HOW-TO: Make a screencast with KXStudio

[falkTX]

hey guys, I'll be soon making some KXStudio related screencasts, so I've updated my auto-rec scripts to work in KXStudio 12.04.
This only works in KXStudio 12.04 and KDE (which I use) EDIT: now works with XFCE too. Other DEs can be supported if you know how to start them via command-line (PM me if interested in working on that).
Make sure your system is fully up-to-date before proceeding.

First, install the scripts:

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sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends kxstudio-scripts

Now, open 2 separate terminals or tabs (Yakuake is very useful here).
On the first terminal, run:

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xrec_1 kde4

^That will create a new X window with 1280x720 resolution (ideal for Youtube 720p videos). Apps opened in this new X window will be shown inside it. You should fiddle with this setup a bit to get used to it.
This first script will also kill your current desktop. Don't worry, you'll get it back afterwards. Alt+Tab will still work as usual, use that to change windows.
You shouldn't close this new X window. Still, if you do, use Alt+F2 and run "plasma-desktop" to get the desktop back.

Now on a different terminal, run:

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xrec_2

^That will start the actual recording. jack-capture is used for audio recording, so you'll see it on the jack graph (auto-connecting itself to any audio ports that output sound to your speakers).
When done recording, press Ctrl+C on this terminal window.
The audio and video will be splitted, saved in ~/Screencasts using current date and time in their filenames.
To do a new recording, just run "xrec_2" again as many times as you need.

When done, press Ctrl+C in the first terminal window.

I use kdenlive to do any final editing. kdenlive's Youtube presets suck though, but there are some good ones available to install directly in "settings" -> "download new render profiles". Make sure to set project profile to some 720p variant before pressing render.


Here's a demo video I just made:
http://youtu.be/JW4nWf4gvXE

(Many thanks to AutoStatic for the initial scripts that made this possible!)

[briandc]

I've thought about doing a screencast. But I'm using XFCE. Any suggestions? (I've never made one before, but it would definitely be worth the try..)

brian

[falkTX]

I've thought about doing a screencast. But I'm using XFCE. Any suggestions? (I've never made one before, but it would definitely be worth the try..)

brian

For that we need to know the exact CLI commands that start the XFCE stuff.
I know the Window manager is "xfwm4", but what about the desktop? does it need to run a separate app for the panel?

if you know a bit about bash scripts, you can just edit the x_rec1 script and add there XFCE4 support.
the xfce section would be something like:

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start_screen_xfce4 () {
# start XFCE
xfce-desktop &
xfce-panel &
xfwm4
# wait for ctrl+c here
}


^that of course won't work, it's just to give the base idea.

[wolftune]

Works great!
http://youtu.be/IusGRX7rjSM

I was frustrated, however, that I couldn't get kdenlive to do screen recording directly. It had some error.
I would like to do more advanced screencasting that zooms in on certain sections of the screen.

Anyway, always more to learn. And I hope to eventually do more and create more KXStudio how-to stuff!

Cheers!

[falkTX]

Works great!
http://youtu.be/H5BBUWYnT0o

I was frustrated, however, that I couldn't get kdenlive to do screen recording directly. It had some error.
I would like to do more advanced screencasting that zooms in on certain sections of the screen.

Anyway, always more to learn. And I hope to eventually do more and create more KXStudio how-to stuff!

Cheers!

nice, I'm glad the script is useful
I agree that a tool for screen-zomming would be great to have. I know compiz had a plugin like that (meta + mouse-wheel would zoom on the screen).

[wolftune]

Whoops, typo. Had to rerender and reupload:
http://youtu.be/IusGRX7rjSM

[wolftune]

nice, I'm glad the script is useful
I agree that a tool for screen-zomming would be great to have. I know compiz had a plugin like that (meta + mouse-wheel would zoom on the screen).

Actually, KDE has a zoom function in the desktop effects. I played with it a while before. I guess I could see about just using that…!

[carlos]

Hi, I'm a very happy user of KXstudio. Today I'm testing these great scripts for screencasting. if anyone is interested, I added xrec_1 options for using LXDE and Lubuntu. Also for Mate DE http://mate-desktop.org/, but there is a problem with the mouse cursor that I don't know how to solve, I don't know anything about programming, so if anyone wants to try and correct what may be wrong ...

Using Lubuntu or LXDE works fine for me.
Thanks a lot and sorry about my english.
Cheers.

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#!/bin/bash

# all dependencies:
# $ sudo apt-get install xserver-xephyr libav-tools jack-capture xterm

init_screen () {
# Set up nested X server
Xephyr -keybd ephyr,,,xkbmodel=evdev -br -reset -screen 1280x720x24 -dpi 96 :2 &
sleep 3
}

start_screen_gnome2 () {
# set environment
export DISPLAY=:2.0

# start Gnome
gnome-panel &
nautilus

# wait for ctrl+c here
export DISPLAY=:0
}


start_screen_mate () {
# set environment
export DISPLAY=:2.0

# start Mate
mate-panel &
caja

# wait for ctrl+c here
export DISPLAY=:0
}

start_screen_kde4 () {
# set environment
export DISPLAY=:2.0
export KWIN_COMPOSE=N

# kill current desktop, only 1 instance allowed
killall plasma-desktop plasma-desktop.kde4

# start KDE
plasma-desktop
kwin

# wait for ctrl+c here, restore desktop
export DISPLAY=:0
plasma-desktop
}

start_screen_xfce4 () {
# set environment
export DISPLAY=:2.0

# kill current panel, only 1 instance allowed
killall xfce4-panel

# start XFCE
xfce4-panel &
xfdesktop &
xfwm4

# wait for ctrl+c here, restore desktop
export DISPLAY=:0
xfce4-panel &
}

start_screen_lubuntu () {
# set environment
export DISPLAY=:2.0

# kill current panel, only 1 instance allowed
#killall lxpanel

# start LUBUNTU
startlubuntu

# wait for ctrl+c here, restore desktop
export DISPLAY=:0
}

start_screen_lxde () {
# set environment
export DISPLAY=:2.0

# kill current panel, only 1 instance allowed
#killall lxpanel

# start LXDE
startlxde

# wait for ctrl+c here, restore desktop
export DISPLAY=:0
}

case $1 in
  gnome2|-gnome2|--gnome2)
init_screen
start_screen_gnome
  ;;

  mate|-mate|--mate)
init_screen
start_screen_mate
  ;;

  kde4|-kde4|--kde4)
init_screen
start_screen_kde4
  ;;

  xfce4|-xfce4|--xfce4)
init_screen
start_screen_xfce4
  ;;

  lubuntu|-lubuntu|--lubuntu)
init_screen
start_screen_lubuntu
  ;;

  lxde|-lxde|--lxde)
init_screen
start_screen_lxde
  ;;

  *)
echo "usage: xrec_1 <DE>

DE can be:
    -gnome2     Gnome2 session
    -mate     Mate session
    -kde4       KDE4 session
    -xfce4      XFCE4 session
    -lubuntu      LUBUNTU session
    -lxde      LXDE session
"
  ;;

esac


[briandc]

Falk,

I'd like to try my hand at making a screencast of mx44, using XFCE (you wrote above that this is possible now). After I add the scripts, what commands do I use?

Thanks,
brian

[falkTX]

Falk,

I'd like to try my hand at making a screencast of mx44, using XFCE (you wrote above that this is possible now). After I add the scripts, what commands do I use?

The scripts are already packaged in KXStudio (and updated), just install 'kxstudio-scripts'.

Just follow the steps on the first post, using 'xrec_1 xfce4' instead of kde4.

[briandc]

The scripts are already packaged in KXStudio (and updated), just install 'kxstudio-scripts'.

Just follow the steps on the first post, using 'xrec_1 xfce4' instead of kde4.

Ok, thanks. I'm crossing my fingers!

brian

[briandc]

I also need to know:

you wrote that the audio and video are saved separately. Do I have to load them into kdenlive (or similar) and sync them together manually? (I was hoping I'd have a finished product automatically.)


brian

[falkTX]

you wrote that the audio and video are saved separately. Do I have to load them into kdenlive (or similar) and sync them together manually? (I was hoping I'd have a finished product automatically.)

The audio and video will only be un-synced by a few ms. If you have a very good CPU it might actually be none...

you can zoom in kdenlive and adjust the minor delay if needed, should be easy enough.

[wolftune]

brian, be happy with the need to use kdenlive! You will find that there are lots of easy places to take a minute deleting useless gaps or just fine-tuning most of the time. It is worth it to preview in kdenlive before committing because you'll end up with a better result. That was my experience anyway.

[briandc]

Hi guys,

I had installed "Record it now" a while back, and after opening it earlier, it now won't leave me alone. I rebooted and it appeared after login!

If I remove it, it says that it will also remove "kxstudio meta all" and "kxstudio meta video" and install "record my desktop" instead.

What should I do?


brian