Creating a recording session is the first step to record in Zencastr. A session contains the Recording Page(s), the space(s) where you and your guests meet and record. It is also where participants’ files are stored after the recording.
The recording mode determines whether just audio or both audio and video are recorded and whether participants can see each other while recording.
The steps below are for the computer browser. See this article to create sessions and change recording modes from the mobile app for iPhone and iPad.
In this article:
Session Naming
A session’s name:
Becomes part of the URL for the Recording Page.
Is visible to your guests in their link to join the Recording Page.
Cannot be changed once the session is created.
Must be unique; it cannot be the same as a previously created session.
Creating Recording Sessions
To create a recording session:
On your Dashboard, click the Sessions tab on the left sidebar menu.
Click the Create New Recording Session button at the top left.
Enter the session name.
Select the primary language for the recording.
Select a recording mode.
Click Create.
Recording Modes
Recording Modes Comparison
| Record audio
| Record audio. Show video | Record audio. |
Records audio in MP3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Records audio in WAV | ✔ on paid plans | ✔ on paid plans | ✔ on paid plans |
Records video in MOV | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
Video displays enabled | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Microphone access required | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Camera access required | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Record audio and video (aka Record Video, Record Audio)
This mode:
Records audio in separate MP3 files for each participant (and also WAV files if you are on a paid plan).
Records video in separate MOV files for each participant.
Turns on the video display that allows you and your guests to see each other during the recording if everyone has a camera selected and turned on.
Requires host and guests to allow access to both their microphone and camera.
Record audio. Show video (aka Show Video, Record Audio)
This mode:
Records audio in separate MP3 files for each participant (and also WAV files if you are on a paid plan).
Does not record video for each participant.
Turns on the video display that allows you and your guests to see each other during the recording if everyone has a camera selected and turned on.
Requires host and guests to allow access to both their microphone and camera.
Record audio. No video (aka No Video, Record Audio)
This mode:
Records audio in separate MP3 files for each participant (and also WAV files if you are on a paid plan).
Does not record video for each participant.
Turns off the video display so that hosts and guests cannot see each other during the recording.
Requires host and guests to allow access to their microphone only.
Changing Recording Modes
Changes to the recording mode:
Can be made at any time before the host starts a recording.
If guests are on the Recording Page when the host changes the recording mode, the Recording Page reloads and guests are taken back through the green room to make sure their computer has the specs and hardware access needed for the new mode.
Cannot be made while a recording is in progress.
Can be made on different recordings within the same session.
To change the selected recording mode:
From your Dashboard, on the Sessions tab, under the ‘My Sessions’ list, click the name of the session.
Click the Join Session button at the top center.
On the Recording Page, select the recording mode from the recording type dropdown.
Result:
The Recording Page reloads for the host.
If guests are in the Recording Page when the host changes the recording mode, the Recording Page reloads and guests are taken back through the green room to make sure their computer has the specs and hardware access needed for the new mode.
Changing Recording Names
The name of a recording within a session can be changed.
To change the recording name:
From your Dashboard, on the Sessions tab, under the ‘My Sessions’ list, click the name of the session.
Locate the recording you want to edit and under the recording image click the 3-dot menu.
Select Rename.
Enter the new recording name.
Click Save.
Related Questions
How do I invite guests to join my session/Recording Page/call?
See Inviting Guests.
Is a recording scheduled for a specific date and time in Zencastr? How do I schedule my recording?
Recordings are not scheduled in Zencastr for specific dates and times. You and your guests can meet on the session's Recording Page at any time. You should inform your guests separately as to what date and time to meet you on the session's Recording Page via calendar invites, emails, or your preferred method.
How do I change a session's name?
Once a session has been created, you cannot change its name because that name is part of the recording link. If you haven’t recorded in the session, you can archive it and then create a new session. If you have recorded in the session, you can change the individual recording names instead.