Tutorial: Capture service

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3D Gugle
User's Guide

(Capture Video/Audio)
(Capture Screen Image)
(Image acquisition)

Capture Video/Audio

This laboratory has been designed to capture videos from Web pages, for instance "YouTube" or "Google Movie", etc.
The laboratory employs an algorithm, owned by 3D Gugle, which is able to operate with high speed and is capable of synchronizing audio and video with extreme precision.

To activate this LAB from the menu: "Movie", select "Capture Video/Audio"

Audio
The software employs two methods for recording. The first one uses the old API of Windows (MCI) and the second uses what is available in the operating system where 3D Gugle is installed.
When possible 3D Gugle also enables recording through a microphone.

The MCI device has been included because after a lot of testing it was shown to be faster and more efficient than the modern DirectX.
The MCI is used only when the option "Standard Microsoft MCI device" is selected in the menu "Audio Devices". In all other cases 3D Gugle operates with the DirectX functions.
Attention: it is possible the MCI will not work in the latest generation of operating systems.

Video
This section constitutes a process of screen capture that produces frames and a second parallel process that applies a preliminary compression on the captured frames
The two Video processes and the Audio process are controlled and synchronized by a new algorithm owned by 3D Gugle which is able to operate with the speed and precision of a nano-second.

Pressing the button "Stop" stops the frames capture and starts the final process of compression which results in the creation of an AVI film.

Video compression
In theory it is possible to use any type of AVI video compressor but the use of MPEG-V2 is absolutely advisable.

If the codec of MPEG-V2 is not installed in your system you can try to download "K-Lite Codec Pack".
We suggest this link but GugSoft is not able to offer guarantees on this software.
To read other infomations about the use and the installation of "K-Lite Codec Pack" click here.

Audio compression
The LAB can only operate with the high quality non-compressed format of Microsoft "PCM" but it is nevertheless possible to choose from the various options to reduce the file size.

We recommend the use of these setting
    > Only audio:      "Stereo 8 bit 44100Hz"
    > Microphone:     "Mono 8 bit 22050Hz"
    > Audio/Video   "Stereo 8 bit 11025 Hz"

To recompress the Wav PCM to MP3 (Mpeg Layer-3) you can use the LAB of "Movie Utility".

The selection Box
The Box is a graphic rectangle used to determine the capture position and area.
The Box position and size is shown in the panel "Screen Region Pixels".

You can move or modify the size with the mouse or with the keys.

With the Mouse
Move
When the cursor is above one of the corner rectangles the cursor changes to crossed arrows. To move, drag the rectangle to a new position.
Resize
When the cursor is on one of the sides of the rectangle, the cursor changes to a double headed arrow.
To resize, drag the side of the rectangle.

With the keys
Move
The Arrow keys move the rectangle in the respective direction.
Resize
SHIFT + Arrow keys resize the rectangle for the Right side and the Bottom side.
CONTROL + Arrow keys resize the rectangle for the Left side and the Upper side.

The button "Box colour" changes the colour of the Box lines.

The button "Show Box" reveals the Box when is under another window.

The two labels "Width = " and "Height = " indicate the dimensions in pixels of the rectangle.
If the text of these labels is red it means that the corresponding dimensions are not suitable for creating movies.
If you create a film, always remember that the dimensions in pixels must be exactly divisible by 8.

Frame rate
This Spin-button is used to set the "Frame rate" of the new film.

We suggest these settings:
> Capture of the normal film 16-26 frames/sec
> Capture of the film destined for 3D elaborations 15-20 frames/sec

Player
The button "Player" runs a special video Player that is used to capture the digital movie or DVD.

This player is required because Windows Media Player does not allow the image capture from its display.

The use is extremely easy and all functions employ the known and standard method.

To control the audio volume move the mouse on the little square to the right of the "Player".

The button "Open Media" opens a movie to play.
The valid fromats are: *.avi;*.mpg;*.mpeg;*.mpe;*.mp2;*.m1v;*.wmv;*.wma;*.vob;*.qt;*.mov;*.avi.;*.asf.

If you open from a DVD the format is "*.VOB" and the standard folder is "VIDEO_TS".
Open only the file with the largest size. The other VOB files is used for the DVD title and presentations.

Obviously you cannot open the encrypted or special VOB files and in the case of interlaced the size will appear smaller (half) than normal.

Before running the Player it is necessary to set the graphic acceleration of the video card to value two. To do this operation see the example of "Capture DVD and digital movie".

Attention
If you use the Player, beforehand set the value in the graphics acceleration to two. Otherwise it is possible to have instability in 3D Gugle.

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EXAMPLES

Generic precautions
1) before beginning the recording it is advisable to close all programs not in use and eventually the antivirus.
2) select a proper audio format and the preferred device - if possible "MCI"
3) select a video compressor - if possible MPEG-V2 or V1 in their default configurations.
4) make a test before running the capture
5) if you use a microphone, test the sound volume and the most appropriate distance, to suppress the external noise. Wind the microphone with gauze if necessary.

Capture Video/Audio from a web page
1) Open a web page containing the film
2) Create a new directory into which to save the AVI.
3) With the button "Output Movie", select the new directory and write the name of the movie in the input box of the open dialogue.
3) Move and resize the Box in the capture area. If the Box is not visible press the button "Show Box".
4) Start the web movie and then press the button "Capture".

Note
1) If in the web page is used a Microsoft Player it is necessary to set the graphic acceleration of the video card to value two.

This operation is very simple and presents no problems.
Click with the right button the Window’s screen and in the context menu select "Properties".
In the window that appears select "Setting" and then the button "Advanced".
In the section "Advanced" select the section "Troubleshoot" and finally set to two the value of the scroll bar.
On completion of the movie creation, set the acceleration to its original value, (normally at the maximum).

2) If you desire to capture for a pre-determined time check "On" the button "Time Limit" and insert the delay time in the Spin-buttons.

Capture Video/Audio from a DVD or from digital movie
Start the "Player" and in the Player open the movie to capture.

Capture only Audio
This operation is simple because it doesn't require any special preparation.
Select in "Capture Method" "Only Audio".
Run the CD or the device that you prefer ( it can also be a Web-Radio or microphone) and then press the button "Record."
If you only use a microphone select "Mono" and not "Stereo" in the "Audio format" menu.

To continue doing as already described here

Capture only Video
Select in "Capture Method" "Only Video".
If you copy from a web read here for copy from a digital movie here

Capture Video with spoken comment
Select in "Capture Method" "Audio/Video".
Set to zero the volume of the player and close any other programs that can get sounds.

Se also "Generic precautions" at the point 5.

Clips video and video assembly
To extract a Video Clip or to modify or to manage the movie you can use the video editor of 3D Gugle "Frames from AVI".
With the same LAB you can extract the frames to use in 3D conversion, in graphic animations or lenticular applications.

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Capture Screen Image and capture Screen Region

Capture Screen
This function captures the Windows screen as an image and directly opens it in 3D Gugle.
To use this function from the menu "File" select "Open from Image Acquisition" and then "Capture Screen"

Capture Screen region
This function captures a pre-determined area of the Windows screen and opens it in 3D Gugle.
To use this function from the menu "File" select "Open from Image Acquisition" and then "Capture Screen region".

When this function is active a selection rectangle will appear in the screen, enabling selection of the area to capture.

To manage the Selection Box see "Box".

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Image acquisition

With this group of functions it is possible to load in 3D Gugle images from different types of devices.

1) "Show Acquisition Wizard"
This menu opens a dialogue from which you can select one of the various devices connected to your computer.
After the device selection is chosen, a window that contains all images captured with that device will appear.
To open one of these images drag the file into the window of 3D Gugle.

2) "Image by webcam, video camera.."
This menu opens a dialogue to select a webcam, video-camera or other dynamic device.
The dialogue that appears is in two sections.
In the left you have the window preview and a button to capture the image shown. (Capture).
Press this button and capture the image. The captured image is added to the list of the images shown in the right part of the dialogue.
To open one of the images shown in the list, double click on the name or use the button (Get Picture)

3) "Image by digital camera"
This menu opens a dialogue to select a Photo-camera.
The method to open is the same as for point 2

4) "Image by scanner"
This menu opens a dialogue to select a Scanner.
The method to open is the same as for point 2

The image acquisition functions are also available in the LAB of "Open Stereo Pairs".

Note
The image acquired by these methods, in many cases, will appear with strange colours but the colours loaded are the exact colours generated by the device. The only difference is in the Gamma correction.
This method is preferred because it is better to apply the corrections of colours with the functions of 3D Gugle rather than to use those of the original device.
In 3D Gugle you have many professional tools to transform the images. We suggest to use "Reconstruction by colours" first and then "Gamma".

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