cannot figure out why I get the flicker. I even tried using fps=50 instead of 30 and still I get flicker.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[shantiq]

thanx that is just what i was looking for ffmpeg really roks



ok changed it a tad so the file ends up on desktop which i prefer

ffmpeg -f alsa -ac 2 -i pulse -f x11grab -r 30 -s 1024x768 -i :0.0 -acodec pcm_s16le -vcodec libx264 -vpre lossless_ultrafast -threads 0 ./Desktop/mydesktop.mkv

i have a question tho how can i do this and also add myself being recorded on the cam can it be done?

[FakeOutdoorsman]

Let's install ffcast! This script is good for those who want to simply click on a window or click and drag an area to record.

First you need to install FFmpeg. I prefer to compile it myself, but there are several options here:

HOWTO: Easily enable MP3, MPEG4, AAC, and other restricted encoders in FFmpeg

Now for FFcast:

sudo apt-get install git-core libx11-dev checkinstall
cd
git clone git://github.com/lolilolicon/ffcast.git
cd ffcast
wget http://fakeoutdoorsman.com/ffmpeg/enable_threads.diff
patch -p1 < enable_threads.diff
make
sudo checkinstall --pkgname=ffcast --pkgversion="$(date +%Y%m%d)" --backup=no \
    --deldoc=yes --fstrans=no --default

Some examples. Capture fullscreen and manually give an output name (by default it games an output file name like ffcast.100928220623.mkv):

ffcast -a -o screencast.mkv

Select an area to record by dragging the mouse and change the frame rate (by default it's -r 15):

ffcast -s -r 30

Or show the command without recording:

ffcast -s -r 30 --printcmd

See ffcast -h for more options.

[verb3k]

@FakeOutdoorsman: Problem with ffcast is that it doesn't support audio, does it?. However, the xrectsel tool is particularly useful. It is brilliant. I think I might add it to the guide.

Anyone can wrap a script or an alias or whatever to get ffmpeg to screencast. I know people who streamlined their entire screencasting pipeline with scipts and aliases. ffcast isn't bad and does what it advertises, but nothing more (no audio, no compression to various target formats etc).

I think it is always better for people to be at "ground zero" and learn ffmpeg itself instead of learning a single purpose interface of another interface. It is for their own good