Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' note: This is a large (244MB) file and may take several hours to download via slow Internet connection.
CNET Editors' review
The screen-capture video tool Camtasia Studio has long balanced a strong set of features with a friendly interface and graceful learning curve. Version 8 continues the tradition with cool, new features that don't bog down the app with any additional complexity. Camtasia's price--$300--may raise eyebrows, but make no mistake: this screencasting software is serious business. New and advanced users both should be able to learn the software and start producing professionally looking videos in little time.
Robust in-app tutorials introduce Camtasia to users, but experienced editors can wave them aside and dive in. The main interface is arranged logically, with the top-right corner reserved for the vast array of editing and production options: view your clips, manage your video library, or configure settings for zooming, panning, audio, and video transitions, or browse a myriad of including templates, music, and outros offered free by Digital Juice.
Recent versions of Camtasia added features for recording system audio, automatically resizing windows, and a "Smart Focus" option that highlights key video frames and captions. Version 8 adds in smoother, 30fps captures, interactive "Hotspots" on videos, unlimited tracks for multitrack editing, a new TSC2 codec, and "Quizzing," a feature that lets users provide instant feedback on your screecast videos.
Camtasia allows exporting for nearly any sort of device or system: Web, phones, tablets, DVDs, and other mobile devices are all covered. The remarkably useful online help center is icing on the video-editing cake.
Click here to read Jason Parker's full review of Camtasia Studio 8.
Publisher's Description
From TechSmith:
Camtasia Studio--Screen recording and video editing software. Camtasia Studio helps you quickly create professional quality videos and share them with anyone, on nearly any device without formal training. Whether you need to train an audience, give a presentation, explain an idea, share knowledge, or offer feedback, Camtasia Studio makes it easy. Use Camtasia Studio to record on-screen activity, capture PowerPoint slides, add imported media, and more. Then enhance your videos with Camtasia Studio's powerful editing tools, and easily share them with anyone, anywhere. With multiple video and audio tracks, an extensive asset library, and the ability to animate content, Camtasia Studio allows you to create interactive videos that engage your audience. Plus, Camtasia Studio's built-in quizzing lets you discover if your viewers are watching and learning from your content.
What's new in this version: Version 8.0:
- TechSmith Smart Player: Produce high-quality, easy-to-share videos that your viewers can watch anytime, on nearly any device. The TechSmith Smart Player is intuitive and detects if your viewer's device or browser supports Flash. If their device or browser doesn't support Flash, the TechSmith Smart Player will playback the content using HTML5 - helping ensure that your videos will play. Upload the videos you make in Camtasia Studio to our free hosting site, Screencast.com, an... See all new features
More Products to Consider
-
Convert popular video to mp4 for iPod, iPhone, PSP, Zune and vi... -
Play audio and video files in real-time and streaming modes. -
Convert your videos, audios, and pictures to preferable file fo... -
Play video files of multiple video formats. -
Play digital media of various formats with 3D and WiDi support. -
Convert, edit video and audio files for multimedia devices. -
Play 99.9 percent of files with a collection of codecs for Wind... -
Play virtually any media file in open-source cross-platform mul... -
Play various types of video, audio, movie, music files in Media... -
Search videos on web and download videos from youtube. -
Convert and edit your video files adding slide shows and titles... -
Record videos with the Zuvuu Cloud service. -
Play all the most popular video and audio formats. -
Animate images from voice and text. -
Convert video and YouTube to AVI, WMV, MP4, FLV, MP3, burn vide... -
Get a movie player with built in codecs. -
Get a movie player with built in codecs. -
Play all kinds of video content. -
Convert video files between various formats and download YouTub... -
Get a movie player with built in codecs. -
Convert, edit video/audio file for multimedia devices. -
Rip DVD disc content to various video file formats. -
Play FLV files with the ability to loop. -
Rip Blu-ray and DVD discs to video and audio file formats.
-
All versions:
3.6 starsout of 138 votes
-
Current version:
4.2 starsout of 6 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-6 of 6
-
"Great program, I can see myself probably buying it."
Version: Camtasia Studio 8.0
Pros
*Software works really well, comparing the audio recording to Audacity, it just blows it out of the water. It records both mic audio and incoming sound from the computer(I.E; Your guitar from mic, and playback from backing track from computer sound, instead of just speaker).
*Screen recording records smoothly. Didn't have any issues with it at all.Cons
*Couldn't get webcam to work with it/crashed program, but that's my fault for using the very iffy PS3 Eye cam as a camera. Use a proper camera/web cam with this program and you will be fine.
No other issues what so ever.Summary
All in all, its a great program which you get to try out for 30 days to see if you like it. That's 30 days of unlimited professional-grade videos you can be making.. anything from gaming videos to music videos to vlogs.. and the interface allows you to move **** around like in xsplit..
You cannot go wrong with this, and I'm seriously considering putting cash out for it considering that most other programs are hella expensive and do less/hard to learn. -
"Too Expensive but really cool software!"
Version: Camtasia Studio 8.0
Pros
Yes, Its is easy to use.
Cons
A good for teacher to teach their pupils.
Summary
I think the transitions is really cool now and i love this software. Thank you, Camtasia.
-
"Good Video Editing Software; Best Screen Capture"
Version: Camtasia Studio 8.0
Pros
+HD Screen Capture
+Zoom and Pan was Great!
+You can adjust video quality! (With Fast Rendering!)Cons
-No Effects :(
-Adding something in timeline can split the track
-You can't make it fade while adding the transitions (Not like Windows Movie Maker)Summary
FIRST OF ALL! I am pretty pissed at some reviewers who keeps on saying the following:
"It keeps on crashing!"
"So many bugs..."
"Laggy Screen Recorder"
I am going to be honest with you. Mine is also lagging (the screen recorder) but, why did I say best?
Because I am doing this review not just for myself but for others to get interested on this product too. I have a reason why it lagged. It is because I have a bad computer. Look at others in YouTube, theirs did not lag. So, do you have a good computer? NO! So stop posting bad stuff about this product because it is your PC's fault not the product because this product is great.
Now onto the review. First up the screen capture. The screen capture is great! You can capture it HD! If it lags for you, go get another screen recorder and edit it with Camtasia. You can adjust the quality on this product. The video size is smaller? USE THE ZOOM AND PAN! God, this video editing software is great. And what is better is that the rendering is faster than Windows Movie Maker!
My concerns about this product is that there is no effects. This is my biggest concerns so far on why there is no effects... Not like Windows Movie Maker. Adding something on the timeline splits the track which makes the editing ruined. Why can't it just stay? And adding transitions can't fade the video. If you don't know what I mean, It is like the sound and will fade when you add the transitions. If you still don't get it, try adding transitions on Windows Movie Maker, it fades the sounds.
Overall, this product is great. Although, the price is a ripoff. They should lower the price. Like $230. But I did not add them in my concerns because it is not much of a big deal. Although I mentioned Windows Movie Maker to this review, it is still better than Windows Movie Maker. BUT they just have things that Camtasia Studio doesn't have.
If Camtasia Studio and Windows Movie Maker were to be combined, I could have gave this product a perfect score! Thanks for reading my review and hope you get my point!
~JumpmanAgainstTerran -
"Awesome, sometimes..."
Version: Camtasia Studio 8.0
Pros
Good program, awesome features, best editor for pc.
Cons
Crashes. Alot.
Weird glitch, sometimes when you add audio tracks it bugs out and you cannot save, export, or even PLAY your movie so far. It will also at random remove a large section in the middle of your film. Any music will still play, but all video files will be gone. Once this happens, it will crash.Summary
DON'T BUY THIS!
Much better to buy a brand new Mac with iMovie. Honestly I don't like macs, but the frustration this has caused me is beyond belief. The free, and known to be one of the worst editors, Windows Live Movie Maker is BETTER then this. Don't waste your money. -
"Best screen capture software on the market!"
Version: Camtasia Studio 8.0
Pros
HD Screen Capture
Records audio off computer
Amazing video editor
Easy for beginnersCons
No Live Output feature
Summary
This is easily the best screen capture software on the market. The only downfall is that you can't live stream your videos to sites like Justin.tv, Ustream, Livestream, etc.
-
"Great overall product"
Version: Camtasia Studio 8.0
Pros
Easy to use.
Great quality capture.
Editing features.
Adding transitions.
Ability to add audio after recording.Cons
There's a learning curve... Duh!!
Summary
For those who give this product a negative review, my impulse is to defend Camtasia but I won't do that. I will assume they are being genuine, although I question their intensions and ability to review the training videos.
Yes, there is a slight learning curve but its well worth the 1 hour to review the "how-to" videos. This product is very easy to use and learn. It has some great features:
1. Pan-and-zoom: allows you to zoom in on parts of the video you want to emphasize.
2. Audio: ability to edit the audio after recording.
3. Adjustable resolution: easily create videos at the preferred resolution so that it shows up on all screens.
4. Publish: publishing the vidoe to Youtube or your web site is a simple task.
5. Transitions: built in transitions (transitioning from one section or to anther topic) are really cool.
6. Creating a "table-of-contents" that link to parts of a video, for example a training video, is really a nice feature.
I can go on and on. This is a great product. Sure $300 is not cheap but you get what you pay for.
Results 1-6 of 6
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
Previous Versions:
