How to Record Skype Calls
Skype this week announced that it has added a cloud-based recording function to its video chat service, which can now be accessed on virtually any version of Skype except for Windows 10. According to the Skype blog, it will receive a recording function “in the coming weeks”.
To record a call, simply click the plus sign (+) in the lower-left corner of the Skype call and select Start Recording. All participants in the call will receive a warning that you have turned on the recording function, which will record audio, as well as any video (or shared screens) during the call. When you finish recording, either hang up the phone or go back to the same place and select the “Stop recording” option.
When the recording ends, Skype sends the recording to everyone on the call to view, download, or directly access other Skype users. It also stores the recording in the cloud for 30 days. The recording looks a little different than the call itself, as Skype takes away most of the user interface and puts the shots side by side or one at a time for a more enjoyable viewing.
To save the new recording to your desktop or laptop, click the ellipsis next to the recording and select Save As. You will also see the option to “forward” the recording, which is a built-in sharing feature in Skype.
To download it to iOS or Android, press and hold the entry and select “save”. As before, in the same menu, you can also forward the recording to other Skype users.
As someone who usually uses Skype to record interviews, having a recording device built into Skype makes this service more like a complete package. You used to need a third-party Skype call recorder app and some of them could be finicky, especially when dealing with video. Whether you’re just having fun, taking notes, or recording a podcast (because who wants to talk to someone without seeing them?), Skype’s new recording features couldn’t come quickly enough.