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Beginner's Guide to Using the Panopto Screen Recorder

Sumia Rafique
Sumia Rafique Originally published Dec 04, 24, updated Dec 30, 24

Panopto screen recorder is an excellent free screen recorder without a watermark with a user-friendly interface, seamless navigation, and amazing features that can help you streamline content creation and sharing. With Panopto, you can capture your computer screen from your browser in Ultra HD quality without downloading or installing any software.

Today, we'll explore everything about the Panopto screen recorder and we'll also recommend the best alternative to Panopto to help you make an informed decision.

In this article

The Difference Between Panopto Capture and Panopto Express

Panotop Express is a free online screen and video recorder, which is best for quick and simple screen recording. You can download your recordings without watermarks and share them on online platforms like Google Classroom and YouTube.

Panopto Capture, on the other hand, involves a more professional approach to screen recording. However, you need to pay for it to have a licensed Panopto account. Usually, it offers higher quality, complex video recording with multiple cameras, live streamings, and more.

Screen Recording Capabilities of Panopto Express Screen Recorder

The Panopto free online screen recorder packs impressive recording capabilities.

  • Audio – capture your microphone audio only.
  • Video – capture your webcam.
  • Screens and apps – choose from three screen recording options (Entire Screen, Target Window, or Chrome Tab). Record screens in standard definition, high definition, or ultra HD.
  • Video layout options - record with tile and picture in picture mode.
  • Change video background - either use the default background, blur it, or add a virtual background you prefer.
  • Smart camera feature - enables the Smart Camera feature to automatically track and follow the speaker's face or your own.

How to Record Your Screen Using Panopto Express Screen Recorder

Recording your screen with a Panopto Express free screen recorder is as simple as possible.

Here are the steps:

  1. Go to the official Panopto Express website and click Use it now.
    panopto express screen recorder website
  2. Configure your audio and video settings by clicking the Audio and Video tabs. Navigate to Screens and Apps. Select the screen you wish to capture. In addition, check the Also Share system audio tab to include system audio in your screen recording. Click the screen, window, or tab you wish to capture and select Share.
    panopto express screen recording mode
  3. Click the red REC button to start recording. Alternatively, you can select Settings and make the necessary adjustments to the screen recording, video layout, background, and other settings.
    panopto express screen recording settings
  4. Once you're finished, click the red Stop button to stop recording. You can either download the video or share it with others.
    download your screen recording in panopto

Pros and Cons of Panopto Express Screen Recorder

panopto express screen recorder pros cons

The Panopto Express free online video recorder simplifies video creation by allowing you to capture online screen and video recordings with a few clicks. However, it's not perfect. Let's briefly summarize its advantages and shortcomings.

Pros
  • It is free without watermarks.
  • It supports blurring the background or uploading your wage to be a background while recording.
  • It provides a smart camera.
Cons
  • No advanced recording options such as schedule recordings, change frame rate, capture phone screen, etc.
  • Free users can only download recordings in a royalty-free WebM format.
  • Requires stable internet connection or WiFi network.
  • It lacks AI audio/video editing features.

A Better Alternative to Panopto Screen Recorder: Wondershare Filmora

Panopto is an excellent screen recording option when you want to capture your desktop screen or a YouTube video. However, it has limited screen recording and audio/video editing options.

If editing plays a critical role in your video creation journey, we recommend opting for a professional video recorder and editor like Wondershare Filmora.

Try it free
Try it free

With Filmora, you can capture your computer screen, webcam, system audio, and microphone simultaneously. The software lets you modify screen recording settings according to your specific needs.

Here's a quick comparison table to help you compare the two screen recorders.

Screen Recorder Wondershare Filmora Panopto
Automatic Stop Recording Yes No
Unlimited Screen Recordings Yes Yes
Select video format Yes No
Change frame rate Yes No
Audio/video effects Yes No
Unlimited track editing Yes No
Motion tracking Yes Yes
Advanced text editing Yes No

Unique Capabilities of Wondershare Filmora

  • Multiple recording modes (screen recording, webcam, microphone, system audio).
  • Customizing and exporting recordings to 18+ different file formats, and you can select the frame rate, video quality, and resolution.
  • 100+ advanced and AI-powered video editing features to improve your editing efficiency.
  • 2.3M+ visual assets such as templates, animations, filters, stickers, transitions, effects, and more.
  • Scheduling a record timer to finish recording automatically.
  • Showing mouse clicks in different colors while recording.

How to Use the Filmora Screen Recorder

Recording your screen with Filmora is a straightforward process. Download and install Filmora on your computer, then follow the steps below to capture your computer screen.

  1. Launch Filmora and navigate to Create Project > Screen Recorder.
    select screen recorder in wondershare filmora
  2. In the Wondershare Screen Recorder window, specify the preferred video orientation and resolution. You can capture the Target Window, Custom, or Full Screen. In addition, adjust the length and width manually to customize the recording area or select the preferred aspect ratio.
    select screen recording resolution in filmora
  3. Select your screen recording mode and enable webcam, system audio, and microphone recording if you wish to add your voice, face, and background music to your screen recording.
  4. Ensure your microphone and webcam are connected to your computer if you wish to add your voice and facecam.
    multiple recording modes in wondershare filmora
  5. Next, expand the Settings panel and modify the recording settings such as frame rate, video quality, save folder, countdown, etc.
    screen recording settings in wondershare filmora
  6. Once you've customized the rest of the screen recording settings according to your preferences, click the red REC button to start recording your computer screen. You'll see a small bar with screen recording controls like Pause and Stop. Hit Stop to stop recording.
    start recording in wondershare filmora
  7. Click Export to export and save your screen recording.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the difference between Panopto Express and Panopto Capture, the Ponopto screen recorder's capability, and how to use it to record screens online for free.

Aside from sheer convenience, the Panopto Express free recorder doesn't include any limitations or restrictions that normally come with free software. You can use it without any recording restrictions or time limits.

However, if you prefer a screen recorder with more video editing features to enhance the recording, the Panopto screen recorder may not be a good choice, we suggest you try its best alternative - Wondershare Filmora.

Try it free
Try it free

FAQs

  • What is the Panopto screen recorder?
    Panopto is a versatile, cross-platform screen recorder with online and offline recording capabilities. You can use it online or on your computer, according to your preferences.
    With Panopto, you can record multiple screens in Ultra HD quality, capture multiple cameras, add system and microphone audio to your recordings, swap backgrounds, turn your webcam into a motion tracker, etc.
  • Is Panopto a desktop screen recorder?
    Panopto has software installation versions for Windows and Mac desktop computers. But its online Panopto express screen recorder is more popular among users.
  • Is Panopto Express a free screen recorder?
    Yes, Panopto Express is a free online screen recorder you can use in your web browser without creating an account or installing any plugins. In addition, Panopto Express has no watermarks and time limits.
Sumia Rafique
Sumia Rafique Dec 30, 24
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