How to make an explainer video

April 7, 2026 4 min read

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Explainer videos show how something works. They are the fastest way to help someone understand your product, feature, or process - without scheduling a call or writing a long document.

A good explainer video is short, focused, and visual. You walk through the thing you are explaining while recording your screen, and the viewer follows along. No slides, no production crew, and with the right tools - no need to even record your own voice.

Why screen-recorded explainers beat traditional animation

Most people think “explainer video” means animation - cartoon characters, motion graphics, a voiceover artist. That can cost thousands of dollars and take weeks.

But for software products, a screen recording is more effective:

It shows the real product. Not an idealized mockup, but the actual UI your users will see.
It takes minutes, not weeks. Record, trim, share. You can make one during a coffee break.
It stays current. When the product changes, re-record it. Animation needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
It builds trust. Seeing the real product in action is more convincing than polished marketing.

What makes a great explainer video

Keep it under 2 minutes

If it takes longer than 2 minutes to explain, you are trying to explain too much. Break it into multiple videos, each covering one concept or feature.

Start with the outcome

Don’t start with “let me show you how to use the settings panel.” Start with “here’s how to set up auto-zoom so your recordings look professional.” Lead with what the viewer gets, then show how.

Direct attention where it matters

On a full-screen recording, important details are small. Tight Studio’s highlight and spotlight effect lets you dim the surrounding area and draw focus to the exact button or feature you are explaining. Adjust the intensity and feather to keep it looking clean - your viewer’s eyes go exactly where you want them without you saying “look over here in the top right corner.”

Let AI do the talking

Not everyone is comfortable narrating, and some explainers need a more polished tone than a live voiceover can deliver. Tight Studio’s AI voiceover lets you type your script and generate professional narration with multiple voice options. You can adjust speed and tone to match the pacing of your screen recording. This is especially useful if you need to create the same explainer in multiple languages - generate voiceovers in each language from the same script without hiring translators or voice talent.

Add captions

Many people watch videos on mute - in Slack, in email, on LinkedIn. Captions make your explainer accessible and watchable everywhere.

Recording your explainer with Tight Studio

Start by writing 3-5 bullet points of what you want to show - not a full script unless you plan to use AI voiceover. Set a branded background in Tight Studio so your recording looks polished without cleaning up your desktop first. Then select your recording area and hit record.

Don’t worry about mistakes on the first take. You can trim the beginning and end, cut long pauses, and use the spotlight effect to highlight key UI elements in the editor. Add text overlays for section titles or callouts, then layer in narration - either record with your mic, or type a script and generate AI voiceover. Generate captions with one click, and share via link directly in your help center, onboarding flow, docs, or landing page.

Where to use explainer videos

Help centers - A 60-second video answers questions faster than a 500-word article. Embed the shareable link right in the support article.
Onboarding flows - Drop explainers into your product’s onboarding sequence so new users see exactly what to do at each step.
Landing pages - Show your product in action right below the hero section.
Documentation - Embed videos alongside written docs. Some people read, some people watch - give them both.
Internal wikis - Explain a process to your team without scheduling a meeting.
Sales pages - Let prospects see the product working before they talk to sales.

Tips for better explainers

Record at the resolution your viewers will watch at. If the video will be embedded in a blog post at 720px wide, small text will be unreadable. Zoom and spotlight help with this.
Pause after key actions. Give the viewer a moment to absorb what just happened before moving on.
Use a consistent format. If you are making a series, keep the same branded background, same recording setup, same style. It builds recognition.
Re-record, don’t over-edit. If a section did not come out well, just re-record it. It is faster than trying to edit it into shape.
Try AI voiceover first. Even if you plan to narrate yourself, generating an AI voiceover from your script is a great way to check pacing and timing before you hit record.

Ready to make your first explainer? Download Tight Studio and try it free.