vokoscreenNG is a free and open-source screencast creator for Windows and Linux (including Wayland) that records the screen, a specific area, or a window with audio and camera support.
What is vokoscreenNG?
vokoscreenNG is a powerful screencast tool developed by vkohaupt and hosted on GitHub. It runs on Linux (X11 and Wayland) and Windows, using Qt and GStreamer frameworks. The software records any screen region and outputs to MKV, GIF, or MP4 formats with H.264 video and various audio codecs (MP3, Opus, FLAC, Vorbis). For Wayland, it records only in MKV/H.264 to prevent data loss, with conversion options to WebM, GIF, or MP4. First released for Linux in January 2012, the current NG (Next Generation) version launched in late 2019 for Linux and early 2020 for Windows.
Key Features
- Multiscreen support — Record across multiple monitors simultaneously on Linux-X11 and Windows.
- Audio recording with level meter — Capture audio from any input source with a real-time level meter display.
- Camera overlay — Integrate a webcam feed to add a personal touch to recordings.
- Built-in tools — Magnifying glass, countdown timer, showclick (mouse click visualization), halo (mouse highlight), snapshot, and an integrated video player.
- Global keyboard shortcuts — Control recording start/stop/pause from any application.
- Dark mode — Switch to a dark theme for comfortable use in low-light environments.
- Over 70 language translations — Community-driven translations via Transifex ensure support for many languages.
- Wayland support — A separate version optimized for Wayland with reliable MKV/H.264 recording, separated audio tracks, and conversion tools. See minimum run-time requirements.
Who is it for?
Educators and trainers — Record screencasts for tutorials and online courses, with options to include camera facecam and on-screen annotations. Content creators — Capture gameplay, software demonstrations, or presentations with high-quality audio and video. Developers — Record bug reproduction steps or code walkthroughs using global shortcuts and the built-in player for quick review. Translators — Contribute language packs via Transifex; only 100% translated languages are added to releases.
What can you do with vokoscreenNG?
Create software tutorials — Record a selected window or area with audio commentary, then export to MP4 for sharing. Record live presentations — Use the countdown and timer tools to prepare, then deliver with camera overlay and mouse effects. Convert recordings — After recording on Wayland, convert MKV files to WebM, GIF, or MP4 using the built-in converter. Annotate recordings — Enable showclick and halo to highlight mouse actions, or use the magnifying glass for detail work.
Pricing
vokoscreenNG is completely free and open source. No paid tiers or limitations are mentioned.
FAQ
Is vokoscreenNG free?
Yes, vokoscreenNG is free and open-source software for both Windows and Linux platforms.
What recording formats are supported?
For Linux-X11 and Windows: MKV, GIF, and MP4 with H.264 video and audio in MP3, Opus, FLAC, or Vorbis. For Linux-Wayland: only MKV with H.264 video and MP3 or Opus audio, with post-recording conversion to WebM, GIF, or MP4.
Can I record audio from multiple sources?
The page mentions audio recording with a level meter but does not specify multiple simultaneous sources. It does note that Wayland supports separated audio tracks.
Does it work on Wayland?
Yes, vokoscreenNG has a standalone version for Linux-Wayland that records reliably in MKV/H.264 to prevent data loss. It includes systray, audio, countdown, snapshot, convert, and separated audio tracks.
How can I translate vokoscreenNG?
Translations are managed on Transifex. Only languages reaching 100% translation are included in official releases.
