AMCap

Version 9.21 (August 2012)
© 2004-2012, Noël DANJOU
All rights reserved.

Table of Contents
Welcome
Command-line Parameters
Known Issues and limitations
History
Latest Version
Registration
Redistribution
Contact Details

 

Welcome

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:

The registered version includes stillcap.exe, a console application that allows you to easily make still captures from a script, an application, a command prompt, the task scheduler, etc.

Command-line Parameters

Parameter Description
/capture Automatically starts video capture 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.
/snap[:<delay>] Makes a still capture as soon as AMCap starts or after the optional delay in milliseconds (requires preconfiguration).
/vdevice:<device> 0-based index of the video capture source to select. This parameter overrides the preconfigured video device.

Known issues and limitations

History

August 22, 2012 - Version 9.21 (Build 156.3)

  • maintenance build.
  • improves Windows 7 compatibility.

June 24, 2008 - Version 9.20 (Build 133.2)

  • adds an option to render the audio stream to the overlay feature.
  • transparent overlay movies can now play in a loop.
  • adds Color Space to Still Capture Pin properties.
  • adds new menu organization.
  • improves multi-monitor support.

June 17, 2008 - Version 9.20 (Build 132.2)

  • UNICODE only version.
  • Delayed snap feature fully rewritten and enhanced.
  • possibly supports more video capture devices.
  • removes UAC prompt in Vista.
  • fixes: STI registration was creating duplicate incomplete Registry keys. (use sticlean.exe to remove all invalid keys from the Registry).
  • fixes: OSD color changes were not applied.
  • fixes: TV programs with blank names were not loaded.
  • fixes copy of still images to the clipboard.
  • adds YUV mode if deinterlacing is available.
  • adds overlay feature to put a logo on-screen, to use a picture as comparator, etc.
  • adds support for additional video renderers (including custom video renderer).
  • adds the /vdevice parameter to override the video capture source specified in the .ini file.
  • adds AutoPlay registration to installation so that AMCap is listed when a video capture source is plugged in.
  • adds "Maintain Aspect Ratio" Window menu option. If this option is cleared the window can be freely resized to any aspect ratio otherwise aspect ratio is locked.

December 4, 2006 - Version 9.11 (Build 109.4)

  • adds "Remember camera controls" option to save and to restore camera information like pan, tilt, zoom, exposure, etc.
  • adds TV programs management (when an analog TV tuner is available).
  • fixes an issue that could lead to invalid values being displayed in some error messages.
  • adds a manifest for Windows Vista's UAC support.
  • adds a digital signature to the executable.
  • adds "Still Capture Pin..." option to configure high resolution if a Still pin is available.
  • adds volume control and bargraph (VMR9 required).
  • adds simultaneous MPEG-2 preview and capture.
  • adds support for Type-1 and Type-2 DV capture.
  • adds crosshair option due to numerous requests.
  • fixes a bug that could prevent compressor property pages from showing in Setup > Compression tab.
  • adds support for some media and remote control keys.
  • fixes menu bar on/off option always resizing the window to default size.
  • fixes an issue that prevented the preview window to be shrinked to a size smaller than the default video resolution.
  • fixes a possible crash when a still capture is requested and GDI+ is not installed.
  • improves error reporting, you should get less "(error message unavailable)".
  • improves still capture, requires less configuration and possibly better performances.
  • improves overall MPEG-2 support, more tuners or capture cards should be supported.
  • improves MPEG-2 capture so that no external dump filter is required.
  • improves 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)

  • fixes TV channel selection not working.
  • improves overall TV tuner management and support.
  • improves DV camcorder support.
  • improves capture file management, you're no more required to preallocate a capture file anymore.
  • adds new Setup with tabs (Capture > Setup... menu). Setup now gives access to some options that were only accessible from the Registry.
  • adds option to change OSD color.
  • adds TV Channel management.
  • adds TV audio menu.
  • adds audio input and crossbar audio input menus.
  • adds Synchro Start to start/stop DV camcorder playback at the same time as the capture in one click.
  • adds support for AVI compression and CODEC selection (experimental) (see Capture > Setup... > Compression tab).
  • adds a new help file.
  • fixes many bugs.

March 2, 2006 - Version 9.08 (Build 75.3)

  • adds an installer for easy installation and removal.

February 15, 2006 - Version 9.08 (Build 75.3)

  • adds 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.
  • adds 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)

  • fixes: the window had a wrong aspect ratio after being minimized and then restored.

December 13, 2005 - Version 9.08 (Build 68.2)

  • fixes the settings were not saved in some exit conditions.
  • sets both video capture and preview resolutions to the same size at startup if both are available. Previously only capture resolution was restored.
  • implements Demo version.

November 17, 2005 - Version 9.08 (Build 65.4)

  • enhanced aspect ratio handling to avoid picture distorsion after resizing.
  • adds Options > Set Priority menu to boost the application priority in the multithreading scheduler and to possibly get better performances.

November 3, 2005 - Version 9.08 (Build 63.4)

  • reactivated the system menu from the taskbar button when the caption and the menubar are hidden in the application.
  • adds on-screen display of TV channel (VMR9 required).

October 18, 2005 - Version 9.07 (Build 61.2)

  • adds Window > Flip View menu.
  • adds +/- accelerators to quickly toggle between the video inputs.

September 5, 2005 - Version 9.07 (Build 59.1)

  • adds /capture command-line parameter.
  • adds save and restore feature for TV tuner input type (cable or antenna).
  • adds Options > Pause menu, to pause or unpause the live preview.
  • described supported command-line parameters.

August 5, 2005 - Version 9.06 (Build 54.4)

  • adds "/snap[:<delay>]" and "/close" parameters. /snap makes a still capture as soon as AMCap starts (if it was correctly preconfigured) or after the specified delay in milliseconds. /close closes the application when the still capture is done.

June 10, 2005 - Version 9.06 (Build 52.5)

  • fixes a memory leak.
  • enhanced STI to DirectShow device lookup.

May 17, 2005 - Version 9.06 (Build 50.2)

  • adds "Register for STI events" menu under Capture. This option enables AMCap to appear in the list of applications in the Events tab of the item properties in "Scanners and Cameras".

May 4, 2005 - Version 9.06 (Build 49.3)

  • changed still image filenames to unique time-based filenames to avoid overwriting.
  • adds a "Copy to clipboard" option in the Capture > Still menu. If ticked the Snap option copy the image to the clipboard instead of to the disk.
  • remember and restore the selected audio input on entry and on exit.

April 12, 2005 - Version 9.05 (Build 48.2)

  • adds support for mouse wheel to change the TV channel.

March 25, 2005 - Version 9.05 (Build 47.5)

  • adds Remember > Image Controls menu to optionally save and restore Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Saturation, Gamma, Sharpness, WhiteBalance, and Gain.
  • the settings are now saved and loaded to/from an AMCap.ini file which must be placed in the same folder as AMCap.exe. This allows easy preconfiguration.
  • adds a Capture > Still > Format menu to specify the format in which still images are saved. JPEG and PNG are now supported.

February 5, 2005 - Version 9.04 (Build 44.6)

  • adds keyboard accelerators for device control.

January 31, 2005 - Version 9.04 (Build 44.1)

  • fixes a possible crash if MPEG2 is selected but the device does not support it.

November 4, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 43.4)

  • fixes selected video input was not correctly saved and restored.

October 28, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 42.4)

  • adds power management. Allows hibernation while previewing is active.

October 18, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 41.1)

  • adds Zoom options for VMR9.

October 12, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 40.1)

  • adds Deinterlacing options for VMR9.
  • saves/restores the MPEG2 option.
  • adds command-line parameters:
    /640 default to 640*480 on first launch.
    /nocaption starts application w/o caption and menu bar.
    /fullscreen starts application in fullscreen mode.

July 23, 2004 - Version 9.03 (Build 33.5)

  • adds delayed still capture.

July 9, 2004 - Version 9.03 (Build 32.5)

  • disables screensaver while in fullscreen mode.
  • fixes a possible crash when video capture reaches the 2GB size.

June 17, 2004 - Version 9.03 (Build 29.4)

  • delay loaded WMVCore.dll in case Windows Media 9 Series is not installed.
  • removes the "Mode" menu and replaced it with a toolbar. Only available when a DV camcorder is connected.
  • fixes lack of audio in preview when used with a DV camcorder and VMR9 or still capture are enabled.
  • fixes keyboard shortcuts not available in fullscreen mode (not VMR9).

May 31, 2004 - Version 9.02 (Build 23.1)

  • adds support for hardware trigger (when hi-res still capture is enabled).
  • saves/restores last TV channel.
  • adds the possibility of switching the TV channel by typing the channel on the keyboard. Always use 2 digits (e.g. channel #1 is 01) Use DEL or BACKSPACE to correct the first digit.
  • adds PgUp / PgDn to switch to next / previous TV channel.

May 19, 2004 - Version 9.02 (Build 17.3)

  • fixes a problem with the Window menu.

May 10, 2004 - Version 9.02 (Build 17.1)

  • fixes "Audio Format..." not visible in the Options menu.
  • adds the Window > Remember Position menu option.
  • adds a warning if the requested capture file size is too large for the file system of the partition on which it is created.
  • adds a "Mode" menu to control a DV camcorder. All commands may not be supported by the driver or the device.
  • displays full version numbers in About.
  • adds some links to my website in the Help menu.
  • shows progress while saving a WMV capture file.
  • displays the actual capture file size after a capture.

April 29, 2004 - Version 9.02 (Build 14.4)

  • adds new shortcuts (capture, save).
  • improves layout of controls in dialog boxes.
  • remembers video compression/colorspace setting and compression settings.
  • adds an option to create a new capture file (in Allocate File Space) to preserve the current one(s).

April 16, 2004 - Version 9.01 (Build 12.5)

  • adds support for full-screen mode support when VMR9 is enabled.
  • adds support for high-resolution still captures, only enabled if the driver implements a still pin.

April 5, 2004 - Version 9.01 (Build 8.1)

  • remembers video standard and video size from previous session.
  • adds still capture.
  • adds Windows Media 9 Series compression.

January 19, 2004 - Version 9.0 (Build 6.2)

  • adds multi-monitor support (VMR9) requires DirectX 9.0 runtimes.
  • remembers video input from previous session.
  • adds full screen mode support.

Version 9.0 - 1st public custom version.

  • adds "caption bar and menu on and off" and "always on top" features.

Version 9.0

  • initial build released by Microsoft in DirectX 9.0 SDK.

Latest Version

The latest version of AMCap is always available for download from this address:

http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=video#AMCap

Registration

The demo version of this application is fully functional i.e. it works the same way and features the same options as the full version. The only differences are the time limit during video capture and timestamp on still captures.

To register and to obtain the full version, click the link just below and follow the instructions.

https://www.regnow.com/checkout/cart/add/4076-4

Alternatively, you can click the Help > Register... menu option to reach the registration site.

Orders and delivery are handled by the Register Now company.

Redistribution

Computer magazine publishers are welcome to redistribute the application as-is 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).

Contact Details

E-mail: webmaster@noeld.com

WWW: http://noeld.com