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AMCap - Version 9.11 README.TXT
Copyright � 1997-2004, Microsoft Corporation December 2006
Copyright � 2004-2006, No�l Danjou <webmaster@noeld.com>
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About AMCap
-----------
AMCap is a small yet fully functional video capture application.
It is a program much like Microsoft VidCap but which adds support for
DirectShow (formerly ActiveMovie, hence the name.) It is based on the sample
AMCap source code from the Microsoft DirectX 9 SDK. This custom version adds
many new features including:
- DV camcorder playback and recording
- improved MPEG-2 playback and recording
- improved analog TV tuner support
- still capture in BMP, JPEG and PNG formats
- optional real-time compression (Windows Media or any installed CODECs)
- remember video input, standard, size and many other options from previous
session
- full screen mode
- support for multi-monitor and deinterlacing (using VMR9)
- caption bar and menu on/off
- always on top feature
The registered version includes a new stillcap application that allows you
to easily make still captures from a script, an application, a command prompt,
the task scheduler, etc.
Important note:
GdiPlus.dll is required. On Windows 2000, 98 and ME, you need to
install the redistributable file available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/sdkupdate/psdkredist.htm
(click the GDI+ link)
or
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
FamilyID=6a63ab9c-df12-4d41-933c-be590feaa05a&DisplayLang=en
(copy and paste this link on a single line)
Registration and redistribution
-------------------------------
Even though this version of the program is fully functional, I beg you please
to register to show your support and your interest. Your support would allow
me to add more features and to possibly fix bugs.
To register click the "Help" > "AMCap on the web" menu then on the web page
click the green "Register Now" button and follow the instructions.
Computer magazine publishers are welcome to redistribute the unregistered
version of the application on their complimentary or monthly CDs. Any other
redistribution of the application with commercial products is strictly forbidden
without my written permission. Please contact me for a license agreement (see
"Contact details" at the end of this file.)
Notes about graphic cards with Video Ports (VP)
-----------------------------------------------
- some features (Still capture and the VMR9/multi-monitor features) bypass
the Video Port on such graphic cards so the rendering may be visibly slower
than with the use of the fully accelerated VP. For better performances, use
a graphic card compatible with DirectX 9 and VMR9.
- graphic cards with a VP require the Video Port Manager filter (only
available in Windows XP and later) to make still capture and the
VMR9/multi-monitor feature possible.
Command-line parameters
-----------------------
/capture
Automatically starts capturing video as soon as AMCap starts.
(requires preconfiguration)
/close
Closes the application when the still capture is done or once the time-limit
of the video capture is reached.
/debug
Registers the graph with the Running Object Table so that GraphEdit can
connect to it.
/fullscreen
Starts AMCap in fullscreen mode
/nocaption
Starts AMCap without the caption and menu bars.
/snap[:<delay>]
Makes a still capture as soon as AMCap starts or after the optional delay
in milliseconds. (requires preconfiguration)
/unregister
Deregisters AMCap so that it does not accept STI events anymore.
Errors and solutions
--------------------
* CreateGrabber: CoCreateInstance failed, hr=0x80040154
Your version of DirectX is too old. Please upgrade to DirectX 9.0c or later.
* Cannot render video capture stream, hr=0x80070057
The selected video capture source may be in use by another application.
History
-------
* December 4, 2006 - Version 9.11 (Build 109.4)
- added "Remember camera controls" option to save and to restore camera information
like pan, tilt, zoom, exposure, etc.
- added TV programs management (when an analog TV tuner is available)
- fixed an issue that could lead to invalid values being displayed in some error
messages
- added a manifest for Windows Vista's UAC support
- added a digital signature to the executable
- added "Still Capture Pin..." option to configure high resolution if a Still pin
is available
- added volume control and bargraph (VMR9 required)
- added simultaneous MPEG-2 preview and capture
- added support for Type-1 and Type-2 DV capture
- added crosshair option due to numerous requests
- fixed a bug that could prevent compressor property pages from showing in Setup >
Compression tab
- added support for some media and remote control keys
- fixed menu bar on/off option always resizing the window to default size
- fixed an issue that prevented the preview window to be shrinked to a size smaller
than the default video resolution
- fixed a possible crash when a still capture is requested and GDI+ is not installed
- improved error reporting, you should get less "(error message unavailable)"
- improved still capture, requires less configuration and possibly better
performances
- improved overall MPEG-2 support, more tuners or capture cards should be supported
- improved MPEG-2 capture so that no external dump filter is required
- improved backward compatibility for capture sources with a video port
- the cursor is now automatically hidden in fullscreen mode
* June 21, 2006 - Version 9.10 (Build 88.3)
- fixed TV channel selection not working
- improved overall TV tuner management and support
- improved DV camcorder support
- improved capture file management, you're no more required to preallocate
a capture file anymore
- added new Setup with tabs (Capture > Setup... menu). Setup now gives
access to some options that were only accessible from the Registry
- added option to change OSD color
- added TV Channel management
- added TV audio menu
- added audio input and crossbar audio input menus
- added Synchro Start to start/stop DV camcorder playback at the same time
as the capture in one click
- added support for AVI compression and CODEC selection (experimental)
(see Capture > Setup... > Compression tab)
- added a new help file
- fixed many bugs
* March 2, 2006 - Version 9.08 (Build 75.3)
- added an installer for easy installation and removal
* February 15, 2006 - Version 9.08 (Build 75.3)
- added a new option in Capture > Still menu to always save the still captures
to the same file. Every capture will overwrite the same file instead of
creating a new timestamped file
- added a new "Auto Switch Inputs" option in Options > Video Input menu. If
the video device has more than 1 input, AMCap will automatically switch
from one input to the next one every 10 seconds
* January 4, 2006 - Version 9.08 (Build 70.3)
- fixed: the window had a wrong aspect ratio after being minimized and then
restored
* December 13, 2005 - Version 9.08 (Build 68.2)
- fixed the settings were not saved in some exit conditions
- set both video capture and preview resolutions to the same size at startup
