TechSmith Screen Capture Codec 9.0.1.0

An AVI file that plays sound over a black screen, or makes Windows complain about a missing codec, is often an old screen recording made with TechSmith's Camtasia.

TechSmith Screen Capture Codec 9.0.1.0, usually called TSCC, is the small free decoder that lets Windows programs show the picture in those files.

Before you install anything, try opening the file in VLC Media Player, because modern players already read TSCC on their own.

What TSCC Actually Is

TSCC is a video codec - a way of packing video into a smaller file - that TechSmith designed for recordings of a computer screen. It is lossless, which means the picture comes back exactly as it was recorded, so small text and menus stay sharp instead of going blurry.

It works well on screens because most of the desktop does not change from one moment to the next. TSCC stores only the parts that move, such as the mouse pointer or a window being dragged, which keeps tutorial recordings small.

Older versions of Camtasia saved AVI files with TSCC, and plenty of training videos, software demos and course material from that era still use it. The codec has no window or icon - it installs into Windows and works quietly in the background whenever a program asks for it.

Try a Player Before You Install

The free players below come with their own built-in decoders, which include TSCC and its newer sibling TSC2. If one of them plays your file, you do not need this codec at all.

• VLC Media Player - the easy first try, and it runs on Mac and Linux as well.
• MPC-HC or MPC-BE - light, fast players for Windows.
• SMPlayer - a friendly player that remembers where you stopped, handy for long lectures.

When You Do Need the Codec

Some Windows programs have no decoders of their own and rely on the codecs installed in Windows itself. The classic Windows Media Player, VirtualDub and many older editing and e-learning tools work this way.

If one of those programs shows a black picture, a "codec not found" message or refuses to open the file, installing TSCC is the fix. Restart the program after installing so it picks up the new codec.

TSCC or TSC2 - Check Which One Your File Uses

TechSmith made two screen codecs, and installing one does not play files made with the other. TSC2 is the newer one, and TechSmith says Camtasia 2020 and later for Windows uses it by default for screen recordings.

To see which one you have, open the file in MediaInfo and look at the Codec ID line under Video. It reads tscc for this codec or tsc2 for the newer one.

No install wanted? Our online Codec Finder identifies a file in the browser, and VideoInspector also tells you whether the codec is already installed.

Which Download to Take

The download page lists four files, and most people only need the first one.

The 9.0.1.0 main link comes straight from TechSmith's own download server. TechSmith has retired its old codec web page, but the installer itself is still hosted there.

Camtasia Recordings That End in .trec

A .trec file is a Camtasia project recording, not a normal video. TechSmith says these files open only in the Camtasia editor, so neither TSCC nor TSC2 will make one play in another program.

If someone sent you a .trec file, ask them to export it from Camtasia as an MP4. If it is your own recording, open it in Camtasia and export it there.

Recording With TSCC, and Why Games Stutter

TSCC was built for desktops where little moves, which is exactly why it struggles with games. In fast gameplay almost every pixel changes every frame, so the codec has far more work to do and the recording drops frames and looks choppy.

For gameplay, a recorder that uses your graphics card's video encoder is the better tool. OBS Studio is free and records straight to MP4 or MKV, and Bandicam is a simpler paid option whose free version adds a watermark.

For everyday screen tutorials, ShareX records small, shareable MP4 files. If you need lossless capture of moving video for editing, Ut Video Codec Suite is built for fast-moving video and keeps up far better than TSCC.

Turning Old Recordings Into MP4

If you have a folder of old TSCC tutorials to share, converting them to MP4 means nobody needs a special codec ever again. HandBrake and Shutter Encoder both read TSCC files directly, with no codec install needed.

If you prefer the command line, FFmpeg does the same job with one line, such as ffmpeg -i lesson.avi -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -c:a aac lesson.mp4. Screen recordings compress very well in H.264, so the MP4 is usually much smaller than the original AVI.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Your file ends in .trec. Only Camtasia opens it, as explained above.
• You are on a Mac. This installer is for Windows only - use VLC for Mac instead.
• MediaInfo shows a different codec ID. Try our Codec Troubleshooter, or browse the other video codecs.
• You want to record your screen today. Pick OBS Studio or ShareX, which save files anyone can play.
• You want a free lossless recorder setup. CamStudio with the CamStudio Lossless Codec is the open-source equivalent.

Quick questions

Download TechSmith Screen Capture Codec 9.0.1.0 if your player still needs it, or tell us how you got on if you have used it before.