In today’s world, video calls and conferences have become a key part of work. Whether you’re discussing strategy with a team across the country, pitching to a client overseas, or brainstorming with a remote colleague, video conferencing has made collaboration seamless. But sometimes, just being present in a meeting isn’t enough. You need to revisit discussions, capture key points, or share meetings with those who couldn’t attend. This is where recording your video calls becomes essential.
Let’s dive into why recording video calls for work is important and explore the best software for the job.
Why Record Video Calls for Work?
Recording video calls and conferences is incredibly useful in many situations. Here are some common scenarios:
- Meeting Minutes: You won’t always catch every detail in a fast-paced meeting. Recording allows you to go back and ensure nothing important is missed.
- Client Presentations: Need to rewatch how a presentation went or share it with someone who couldn’t attend? Recordings can be invaluable.
- Team Training: Whether onboarding new team members or running training sessions, recorded calls can serve as a reference or training material for the future.
- Legal and Compliance Reasons: In industries where it’s vital to document conversations for legal reasons, having a recorded call can protect both your business and your clients.
- Feedback and Review: Recording brainstorming or creative sessions helps ensure that no brilliant idea is lost in the shuffle. You can review them later, take feedback, or refine ideas.
Now, let’s look at four excellent tools that can help you record video calls and conferences.
1. Clipify
Clipify is known as a free, automatic and user-friendly video editor, and it also excels in video recording for calls. The Screen Recording feature allows you to choose whether you need to capture the whole screen, the active window or a certain area. You can also record your webcam video, the microphone and your PC’s audio. Clipify is a versatile tool that not only allows you to record but also offers a suite of editing features, which is handy if you want to trim, enhance, or add graphics to your recorded meetings.
Pros:
- Easy to Use: Clipify’s interface is straightforward, making it accessible even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy.
- Built-in Editor: You can immediately edit your recordings, add captions, or cut out unnecessary parts.
- Affordable: Clipify offers a free version, and even the Pro version is budget-friendly compared to more complex software.
Cons:
- Limited to Basic Editing: While it’s great for simple edits, you won’t get advanced editing tools like motion tracking or 3D effects.
- No Mobile Support: Clipify is a desktop-only app, so you’ll need to transfer files from mobile if you often take meetings on your phone.
Ideal For: Small businesses, solopreneurs, or anyone who wants a simple, effective solution for recording and editing of video calls.
2. ApowerMirror
ApowerMirror takes a slightly different approach. It’s mainly a screen-mirroring app, allowing you to mirror your phone, tablet, or another device to your computer, but it also supports video recording. This is useful if you’re doing mobile-based video calls, like Zoom or Skype, and want to capture the session without relying on in-app recording features.
Pros:
- Cross-Device Compatibility: You can easily record from your mobile device or tablet by mirroring it to your desktop.
- Multiple Uses: It’s not just for video calls — you can also use ApowerMirror for live streaming, presentations, and mobile demos.
- Easy Sharing: The software allows you to save and share recordings effortlessly in various formats.
Cons:
- Lag Issues: Sometimes, there’s a noticeable lag when mirroring devices, especially if you’re working with older hardware.
- No Built-in Editing Tools: You’ll need separate software if you want to edit the recordings after.
Ideal For: Professionals who need to record calls and conferences from their mobile devices, especially if they need to display mobile interfaces or content.
3. Riverside
Riverside has become popular among podcasters and professionals who need high-quality, reliable video recording. This software is built specifically for recording high-definition audio and video locally, even while using a web-based interface for calls. It’s a fantastic choice if you care about audio/video quality and need professional recordings for later use.
Pros:
- Local Recording: Unlike most tools that record the video stream from the internet (which can result in poor quality), Riverside records directly on your device, ensuring high-quality output even if the connection is unstable.
- Separate Tracks: It records audio and video tracks separately for each participant, which is great if you need to clean up audio or edit visuals after the call.
- High-Quality Recording: Riverside delivers up to 4K video and uncompressed audio, making it ideal for professional content creation.
Cons:
- Higher Cost: With all its features, Riverside isn’t the cheapest option. It might be overkill for teams that don’t need super high-quality recordings.
- Requires Learning: It’s not as intuitive as some of the more basic software, so expect a learning curve.
Ideal For: Content creators, podcasters, and businesses that need professional-quality video and audio for high-stakes meetings or presentations.
4. RecMaster
RecMaster is designed for screen recording, and it handles video calls and conferences smoothly. It supports multiple recording modes, including full screen, specific window, and webcam-only recordings, making it versatile for different work needs. If you’re working with both presentations and direct meetings, this is a great tool to have.
Pros:
- Flexible Recording Options: You can choose to record the full screen, a particular app window, or just the webcam, which is useful if you need to focus on a specific part of the meeting.
- Easy Annotations: It offers basic annotation tools during recording, so you can highlight important points in real time.
- Good for Presentations: The ability to record presentations alongside video calls makes it a strong contender for business use.
Cons:
- Basic Editing: While it allows for simple edits like cutting and trimming, you’ll need another app for more complex edits.
- Not Free: Although it’s reasonably priced, RecMaster isn’t free, which might be a drawback for smaller teams or freelancers with tight budgets.
Ideal For: Businesses and professionals who need to record both meetings and presentations and want to annotate or highlight key points during recording.
Conclusion
Recording video calls and conferences is becoming more than just a convenience—it’s a necessity for many businesses today. Whether you’re looking to record for documentation, training, or presentation purposes, there are a variety of tools that can help you.
- Clipify is great if you want a simple, affordable solution with basic editing.
- ApowerMirror is your go-to if you work from mobile devices and need to mirror and record.
- Riverside is ideal for high-quality professional recordings and podcast-style content.
- RecMaster offers versatility for recording different types of work meetings, including presentations.
Choosing the right software depends on your specific needs and priorities, from ease of use to video quality. With the right tool in hand, you’ll be able to record, review, and share your meetings effortlessly.
