# Recording videos via webcam

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 22, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481 "2011-10-22T23:10:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/1 "2011-10-22T23:10:36Z")

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Is there a safe, easy, free way to record yourself via webcam? I looked at what’s on offer online, but they have .exe things to click,which “may” be “malicious”.

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**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/2 "2011-10-23T05:06:51Z")

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Would help if you mentioned what operating system you are using.

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**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/3 "2011-10-23T06:06:33Z")

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Sorry. XP. Browser is Google Chrome.

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**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/4 "2011-10-23T06:21:24Z")

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Many programs accept input from a source like a webcam (or screen capture program emulating a webcam.) I’ve done this with virtualdub, to name one of them.

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/5 "2011-10-23T07:15:23Z")

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I wouldn’t be surprised if your webcam came with some software, if you still have the CDs that came with it.

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**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/6 "2011-10-23T07:32:01Z")

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I use a netbook, so no CDs.

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**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/7 "2011-10-23T15:21:17Z")

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Windows Live Movie Maker (free from Microsoft as part of their Windows Live package) can record from a webcam. - [http://explore.live.com/windows-live-movie-maker](http://explore.live.com/windows-live-movie-maker)

I use Yawcam since it has the ability to automatically upload and the like. - [http://www.yawcam.com/](http://www.yawcam.com/)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-videos-via-webcam/600481/8 "2011-10-24T06:38:11Z")

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Yawcam looks promising… if it can record video. I’ll check it out later. Thanks!