Make me a step by step way to make a discreet black screen video recorder for free.

Creating a discreet black screen video recorder involves using software that allows you to record your screen without displaying any on-screen indicators or notifications. Below is a step-by-step guide using free software options:

### Method Using OBS Studio

**Step 1: Download and Install OBS Studio**
1. Go to the [OBS Studio website](https://obsproject.com/).
2. Download the version compatible with your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
3. Install OBS Studio by following the installation instructions.

**Step 2: Configure OBS Studio for Screen Recording**
1. Open OBS Studio.
2. In the main interface, you'll find the area called "Scenes" and "Sources." 
3. Click the "+" button in the "Scenes" box to create a new scene (name it something like "Screen Recording").
4. Under the "Sources" box, click the "+" button and select "Display Capture" to record your entire screen or "Window Capture" to record a specific application.

**Step 3: Set Up a Black Screen**
1. In the same "Sources" box, you can add an additional source like "Color Source."
2. Choose a color (preferably black) for the color source and make sure it covers the display capture. This will effectively create a black screen.
3. Arrange your sources so that the "Color Source" is on top of the "Display Capture."

**Step 4: Configure Additional Settings**
1. Click on "Settings" in the bottom right corner.
2. Navigate to the "Output" tab. Set the "Recording Format" to a common format like "mp4" or "mkv." Adjust quality settings if needed.
3. Go to the "Audio" tab and configure the audio input if you want to record system sound or external audio.

**Step 5: Start Recording**
1. Click on the "Start Recording" button located on the right side.
2. While recording, ensure that any necessary applications are running. The screen will appear black to observers, but will record the activity.

**Step 6: Stop Recording**
1. When you're done, click "Stop Recording" in OBS Studio.

**Step 7: Locate Your Recording**
1. By default, OBS saves recordings in your "Videos" or the folder specified in the "Output" settings.
2. Access your recorded files from the designated folder.

### Method Using Screen Recording Software with Stealth Mode

Alternatively, if you prefer simpler options or don't want to use OBS, consider using lightweight screen recording software like **ShareX**:

**Step 1: Download and Install ShareX**
1. Visit the [ShareX website](https://getsharex.com/) and download the latest version.
2. Install ShareX by following the instructions.

**Step 2: Configure Recording Settings**
1. Open ShareX.
2. Click on "Capture" in the left sidebar, then select "Screen recording."
3. In the settings, choose options to hide notifications and indicators while recording.

**Step 3: Start Recording**
1. Select the area you want to record or opt for full screen.
2. Start the recording process.

**Step 4: Saving Your Recording**
1. After you stop the recording, ShareX will prompt you to save it.
2. Select your desired file format and location.

### Important Considerations
- **Ethical Use**: Ensure that you have permission to record anything you are capturing, as unauthorized recording may violate laws and ethical standards.
- **Hidden Recording**: Although the methods described help to keep your recording discreet, there is no foolproof way to avoid detection of screen recordings, especially in secured environments.

By following the above steps, you should be able to create a discreet screen recording setup for free using software that supports these functionalities.

Update (2025-12-13):
Creating a discreet black screen video recorder can be done using free software tools available for your operating system. Below is a step-by-step guide to create a screen recorder that records in the background (with a black screen) on Windows and macOS. Keep in mind that you should always respect legal and ethical considerations when recording video, ensuring that you have permission to record any content.

### For Windows Using OBS Studio

**Step 1: Download OBS Studio**
1. Go to [OBS Studio’s official website](https://obsproject.com/).
2. Download the Windows version of OBS Studio.
3. Install the application by following the installation prompts.

**Step 2: Set Up OBS Studio for Recording**
1. Open OBS Studio.
2. In the main window, you'll see a scene box. Right-click in the "Scenes" section and select "Add" to create a new scene (e.g., "Black Screen Recording").
3. Under the "Sources" box, right-click and choose "Add" > "Display Capture" to select the screen you want to record, or "Window Capture" to select a specific application.
4. If you want a black screen, you can choose "Color Source" instead of Display or Window Capture, and set it to a solid black color.

**Step 3: Configure Recording Settings**
1. Go to "Settings" on the bottom-right.
2. Click on "Output" and set the "Output Mode" to "Advanced."
3. Under the "Recording" section, choose a recording path, file format (e.g., .mkv, .mp4), and adjust the bitrate if necessary.
4. Click on "Video" and set your desired resolution and FPS (Frames Per Second).

**Step 4: Record in the Background**
1. Close the OBS window and minimize it to the taskbar.
2. Press "Start Recording" in the OBS interface or set up hotkeys under "Settings" > "Hotkeys" to start and stop recording discreetly.
3. Switch to other applications or leave the computer idle. OBS will continue recording your selected source while showing a black screen.

**Step 5: Stop Recording**
1. Use the hotkey you set to stop recording or open OBS to click "Stop Recording."
2. The video will be saved at the location you specified in the settings.

### For macOS Using QuickTime Player and Screen Recording

**Step 1: Use QuickTime Player**
1. QuickTime Player comes pre-installed on macOS. You can find it in the Applications folder.

**Step 2: Start a New Screen Recording**
1. Open QuickTime Player.
2. From the menu, select "File" > "New Screen Recording."
3. Click on the red record button but do not start recording yet. This will open the screen recording settings.

**Step 3: Configure QuickTime**
1. Make sure to select your microphone if you want audio.
2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the record button if you want to adjust settings such as audio input and show mouse clicks.

**Step 4: Create a Black Screen**
1. Minimize all windows or create a blank document (like a text file) that you can use to cover your screen, or simply turn off your monitor if your hardware allows it (some monitors have a setting for a blank screen).
2. You can also create a blank desktop background and set it as your wallpaper before starting the recording.

**Step 5: Start Recording**
1. Click on the red record button.
2. Select the screen area you want to record (or click to start recording your entire screen).
3. QuickTime will now begin recording in the background. You won't see anything on the screen if it's blank.

**Step 6: Stop Recording**
1. To stop the recording, you can either click on the QuickTime icon in the menu bar and select "Stop Recording" or use the keyboard shortcut (usually Command + Control + Esc).
2. Save your recording when prompted.

### Important Notes:
- Use these tools ethically and responsibly. Recording someone's screen without their knowledge and consent could be illegal and unethical.
- Customize settings based on your needs, such as recording quality, file size, and format.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions or need further assistance!