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Video Capture

Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 10:35 pm
by Big Red
I usually don't throw things out in the open before I even start like this, but I have no idea where to start, and this will never materialize unless I get some help and direction. Following madppiper's suggestion, I am looking to incorporate a simple video capture cheat from within ATX (video-only, no sound unless implicite).

I have direct access to every backbuffer frame before it is drawn via DirectDraw surface and/or Device Context, and I can set up the cheat just fine. However, technically, I am virtually clueless as to what to do/use to dump the screen to video files, other than appending them to create ridiculously large dumps. I have tried incorporating the AVICap interface without success (I'm not even sure if it's meant to do that, anyway), but that's about it.

I seriously need some help as to what to do next. Is there a standard library that will record videos from a high-level interface, or do I have to research a certain video format and write my own handler (which I have no time for)? What video format should/do I need to use, anyway? Is DirectShow capable of recording? If so, does anyone have the standard reference for it (and not the huge dx9 SDK which I cannot download due to size)?

Basically, hah, I need to know anything and everything. If anyone with (video) programming experience is willing to help, for instance by writing/pointing out a third-party library (DLL) to ease my pain, I'd be very grateful and of course give full credit.

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 7:02 pm
by Slugger
I think that there should be a function in DirectX....but don't quote me.

Probably take a look at how fraps handles things.

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:05 pm
by Big Red
I have not found much in the DirectX or DirectMedia documentation.

Anyhow, I simply want to point out that I've made some very *slight* progress regarding this feature. I have been using the VFW interface, and I have been able to basically dump screens to AVI files, albeit a huge drop in framerate, timing problems, and inability to compress the resulting streams.

If anybody knows about or has worked with VFW, the input could be of great help.

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:47 pm
by Big Red
Update:
Help is no longer needed; the basis for the function has now been implemented. See http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~trescom/boa ... 4903#34903