Filed under: Audio, Software, Video, Odds and ends
Capture Skype video calls with SkypeCap for Mac 3.0
Earlier in the week TUAW reported on the release of Skype 2.8, which allows screen sharing and now provides better video calls as well. There are many different ways of capturing Skype audio & video -- we use eCamm's CallRecorder to record the TUAW Talkcast every week, for example -- but there are other ways to tackle video recording. I use my favorite screen capture application, Snapz Pro X from Ambrosia Software, to nab Skype videos now, but I find that if I bring up other screens while I'm capturing, I end up ruining the video.The recently released SkypeCap for Mac 3.0 is able to capture both audio and video chats from Skype, and since it taps into the Skype video stream you can open other windows on your Mac without capturing them as well. The application also converts the captured video into a number of formats, including MP4, .swf, and .flv.
If you're in the market for a Skype audio/video recorder, you may want to look at SkypeCap. However, the price tag (US$49.95) of the application is a bit out of line for what it does. CallRecorder also captures Skype video at a third of the price (US$14.95), and has a good reputation as a solid program.
Do you capture Skype video calls? If so, what's your favorite Mac application for grabbing them? Leave a comment below.
Update: Looks like we jumped the gun on this one. Version 2.1 is the only version available for purchase and download at this time.
[via MacTech News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kakapo said 1:53PM on 7-22-2009
I have used Call Recorder and it is rock solid!
Period!
Cheers...
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Big Ray said 1:58PM on 7-22-2009
I have heard people use WireTap to do it.
http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/wiretap/
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vivek venugopal said 2:26PM on 7-22-2009
audacity works too if you want to capture audio :)
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Andrew said 2:39PM on 7-22-2009
I use ScreenFlow to capture Audio and Video, it works incredibly well - and to spruce up my Skype Video stream - I use native screen sharing inside Skype for Mac and feed the video into Boinx TV.. there is a bit of set up but it adds a WOW factor to a Skype call.
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Steve said 4:08PM on 8-21-2009
I need to do online video interviews where the finished product (the video) will show both of our talking heads side by side during the interview. I also need it so that the process is super easy for the person I'm interviewing.
Is this the way the process would work using Ecamm's Call Recorder OR SkypeCap for Mac?
1) I call their computer using Skype.
2) They turn on their web cam so I can see their happy face on my desktop.
3) I turn on Ecamm (or SkypeCap) so I can record both the audio and the video.
Is that correct?
Since I will have their face on my desktop during the interview (because they will have their web cam turned on), how do I get my face on the video side by side with their head? Is that where I would use Screenflow or Camtasia (out the 25th) with my web cam turned on to record my desktop?
Thank you very much.
Steve
JoeUK said 3:04PM on 7-22-2009
$50 for capturing a bit of video off skype.
Holly BALLS!!
This is the very reason why people pirate software. Screw you SkypeCap!!
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Galley said 3:08PM on 7-22-2009
Is that Mike from Monsters, Inc.?
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iLikeMyiPhone said 3:46PM on 7-22-2009
Hey Steve, do you get paid to review certain software? Why do you write about software that is so pricey and particularly when there exists a cheaper alternative?
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mentalsticks said 4:07PM on 7-22-2009
I've been wondering about that, too. Steve reviews a totally haphazard selection of softwares, almost never mentions better/cheaper alternatives and never talks about any downsides. This is not journalism, this is advertising -- whether it's paid or unpaid.
bward74 said 5:16PM on 7-22-2009
Wondering the same thing
Michael Rose said 6:35PM on 7-22-2009
Did you guys skip the first paragraph where he explicitly talks about alternatives? Just wondering. What about the part at the end where he says it's too expensive? OK, maybe you missed that too.
For what it's worth, we often discuss apps where there is "a less expensive alternative" and no, Steve isn't getting a kickback from any developers. Just because Microsoft Office is pricey doesn't mean we are obligated to avoid covering it in favor of OpenOffice or iWork.
Dano said 3:47PM on 7-22-2009
Sorry for being such a fuddy-duddy, but can you better distinguish between "Mac 3.0" and iPhone 3.0? It's a recent trend, and it's annoying as hell. Please? Thanks.
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Jeff said 4:43PM on 7-22-2009
The application is called SkypeCap for Mac 3.0 as in the software's name is "SkypeCap for Mac" and the version is 3.0, not SkypeCap, for Mac 3.0. This isn't 1986.
Andrew Warner said 5:00PM on 7-22-2009
Steven, a big part of my work involves recording Skype calls. (I interview entrepreneurs via Skype for Mixergy.com)
I found that CallRecorder's video is often out of sync with the audio. I'd love a replacement program.
Right now, I use ScreenFlow (which I found on this site) to record my whole screen. it's inefficient, but it's the best I have for now.
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Mana said 4:46AM on 7-23-2009
Interesting that this product appears to 'steal' open source code and is listed in the FFMpeg 'hall of shame'
http://ffmpeg.org/shame.html
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Michael said 8:12AM on 7-23-2009
I use WireTap Studio. You can do a heck of a lot more captures than just Skype. Plus, the library is a great organizer and it has a built-in editor.
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