How can I position the control bar so it shows at the top instead of the bottom?
If you want to have the control bar default to the top of the recording frame, you can set that option by opening the recording settings as shown below.

Please note, however, that you cannot change the position of the control bar if you are recording in Full Screen mode.
First, open the Recorder and click the Settings icon.

This opens the Recorder Preferences dialog.
Use the drop-down list next to Control Bar to select On Top.

Click OK to save your changes.