Minecraft is one of the most popular games today, and the sheer number of amateur videos on YouTube are proof of this. Each player is eager to share their achievements. But when you don’t know where to start, it’s not as easy as it seems. After reading this guide, you can easily create new content for your favorite game.
Video recording on PC
If you play Minecraft on your computer, then you are in luck. To record the gameplay, you just need to acquire an image capture program. The most popular ones are:
- Fraps
- Bandicam
- DXTory
- Hypercam (free)
Most capture programs are paid, so you have to fork out to get the full work. Despite this, they often have a trial version, so you can familiarize yourself with the work of the program and decide whether to buy it or not. Trial versions can be limited by the term of free use or by the presence of a digital watermark (a logo displayed over the recorded video).
Unfortunately, recording smooth video in high quality requires a lot of hardware resources. Therefore, you will need a sufficiently powerful computer with a lot of RAM. If you encounter artifacts while recording, try lowering the quality settings in the game. First of all, it is worth reducing the draw distance, as it has the greatest impact on performance
Voice recording
Most capture software has a voice recording function, so a microphone will be enough for you. Apart from the professional models, they are cheap and the laptops already have a built-in one.
You can use any voice communication program, such as Skype, to record other people’s voices. Capture apps keep track of all sounds on the main audio channel, so if you hear your friends in headphones, their voice will be recorded as well.
Record videos on Xbox 360
In case you are playing on a console, the process of recording your gameplay will be a little more difficult. Besides downloading the capture software, you will need additional hardware. These are the so-called capture cards, which can be in several versions. Most Popular:
- Elgato Game Capture HD
- BlackMagic Intensity Pro
- Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition
- Roxio Game Capture HD Pro
- Roxio Game Capture
Some models like the BlackMagic Intensity Pro are internal and require a powerful enough computer to install. But in most cases, modern capture cards are external and only require a free USB port.
There are many different capture card companies out there today, so be sure to pick the best option before purchasing.
Voice recording on Xbox 360
As with video recording, voice recording also has some special features. Since there is no way to record voice using the console itself, you will need an external microphone, independent or connected to your computer.
To record the voices of other players, you will need to change some of the console settings. Do this as described below:
- Press the Guide button.
- Select the “System” tab on the right.
- Click “Settings”.
- Go to the voice settings and select “Play through external speakers” or “Both channels”. In the second case, the sound will be heard through the TV speakers and headphones at the same time. This is the optimal solution for playing with others and recording sound.
After changing these settings, the voices of other players and the sounds of the game will be output through the common channel. Adjust the volume levels in the same menu if game sounds will drown out voices. Your capture card will now record the conversation along with in-game audio.
Video editing
Once you have recorded your video, you can simply upload it natively to YouTube or a similar site, but chances are you will want to tweak something to perfect your creation. Unfortunately, the most popular editors come at a hefty price tag, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any cheaper options. Here are a few programs to start with:
- Sony Vegas Pro
- Windows Movie Maker (free)
- Final Cut Pro
- Adobe Premiere
Upload video
Since YouTube is the most popular video service on the web, you should start with it. The following video formats are supported here:
- .MOV
- .MPEG4
- .AVI
- .WMV
- .MPEGPS
- .FLV
- .3GPP
- .WebM
Give your video an appropriate title and description. Don’t forget to tag your video to make it easier to search.
Don’t worry about your video being boring or ridiculous to someone. Be sure to add voice or written comments to your actions. And don’t be afraid to look funny! Go for it!