LiteRec / Practical guide
How to make Mac screen recordings smaller
Updated October 13, 2026 · Based on LiteRec 1.2.4
Before recording a long session, decide what you need to see and hear later. A presentation with mostly still slides has different needs from a fast-moving video.
Start with a short sample
Record 60 seconds of representative content. Include small text and movement, then play the saved file at the size you expect to use. Check readability, sound and playback compatibility before committing to hours of recording.
Four choices that affect file size
- Capture area: record the relevant window or region. Keeping text large in the selected area can help avoid wasting resolution on the rest of the desktop.
- Resolution and frame rate: lower settings can suit slides, but reduce fine detail and motion smoothness. Raise the preset for animation or small text.
- Encoding: LiteRec offers HEVC and H.264. Check that the people who receive your file can play the format. H.264 uses higher target video bit rates in LiteRec.
- Audio: if you only need speech playing on the Mac, choose audio-only recording. This removes the video track entirely.
LiteRec’s HEVC presets
| Preset | Maximum landscape size / fps | Approx. 1 hour with audio |
|---|---|---|
| Compact | 1280×720 / 12 | 224.1 MB |
| Balanced | 1600×900 / 20 | 478.8 MB |
| Smooth | 1920×1080 / 30 | 1,123.2 MB |
| System audio only | No video | 21.6 MB |
Calculated from target video + audio bit rates: 498, 1,064, 2,496 and 48 kbps respectively. Decimal MB, no container overhead. These are estimates, not measured output or guaranteed sizes. Portrait sizes adapt to aspect ratio.
How to compare fairly
Use the same source, duration, capture area and audio, and disclose both sets of resolution, frame rate and codec settings. Comparing a low-frame-rate 720p file with a high-resolution 60 fps file does not establish a compression advantage at equal quality.
If you only record occasionally
Try the screen-recording tools already included with your Mac. Apple’s QuickTime guide explains how to start a recording. LiteRec is an option when choosing smaller-file presets and turning recordings into local text fits your workflow.