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 where you want the video to go.
Click Add media in the editor toolbar.
Under Upload or record, click Record video.
If your browser asks to use your camera and microphone, click Allow.
A small webcam panel opens with a preview. When you're ready, click Start.
When you're finished, click Stop.
Play it back if you like. Click Use video to keep it, or Retake to record again.
Ruzuku adds the video at your cursor and uploads it. A progress bar shows in the editor until it's done.

On a phone, Record video opens your phone's own camera instead of the webcam panel.

Tip: If your camera or microphone is blocked, missing, or in use by another app, Ruzuku tells you which one and shows Try again. Fix the cause (for example, quit Zoom), then click Try again.

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 where you want the audio to go.
Click Add media in the editor toolbar.
Under Upload or record, click Record audio.
If your browser asks to use your microphone, click Allow.
A small recorder opens with a timer and level bars. Start speaking. The bars move as it picks up your voice.
When you're done, click Stop. To throw the recording away instead, click Cancel.

Ruzuku adds the audio at your cursor and uploads it. Audio recordings are converted and hosted by Ruzuku, just like video. Students see an audio player in the lesson.

Note: You can have only one recording open at a time. If you see "Finish or cancel the open recording first," stop or cancel the recording you already started. If you try to leave the page while recording, Ruzuku warns you that your recording will be lost.

Record in discussion replies

You can also record video or audio when replying in a discussion. This is a great way to give personal, detailed feedback without typing a long response. Students use the same comment box, so these steps work for them too.

Open the discussion. Click Add a comment, or click Write a reply under a student's comment.
In the comment box toolbar, click Add photo, video or file.
Click Record video or Record audio.
For video: click Start, then Stop, then Use video (or Retake). For audio: the recorder appears right inside the comment box. Click Stop when you're done.
Your recording appears in the Uploads tray under your comment, with its upload progress.
Click Post (or Reply when you're answering one comment).

If the upload is still running when you click the button, Ruzuku waits and posts your comment once it finishes. If an upload fails, click Retry or remove it before you can post. You can add up to 20 files to one comment.

Students see your video or audio right 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 phones, Record video and Take photo open your phone's own camera instead of the webcam panel. Record audio works the same as on a computer.

Troubleshooting

Camera or microphone not detected:

Read the message in the recorder. It says whether the camera or microphone is blocked, missing, or in use by another app.
Check that no other app (Zoom, FaceTime, another browser tab) is using your camera or microphone.
Click Try again. If that doesn't work, 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 bar in the editor.
If the upload fails, the file's card shows why, with Retry and Delete. Click Retry to pick up where it stopped. If your internet connection dropped, Ruzuku retries on its own when it comes back.
See Fix file upload issues for more help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a time limit on recordings?

There's no set time limit. Webcam video stops recording at the length that still fits your upload limit. 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 watch your video back and click Retake to record again, 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 record when they reply in discussions, post in discussions, or submit assignments. They click Add photo, video or file, then choose Record video or Record audio. 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.