
Screen Recording
Let’s create a short little screen recording with Google Vids. You will need a Google account and the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browser in order to complete this activity. If you have any questions or get stuck as you work through this in-class exercise, please ask the instructor for assistance. Have fun!
- Using Google Vids
- Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge
- Navigate to Google Vids by clicking this link
- You will be prompted to sign in to your Google account if you’re not already signed in
- Once Google Vids has loaded, a pop-up window with several options will appear

- Click the option labelled Record
- If prompted, allow Google Vids to access your microphone and screen
- Good job! You are now ready to record your first screen recording
- Record your screen:
- Before you begin recording, open the program, website, or document you would like to demonstrate
- Go back to Google Vids and at the top of the screen, click Screen to start the screen recording process
- You will be prompted to choose what to share, such as a single browser tab, a window, or your entire screen
- Select the tab or window you chose to demonstrate and click the blue Share button
- Google Vids will count down from three seconds before it starts recording

- If you need to pause your recording, click the red pause button in the small recording window. When you are ready to continue, click the same button again to resume your recording
- When you are finished with your demonstration, click the pause button again to stop recording, then switch back to your Google Vids tab
- You can preview your video to make sure everything was captured correctly, or click Insert to add the recording to your project timeline and begin editing
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Edit your recording:
Trim your video
- Click on the video clip in the timeline
- Drag either end of the clip inward to remove unwanted footage from the begining or end of your video
Split a video clip
- Move the playhead, or click on the point in the timeline where you want to split your video
- In the menu bar at the top, click Scene, then select Split scene at playhead

- Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows) or Command + Shift + S (Mac)
- Your video will now be split into two separate clips that can be edited independently
Add transitions
- After splitting your clip, click the button located in between the two clips (Add transition button)
- A pop-up with various transition types will appear
- Select the transition you would like to use and choose the duration
Add background audio
- Click Insert in the menu bar at the top and select Upload
- Browse your computer and select the MP3 file you would like to add (You can also upload files from your drive by clicking Drive & Photos)

- Once uploaded, your audio will be added to the timeline, where you can adjust its placement and length
Add text and graphics
- Click Insert in the menu bar and select Text
- A pop-up with various text options will appear
- Select a text style that you like, then customize the font, size, colour, and formatting (such as bold or italic) to suit your video
- You can also add captions, shapes, images, icons, stickers, and other visual elements from the Insert menu
- Drag and resize the elements to position them where you would like them to appear
Crop your video
- Click on the video clip in the timeline, then click directly on the video preview
- In the toolbar at the top of the screen, click the Crop icon
- Drag the edges or corners of the crop box to adjust what is visible in your video
- Download your video to a file on your hard drive:
- Review your recording to make sure you are happy with the final result
- Click File in the top-left corner of the Google Vids window
- Hover over Download and select MP4 video
- Depending on the length of your recording, it may take a few moments for Google Vids to generate and download the MP4 file
- You can also export the video straight to your Google Drive
- Optional: Upload your finished video to YouTube
- Google Vids allows you to export your edited video directly to YouTube
- In the menu bar, click File, then select Export to YouTube
- Depending on the length of your video, it may take a few moments to export

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Once the export is complete, a pop-up will appear confirming that your video has been successfully exported. Click Open YouTube in the pop-up
- You will be taken directly to YouTube Studio, where you can edit your video’s title, description, thumbnail, visibility settings, and other details before publishing it

Great Job!
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