How to do Screencast in Ubuntu using SimpleScreenRecorder

This tutorial will show how to install a very popular screencasting software available in Ubuntu. Named “simplescreenrecorder”, this software can be used to record audio and desktop activity together and output a video file for your use.

This article is tested and updated for latest Ubuntu release – Ubuntu 20.04.

Table of Contents

Simplescreenrecorder Feature Highlights

Simple 3 step process to record with an awesome GUI with all tooltip help (which is great as you don’t need to go through all the manuals)
Save your options as profiles for multiple uses
Option to record the entire desktop, fixed rectangle portion
Option to record by following the mouse cursor
Frame Rate modifications
Turn on/off of recording of the cursor
Auto-detection of audio drivers
Custom bit rate input for both audio and video
File Types / Codecs supported

mkv	MP4	WebM	OGG
avi	avm2	cavsvideo	crc
dirac	dnxhd	dv	dvd
ffm	filmstrip	flv	framecrc
framemd5	gif	gxf	h261
h263	h264	hls	image2
image2pipe	ipod	ismv	ivf
m4v	matroska	md5	mjpeg
mov	mp3	mpeg	mpeg1video
mpeg2video	mpegts	mpjpeg	mxf
mxf_d10	ogg	psp	rawvideo
rcv	rm	roq	rtp
vob	swf	vcd	smjpeg

How to install simplescreenrecorder in Ubuntu, Linux Mint

Open a terminal and run the below commands in sequence to install from official PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:maarten-baert/simplescreenrecorder sudo add-get update sudo apt-get install simplescreenrecorder

How to Use

After installation, open dash and type “simplescreenrecorder” or from Gnome menu, Applications => Sound & Video => SimpleScreenRecorder

Screenshot of SSR in Action

Below sample settings can be used to record the desktop and also record the playing audio from your PC.

Troubleshooting and Support

If you face any issues while installing or using simplescreenrecorder, you may drop a note using the comment section at the end of this article, Or you can post your query in any of the support channels mentioned below.