How to record and save videos from the cam

Pointers on Using ScreenVirtuoso Pro for video capture. Please note, everything I know about this program I learned from our helpful and well informed friends here and at Wavelit.

ScreenVirtuoso Pro (free version) lets you tape videos without restriction to length. On recommendation by a fellow poster, I downloaded the DivX codec and use that for recording.

I use the rectangle you draw around the portion of the screen you want to record. My record rate is set to 10 and playback rate 10 fps. Key frame every 100 frames. Compressor is the DivX 5.2.1 codec I downloaded.

I usually record sound and my sound settings are 16 bits, Stereo, samples per second 22050, Interleave every 100 milliseconds.

Quality of the original video is exceptional but they do require larger file size but not nearly as much as the Fraps recordings. I usually use Windows Movie Maker to compress them down using the Best for my Computer or under other options the High Quality Small setting which makes them even smaller in file size but the quality goes down. Smaller file size makes them easier to download on Photobucket and YouTube.

VirtualDub is an excellent free program to reduce the Fraps or other videos that are huge in size. I use the Video, Compression setting of either DivX or Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V1.

Once Compressed, under File, I "Save as Avi", name my recording and save to where ever I like. Afterwards I delete the original Huge file of the fraps recording. Remember too, empty your Recycle Bin or the huge files will still be hogging hard drive space.

Note: Photobucket free accounts only allow 5 minutes or less videos. Paid accounts allow 10 minute videos. Youtube allows up to 10 minute videos. Both have restrictions on file size.

I am always willing to help others so just PM me if you have questions. :)

How to record and save video of the streaming cams:

I use Bulet's Screen Recorder (BSR) to capture my video. There is a freeware version that puts a little icon in the corner of the video. As you use it longer and longer they add more and more icons. It just so happened I liked the program so much, I bought my copy. Very good person Bulet is, responds personally when you have a question and is very helpful trying to get you on track if you have a problem. The link to BSR. Once I downloaded and installed BSR, it is pretty self explanatory how to use it.

Here is how I have my settings:

1.

Click on Configuration and the side window opens. Page 1 is where you choose to record audio (which I do), and determine video speed and video dimension. I have left the video speed at the default of 10/1 sec, and Auto for playback. Video dimension is at 100% which is default.

2.

Page 2 deals with Video compression, and the Microsoft video 1 is default. I have put my quality at 85%, but I think 75% is default. I leave the audio settings as they are, in my case they are Realtek HD Audio rear output (my computer system sound) and interleave every 100 frames is checked. I don't mess with Subtitle settings, Hot keys and edit recorded movie I don't mess with.

3.

On page 3 I have put a check in Enable multi file recording, and put 1500 MB in the AVI size to record to new file (that is upped from default I think). From this page you can access the other settings tab.

4.

Pretty obvious what I have checked on other settings. The check on Modify video dimensions to multiples of 4 was checked by default. I left that on. Everything is more or less default on here, but you can make any changes you want to.

On page 3 if you run the advisor, it will tell you levels you could use to make your video smaller, but I don't do that as I want as high a quality as i can get. You can restore defaults from here, get help etc.

Now to capture a video, open your BSR and click on select source on the main page. Move the cursor over the window you want to use to capture your video. It will show up as a red box and moves where ever your mouse moves. When you have it positioned over the source, hit Enter to choose. Now you are ready to go. When you see something or hear something approaching, click on either the red record button or the picture of the video camera. The ll double lines is pause, the solid box is stop and the arrow to right is play. (Remember if you hit play, it will open in what ever you have set up as your default media player, and if you are watching the stream from that source, it will bump you from the stream.) When you stop recording, it will bring up a page telling you it has recorded and how long, click ok. To save your video click on the little floppy next to <<configuration>>

BSR also takes still shots, and you can decide what format to save them as and where to save them. Will get more into that later. Next post how I compress and save my videos for uploading onto the web.

This is a video I made to help others with learning how to use Windows Movie Maker to compress and edit movies.
The steps are more or less as follows:
1. Open Windows Media Maker and on the left screen are the possibilities. I go to import video, and direct the computer to Windows/program files/Bulent's Screen Recorder and find the video I am looking for.

2. Once the video has loaded into the program, I drag the frames down onto the storyboard at the bottom. I play the video, stopping and cutting and removing parts that need to go, editing the video.

3. Once I am done editing, I click on :Save to my Computer:.

4. Next screen you are first asked to name your video, I normally use the date/time and subject.

5. Just below where you name the video is where you tell windows to store your video project. I have created a folder in my Documents/My Video folder called AfriCam where I store all of mine.

6. When you click next, the screen wants you to choose a compression level. You can use any of those listed, experiment and see what gives you the best video with the smallest file possible. I use either "High quality video small", or "High quality video NTSC" to compress mine. The NTSC results in a much larger file, but it plays better on my photobucket account and some others. It also takes longer to compress so use what works best for you.

The last step you need to do is upload the video the the web. I use YouTube for most of mine, also my photobucket account. Once you have uploaded your video, post it in the streaming cam video & sound recording section of the forum, find the thread for that week and post it.

Now, get out there and practice! Any questions I will be happy to help as much as I'm able.
Good Luck

This comment has been moved here.

OK were stumped. We use Bulents, Virtuso pro and for some reason on both our PC's it will not record the live feed. We tested them out to see what the problem was by recording something off of you tubes and it recorded. We went back to the live stream tried again and nothing. We un-installed the programs and re-installed them and still cannot record the live feed.

ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We are completely baffled. We just checked all our setting you posted above for the bulents program and we have them right.

Ms Charlie, check you video acceleration for your machines. In my case ...
Windows XP :: right click on the desktop, properties, to settings tab, click advanced, to troubleshoot, and there you can change the acceleration. Mine is working on the third mark from the left. Go lower if you need to and keep everything else running smooth. Be sure and click apply and back out of each window by clicking ok to save your settings. Good luck

Auntie Lyn wrote:

Ms Charlie, check you video acceleration for your machines. In my case ... Windows XP :: right click on the desktop, properties, to settings tab, click advanced, to troubleshoot, and there you can change the acceleration. Mine is working on the third mark from the left. Go lower if you need to and keep everything else running smooth. Be sure and click apply and back out of each window by clicking ok to save your settings. Good luck

OK going to try this. It just doesn't make sense that we can record everything else but our very own waterhole grrr. On my way to try what you suggested. THANK YOU.

Ms Charlie, I think you tried this when I posted the instructions before for you on the hardware accelerator.

Yes I did but I gave it another shot. I SO did NOT want to bother you with this after the week you have had.

This is just ridiculous. It records everything BUT the live stream. How in heck is that possible?

Darn Ms Charlie... that must be so frustrating. I'm really baffled now.

Aquila wrote:

Darn Ms Charlie... that must be so frustrating. I'm really baffled now.

OK we just did all this on all 5 pc's. It still won't record the live stream. How is this possible. You know it did before the kids recorded piles of the feed. Now for some reason this happened. we un-installed ALL of it, re-installed it all, and still no go on the live stream grrrr.

Aquila you can NEVER get sick or leave cause we need ya BAD. LOL.

Ms Charlie wrote:

Auntie Lyn wrote:

Ms Charlie, check you video acceleration for your machines. In my case ... Windows XP :: right click on the desktop, properties, to settings tab, click advanced, to troubleshoot, and there you can change the acceleration. Mine is working on the third mark from the left. Go lower if you need to and keep everything else running smooth. Be sure and click apply and back out of each window by clicking ok to save your settings. Good luck

OK going to try this. It just doesn't make sense that we can record everything else but our very own waterhole grrr. On my way to try what you suggested. THANK YOU.

Third mark from the left....are's is not coming up like that. the third on ours says Compress contents to save disc space the one that came up ticked off is For fast searching, allow Indexing service to index the folder....that is the one that was ticked off..

Any suggestions now...?

Ok we are just waiting  for something to walk across the waterhole to test this out....here kitty kitty kitty.....LOL.

Aquila you won't believe this. We went in and did everything I posted above. Get this.....we just pulled up wavelit, pushed record and it DID. Went back to the africam.com live feed, and nothing. Now how in heck is that possible.grrrrrrr

Auntie Lyn wrote:

Ms Charlie, check you video acceleration for your machines. In my case ... Windows XP :: right click on the desktop, properties, to settings tab, click advanced, to troubleshoot, and there you can change the acceleration. Mine is working on the third mark from the left. Go lower if you need to and keep everything else running smooth. Be sure and click apply and back out of each window by clicking ok to save your settings. Good luck

FIXED: I feel like a complete idiot... You and Aquila were dead on. I just didn't see what it was you were telling me. MacMac just stepped me through it by phone and sure enough it was the accelerator. What I thought that was was not what it was grrr. It was so simple to fix, I feel like a COMPLETE idiot...

What fixed it was this. Right click on my wallpaper, then properties, than advanced, than troubleshoot, and THERE was what you guys were talking about. Man was it easy and only took me a year to figure it out.... MacMac didn't even laugh at me...that helped..

So....I'm up and running and can record again. THANK YOU ALL for your help.

I have something weird going on when I record from the cams. After I record and go to play back. It plays, but its playing upside down!! lolol  everything is playing upside down.. could anyone tell me why this is happenming please..