Index >> Frequently Asked Questions
Does Screen Mimic support audio?
YES! Screen Mimic 2.0 now allows you to record audio from your default input device, or you can insert audio from any QuickTime readable file.
How can I get a faster frame rate?
There are several things that you can do to achieve better frame rates. The most important is to limit the area of your screen that you are recording to just the size that you need. Also, make sure that you have shut down any memory or cpu intense applications that you don't need during recording.
How can I get a smaller file size?
First you can record a smaller area. For QuickTime (MOV) files, using different encoding formats can help. As a last resort, there are commercial applications that you can purchase to compress Flash (SWF) files.
What formats does Screen Mimic record to?
Screen Mimic 2.0 encodes to Flash (SWF) files and Flash Video (FLV) files. Screen Mimic also encodes to QuickTime (MOV) files using a variety of codecs, including H.264.
I created a Flash (SWF) file, but when I double click on it nothing happens.
Flash (SWF) files created by Screen Mimic require Flash Player 7 or higher. You can get the latest version from Adobe's Flash Player Download Site.
I created a Flash Video (FLV) file, but when I double click on it, nothing happens.
Flash Video (FLV) files cannot be played directly in Flash Player. They can be imported into the Macromedia Flash MX or higher authoring application, streamed from a Flash Video capable server, or optionally played using a standalone FLV player.
So what is the best way to use these FLV files then?
There are lots of possibilities, depending on your goals. See this article from Adobe for more information:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/flv_howto_03.html
I want to import the Flash file I created using the Flash authoring tool, but it doesn't work.
Only Flash Video (FLV) files can be imported in this fashion (not Flash (SWF) files). You must also use Flash MX 2004 or later.
The audio and video are out of sync in my recording, what can I do to prevent this?
Loss of A/V sync can by caused by several factors including:
1. Using a variable recording frame rate.
2. Recording a large area of the screen.
3. Trying to record while performing some other processor or disk-intense operation
4. Recording using an older system.
5. Combinations of the above.
Here are some tips for maintaining synchronization:
1. In the "Step 2: How to Record" screen, choose the "Maintain frame rate option" and set a frame rate at 15 or less. Frame rates higher than this are overkill for most screen capture use.
2. Try to minimize the area of the screen captured to exactly what you need and stop any processes that are processor or disk intensive.
3. If none of the above are possible, what a lot of people do is record a voice-over type audio track separately using an application like Apple's Garage Band or QuickTime and then add that to the recording using the "Audio Track from External File" option in the export recording screen. (You'll need to have saved your recording as a Screen Mimic Bundle (SMB) file so that you can reopen it later to add the audio track).
I have some other problem/question not answered here!
Send us an email and we'll be happy to help.