Sendspark Blog

How to Record Your Screen for Free: Complete Guide for Sales Teams

Written by Abe Dearmer | Feb 3, 2026 6:40:19 PM

Screen recording is a simple, cost-free way to improve sales outreach by creating product demos, personalized pitches, and walkthroughs. Tools like OBS Studio, Loom, and Screencast-O-Matic make it easy to record and share high-quality videos. Here’s how you can start:

  • OBS Studio: A free, open-source tool ideal for professional recordings. Best for detailed demos and tutorials.
  • Loom: Perfect for quick, personalized messages. Free plan allows up to 25 videos per user.
  • Screencast-O-Matic: Great for short presentations with editing options. Free plan includes 15-minute recordings.

What you’ll need:

  • A good microphone for clear audio
  • A webcam for a personal touch
  • Stable internet for uploads

Pro tip: Use tools like Sendspark to scale personalization by combining pre-recorded videos with custom intros. This approach boosts engagement and saves time.

Whether you’re showcasing software, following up after a meeting, or answering client questions, these tools help you communicate effectively without spending a dime.

Free Screen Recording Tools Comparison: OBS Studio vs Loom vs Screencast-O-Matic

Best FREE Screen Recording Software 2026 With No Watermarks

How to Use OBS Studio for Screen Recording

OBS Studio is a free, open-source tool designed for Windows 10/11, macOS 12.0+, and Linux. It’s a great option for sales teams looking to create professional screen recordings without spending a dime.

How to Download and Install OBS Studio

To get started, head over to obsproject.com and download OBS Studio. Here's how to install it based on your operating system:

  • Windows: Download the installer, run it, and follow the on-screen instructions.
  • Mac: Choose the version that matches your hardware (Intel or Apple Silicon). After downloading the .dmg file, drag the OBS icon into your Applications folder.
  • Linux (Ubuntu 24.04+): Use the official PPA by entering the following commands in your terminal:
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
    sudo apt install obs-studio
    

Make sure your system meets the basic requirements: at least 4 GB of RAM and a GPU that supports DirectX 10.1 (Windows) or OpenGL 3.3 (macOS/Linux). Once installed, open OBS Studio and run the Auto-Configuration Wizard under the Tools menu. According to the OBS Quick Start Guide:

"The Auto-Configuration Wizard optimizes OBS Studio for your needs, whether you're streaming fast-paced gameplay or recording high-fidelity video".

How to Set Up OBS Studio for Recording

Now that OBS Studio is installed, you can configure it to record your sales presentations. Start by creating a new scene (e.g., "Sales Demo"). Then, add your sources by clicking the "+" button in the Sources panel. Here’s how you can set it up:

  • Display Capture: Records your entire screen.
  • Window Capture: Focuses on a specific application, like your CRM or a slide deck.
  • Video Capture Device: Adds a webcam overlay, which you can resize and position.

Before hitting record, make sure your audio and video settings are good to go. Check the Audio Mixer to confirm your microphone is active. If it’s not picking up sound, go to Settings → Audio and manually select your microphone.

For high-quality recordings, adjust your video settings under Settings → Video:

Setting Value
Base Resolution 1920x1080
Output Resolution 1920x1080
Frame Rate 30 FPS
Video Bitrate 12,000 Kbps
Audio Sample Rate 48 kHz

This setup ensures your recordings are crisp and clear without generating overly large file sizes.

How to Record and Export Your Videos

Before diving into a full recording, run a quick 30-second test to ensure everything looks and sounds great. When you're ready, click Start Recording in the Controls panel. If you need to pause mid-recording - like during a loading screen or to gather your thoughts - use the Pause button to avoid creating multiple files. Once you're finished, simply hit Stop Recording to save your video.

How to Use Loom's Free Plan for Quick Recordings

Loom is a handy tool for sales teams looking to quickly record and share videos. With over 25 million users across 400,000 companies, it's widely used for prospecting videos and follow-ups. The free Starter plan lets each user create up to 25 videos.

How to Set Up a Free Loom Account

Getting started with Loom is straightforward. Head over to Loom.com and sign up using your email address. You can choose to install Loom as a Chrome extension or as a desktop app. The Chrome extension is perfect for quick browser recordings on Chrome, Edge, Opera, or Brave. If you’re after features like drawing tools or HD recording, the desktop app is the better choice and works on Mac (OSX 10.15+) or Windows (10/11).

Once installed, pick your recording mode: "Screen and Camera", "Screen Only", or "Camera Only." Before you start, double-check that your microphone is active to ensure clear audio.

How to Record and Share Videos with Loom

Recording with Loom is a breeze. Using the desktop app, click Record, select your capture mode (full screen, a specific window, or a custom area), adjust your audio and camera settings, and hit Start Recording. When you’re done, click Stop - your video is automatically uploaded to your Loom library.

For the Chrome extension, click the Loom icon, choose your recording mode, and hit Start Recording after a three-second countdown. To stop, click the red square button. A shareable link is automatically copied to your clipboard, making it easy to share via email, social media, or even embed in tools like Slack or Google Docs. The free plan also includes basic editing tools, like trimming and stitching clips together. For smooth video uploads, Loom recommends an internet speed of at least 5 Mbps. These simple steps make Loom an excellent choice for capturing quick sales updates and personalized follow-ups.

When to Use Loom for Sales

Loom’s fast recording and sharing features can improve sales communication by adding a personal, timely touch. It’s great for personalized prospect introductions, helping you showcase your personality and build rapport before a call. After meetings, instead of drafting a lengthy email, record a short Loom video to outline next steps.

For product demos, the "Screen and Camera" mode is ideal. It allows you to walk prospects through your software while keeping your video visible in a picture-in-picture format - something static screenshots just can’t replicate. Loom is also perfect for asynchronous communication within your team, letting you share updates or feedback without scheduling yet another meeting. Katie Burke, Chief People Officer at HubSpot, summed it up well:

"Loom allows me to connect more personally with people without having to do 75 different one-on-one calls, which is just impossible at scale."

How to Use Screencast-O-Matic for Sales Presentations

ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) simplifies the process of recording sales presentations. With more than 200 million videos created on the platform and an impressive rating of 4.6/5 from 4,516 reviews, it’s a go-to tool for sales teams. By creating a free account, you can access additional features to enhance your presentations.

How to Create a Free Screencast-O-Matic Account

Getting started is easy. Head to ScreenPal.com and click on Launch Free Recorder to begin recording right in your browser. If the recorder doesn’t load, you can download the launcher app instead. While you can record videos without creating an account, signing up for the free version offers perks like secure video hosting, organized folders, channels, and quick sharing options. The free plan allows unlimited recordings, though each video is capped at 15 minutes.

How to Record and Edit Your Videos

Once you launch the recorder, adjust the recording frame to fit your content. For crisp visuals, recording in 720p is recommended. You can choose from three modes: Screen, Webcam, or Both. Before starting, click Narration to select your microphone and test the audio to ensure it’s clear. Hit the red Record button, wait for the countdown, and start presenting. While recording, take advantage of the drawing tools - like shapes, text, and highlights - to emphasize key points. When you’re done, click Pause and then Done.

Editing tools let you trim your video, add background music, or even tweak your webcam background. Save your final video locally in formats like MP4, AVI, or GIF, or upload it to ScreenPal for instant sharing. As Purvi R., a QA engineer, shared:

"It allows to edit the videos and provide shareable link. As a QA engineer, I can easily record the videos of the bugs and issues and share it with developers and team members."

With these editing options, your videos can transform into polished, impactful sales materials.

What Sales Teams Can Do with Screencast-O-Matic

ScreenPal is perfect for creating quick product walkthroughs that showcase specific software features during sales presentations. The 15-minute recording limit encourages concise, focused messaging. It’s also great for follow-ups - record a video recap instead of sending a lengthy email after a meeting. For slide-based presentations, you can adjust the recording frame to include your speaker notes. Using the Both mode, which records both your screen and webcam, adds a personal touch and lets you point out critical data, helping you connect more effectively with prospects. Digital marketing expert Kristian Ole Rorbye highlighted this benefit:

"I record a lot of guides and how-to videos about how to use online services. This gives a far more personal touch where my viewers can see and understand what's going on."

These features make ScreenPal a versatile tool for creating engaging and professional sales presentations.

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How to Create High-Quality Screen Recordings

Recording your screen is just the beginning - what sets your video apart is how polished and professional it looks and sounds. A few simple tweaks can make all the difference in how your message resonates with your audience.

How to Set Up Lighting and Audio

Lighting and audio are key to making a strong impression. For the best lighting, sit facing a window to take advantage of natural, diffused light, which is typically around 5,600K and helps maintain accurate color tones. If needed, add extra lights to reduce shadows and glare.

For audio, pick a quiet space with soft furnishings to cut down on echo. Place your microphone about 6–8 inches from your mouth at a slight 45-degree angle - this helps reduce harsh sounds caused by plosives. Before diving into your full recording, test your setup with a quick 30-second clip to check for any issues. If you're ready to invest in better equipment, the Samson Q2U (around $65) or the Blue Yeti (approximately $100) are excellent for clear, professional-sounding audio.

How to Prepare Your Screen for Recording

Once your environment is ready, it’s time to tidy up your digital workspace. A clutter-free screen keeps the focus on your content. Close unnecessary apps, tabs, and desktop icons. On Windows, right-click on your desktop, choose View, and uncheck Show desktop icons. For Mac users, you can instantly clear your desktop by entering this terminal command: defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false; killall Finder.

To avoid interruptions, enable "Do Not Disturb" mode and silence your phone. For added clarity, enlarge your cursor to 1.5–2 times its usual size and pick high-contrast colors so your movements are easy to follow. If you're presenting text-heavy content, adjust your browser zoom to 110–125% - this ensures everything stays legible, even on smaller screens.

How to Manage and Export Your Video Files

After recording, organizing and exporting your video files efficiently is crucial. Use a dedicated folder and a clear naming system, like MM/DD/YYYY_ProspectName, to keep everything in order. This makes it easier to locate and share your files later.

For compatibility with email platforms and social media, export your videos in MP4 format. If you're using OBS Studio, you can switch the recording format from MKV to MP4 by going to Settings > Output > Recording. Stick to HD resolution (1080p) at 30 frames per second for a good balance between quality and file size. With these settings, a one-hour video will typically be around 2–3 GB.

Setting Recommended Value Why
Resolution 1080p (1920x1080) Offers a great mix of quality and size
Frame Rate 30 fps Ideal for tutorials and presentations
Audio Sample Rate 48 kHz Ensures clear and professional audio
File Format MP4 Compatible and easy to share

How to Add Personalization with Sendspark

Once you've created high-quality recordings using tools like OBS Studio, Loom, or Screencast-O-Matic, Sendspark takes things to the next level by turning them into personalized, data-driven sales videos. With Sendspark's AI features, you can combine a standard demo video with a customized introduction, allowing you to deliver tailored content to prospects without the need to re-record.

How to Upload Your Recordings to Sendspark

Uploading your recordings to Sendspark is simple. Use the "Add Video" feature to combine a personalized intro with your core product demo. For instance, you can record a short greeting that mentions a prospect’s name or company, then merge it with a pre-recorded product demonstration. This saves time while keeping your outreach personal.

The "Combined Videos" feature makes this process seamless. To enhance efficiency, you can install Sendspark’s Chrome Extension or Desktop App, which enables you to record both browser-based and non-browser content.

To further streamline your workflow, Sendspark lets you create templates with pre-set text and Call-to-Action buttons, ensuring your videos are branded and ready to share without extra formatting. You can even set up a custom domain (like video.yourcompany.com) through CNAME settings, so your shared links are fully branded and professional.

After uploading and branding your videos, Sendspark’s AI tools handle the personalization, making it easy to tailor each one to its recipient.

How to Use Sendspark's AI Features

Sendspark’s AI tools are designed to personalize videos at scale. With AI Intros, the platform can voice-clone your greeting, allowing you to address each recipient by name with a natural-sounding introduction. This adds a personal touch without requiring additional recordings.

Another standout feature is Dynamic Backgrounds, which uses AI to display visuals like the recipient’s website or LinkedIn profile behind you as you speak. This creates the impression that the video was made specifically for them.

For even more automation, Sendspark allows you to use variables - like name, company, or job title - sourced from a CSV file or your CRM. These variables automatically update video pages and thumbnails, making large-scale personalization effortless. Sales teams using these AI tools have reported seeing 2-3x more replies compared to traditional outreach methods.

With Sendspark’s AI-driven personalization, scaling your video outreach becomes both efficient and impactful.

How to Scale Outreach and Track Engagement

Sendspark integrates seamlessly with over 75 platforms, including HubSpot, Salesforce, Outreach, and LinkedIn. Its Chrome Extension adds a Sendspark icon directly into tools like Gmail and LinkedIn, making it easy to record, personalize, and send videos right from your CRM.

Tracking engagement is also straightforward. Sendspark provides detailed analytics, showing who watched your video and how much of it they viewed. This data is automatically logged in your CRM, helping you monitor performance and follow up effectively. For HubSpot users, you can even set up workflow automation with the "Sendspark Dynamic Video Generated for Contact" trigger, which enrolls prospects as soon as their personalized video is ready.

By using merge tags, you can create a single video with placeholders that update automatically when contact information is imported. This feature enables you to personalize thousands of videos from just one recording.

"Using Sendspark transformed our customer success approach. We built a library of pre-recorded answers, allowing our team to quickly respond to common customer questions with personalized videos." - Dan Vermont, Head of Operations, Brikl

With tools like these, Sendspark not only simplifies personalization but also scales your outreach and tracks engagement, making it an essential tool for modern sales and marketing teams.

Conclusion

Screen recording doesn’t have to come with a price tag. Sales teams can get started with free tools like Loom for quick, personalized messages, OBS Studio for polished demos, or built-in options such as Xbox Game Bar and QuickTime for straightforward screen captures.

The key is using the right tool for the job. For instance, Loom works great for replacing lengthy emails with short, engaging video pitches, while OBS Studio is ideal for creating longer, high-quality tutorials without watermarks. Video communication has become a game-changer for sales teams, saving time and fostering stronger connections with prospects.

For those looking to go beyond basic screen recording, Sendspark offers a way to scale personalization effortlessly. With Sendspark, you can upload your videos, use AI to craft tailored intros, and track viewer engagement - like who watched your video and for how long. It even integrates with over 75 platforms, including HubSpot, Salesforce, and LinkedIn, enabling seamless automation of video creation based on CRM triggers.

Start with the free tool that fits your current needs. When it’s time to scale and boost replies by 2‑3x, Sendspark can handle personalization, tracking, and outreach with ease.

FAQs

How can I make sure my screen recordings have clear and professional audio?

To produce clear and professional audio in your screen recordings, start by investing in a good-quality microphone and making sure it's correctly set up in your recording software. Free tools like OBS Studio let you choose your audio input device and adjust settings to reduce background noise or distortion.

For optimal sound, record in a quiet space to minimize ambient noise. Using headphones can also help avoid audio feedback during recording. If your software includes advanced audio settings, experiment with options like bitrate and sample rate to improve sound quality.

Additionally, adding captions or on-screen annotations can make your recordings more accessible and easier to follow - this can be especially helpful for sales presentations or client demos. With the right tools, settings, and environment, you can create recordings that sound polished and leave a strong impression.

What are the main differences between OBS Studio, Loom, and Screencast-O-Matic for screen recording?

OBS Studio, Loom, and Screencast-O-Matic cater to different user needs, each bringing something distinct to the table.

OBS Studio is an open-source powerhouse designed for users who want professional-quality screen recording or live streaming. With its extensive customization options, it’s a go-to for those who are comfortable navigating a more technical setup and need advanced control over their recordings.

Loom simplifies the process by focusing on quick and easy video creation. It’s especially useful for sales teams or anyone looking to record, edit, and share polished videos without hassle. Its user-friendly interface makes it a favorite for those who value efficiency.

Screencast-O-Matic strikes a middle ground between simplicity and functionality. It offers screen and webcam recording, basic editing tools, and captioning, making it a great choice for creating professional-looking videos without needing a lot of technical know-how.

In summary, OBS Studio is perfect for those seeking advanced customization, Loom shines in effortless video sharing, and Screencast-O-Matic is ideal for straightforward yet polished video production.

How does Sendspark help sales teams create personalized video messages?

Sendspark gives sales teams the tools to create personalized video messages that include recipient-specific details. This approach makes communication feel more engaging and directly relevant, helping to build stronger relationships, capture attention, and increase conversion rates. The result? Messages that feel like they were made just for the recipient.

What’s more, Sendspark works smoothly with email and CRM platforms, allowing users to embed these tailored videos directly into their outreach. This not only helps sales professionals stand out in overcrowded inboxes but also adds a personal, human element to digital communication - making sales pitches and client interactions more effective.

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