Ask HN: How do people create those sleek looking demos for startups?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Tools for “sleek” startup demos

  • Many commenters identify ScreenStudio as the archetypal tool for these smooth cursor/zoom web demos; praised for one‑time licensing (though actually yearly updates) and Mac-only.
  • Other dedicated demo/video tools mentioned: Arcade, Kite, Yarn, Supademo, ScreenRun, Loom, Tella, Descript, Veed, Camtasia, ScreenFlow, CleanShot X, OBS, Kdenlive, Shotcut, VN Editor, iMovie, Keynote, Davinci Resolve, Capcut, Rotato (3D device mockups), Remotion (code‑driven video), RecordOnce, DemoTime.
  • Hardware mixing: Blackmagic ATEM Mini recommended for live multi-camera pitches, though overkill for simple cursor/zoom demos.
  • For interactive product tours or in‑product guidance: Arcade, Supademo, driver.js, Journey.js.
  • For terminal/CLI demos: asciinema, charmbracelet’s VHS, demosh.

Platform and pricing considerations

  • macOS has the richest ecosystem (ScreenStudio, Kite, CleanShot X, ScreenFlow, iMovie, Keynote).
  • Windows suggestions: Camtasia, Loom + Davinci, a ScreenStudio‑like Windows app (Canvid), browser-based tools (Descript, Veed, ScreenRun).
  • Linux users lean on OBS + Kdenlive or SimpleScreenRecorder; several note there’s no Linux equivalent to polished Mac tools.
  • Some highly valued one‑time or non‑subscription models; others note that API churn effectively forces recurring payments.

Techniques and workflow

  • Typical recipe: record high‑resolution screen (often 4K) then add zooms, pans, cursor smoothing, and cuts in an editor.
  • Browser-only workflows and Chrome extensions are popular, but extensions are harder to test/release frequently.
  • For iPhone, some tools can capture via cable from Mac; vertical‑video support is asked for but not clearly answered.

Effectiveness and critique

  • Several argue the referenced “sleek” demo is just jerky scrolling with gratuitous zooms and communicates little about the product.
  • Some find fast, flashy transitions nauseating; prefer slower, clearer walkthroughs.
  • Multiple posts stress that tools are secondary to storytelling: choosing the right use case, pacing, audience, and message.

Outsourcing and professional services

  • Strong sentiment that founders should often outsource high‑end product videos to specialists or agencies; it’s a distinct craft.
  • Pricing for bespoke demo videos is discussed as “low four figures” per video, with value‑based and conversation-driven pricing favored over public rate cards.

Supporting needs

  • A major pain point is generating realistic fake data for demos; suggestions include Faker.js and a synthetic data tool.
  • Some emphasize that interactive demos and analytics (e.g., Arcade), or pairing demos with support chat, can add more value than passive “scroll videos.”