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Setting the Codec - Selecting an External Video Codec (VFW)
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oCam is a simple and intuitive screen recording program that offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features, making it a useful tool for everyone from beginners to IT professionals. In particular, oCam supports a variety of codecs so users can record with the quality and settings they want. Among them, using external VFW (Video for Windows) codecs such as x264vfw or Xvid allows for a more flexible recording environment. Below is a detailed explanation of how to set up and use external codecs in oCam.
How to Set Up an External Codec
To use an external codec in oCam, you first need to go to the program's codec settings menu. On the main screen of oCam, click the Codec menu located at the top or in the settings menu, and a pop-up window related to codec selection will appear. This pop-up window provides options for choosing built-in codecs and external codecs, and here you should select the external codec option. Please note that external codecs support only the AVI container format. This is because the AVI format has excellent compatibility with VFW-based codecs.
When you select the external codec option in the pop-up window, a new settings window will open. This window includes a checkbox labeled 'Use External Codec,' and you need to enable this checkbox to configure an external codec. After checking the box, click the combo box at the bottom of the window to display a list of VFW-based external codecs installed on your computer. For example, if codecs such as x264vfw or Xvid are installed, you can choose the one you want from this list. After selecting a codec, click the OK button to save the setting.
Recording with an External Codec
Once the codec setup is complete, the external codec you selected will be applied automatically when you start recording in oCam. The x264vfw codec provides a high compression ratio and excellent image quality, making it suitable for high-resolution video recording, while Xvid is useful in a variety of environments thanks to its relatively small file size and stable performance. You can choose the appropriate codec based on the type of content you want to record. For example, you can choose x264vfw for high-quality gameplay recording, or Xvid if you want to minimize file size.
The recorded video will be saved in AVI format, and the image quality and file size will vary depending on the characteristics of the selected codec. Therefore, when using an external codec, it is a good idea to check and optimize the codec settings in advance, such as bitrate and frame rate. Some codecs provide a separate settings window where you can adjust detailed options, so using that when needed can give you more satisfying results.
Disabling the External Codec
If you no longer want to use an external codec, you can easily revert the setting. Go back to the Codec menu in oCam, select the external codec option, and then clear the 'Use External Codec' checkbox. Once the checkbox is cleared, oCam will automatically switch back to the built-in codec that was previously in use. Built-in codecs are generally easier to configure and are suitable for users who do not want more complex settings. Even after switching back to a built-in codec, recording quality remains stable, and you can still get optimized results based on oCam's default settings.
Advantages and Precautions When Using External Codecs
The biggest advantage of using external codecs is that you can fine-tune image quality and file size exactly the way you want. In particular, codecs such as x264vfw can save high-quality video in relatively small file sizes, which is a major benefit for users working with high-spec content. On the other hand, the relevant codec must be installed on your computer, and some codecs can consume a large amount of system resources, so your hardware specifications should be taken into account. Also, due to the nature of the AVI container, compatibility may be more limited than with other formats such as MP4, so it is worth keeping this in mind if you plan to edit or share the recorded video afterward.
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Useful Tips for Microphone Recording in Windows 7 or Later
When recording microphone and system audio with oCam, knowing how to adjust the sound balance and audio quality is an important factor that can greatly improve recording quality. Below is a detailed guide to the settings and tips related to microphone and system audio recording.
1. If you want to record only the microphone
If you want to record only the microphone audio and exclude system audio, click the 'Sound' button in the oCam main window. In the sound settings menu, uncheck the 'Record System Audio' option. With this setting, oCam will record only the microphone input without system audio, allowing you to focus on the microphone sound.
2. If you want to record both the microphone and system audio
To record both microphone and system audio at the same time, click the 'Sound' button in the oCam main window, then select both the 'Record System Audio' and 'Microphone' options. With this setting, you can record system audio such as game sound or background music together with voice input from the microphone, such as commentary or conversation. This is useful when you want to create a video in which both sounds blend naturally.
3. If the microphone volume is too low
If the microphone volume is too low and hard to hear, you can adjust the microphone volume through the Windows sound settings. Follow the steps below:
- Open 'Control Panel' from the Start menu and click 'Sound'.
- In the Sound settings window, go to the 'Recording' tab.
- Find the microphone you are using in the list of recording devices and double-click it to open the 'Microphone Properties' window.
- In the 'Levels' tab, adjust the 'Microphone Volume' slider to increase the base volume, and if necessary, enable the 'Microphone Boost' option to make the sound louder. With this setting, the microphone audio will be recorded more clearly and at a higher volume.
4. If the system audio is too loud and drowns out the microphone
If the recorded system audio is too loud and makes the microphone hard to hear, you should reduce the system audio volume. You can use the following two methods for this:
- Adjust the volume inside the playback program: If the program producing the system audio, such as a game or media player, has its own volume control option, lower the volume in that program. This reduces the system audio level during recording and helps balance it with the microphone audio.
- Use the Windows Volume Mixer: If the program itself does not allow volume adjustment, right-click the speaker icon in the tray at the bottom right of the taskbar. From the menu that appears, select 'Open Volume Mixer'. This will open the mixer window, where you can adjust the volume of each currently running program individually. Lower the volume slider for that program to reduce the system audio.
*Note*: Lowering the overall Windows speaker volume does not affect the volume of the recorded sound, so you must adjust the volume of the individual program.
5. If increasing the microphone volume only increases noise and the audio quality is poor
If you increased the microphone volume as described in section 3 but the noise became worse or the audio quality is still unsatisfactory, then instead of forcing the microphone volume too high, you should also reduce the system audio appropriately. As explained in section 4, lower the system audio volume to balance it with the microphone audio so that the microphone voice can be heard more clearly. During this process, carefully adjust the balance between the microphone and system audio to find the best sound quality.
6. If you want to further improve microphone quality or completely remove noise
If you want to maximize microphone quality or reduce noise, software settings alone may have limitations. In that case, the most effective solution is to purchase a professional audio interface and a high-quality microphone. Many standard microphones produce a lot of noise or have low audio quality, making it difficult to fully compensate through software. Therefore, using a high-quality audio interface and a matching microphone can give you clear audio with minimal noise. For example, combining a condenser microphone with a USB audio interface can deliver professional-level recording quality.
Use the methods above to adjust the microphone and system audio in oCam the way you want and create the best recording environment. By fine-tuning each setting carefully, you can record better sound quality and more balanced audio.