Considerations for Narrative Demonstrations

When creating narrative demonstrations, you might consider two different approaches. For simple demonstrations, you may be able to narrate the demo as you perform it. For more complex demos, you may have a problem narrating in real time, as you perform the task using the keyboard and mouse.

Record Everything at Once

Using this method, you record each recording source in a single session – simultaneously recording the display, camera video, microphone audio, and computer audio. When you are done recording, you can use the editing tools to finalize your screencast.

For example, you might start a presentation recording your display, then cut to a Picture-in-Picture of your camera recording, as you demonstrate the application. Later, you fade out your video, leaving only the audio to narrate the remaining moments of the screencast.

This method is considered a single-pass production. It works well when your subject matter is simple, straightforward, or short. For longer or more complex project, you may find the second approach more comfortable.

First Record Your Monitor, Then Add Narration

Using this method, you first record the display (with or without computer audio), demonstrating your application or subject matter without any video or voice-over.

When you have finished your demonstration, you can record your camera and microphone sources while playing the video preview of your demonstration in ScreenFlow. This can be done in a single long recording or several short recordings.

You can then edit your recordings to align your narration with your demonstration or fade your camera recording in and out when appropriate.

This workflow is effective when the screencast involves a series of complex mouse or keyboard operations, or you have several comprehensive steps or tasks to achieve, each of which take some effort to produce.