
When you want to record a game or any other type of video of your screen, it's a good idea to find the best screen recording software to get the job done.
But what distinguishes a good screen recorder? If it's efficiency and ease of use, then Action! by Mirillis is considered one of the best.
This action game recorder allows for smooth recording of any Windows desktop , at one of the highest frame rates we've seen on the market.
In addition to recording high-resolution videos of your screen, you can also add audio recordings and use the tool's numerous editing features to create the best screencast tutorial videos.
In this review, we will be looking at all aspects of this program to determine its effectiveness and excellent features. So… Let’s get started!
What is Action!
Action! is a screen recording and video streaming software that allows you to record and stream DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulcan games and applications.
Thanks to its intuitive and user-friendly interface, users can quickly and easily configure their settings. Action! is a feature-rich software that can record a selected application, a desktop region, or a full screen with audio and 4K webcam support.
Action! Unlike other software, it offers high-quality captured video files, smooth and lag-free recording of Vulcan games, as well as advanced HUD options that inform users about the recording status.
What can Action! be used for?
As you may have noticed, Action! is an excellent software with great features and a very good set of functions, which can help you record and stream screen videos.
You can use it for game streaming, creating tutorials, or simply recording your screen to build your own video library. Despite its numerous features, Action! is actually a very easy-to-use tool.
The following simple step-by-step tutorial shows you how to use Action! to record your PC screen.
- Download and install the program on your computer. Download Mirillis Action! and install it on your computer. We recommend downloading the program from the main website, as this is where you will find the most up-to-date version of the program, and it is also much safer.
- Configure video capture settings. If it's the first time downloads the program, you will need to configure the settings in a way that maximizes your recording experience and gets the videos just the way you want them. Don't worry, it's not difficult.
Launch the program and then click the " Video Capture " button. Here, you can select the output format in which you would like to record the video. The available options include AVI and MP4 formats.
You can also select your preferred resolution. To do this, click the drop-down menu next to “ Video Size ” and select the most suitable resolution.
You can find additional settings by clicking the " Settings " icon in the upper left corner. This will allow you to set the bitrate, frame rate, video quality, and even configure hotkeys you can use to simplify the recording process.
- Record the screen. In the tab “Video capture”, select the area of the screen you would like to record and select the preferred video length.
Once it's set up, you can simply use the preset hotkeys to start recording.
- Export the video. Once you're done, you can easily export the video to YouTube or any other video sharing site. Simply select your preferred video sharing site from the listed options.
Great! You've successfully created and exported your first video. Remember to practice and explore all of Action!'s features . Although it has many functions and characteristics, its learning curve isn't steep, and you'll be able to master it in no time.
Action! Features
Action! is an excellent screen recorder because its numerous features are all designed to ensure that you can easily and quickly record what happens on your screen.
Many of the features are generic and not specific to Action! at all, but that doesn't mean they are any less effective. The following are some of the most useful features of the program:
1. Live streaming
You may have chosen Action! to record your screen, but this program has very robust live streaming features. For starters, it integrates seamlessly with live streaming sites like YouTube, Twitch, Hotbox, and Facebook.
Even if you don't want to live stream what's on your screen, you can still easily share the videos you record using Action! on these sites directly from the program.
2. Webcam recording
This is a feature we expect to find in any serious tool, particularly one that markets itself as a game recorder.
But that doesn't mean it isn't an awesome feature. You can easily record both your webcam and your screen at the same time. All you have to do is select the webcam during the recording process to include both webcam and screen recording.
3. High resolution recording
With Action!, you can record videos in very high resolution. You can easily capture videos in resolutions ranging from 2K to 4K in AVI or MP4 formats.
If you have an NVIDIA 3D or AMD Eyefinity setup, you can record videos in 8K resolution for AVI formats.
4. Safe REC function
An excellent feature, with which you can recover files lost or damaged due to sudden power outages or network problems.
5. Time Shift Function
Every gamer knows how you can pull off an epic move in a game and then regret not recording it. The Time Shift feature in Action! aims to prevent this.
You can very easily set this feature up in the settings and assign hotkeys that you can press at any time up to 10 minutes after the epic move.
6. Audio recording
Action! is also one of the few screen recording tools that can record audio as well. With this tool, you can capture everything you hear, including game sounds, your own comments, and even background music.
It's also possible to take numerous screenshots while recording the screen and add effects to the video using Action! 's annotation and effects features.
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Advantages
- It has a very user-friendly interface that is also pleasing to the eye.
- The program comes with powerful editing options for video and audio recording.
- Supports both live streaming and screenshot.
- You can record your webcam and audio comments.
- Supports recording very high resolution videos, including 8K in certain situations.
- The total size of the recorded video is relatively manageable.
- Low CPU usage means that the program does not consume as many system resources as other similar programs.
- It has a free version, trial for 30 days.
Disadvantages
- You will not be able to set a custom frame rate for the video you are recording.
- You cannot adjust video bitrates from within the software.
- Although it comes with a free trial version, it is limited.
Plans and prices
Action! is available in two versions.
The trial version , which you can download for free, will be available for 30 days. With this version, many features are available, although images will appear with a watermark.
The paid version , which includes a lifetime license, is on sale for $19,77 . Its regular price is around $30. It has all features enabled, and the watermark that appears in the trial version is removed.
How and where to download Action!
You can get Action! by Mirillis from their official website: Action!. It 's available for Windows.
- Go to the official site of Mirillis Action.
- In the main menu, select the “Products".
- Choose Action! in the drop-down menu.
- On the new page that opens, click the green “Download” button to access the 30-day free trial.
- The installation file will be downloaded to your PC.
- When the download is complete, double-click Mirillis Action! installation file.
- Now, a smart screen may appear and ask for confirmation.
- Click “Yes” to confirm.
- Finally, follow the installation instructions until you receive a confirmation notification of the successful installation process.
Opinions from users who have used Action!
Now let's see some opinions from users who have already downloaded and tested Action! on their computers.
- Jose M.:
“What I like most is how simple it is, since with just a few actions you can record audio, video and sound, and the videos take up much less space compared to other programs.
Some sound and video errors that appear from time to time when there are new versions and some software incompatibilities that freeze the computer for no apparent reason.”
- Jacobs S.:
Action! is the best game and screen recorder I have ever used. It captures all my games with almost zero frame drops and works amazingly with both DirectX, Open GL and Vulcan games.
Action! records very high quality gameplay videos with webcam and audio. It has many very, very cool gaming features like Time-Shift, HUD showing FPS, free disk space, webcam preview, microphone volume, recording duration, and a really unique option to see the chat overlay over all my streamed games.
I really appreciate the HUD feature because it keeps me constantly informed about what's happening with my recordings and streams. I think Action! has the best HUD option, and it's very useful. Also, Action! is a great streaming program that I use to stream my gameplay on YouTube.
As for streaming options, it is more than enough. A very handy account manager that allows me to stay connected to my YouTube, Twitch, etc. accounts, a live preview of the video composition allows me to organize my stream according to my needs and much more. I can really recommend Action! to both beginners and professional gamers.”
- Purushottam T.:
“There is no doubt that TechSmith Snagit and Mirillis Action! are the best video recording and screen capture tools for Windows. But Mirillis Action! is the only screen capture and recording app that offers gameplay recording, live streaming of your videos, and a lifetime license with free lifetime updates.
It also costs less than Techsmith Snagit and is available at a very reasonable price of just $29,95, making purchasing a Mirillis Action! license a one-time investment for you.”
Action! Alternatives: The 5 Best of This Year
If you like Action! and everything it can do, but you're not quite sure if it's the best tool for you, here are some of the best alternatives to consider:
1. Wondershare DemoCreator
DemoCreator is one of those tools that perfectly combines ease of use with highly effective technical features. It's the ideal solution when you want to record something as complex as a game or a simple presentation.
DemoCreator allows users to record videos at frame rates up to 120 FPS without allocating too much to system resources.
However, one of the things we like most about DemoCreator is the feature-rich built-in editing suite that you can use to create highly detailed screen recordings.
DemoCreator has a free, limited version, and a paid version, which is highly effective and available for both Windows and MacOS environments.
Simple and easy to use, DemoCreator is a very good alternative to Action!
2. Open Broadcaster Software
Open Broadcaster Software is mostly known by its acronym: OBS.
OBS isn't the easiest tool to use when it comes to recording games. But what it lacks in ease of use, OBS makes up for with the features every gamer looks for when buying the best game recorder.
It's also open source, meaning it will always be free, and it's constantly updated to keep it working as it should.
If you can get past the often complicated user interface, you can use OBS to record very high-quality videos that can be exported in FLV and MP4 formats. It also comes with numerous editing features that can allow you to easily edit the recorded videos.
OBS is available for Windows, Macos, and Linux.
3 Camtasia
There's a reason why Camtasia is one of the most popular screen recorders of all time.
To begin with, it comes packed with features designed to help you record videos and take screenshots of your desktop. But Camtasia has a user interface that can only be described as complicated.
Learning to use Camtasia is somewhat difficult, but if you can overcome this hurdle, it's one of the most effective screen recorders available. Camtasia is available for Windows and Mac.
4. Movavi
Movavi Screen Recorder offers the ability to capture webinars, how-to videos, tutorials, online calls/events, video streaming, and more, all with the click of a button and support for up to 4K quality.
The best feature of this program is that you can set the recording parameters including the region to record, and adjust parameters like mouse-highlighted audio recording, and more.
Additionally, you can capture microphone audio, webcam video, and system sounds either simultaneously with the video or separately as well. It has an exclusive dedicated webcam mode that also lets you take photos.
When the need arises, you can schedule recordings with user-defined time limits, draw on videos to make them more engaging, display mouse and keyboard strokes to help the user understand better. Better yet, there is a video editor available to further modify the final video.
5. TalkHelper
TalkHelper lets you record any part of your screen as a screenshot or video. It's best suited for capturing video tutorials, webinars, gameplay, game streams, and more, with the option to include audio.
Audio can be captured from the microphone as narration, and also system audio so that the video conveys the desired information even better.
In addition to the screen, TalkHelper also lets you capture video images from the webcam, which is useful for customization purposes, especially when using picture-in-picture mode.
TalkHelper is open to real-time drawing, annotations, mouse effects, scheduled recordings, Around-Mouse recording, and the option to include a logo or watermark of your choice in the screencast.
TalkHelper offers a free trial period after which you must purchase a one-time license. Please note that the license is for life with free lifetime updates and technical support.
FAQ
Let's take a look at some frequently asked questions related to Mirillis' Action!
1. Is Mirillis Action! free?
Action! offers a completely free 30-day trial. After that, you can purchase the paid version, which is currently on sale for $19,77.
2. What platforms is Action! Mirillis available on?
Action! is only available for Windows, from Windows Vista onwards. Downloading and running it is very easy.
What is the difference between the 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Mirillis Action!?
The 64-bit version was specifically designed for 64-bit Windows operating systems and performed significantly better on them. The 32-bit version was initially designed for 32-bit Windows operating systems, but it can also run on 64-bit Windows operating systems.
What is the importance of downloading the latest version?
We recommend downloading the latest version of Mirillis Action! because it has the most recent updates, which improves the app's quality. It's also the safest version to install and run.
There are many sites that offer the latest version of Mirillis Action!, however, we recommend that you download it directly from its official website.
Conclusion
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Without a doubt, Mirillis Action! is an excellent alternative for screen recording and streaming videos, especially for recording games.
You can try out the free version for 30 days, and you'll notice that it's very easy to use, with a light interface, and doesn't consume too many resources on your computer. And the paid option is really affordable; with a bargain price and a one-time payment, you'll get a lifetime license.
We hope this information is useful to you and that you can try Action! We recommend that you download it from its official website, we have left the links above.
My name is Javier Chirinos and I am passionate about technology. Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in computers and video games, and that passion has turned into a job.
I have been publishing about technology and gadgets on the Internet for over 15 years, especially in mundobytes.com
I am also an expert in online marketing and communication and have knowledge in WordPress development.