I have a question for Dodcap users:
Would it make the media player and preview windows more useful if you could double-click them to toggle between a full-screen mode and non-full-screen mode?
Also, how many of you out there (including non-Dodcap users) use a multiple monitor system, or a multi-monitor system where your second monitor is actually a television set?
- Jeff Dodson
Dodcap Usability Question
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Andreas Wideroe
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I don't double-click.. Instead add "ALT ENTER"!
I'd also like to be able to do frame-by-frame stepping using the arrow keys. Up is end and down is beginning of file or something.
I'm using a system with 2 computer monitors connected to my capture PC. This is great and gives much workspace both for Dodcap, but also other video editing tools.
I'd also like to be able to do frame-by-frame stepping using the arrow keys. Up is end and down is beginning of file or something.
I'm using a system with 2 computer monitors connected to my capture PC. This is great and gives much workspace both for Dodcap, but also other video editing tools.
Andreas Wideroe
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Alt-Enter
I'm not sure I can use the Alt-Enter sequence to toggle between normal and full-screen modes because Alt-Enter is a system key sequence used to switch between different running applications. Why do you prefer Alt-Enter to a double-click?
The way it is working right now, whether you are in normal or full-screen mode, you use the left and right arrow keys to single frame advance. The Home and End keys take you to the beginning and end of the file, and the spacebar alternately plays and pauses the video. Of course, I am referring here to the functionality in the media player, not the preview windows. In the preview windows, you would only be able to switch between normal and full-screen views, but not interact in any way.
I was also thinking of a preview during capture that showed only captured frames instead of a live video stream. This would not occur in the next release though.
One other feature I've added that didn't get much response the last time I left a post about it: the mouse can now be locked over the sample button during a capture session. This means that even if the mouse moves during a capture session, it will never slip off of the sample button. This is an option that can be turned on or off. Many people have asked for such a thing, but I didn't get any comments the last time I mentioned doing it. Oh well...
I have also made the media player slightly more compact, although you still would not be able to view full-size DV video if you are using a 800x600 desktop. I am hoping though that the full-screen toggle option will make this less of a problem.
- Jeff Dodson
The way it is working right now, whether you are in normal or full-screen mode, you use the left and right arrow keys to single frame advance. The Home and End keys take you to the beginning and end of the file, and the spacebar alternately plays and pauses the video. Of course, I am referring here to the functionality in the media player, not the preview windows. In the preview windows, you would only be able to switch between normal and full-screen views, but not interact in any way.
I was also thinking of a preview during capture that showed only captured frames instead of a live video stream. This would not occur in the next release though.
One other feature I've added that didn't get much response the last time I left a post about it: the mouse can now be locked over the sample button during a capture session. This means that even if the mouse moves during a capture session, it will never slip off of the sample button. This is an option that can be turned on or off. Many people have asked for such a thing, but I didn't get any comments the last time I mentioned doing it. Oh well...
I have also made the media player slightly more compact, although you still would not be able to view full-size DV video if you are using a 800x600 desktop. I am hoping though that the full-screen toggle option will make this less of a problem.
- Jeff Dodson
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Andreas Wideroe
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Simply because that's what I'm used to from the Windows Media Player.digvid wrote:I'm not sure I can use the Alt-Enter sequence to toggle between normal and full-screen modes because Alt-Enter is a system key sequence used to switch between different running applications. Why do you prefer Alt-Enter to a double-click?
Yes and no. It's nice to have the feed when setting up the WorkPrinter and checking the "status" of your captures, but I also see the benefits of simply displaying the captured frames. How about making this an option?digvid wrote:I was also thinking of a preview during capture that showed only captured frames instead of a live video stream. This would not occur in the next release though.
I'd love to have a lock function. Maybe with a lock/unlock key(s). I've had so many times where I thought I actually did capture when infact I was not since I somehow had moved the mouse slightly. Deffinatly a must have!digvid wrote:One other feature I've added that didn't get much response the last time I left a post about it: the mouse can now be locked over the sample button during a capture session. This means that even if the mouse moves during a capture session, it will never slip off of the sample button. This is an option that can be turned on or off. Many people have asked for such a thing, but I didn't get any comments the last time I mentioned doing it. Oh well...
Andreas Wideroe
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Hello Jeff,
Here's my views.
Unfortunately no. Because of this it would be nice if somehow the Dodcap interface could be reduced in size or reduced to the minimum buttons needed while capturing as it covers the preview window. I know I've talked to you about that already but others might want to comment.
Having said all that, it's still great as it is.
Here's my views.
This would be very useful for both preview and media player. For me, double-clicking would be ideal.Would it make the media player and preview windows more useful if you could double-click them to toggle between a full-screen mode and non-full-screen mode?
Also, how many of you out there (including non-Dodcap users) use a multiple monitor system, or a multi-monitor system where your second monitor is actually a television set?
Unfortunately no. Because of this it would be nice if somehow the Dodcap interface could be reduced in size or reduced to the minimum buttons needed while capturing as it covers the preview window. I know I've talked to you about that already but others might want to comment.
I'm not too bothered about this one myself, though I do get a headache sometimes watching the frames flick up the screen over and over!I was also thinking of a preview during capture that showed only captured frames instead of a live video stream. This would not occur in the next release though
I think this is a very good idea. With the weight of the lead hanging from the mouse, it can slide out of position and you can easily trip over it as well.One other feature I've added that didn't get much response the last time I left a post about it: the mouse can now be locked over the sample button during a capture session.
I've just tried this out as I didn't know you'd done this, and on my system, if you open a file and use the arrow keys, it moves a big chunch at a time -- maybe 50 frames or so. Also, once you've clicked on any of the buttons with the mouse, the arrow keys then just step though the buttons and not the video.The way it is working right now, whether you are in normal or full-screen mode, you use the left and right arrow keys to single frame advance.
Having said all that, it's still great as it is.
Features
Andreas -
I'll look at Windows Media Player and see how it works there. I may make both double-click and Alt-Enter available to toggle between normal and full-screen.
The live feed vs. frames only preview would definitely be optional, because I for one would want both available. I assume everyone else would be as well.
The mouse lock function works as follows: you select an option from the menu that enables this function. Dodcap works as usual, but when you start a capture session, the mouse automatically jumps down on top of the sample button. You can move the mouse slightly, but it will not move off of the sample button. When you are ready to end the capture session, you press Alt-E, which is the keystroke to press the End Session button. If you want to switch back to non-locking mode, you just deselect the lock option from the Dodcap menu.
Bazz -
I'll look into "collapsing Dodcap down to the bottom row of buttons during a capture session. This would also be optional, and would not be the default. This would free up space for the preview window, as you point out.
I was thinking that the frame-only preview would be useful particularly when you are first setting up your WorkPrinter and need to test for proper synchronization. If there were blurred (i.e., out-of-sync) frames, you would see them.
Actually, the frame stepping using the arrow keys is not in the currently available version of Dodcap. It only exists on my development machine right now. If you click on the slider control for the video window then press the arrow keys, it will in fact jump by multiple frames, which is the behavior you saw.
- Jeff
I'll look at Windows Media Player and see how it works there. I may make both double-click and Alt-Enter available to toggle between normal and full-screen.
The live feed vs. frames only preview would definitely be optional, because I for one would want both available. I assume everyone else would be as well.
The mouse lock function works as follows: you select an option from the menu that enables this function. Dodcap works as usual, but when you start a capture session, the mouse automatically jumps down on top of the sample button. You can move the mouse slightly, but it will not move off of the sample button. When you are ready to end the capture session, you press Alt-E, which is the keystroke to press the End Session button. If you want to switch back to non-locking mode, you just deselect the lock option from the Dodcap menu.
Bazz -
I'll look into "collapsing Dodcap down to the bottom row of buttons during a capture session. This would also be optional, and would not be the default. This would free up space for the preview window, as you point out.
I was thinking that the frame-only preview would be useful particularly when you are first setting up your WorkPrinter and need to test for proper synchronization. If there were blurred (i.e., out-of-sync) frames, you would see them.
Actually, the frame stepping using the arrow keys is not in the currently available version of Dodcap. It only exists on my development machine right now. If you click on the slider control for the video window then press the arrow keys, it will in fact jump by multiple frames, which is the behavior you saw.
- Jeff
Right, got it. I've only got the slow speed Workprinter so that never occured to me.I was thinking that the frame-only preview would be useful particularly when you are first setting up your WorkPrinter and need to test for proper synchronization. If there were blurred (i.e., out-of-sync) frames, you would see them.
Sorry Jeff, I didn't realize that.Actually, the frame stepping using the arrow keys is not in the currently available version of Dodcap. It only exists on my development machine right now.
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mattias
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Re: Alt-Enter
i believe you're thinking of alt-escape or alt-tab. alt-enter/return has always been the maximizing/restoring key combo. i haven't really used windows since 3.1 and 95, but i'm sure they haven't changed it...digvid wrote:I'm not sure I can use the Alt-Enter sequence to toggle between normal and full-screen modes because Alt-Enter is a system key sequence used to switch between different running applications.
/matt
Oops
Mattias -
You are right! I was thinking of Alt-Tab. Alt-Enter should not be a problem.
- Jeff
You are right! I was thinking of Alt-Tab. Alt-Enter should not be a problem.
- Jeff
Re: Oops
digvid -digvid wrote:Mattias -
You are right! I was thinking of Alt-Tab. Alt-Enter should not be a problem.
- Jeff
A cool feature would be to allow capturing via a switch connected to the parallel or a serial port. In this case closing and opening the switch would capture a frame but without the need for a mouse.
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studiocarter
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IMHO the size to create a new avi at should be specifiable. I believe VirtualDub calls these files segmented avi's and knows to load all of the segments when you open the first one. btw, VD works great to split files up into segmented avi's, no quality reduction or anything, and its fast(when set to do direct stream copy)regular8mm wrote:The thing I'd like to have is the spill over function at 2GB (1.99) to create a new avi file.
Michael
There used to be a 2GB filesize limit, in both the filesystem and in windows. Luckily newer versions have done away with this, but some software still has the limit, so the ability to automatically start a new file would be good. being able to set it at 650/700megs in order to store on cd's would also be nice.....
okay, enough rambling from the guy who doesnt even use the software
~Jess
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studiocarter
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Lots O' Suggestions
Lunar07 -
I have thought about this before, but have not really had time to explore it much. I would be reluctant to actually use the serial or parallel ports, because some new computers don't even have them. I was thinking that the joystick port or a USB port would be a bettern candidate.
Michael and Jessh -
A "spillover" function would be very, very, very difficult for me to implement. I use Microsoft DirectShow to perform capture in Dodcap, and it does not provide any facilities for doing this. I do have a rough idea of how I could implement it, but I'm not sure what would happen to capture efficiency right when I switch from one file to another. Stop-motion capture is so resource-intensive that any sort of interruption will usually result in blurred or lost frames. I would have to actually try it to see if this would happen, but my gut feeling is that it would "mess up" a small segment of the capture as you switch from one file to another.
Having said that, if I did add such a feature, it would be just as easy to make the breakoff point user-specified as it would to hard code it to 2GB. As you said, that way you could set the cutoff at 700MB or something that fit exactly on a CD.
As Dodcap is right now, it does not place any limit on capture size, regardless of your operating system. If you have Windows 2000 or XP, you can capture files that are as large as your hard drive. The largest file I know of that an actual user has captured is just over 8 GB. This was done by a 16mm WorkPrinter user.
I'll think about this problem some more and see if I can think of a good solution.
- Jeff D.
I have thought about this before, but have not really had time to explore it much. I would be reluctant to actually use the serial or parallel ports, because some new computers don't even have them. I was thinking that the joystick port or a USB port would be a bettern candidate.
Michael and Jessh -
A "spillover" function would be very, very, very difficult for me to implement. I use Microsoft DirectShow to perform capture in Dodcap, and it does not provide any facilities for doing this. I do have a rough idea of how I could implement it, but I'm not sure what would happen to capture efficiency right when I switch from one file to another. Stop-motion capture is so resource-intensive that any sort of interruption will usually result in blurred or lost frames. I would have to actually try it to see if this would happen, but my gut feeling is that it would "mess up" a small segment of the capture as you switch from one file to another.
Having said that, if I did add such a feature, it would be just as easy to make the breakoff point user-specified as it would to hard code it to 2GB. As you said, that way you could set the cutoff at 700MB or something that fit exactly on a CD.
As Dodcap is right now, it does not place any limit on capture size, regardless of your operating system. If you have Windows 2000 or XP, you can capture files that are as large as your hard drive. The largest file I know of that an actual user has captured is just over 8 GB. This was done by a 16mm WorkPrinter user.
I'll think about this problem some more and see if I can think of a good solution.
- Jeff D.
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mattias
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big strategic mistake from apple. qt does actually does full screen, but you have to register for the pro version to get that menu option in quicktime player. the feature is built into even the non pro version though, so most third party players and capture programs using qt support it.regular8mm wrote:QT doesn't do full screen.
/matt