How to Easily Record Your Screen on Ubuntu with SimpleScreenRecorder

Recording your screen is a handy way to create tutorials, product demos, gameplay videos, and more. But sifting through the many screen recorder options for Linux can be confusing. In this guide, I‘ll show you how to install and use SimpleScreenRecorder on Ubuntu for frustration-free screen recording.

Why Choose SimpleScreenRecorder for Ubuntu Screen Recording

SimpleScreenRecorder is widely regarded as the best screen recording software for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. Here‘s why it stands out:

• Open source and completely free
• Available in the standard Ubuntu repositories – no need to download and install a DEB package
• Actively developed and maintained
• Reliable recording and excellent output quality
• Intuitive interface with abundant options
• Lower performance impact compared to other options

I‘ve tested SimpleScreenRecorder extensively and highly recommend it for all your Ubuntu screen recording needs.

Installing SimpleScreenRecorder on Ubuntu

Installing SimpleScreenRecorder is quick and easy thanks to Ubuntu‘s package manager. Just follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal app
2. Add the SimpleScreenRecorder PPA repository:

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:maarten-baert/simplescreenrecorder
   

3. Update your package lists:

   sudo apt update
   

4. Install SimpleScreenRecorder:

   sudo apt install simplescreenrecorder
   

And that‘s it! SimpleScreenRecorder is now installed and ready to use. You‘ll find it in your desktop Applications menu.

Configuring SimpleScreenRecorder for Ubuntu Screen Recording

Before you start recording, it‘s best to configure SimpleScreenRecorder to suit your needs. Here‘s a walkthrough of the key options:

Choosing a Video Input Source

SimpleScreenRecorder provides a few options for the video input:

• Record the entire screen – Captures everything visible on your desktop
• Record a fixed rectangle – Define a specific region to record
• Follow the cursor – Keeps the recording area centered around your mouse cursor
• Record OpenGL – For recording 3D applications that use OpenGL, like games

The whole screen input is best for recording software tutorials, the fixed rectangle is handy for only capturing application windows, and follow cursor keeps the focus on where the action is happening.

Choosing Video and Audio Codecs

For video, H.264 provides great quality and compression. The ultrafast preset maximizes performance.

FLAC is an excellent lossless codec for audio – it produces high quality sound while keeping files sizes reasonable.

Output Settings

Here you can set the folder where recorded video files will be saved, along with the desired file format. MP4 and MKV are commonly used.

With the configuration complete, click Continue to start recording!

Recording Your Ubuntu Desktop with SimpleScreenRecorder

When you first launch SimpleScreenRecorder after install, you‘ll be greeted with this screen:

Click the Start recording button, then minimize the SimpleScreenRecorder window and go about your business – it will quietly record in the background.

The recording controls allow you to pause and resume whenever needed. Once finished, click Save recording and your video file will be saved to disk.

It doesn‘t get much easier than that!

Tips for Smooth Screen Recording

Here are a few tips for avoiding issues and achieving better results when using SimpleScreenRecorder:

• Use a high quality, high bitrate codec like H.264 to maintain details
• Record at 1080p resolution or 720p for an easier workflow
• Adjust settings to strike a balance between video quality and file size
• Pause non-essential background programs and notifications during recording
• Test different frame rates to determine the best option for your content

Let me know in the comments if you have any other Ubuntu screen recording questions!