Video Capture Software

[landnrailroader]

I would like to run ORTS and record the video and sound on/with the screen. What do some of the techies on here recommend to do this that does not cost an arm and a leg. I am the program director for my local (N. Florida) chapter of NRHS and I have done several routes. The particular route of interest would be to record the Olympian Hiawatha from about St. Regis, MT to Avery, ID. That is the portion over the well known St. Paul pass, which would take about an hour.

Jerry Sullivan

[ossie]

I'm no techie Jerry but I've messed around with 2 different ways of making ORTS videos. If you have an NVIDIA graphics card in your machine, NVIDIA has its own built in recording software called ShadowPlay. The other one I've used is Bandicam. You can download it and run it for free to trial it. They have a watermark on the screen and (probably) limitations around the length of a video you can create on the free version but you'll still get a good idea of whether it is worth buying or not.

[pjgorski]

I'm no expert but I have used OBS Studio to capture video and sound from the screen. I haven't tried it with OR but I don't see what it wouldn't work. To go along with that I found Shotcut which is a video editing package that I think works quite nicely if you are up to learning how to use it. There are a number of YouTube video tutorials for that program. Both are freeware.

Maybe that can work for you.

Paul 😊

[derekmorton]

I use a freeware package called Fraps, It had done everything I need.

[kapitaen]

On my Windows 11 computer, there are two ways to record the screen using built-in tools.

Snipping Tool via Windows+Shift+R
Xbox Game Bar via Windows+G

Jan

[jdgremsjr]

I have used OBS to screen capture Open rails. Once you learn how to use it, it is quite easy to use. It is free and that is a very good price.

[scottb613]

Hi Jerry,

As previously mentioned, if you have an NVIDIA video card, it includes a built‑in
video capture tool — ShadowPlay. Pressing Alt+Z usually brings it up if the
GeForce suite is installed.

• Only works with NVIDIA GPUs
• Hardware‑accelerated capture
• Low performance impact
• Great for long recording sessions

If you need to edit your saved video, Microsoft Clipchamp is FREE, intuitive,
and does a solid job for quick cuts and cleanup.

• Built‑in Windows video editor
• Screen + webcam recorder
• Fast drag‑and‑drop timeline
• AI noise removal + auto captions
• Text‑to‑speech voiceovers
• Templates for quick social clips
• Exports up to 1080p free

https://clipchamp.com

While not for Train Sims - here is my best attempt at a production video made with both free products:

Regards,
Scott

[landnrailroader]

I don't have an Invidia card. Got the other brand and when it would not handle MSTS, I switched to the onboard video. I have heard of FRAPS, I'll try that. I have NERO but it costs about $50 a year to use it, so I would like to dump it for something less expensive.

Looks like FRAPS is almost dead. I tried using the game bar in Win-11 and that did great except for one thing. Hitting the space bar to sound the horn, turns off the recording?

Jerry

[oper190]

Jerry - I have an App for screen recording called FonePaw Screen Recorder. Can download a free version to try out, which will only save one video in .wav format in it's folders, so have to move it somewhere else before recording another or it get's over written. Did not seem to have a time limit for recording. The pay for version offers multiple video formats, can set a record timer so it stops after the set time, can select full screen or partial screen recording, will store as many videos as you want, and wasn't to costly.

Edit - Just looked it up, is now called Vidmore Screen Recorder.

[landnrailroader]

Thanks Geary. I believe the game version built into Win-11 will do it, the only problem being to avoid tooting the horn. I also downloaded another free one that was recommended and I will try it. I didn't want to spend much $ on one because I am not into activities and prefer to just create new routes. I had plenty of "activity" time during wildcat strikes on the SR back in the late 60s, early 70s, 1:1 scale activity that is.

Jerry

[SD40-2]

I would suggest using OBS. It works quite well for ORTS one it is set up correctly. The shortcut keys can be reconfigured.

Quick recording for a different project. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Url...ew?usp=sharing

https://obsproject.com/

[pwillard]

I would also recommend OBS studio. Its just plain easy.

[pwillard]

I would also recommend OBS studio. Its just plain easy.

[ATGNKC39]

While more popular within the online video content creator space for video streaming, OBS Studio is mostly what the cool kids these days use for anything video capturing related.

Be it for desktop screen capture, game capture, or even sources from External Capture cards or Cameras, OBS handles it all, and all for the great great price of free.

Took me awhile to switch over from FRAPS to OBS after beepa stopped development in 2013, but as more and more games slowly started coming out which did not work or play nice with FRAPS anymore, the switch was inevitable and ever since then, I have not looked back at FRAPS anymore now that OBS is like my one swiss-army knife for all things recording related.