When it’s time to record a video, your first thought may be to take out your phone or grab a digital camera, but you can also record a video directly on your Mac. All MacBook and iMac models come with a dedicated webcam. It may not be of the best quality, but it can get the job done pretty well. Show Recording a video on a Mac with the webcam is quite simple, and there are plenty of apps you can use to do it. We’ve covered them all for you below. This is a guide on recording a video using your Mac’s webcam. If you’re looking to record the screen instead, check out our guide to how to make a Mac screen recording. Preparing to Record a VideoBefore you set out to record your video, you must make sure your system is fully prepared to do so. The most vital element, in this case, is a webcam. All MacBook and iMac models released since 2006 have webcams built-in, so as long as yours is working, there shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you’re using a Mac mini, Mac Pro, or Mac Studio, you’ll need to purchase an external webcam as an add-on. If you don’t already have one, be sure to check out our guide on the best webcams you can buy. In addition, you may also be able to use an external camera, such as a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, to record your video (which might require a bit of extra expertise to set up). Apart from the camera, you should also follow our home video tips to make sure you set up the surrounding scene. You should have plenty of light facing you, you shouldn’t be backlit (for example, with a window behind you), and there shouldn’t be any excessive background noise. Once everything is set up, you can start recording a video on your Mac. There are a couple of options that you can use to record this, we’ve covered them below. 1. Record a Video Using Photo BoothThe first app you can use to record a video on your Mac is using Photo Booth. All Macs come with Photo Booth pre-installed, which allows you to take photos and videos using your webcam. The main advantage of using Photo Booth is that it doesn’t flip your video horizontally, unlike QuickTime Player. Another benefit is that it allows you to apply various effects to your video recording. While these are quite amusing, chances are that they won’t be of any use in a professional video. Still, it’s nice to know that you have the option. To use Photo Booth to record a video:
That’s it! You can also monitor the amount of time recorded in the bottom-left corner of your screen while recording. Also, note that your recording time is limited by the amount of free storage available on your Mac. 2. Record a Video Using QuickTime PlayerYou can also record a video on your Mac using QuickTime Player. QuickTime is Apple’s native app for video playback. However, it also offers loads of additional options, including the ability to record a video using your webcam. To record a video using QuickTime Player:
3. Record a Video Using iMovieOur third option to record a video on your Mac is using iMovie. As iMovie is a slightly more complicated app compared to the other two we’ve mentioned, we only recommend this if you’re looking to heavily edit your video after you’ve finished recording it. iMovie is also a good option if you’re importing your video into a larger project. iMovie isn’t installed on Macs by default, but it’s free to download from the Mac App Store. Once that’s done, you can record from your Mac’s webcam directly into iMovie using the steps below:
That’s it! As you can see, the process is a bit more complex with iMovie, but it is really helpful if you’re creating a larger video (such as a documentary) and only want to record a small clip for it. 4. Record Using Third-Party AppsFortunately, Apple’s apps do such a good job recording videos that you shouldn’t need to use a third-party app. But if you’re looking for more powerful recording software, we recommend you check out OBS Studio for recording your screen and webcam. It can be very useful if you’re looking to create a video guide or a live stream. Should You Switch to a More Professional Setup?Recording videos using a Mac’s webcam is perfectly good for short videos, but if you are aiming for professional recordings, or creating videos for a content series, it may be worth either investing in a better webcam or an external camera to record your videos. Doing this will not only allow you to improve the quality of your recording, but it should give you more flexibility over different camera settings, including exposure, audio control, and more. How do I record a video of my screen on my Mac?Record your screen in QuickTime Player on Mac. In the QuickTime Player app on your Mac, choose File > New Screen Recording to open Screenshot and display the tools. ... . Click Record.. How do I record myself on QuickTime?Recording yourself with QuickTime. Launch QuickTime and choose File/New Movie Recording. ... . Click the red “Record” icon.. Record your lecture.. Click the black “Stop” icon.. Save your recording.. If desired, trim the beginning and end of your video, then upload your video to Ensemble, Reed's media server.. |