Record video and audio directly in your course

In this article: How to record video or audio right from your browser and add it to your lessons or discussion replies — no extra software or file uploads needed. All Plans

Why record directly in Ruzuku?

You don't need a separate screen recording tool or video editing software to add video to your course. Ruzuku's built-in recorder lets you capture video (using your webcam) or audio (using your microphone) straight from your browser. The recording uploads automatically and appears in your lesson.

This is especially useful when you want to:

Record a quick welcome video or lesson introduction
Add a personal audio message to a lesson
Reply to a student's discussion post with a video response instead of text
Create content on the fly without switching between apps

The recorder works in modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) on both desktop and mobile. There's nothing to install.

Record video in a lesson

Open the lesson you want to add video to.
Click Add media in the lesson editor.
Select Video or audio file.
Click Record Video.
Your browser will ask for permission to use your camera and microphone. Click Allow.
You'll see a preview from your webcam. When you're ready, click Begin Recording.
Record your content. There's no strict time limit, but shorter recordings (under 10 minutes) upload faster and are easier for students to watch.
When you're finished, click the Stop button.
Review your recording. If you're happy with it, click Accept & upload. If not, click Discard and record again.
Ruzuku uploads and converts your video automatically. You'll see it appear in the lesson editor once processing is complete.

Tip: Close other tabs and apps that might use your camera before recording. If your browser can't access the camera, check your browser's site permissions — Ruzuku needs access to both your camera and microphone for video recording.

Record audio in a lesson

If you'd rather record audio only (for a narrated explanation, a guided meditation, a pronunciation guide, or any audio-first content):

Open the lesson you want to add audio to.
Click Add media in the lesson editor.
Select Video or audio file.
Click Record Audio.
Your browser will ask for permission to use your microphone. Click Allow.
Click Begin Recording and speak.
When you're done, click Stop.
Review the recording, then click Accept & upload.

Audio recordings are converted and hosted by Ruzuku, just like video. Students see an audio player in the lesson.

Record in discussion replies

You can also record video or audio when replying to student discussions. This is a great way to give personal, detailed feedback without typing a long response.

Open a discussion and click Reply.
Click Add media, then select Video or audio file.
Choose Record Video or Record Audio.
Follow the same steps: allow browser permissions, record, stop, and accept.
Your recording is attached to your reply. Click the Reply button to post it.

Students see your video or audio embedded directly in the discussion thread.

Tip: Video replies feel personal and build stronger connections with your students. A 60-second video response to a student's assignment can be more impactful than a paragraph of written feedback.

Browser requirements

The built-in recorder works in all modern browsers:

Chrome (recommended for the smoothest experience)
Firefox
Edge
Safari (macOS and iOS)

Your browser needs permission to access your camera (for video) and microphone (for audio). If you've blocked these permissions before, you'll need to update them in your browser settings.

On mobile devices, the recorder uses your phone's front-facing camera. The experience is the same — tap Add media, choose Record Video or Record Audio, and allow permissions.

Troubleshooting

Camera or microphone not detected:

Check that no other app (Zoom, FaceTime, another browser tab) is using your camera or microphone.
Refresh the page and try again.
In your browser's address bar, look for a camera/microphone icon — click it to check permissions. Make sure Ruzuku is set to "Allow."

Recording is blurry or choppy:

Close other browser tabs to free up memory.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection. The recording happens locally, but uploading requires bandwidth.
Try recording in Chrome if you're using another browser.

Upload seems stuck:

Longer recordings take more time to upload and process. A 10-minute video might take a couple of minutes.
Don't close the browser tab while the upload is in progress. You'll see a progress indicator.
If the upload fails, try recording a shorter clip or check your internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a time limit on recordings?

There's no hard time limit on recordings. That said, shorter recordings (under 10 minutes) upload faster and are easier for students to engage with. If you have a lot of content, consider breaking it into a few shorter recordings rather than one long one.

Can I edit my recording before uploading?

The built-in recorder doesn't have editing tools. You can review your recording and choose to discard it and re-record, but you can't trim or cut sections. If you need to edit, record using a separate tool and upload the finished file instead.

Can students record video and audio too?

Yes. Students can use the same built-in recorder when posting in discussions or submitting assignments. They click Add media, choose Record Video or Record Audio, and follow the same steps. No software needed on their end either.

What format are the recordings saved in?

Ruzuku automatically converts recordings into a web-optimized format (MP4 for video, MP3 for audio) with adaptive streaming. You don't need to worry about file formats — the player adjusts quality based on each student's connection speed.

Should I use the built-in recorder or upload a pre-recorded video?

Both work well. Use the built-in recorder for quick, informal recordings — welcome messages, discussion replies, or short lesson segments. Use a pre-recorded and edited video file when you want polished production quality, screen recordings with annotations, or content you've scripted and rehearsed. See Upload a video to a lesson for upload instructions.