sudo apt-get install recordmydesktop gtk-recordmydesktop mencoder gtk-recordmydesktop select region of screen. Press record. When done press red box in gnome-panel. default output file is out.ogv (out-nn.ogv if out.ogv exists) # Create out.avi file: # in place of x264 can use lavc, xvid. for more options: mencoder -ovc help mencoder -nosound -ovc x264 -o out.avi out.ogv