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  AMCap - Version 9.06                                              README.TXT
  Copyright  1997-2004, Microsoft Corporation                       June 2005
  Copyright  2004-2005, Nol 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.

  I added some requested features:

  - still capture (Ctrl+L)
  - quick video capture (Ctrl+C)
  - support for compression (Windows Media 9 Series only)
  - remember Video Input, Compression, Standard and Size settings from a
    previous session
  - remember window position
  - full screen mode (ALT+Enter)
  - support for multi-monitor and deinterlacing [using VMR9] (DirectX 9.0+)
  - caption bar and menu on/off (F11)
  - always on top (F12)
  - quick TV channel switching (if a tuner is present)



How to make still captures
--------------------------

  1. Configure the folder where still will be saved:
     click Capture > Still > Folder
  2. Configure the format in which the still will be saved:
     click Capture > Still > Format
  3. Optionally enable Hi-Resolution still capture:
     click Capture > Still > High Resolution
  4. Enable still capture:
     click Capture > Still > Enable
  5. Enable preview:
     Options > Preview
  6. click Capture > Still > Snap or Ctrl+S to make captures


  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)        



How to make compressed captures
-------------------------------
   
  1. Enable Windows Media 9 Series compression:
     click Capture > Compression > Windows Media 9 Series
  2. Configure the capture file:
     click File > Set Capture File...
  3. Capture some video:
     click Capture > Start Capture
     (if you want to capture audio as well, first tick Capture > capture Audio)
     click OK
  4. Hit Escape to stop capture
  5. Save the captured file:
     click File > Save Captured Video...



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.



Keyboard shortcuts
------------------

  * Application

	Ctrl+C			Starts a video capture
	Ctrl+H			Displays the QuickHelp window
	Ctrl+L / Enter		Makes a still capture if enabled
	Ctrl+S			Saved captured video
	Ctrl+Z			Toggles the zoom (VMR9 only)
	Alt+Enter		Toggles full-screen mode
	F11			Toggles menu bar and caption on and off
	F12			Toggles "always pn top" state
	0 .. 9 keys		Selects a TV channel (type 01 for channel #1,
                                etc.)
	PgUp / PgDn		Next / Previous TV channel
	Esc			Stops current capture

  * Device

	Ctrl+A			Pause
	Ctrl+F / Media Next	Fast-Forward
	Ctrl+P / Media Play	Play
	Ctrl+R			Record
	Ctrl+T / Media Stop	Stop
	Ctrl+W / Media Prev	Rewind



History
-------


  * June 10, 2005 - Version 9.06 (Build 52.5)

   - fixed a memory leak
   - enhanced STI to DirectShow device lookup


  * May 17, 2005 - Version 9.06 (Build 50.2)

   - added "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
   - added 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)

   - added support for mouse wheel to change the TV channel


  * March 25, 2005 - Version 9.05 (Build 47.5)

   - added 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.
   - added 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)

   - added keyboard accelerators for device control


  * January 31, 2005 - Version 9.04 (Build 44.1)

   - fixed: the application crashed if MPEG2 was selected but the device does 
     not support it


  * November 4, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 43.4)

   - fixed: the selected video input was not correctly saved and restored


  * October 28, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 42.4)

   - added power management. Allows hibernation while previewing is active.


  * October 18, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 41.1)

   - added Zoom options for VMR9


  * October 12, 2004 - Version 9.04 (Build 40.1)

   - added Deinterlacing options for VMR9
   - save/restore the MPEG2 flag
   - added 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)

   - added delayed still capture


  * July 9, 2004 - Version 9.03 (Build 32.5)

   - disables screensaver while in fullscreen mode
   - fixed 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
   - removed the "Mode" menu and replaced it with a toolbar. Only available when
     a DV camcorder is connected
   - fixed lack of audio in preview when used with a DV camcorder and VMR9 or
     still capture are enabled
   - fixed: keyboard shortcuts were not available in fullscreen mode (not VMR9)


  * May 31, 2004 - Version 9.02 (Build 23.1)

   - added support for hardware trigger (when hi-res still capture is enabled)
   - save/restore last TV channel
   - added 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
   - added PgUp / PgDn to switch to next / previous TV channel


  * May 19, 2004 - Version 9.02 (Build 17.3)

   - fixed a problem with the Window menu


  * May 10, 2004 - Version 9.02 (Build 17.1)

   - fixed: "Audio Format..." in the Options menu was not visible
   - added the Window > Remember Position menu option
   - added a warning if the requested capture file size is too large for the
     file system of the partition on which it is created
   - added a "Mode" menu to control a DV camcorder. All commands may not be 
     supported by the driver or the device
   - display full version numbers in About
   - added some links to my website in the Help menu
   - now 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)

   - added new shortcuts (capture, save)
   - arranged layout of controls in dialog boxes
   - remembers video compression/colorspace setting and compression settings
   - added 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)

   - added support for full-screen mode support when VMR9 is enabled
   - added 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
   - added still capture
   - added Windows Media 9 Series compression


  * January 19, 2004 - Version 9.0 (Build 6.2)

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


  * Version 9.0 - 1st public custom version

   - added "caption bar and menu on and off" and "always on top" features


  * Version 9.0

    - inital build release by Microsoft in DirectX 9.0 SDK



Latest versions 
---------------

  The latest version of AMCap is always available from my web site:
  
    http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=video#AMCap



Contact details
---------------


  E-mail:

    webmaster@noeld.com


  WWW:

    http://noeld.com
