WelcometoAMCap

Presentation

AMCapisasmallyetfullyfunctionalvideocaptureandpreviewapplicationcompatiblewithMicrosoftDirectShow(formerlyActiveMovie,hencethename).ItisbasedonthesampleAMCapsourcecodefromtheMicrosoftDirectX9SDK.Thiscustomversionaddsmanynewfeaturesincluding:

DVcamcorderplaybackandrecording

improvedMPEG-2playbackandrecording

improvedanalogTVtunersupport

stillcaptureinBMP,JPEGandPNGformats

optionalreal-timecompression(WindowsMediaoranyinstalledCODECs)

remembervideoinput,standard,sizeandmanyotheroptionsfromprevioussession

fullscreenmode

supportformulti-monitoranddeinterlacing(usingVMR9)

captionbarandmenuon/off

alwaysontopfeature

TheVMR-9optionenablesmulti-monitorsupport,zooming,aspectratioanddeinterlacingfeatures(MicrosoftDirectX9.0required.)

Limitationsofthedemoversion

Thedemonstrationversionwillstopafterabout15minutesofprevieworcaptureandstillcaptureislimitedto3snapshotspersession.

Howtoobtaintheunlimitedversion?

Ifaftertesting,youaresatisfiedwiththisversionofAMCapandyouwishtoobtainthefullyfunctionalversion,pleaseregisterattheURLbelow.

https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=4076-4

TheversionofAMCapthatyoureceiverightawayafteryourregistrationisfullyfunctionalanddoesnothavethelimitationsmentionedabove.

Copyright©NoëlDANJOU.Allrightsreserved.

KeyboardShortcuts

Applicationcontrol

Keys ActionsCtrl+C StartsavideocaptureCtrl+I Displayson-screeninformationifacrossbarisavailable

(VMR9only)Ctrl+L/Enter MakesastillcaptureCtrl+S SavedcapturedvideoCtrl+Z Togglesthezoom(VMR9only)Alt+Enter Togglesfull-screenmodeF1 OpensthehelpfileF9/mousewheel DecreasestheapplicationvolumeF10/mousewheel IncreasestheapplicationvolumeF11 TogglesmenubarandcaptiononandoffF12 Toggles"alwaysontop"state0..9 SelectsaTVprogramDel/Backspace CancelslasttypedprogramdigitPgDn/BrowserBackward

SelectspreviousTVprogram

PgUp/BrowserForward

SelectsnextTVprogram

- Selectspreviousvideoinput(ifmany)+ Selectsnextvideoinput(ifmany)Esc StopscurrentcaptureSpacebar Pausesorplaysthelivepreview

Devicecontrol

Keys ActionsCtrl+A/MediaPause PauseCtrl+F/MediaFastForward Fast-ForwardCtrl+P/MediaPlay PlayCtrl+R/MediaRecord Record

Ctrl+T/MediaStop StopCtrl+W/MediaRewind Rewind

Copyright©NoëlDANJOU.Allrightsreserved.

StillCapture

AMCapmakesitveryeasytocapturestillpicturesfromasupportedvideocapturesource(usuallyawebcam),oncetheprogramisconfigured,justhittheEnterkeyandastillpictureissavedtoyourharddrive.Followthe3stepsbelowtogetstarted.

1.Selectthedeviceandenablepreview

selectthevideocapturesource(e.g.yourwebcam)fromwhichyouwanttomakestillcapturesintheDevicesmenu.Thisisnotneededifyouonlyhaveonesource.

makesurethePreviewmodeisenabledintheOptions>Previewmenu(thisnowisthedefault).

2.Configuretheresolution

ifyourcapturesourcefeaturesaStillpin,forhigh-resolutionstillcaptures,clickOptions>StillCapturePin...toconfiguretheresolutionofthestillpictures(seenotes).Thisfeaturealsoallowsyoutousethetriggeronthedevicetocapturestills.

ifyourcapturesourcedoesnothavesuchafeature,theresolutionofthestillpicturesisthesameasforvideocapture.Inthatcase,youcanconfigureitfromtheOptions>VideoCapturePin...menu.

3.Captureandsavestillpictures

pressEnterorCtrl+Ltomakeastillcapture

ifthisisyourveryfirstcapture,aStillCapturepropertypagewillshow.Configurethefolderandfilename,selectafileformat(JPGrecommended)andclickOK.Ifyoudon'tdothatconfiguration,nopicturewillbesavedandyouwillbepromptedwiththispageagainwhenyouattempttocaptureanotherstill.

youcannowmakeasmanystillcapturesasyouwishyoujustbypressingtheEnterkey.

youcanclicktheFile>OpenFolder>StillCapture...menutoopenthefolderwherethestillcapturesarestored.

Notes:

theGdiPlus.dlllibraryisrequiredforstillcapturetowork.OnWindowsMillennium,98and2000,youneedtodownloadtheredistributablefileavailablehere(scrolldownandclicktheGDI+link)orhereandcopyittotheAMCapinstallationfolder.OnWindowsXPandlater,thisfileispreinstalledandyoudon'thaveanythingtodo.

inthisversionofAMCap,thestillcapturefeatureisalwaysavailableandactive(butinoverlaymode),soyoudon'thaveanythingtodotoenableitanymore.

withsomeolderwebcammodelsanddrivers,theuseoftheStillpinmaybeunreliableandpossiblyleadtobluescreens(BSOD).Inthatcase,cleartheoptionUseStillpininsteadofCapturepinwhenavailableinCapture>Setup...>StillCapturetabandusetheOptions>VideoCapturePin...menutoconfiguretheresolutionofthestills.

ifyouneedthestillstobecapturedtotheclipboardinsteadofafile,youcantoggletheCapture>StillCapture>Copytoclipboardmenuoptionatanytime.

ifyouwanttomakestillcapturesatregularintervalsorhands-free,youcanusetheCapture>StillCapture>DelayedSnapmenu,configureanintervalandclickStart.

Seealso

VideoCapture

Copyright©NoëlDANJOU.Allrightsreserved.

VideoPreview

PreviewingvideoinAMCapistheeasiestwayforyoutotryyourwebcamoranyvideocapturesource(aTVtuner,avideocapturecardordevice,aDVcamcorder,etc.)Ifyouonlyhaveonewebcamasavideocapturesource,youshouldactuallyhavenothingtoconfigurebutthevideopreviewsize.

1.Selectthevideosourceandsetvideoparameters

selectthevideocapturesource(e.g.yourwebcam)fromwhichyouwanttocapturevideointheDevicesmenu.Thisisnotneededifyouonlyhaveonesource.

inthecaseofananalogvideocapturesource,adjustthevideostandardfromtheOptions>VideoCaptureFilter...menu.

ifyourvideocapturesourceprovideshardwarecompression,youmayticktheOptions>MPEG2menuforbetterpreviewandcaptureperformances.(MPEG2isusuallyonlysupportedbysometunerandvideocapturecards.)

ifthevideocapturesourcehasmultipleinputs,selecttherightinputfromtheOptions>CrossbarVideoInputmenu.

2.Selecttheaudiosource(optional)

Ifyouwanttolistentoaudioaswell:

selecttheaudiocapturesourceintheDevicesmenu.

selecttherightaudioinputintheOptions>AudioInputmenu.

ifanOptions>CrossbarAudioInputmenuisavailable,makesuretherightaudioinputisselected.

or

ticktheCaptureaudiofromvideosourceoptionintheDevicesmenuifthevideocapturesourcealsoprovidesaudio(e.g.aTVtuneroraDVcamcorder.)Inthiscase,thepossiblyselectedaudiosourceisignored.

3.Enablethepreviewandchangethepreviewsize

ticktheOptions>Previewmenuifitisnotalreadyticked.

clicktheOptions>VideoPreviewPin...menutochangethepreviewsize.Ifthismenuisnotavailable,clicktheOptions>VideoCapturePin...menuinstead.

IfyourvideocapturesourceisananalogTVtuner,pleasecheckWatchingTVformoredetailsandtolearnhowtoconfiguretheTVprograms.

Seealso

KeyboardShortcuts

StillCapture

VideoCapture

WatchingTV

Copyright©NoëlDANJOU.Allrightsreserved.

VideoCapture

Gettingstarted

WhenyouuseAMCapforthefirsttime,itisrecommendedthatyougotothesetuponcetoconfiguregeneraloptions:clickCapture>Setup...thenreviewalltheoptions(notonlyforvideocapture).

TheVideoCapturetabholdsmostoptionstoenableandtomanagevideocapture.Youhaveatleasttochoosewhetheryouwanttocapturetoapre-allocatedfile(recommendedforslowPCs)ortounallocatedfiles,thenconfigurethefolderandthefilename.

Ifyouchoosetocapturetoapre-allocatedfile,selectafilenamethenclicktheAllocate...buttontocreatetheoptimizedfile.

Bydefault,capturedvideowillbeuncompressed.Thebenefitisthatyougetthebestpicturequalityandyoucanchoosetocompressthefileatalatertimewiththebestpossibleresults.Youcanalsochoosetomakereal-timecompression(ifyouhaveaPCpowerfulenough).Toenableandtocontrolcompression,clicktheCompressiontabandadjusttheoptions.

ClickOKtovalidate.

Capturingvideo

1.Selectthevideosourceandenablepreview

selectthevideocapturesource(e.g.yourwebcam)fromwhichyouwanttocapturevideointheDevicesmenu.Thisisnotneededifyouonlyhaveonesource.

ticktheOptions>Previewmenuifitisnotalreadyticked.Pleasenotethatpreviewisnotrequiredatallbutitwillbeneededmostofthetimetocontrolwhatisactuallycaptured.

2.Selecttheaudiosourceandenableaudiocapture(optional)

Ifyouwanttocaptureaudioaswell:

ticktheCapture>CaptureAudiooption.

selecttheaudiocapturesource(e.g.yoursoundcard)intheDevicesmenu(seenotes).

ifanOptions>CrossbarAudioInputmenuisavailable,makesurethetuneraudioinputisselected.

selecttherightaudioinputintheOptions>AudioInputmenu.

or

ticktheCaptureaudiofromvideosourceoptionintheDevicesmenuifthevideocapturesourcealsoprovidesaudio(e.g.aTVtuneroraDVcamcorder.)Inthiscase,thepossiblyselectedaudiosourceisignored.

3.Captureandsavevideo

clickCapture>StartCapturethenOK,orsimplyhitCtrl+Ctostartthecapture.

stopthecaptureusingtheCapture>StopCapturemenuorhittheESCkey.

ifyouconfiguredAMCaptocapturetoapre-allocatedfile(inCapture>Setup...>VideoCapturetab),clicktheFile>SaveCapturedVideo...menutoexportthevideoyoujustcapturedandbeforemakinganewcapture.

youcanclicktheFile>OpenFolder>VideoCapture...menutoopenthefolderwherethevideofilesarestored.

Notes:

exportingthevideofromthepre-allocatedfilemaybealongandboringprocesssoifyouhaveafastPC,youmayprefertoconfigureAMCaptocapturetounallocatedtime-stampedfiles.Thatlatteroptionwillcreateanewfileeverytimeyoustartacapture.

ifyouwanttocapturevideousingtheWindowsMedia9(WMV9)compression,youwillhavetodownloadandtoinstalltheredistributableWindowsMediaFormatcomponent.YoucandownloadthefilebyclickingtheHelp>RedistributableComponents>WindowsMediaFormatmenu.

Seealso

KeyboardShortcuts

VideoPreview

StillCapture

Copyright©NoëlDANJOU.Allrightsreserved.

WatchingTV

WhenananalogTVtunerisinstalledinyoursystem,AMCapcanworkasanadvancedTVset.AllyouhavetodoisconfiguretheTVprogramsonceandyouareset.

GettingStarted

TheinitialconfigurationoftheTVprogramsisneededtoeasilyselectandnavigatefromprogramtoprogramlikeaTVset.Thisneedstobecompletedonlyoncebutyoucanredoitatwill.Followthenextfewstepstoconfiguretheprograms:

SelecttheTVtunertouseintheDevicesmenu.

ClicktheOptions>TVProgramsmenu.

IntheTVProgramsdialogbox,clicktheScan...button.

IntheTVProgramScannerdialogbox,selectthevideostandardoftheTVprogramsavailableinyourarea(e.g.NTSCinJapanandtheUSA,SECAMLinFrance,PALinmostpartsofEurope,etc.)intheStandarddrop-downlist.

ClicktheStartbuttontoinitiatethedetectionoftheavailableTVprograms.Aprogressbarletsyouknowtheadvancementofthescanning.

ClicktheClosebuttontogobacktotheTVProgramsdialogboxoncethescanningisstoppedandtheTVprogramsarefound.

Note:youcanselectanothervideostandardandstartanewscanincaseyouarenearsomeboundariesandyoureceiveforeignprogramsinyourarea.Theprogramsfoundineveryscanareaddedattheendofthecurrentlistandwon'treplacethecurrentprograms.

NowthatyouhavealistoftheavailableTVprograms,youcan:

rearrangetheorderoftheprogramsusingtheMoveUpandMoveDownbuttons.

deleteduplicateprogramsorprogramswithpoorqualityusingtheDeletebutton.

edittheprogramsusingtheEditbuttontogivethemaname.

ClickOKtosavethecurrentlistofprograms.

WatchingTV

1.Selectthevideosourceandsetvideoparameters

selectthevideocapturesource(e.g.aTVtunercard)fromwhichyouwanttowatchTVintheDevicesmenu.Thisisnotneededifyouonlyhaveonesource.

ifanOptions>CrossbarVideoInputmenuisavailable,makesurethatthetunervideoinputisselected.ItisalsorecommendedtotickSelectRelatedInputinthatsamemenutoautomaticallyswitchtotherightaudioinput.

ifyourvideocapturesourceprovideshardwarecompression,youmayticktheOptions>MPEG2menuforbetterpreviewandcaptureperformances.

2.Selecttheaudiosource(optional)

IftheMPEG2optionisnotenabledornotsupportedbythevideocapturesource,youmayhavetodothefollowingsteps:

selecttheaudiocapturesourcecorrespondingtoyourtunercardintheDevicesmenu.

selecttherightaudioinputintheOptions>AudioInputmenu.

ifanOptions>CrossbarAudioInputmenuisavailable,makesurethetuneraudioinputisselected.

3.WatchliveTV

IfyoualreadycompletedthestepsfromtheGettingStartedsectionabovetoconfiguretheprograms,youarereadyotherwisenowistherighttimetoconfiguretheprograms.

Towatchaprogram,firstmakesurethePreviewmodeisenabled:

ticktheOptions>Previewmenuifitisnotalreadyticked.

Nowyoucanuseeitherthekeyboardorpossiblysomemousebuttonsorthekeysofacompatibleremotecontrolunittochangethecurrentprogram:

pressthe0to9keysonthenumerickeypadorontheremotecontrolunittotypethenumberoftheprogramtoswitchto.

pressthePageUporPageDownkeysonthekeyboardtorespectivelyselectthenextorthepreviousprogram.Youcandothesamefromacompatibleremotecontrolunit,usingtheNextProgramandPreviousProgramkeys.

presstheBrowserBackwardorBrowserForwardkeysonthekeyboard(thesekeysaresometimesmappedtosomemousebuttonsaswell)torespectivelyselectthenextorthepreviousprogram.

youcanpossiblycontrolthevolumeleveloftheapplication,byusingtheF9(down)andF10(up)keysorthemousewheel.

Note:

youhavetoenabletheVideoMixingRenderer(VMR)featureifyouwantthenameoftheprograms(orthechannelnumbersifnonameisconfigured)toshowon-screenwhenyouswitchfromoneprogramtoanother.YouenabletheVMRfromtheCapture>Setup...menu>Optionstab>Videorendererdrop-downlist.

Seealso

KeyboardShortcuts

VideoCapture

VideoPreview

Copyright©NoëlDANJOU.Allrightsreserved.

FrequentlyAskedQuestions

Forthemostup-to-datelistofquestionspleasetakealookathttp://noeld.com/amfaq.htm

1.IcapturedavideousingAMCapbutwhenItrytoprocessitinRegiStaxIgeta"FailedtodecompressAVIframe"message.IsitpossibletocaptureuncompressedvideowithAMCap?

ThismessageisnotdirectlyrelatedtoAMCap.BydefaultAMCapcapturesuncompressedvideo.Thismessageusuallymeansthatthe.avifileistoolargeandexceeds1GBinsize.InRegiStax,trytouncheckasmanyframesasneededfromtheendofthelistandtryagainoruseWindowsMovieMakeroranothervideoeditortotrimthefile.PleasevisittheRegiStaxwebsiteifyouneedfurtherassistancewiththisprogram.

2.Ijustinstalledawebcambutitwon'twork.WhenIenablepreview,IonlygetagreenorablackscreenorIsimplygetamessagethatIdon'thaveavideocapturehardwareinstalledor"Cannotaddvidcaptofiltergraph,hr=0x80040275".HowdoIgetmywebcamtowork?

Asusual,theremaybealotofreasonsincludingtheworseone,afailingdevice.Ontheotherhand,youcanoftenfixsuchanissuewithoneormoreofthefollowingsteps:

firstoffmakesurethatyourcomputerandWindowsmeettherequirementsofyourwebcam(seetheusermanualorthemanufacturer'swebsite)

unplugyourwebcam,rebootyoursystem,plugyourwebcamandtryagain

unplugallotherUSBdevicesconnectedtoyourPCandtryagain.Ifthatworks,plugbacktheUSBdevicesonebyonetoidentifywhich

oneisconflicting.

unplugyourwebcamandfullyuninstallthecurrentdriversfromControlPanel>AddorRemoveProgramsicon.Rebootyoursystemthentrytoreinstallthedrivers.Onlyplugthewebcamafterinstallationiscompleteandpossiblyrebooting(butiftoldtodootherwise.)

checkwhethernewdriversareavailableforyourwebcamonthemanufacturer'swebsiteandpossiblyinstallthem

trymyWebcamDiagnosticsassistantandseewhaterrors(ifany)arereported

Forissuesrelatedtopreview,youmayalsotryto:

installthelatestDirectXruntimefromWindowsUpdate

installthelatestversionofthedriversofyourgraphiccardavailableonthemanufacturer'swebsite

3.WhenImakecapturesthereisnosoundrecorded.HowdoIenableaudiocapture?

Herearethemostcommonoptionsandfeaturestoconfigure:

InAMCap:

clicktheDevicesmenuandmakesureasoundcardorawebcammicrophoneisticked

inCapturemenu,tickCaptureAudio

Inthesystem:

double-clicktheVolumeiconneartheclockonthetaskbar(theiconlookslikeaspeaker,itmaybehiddeninthatcaseyouhavetoenableditfromtheControlPanel)

inVolumeControlapplet,clickOptions>Propertiesmenu

selecttheMixerdeviceifyouhavemany

clickRecording

makesureMicrophoneorLineIn(oranyotheraudioinputfromwhichyouwanttocapture)isticked

clickOK

inRecordingControlapplet,ticktheSelectboxoftheaudioinputfromwhichyouwanttocaptureaudio

adjusttheVolumelevelofthatinput

4.Thepreviewismirroredorflipped.HowdoIfixthis?

ThisiseitherduetothechosenColorSpace/Compressionoranissuewiththedriverofthevideocapturesource.Youcantrythefollowingsteps:

clickOptions>VideoCapturePin...andchooseanotherColorSpace/Compression

Trytoreinstallthedriversofyourvideocapturesource(possiblyyourgraphiccard)

installthelatestversionofthedriversofthevideocapturesourcefromthemanufacturer'swebsite

Alternatively,youmayusetheView>FlipViewmenu.

5.Thereisnosoundatallduringthepreview.HowdoIfixthis?

FirstmakesurethattherightaudiodeviceistickedintheDevicesmenu.

ClicktheOptions>AudioCaptureFilter...menu

UnderPinLine,selecttheappropriateinput(iftherearemany)thentickEnable

AdjustthevolumewiththePinLineInputMixslider

ClickOKtoapplythenewsettings

Note:youcanalsoadjusttheaudiopropertiesfromtheVolumeapplet(inthenotificationarea,formerlythesystemtray)Options>Propertiesmenu>Recordingoption(seeFAQ#3).

6.WhenItrytopreviewduringarecording,Igetanerror"0x80070057"?Whatdoesthatmean?

Theerrorcodesimplymeansinvalidparameter.Itdoesnotgivemuchclueaboutwhatfails.Thiscanbeduetothecapturedriverorthegraphicdriversoranincompatibilityinthecurrentsettings.Trythesefewsteps:

firstrestartyoursystemandmakeanewtest,iftheproblempersiststrytheotherstepsbelow

clearCapture>Still>Enable

clearView(orWindow)>VMR9>Enable

clearOptions>MPEG-2ifyourcapturesourceisnotMPEG-2

Tryagain.Iftheproblempersists,visitthewebsitesofthemanufacturersofbothyourcapturesourceandyourdisplaycardandcheckifupdateddriversareavailable.Ifsomenewdriversareavailable,restartyoursystemandtrytoinstallthem.

IfyouarenotusingthelatestupdateofDirectX,youmayalsoconsiderinstallingitfromWindowsorMicrosoftUpdate.

7.Igetanerror(possibly0x80070057)whenIclickView>FlipView>Flip,MirrororRotateandtheviewisnotflippedormirrored?WhatcanIdotofliptheview?

Theerrorcodesimplymeansinvalid(orunsupported)parameter.Thedriverofyourvideosourcemaynotsupportflippingandmirroring,thisisnotarequiredfeature.TryusingtheVMR9instead:clickView>VMR9>Enable.

8.WhatisVMR9andwhataretherequirements?

VMR9meansVideoMixingRendererversion9.ItisanoptimizedandenhancedvideorendererprovidedwithDirectX9.0andlater.IftheoptionisgrayedoutintheViewmenu,youneedtoinstallthelatestDirectX9.0runtimeavailablefromtheWindowsorMicrosoftUpdatewebsite.

9.ThefilesIcaptureddonotplayafteracertainsizeonmyWindows98system.Whatarethefilesizelimits?

ThefilesizelimitdoesnotonlydependontheinstalledWindowssystembutalsoonthefilesystemwhichiseitherFAT16,FAT32orNTFS.Thesizemayalsobelimitedbytheunderlyingcapturetechnology.Thecommonfilesizelimitsarelikethis:

Filesystem FilesizelimitFAT16(Windows9x/ME) 2GB-1byteFAT16(WindowsNTandlater) 4GB-1byteFAT32 4GB-1byteNTFS 2TB-1byte

10.WheneverItryandselectStillcapturemode(orPreviewwithselectingStillcaptureenabled),Igetthefollowingmessage:"CreateGrabber:CoCreateInstancefailed,hr=0x80040154".WhatdoesthatmeanandhowdoIgetstillcapturetowork?

TheerrormeansthattheSampleGrabber,asoftwarecomponentusedtomakethestillcaptures,isnotinstalledorregisteredinyoursystem.ThisusuallymeansthattheversionofDirectXinstalledonyourPCisoutdated.Tofixthisissue,gototheWindowsorMicrosoftUpdatewebsiteandinstallthelatestversionofDirectX.

11.Thepreviewisinblackandwhite.HowdoIturnthecolormodeon?

TheremaybedifferentreasonsforaB/Wdisplay:

IfyouhaveavideocapturecardthatsupportsdifferentstandardslikePALorNTSC,makesurethatitissettothecorrectmodefortheinputsignal.Tochangeit,gotoOptions>VideoCaptureFilter...andsettheVideoStandard(PALinEurope,SECAMinFrance,NTSCinUSandJapan,etc.)

Ifyouchangedmanysettingsandyoucannotrememberwhichones,youcansimplydeletetheAMCap.inifileafterclosingtheprogram.IfB/Wpreviewremainsaftertheprogramisrestarted,makesurethatthebrightnessandcontrastlevelsarecorrect.Todoso,clicktheOptions>VideoCaptureFilter...menuandadjustthebrightness/contrastlevels.IfyouhaveaRestoreFactoryDefaultsbutton,justclickit.AlsoifaBlackandWhitecheckboxisavailable,clearitifitisticked.

Finallycheckwhetherthelatestversionofthedriversofyourvideocapturesourceisinstalledinyoursystem,somedriverssimplydon'trestoreordon'treportthedefaultsettingscorrectly.

12.I'dliketocapturesomevideoinPAL60Hzat30fpsbutAMCapdoesnotallowmetosetaframerateabove25fps.Isthereaworkaround?

Bydefault,PALisavideostandardat50Hzand25framespersecond(fps).Tocaptureat30fps,youhavetoselectPAL_60intheVideoStandarddrop-downlistfromtheOptions>VideoCaptureFilter...menu.YoucanthengotoOptions>VideoCapturePin...andsetFrameRateto30.IfPAL_60isnotavailableinthelist,thedriverofyourvideocapturesourceorthehardwareitselfmaynotsupportit.

13.Igetthefollowingerroronstartup:"STIRegisterApplication:couldnotinstantiateIStillImage,hr=0x80040154".IpressOKandeverythingrunsfine.HowdoIfixthis?

YouaremostprobablyusingaWindowsversionthatdoesnotsupportSTI(e.g.Windows2000andolder).Toavoidthemessageatstartup,clear

Capture>Still>RegisterforSTIEvents.

14.Whatisthe"capturefile"?WhatfiledoIhavetoselect?

Thecapturefileisasingleworkingfilethatisnotfragmentedandthatwillbeusedbytheprogramandtheunderlyingsystem(DirectShow)totemporarilystorethecapturedvideo.Aftereverycapture,youcansavetheactualvideobyusingtheFile>SaveCaptureVideo...menu.

Bydefault,thecapturefileiscalledcapture.aviandislocatedintherootofyourprimaryharddrive,inotherwordsitusuallyisc:\capture.avi.Thismustbeanewfile,don'tselectanexistingfileotherwiseitwillbeoverwrittenduringthecaptureorthefileallocation.

15.WhenIenabledtheWindowsMedia9SeriescompressionandIattempttocaptureavideofile,Ialwaysgetthefollowingerror:"Cannotsetoutputfile,hr=0x80040154".WhatdoesthaterrormeanandhowdoIfixit?

TheerrormeansthatDirectShowisunabletolocatetherequiredWindowsMediaASFWriterFilter.ThiscomponentisnotinstalledbydefaultbythesystemandisonlyavailableasaredistributablecomponentaspartoftheWindowsMediaFormatinstaller.YoucandownloadtheinstallerhereorclickHelp>RedistributableComponents>WindowsMediaFormatinAMCap.

16.Whileinstallingmywebcam,amessagepoppedupandtoldmethatthedriversdidnotpasstheWindowsLogotestingandnowAMCapsaysthatnovideocapturesourceisinstalled.What'swrongandhowdoIpossiblyfixthisissue?

DriversthatpasstheWindowsLogotestingaretestedandthendigitallysignedbyMicrosoft,thisensuresthatthedriversmeetthequalityandstabilityrequirements.Unsigneddriversdon'tusuallymeanthattheyarepoororunreliable,thatjustmeansthattheywerenottestedbyMicrosoft.Becauseunstabledriversmayleadthesystemtocrashandgiveblue

screens(BSOD),thenewest64-biteditionsofWindowsmayrequiresigneddriverstoensureoverallstability.

Ingeneral,itisrecommendedthatyouvisitthewebsiteofthemanufacturertogetthelatestsigneddriversforyourdevices.Onlyinstallunsigneddriversifyoudon'thaveabetterchoice.

Wheninstallingunsigneddrivers,adialogboxpopsupwithamessagelikethis:

HardwareInstallation

<yourwebcamdriver>

hasnotpassedWindowsLogotestingtoverifyitscompatibilitywithWindowsXP(...)

Thisdialoghastwobuttons:ContinueAnywayandSTOPInstallation.IfyouhittheSTOPInstallationbuttonorpresstheEnterkey,thedriverswon'tinstall,thisisprobablywhathappenedinyourcase.

Ifthemanufacturerdoesnothavesigneddrivers,completethefollowingstepstomakesurethatyoursystemisnotconfiguredtoneverinstallunsigneddriversoftwarebydefault:

ClickStart

right-clickMyComputer

clickProperties

clicktheHardwaretab

clicktheDriverSigningbutton

tickWarnandMakethisactionthesystemdefault

clickOKtwicetoclosethepropertypages

Youwillnowbewarnedwheninstallingunsigneddriversbutthiswon'tpreventyoufrominstallingthem.Onceyoudidthis,runthedriversinstallationagain.WhentheHardwareInstallationdialogboxpopsupagain,clickContinueAnywaytocompletethedriversinstallation.

Copyright©NoëlDANJOU.Allrightsreserved.

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