What Are Codecs and Digital Container Formats?
When using oCam normally, you do not need an in-depth understanding of codecs and digital container formats. However, if you want to use oCam's extended features or optimize your recording settings, it is useful to understand these two terms. Below is an easy explanation of codecs and digital container formats, focused on how they relate to oCam.
* What is a digital container format?
A digital container format refers to familiar file extensions such as AVI, MP4, MOV, and FLV. It is a meta file format that defines the structure for storing video, audio, and metadata (for example, subtitles and time information) together in a single file. Simply put, you can think of a container format as the framework of a file structure that determines how video and audio data are stored.
For more information, see Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_format
For example, if a file is an AVI file, the container format is AVI, and the video and audio data inside that file are stored according to the structure defined by AVI. A container format acts like a "container" that holds the data, while the actual method used to encode the data is determined by the codec.
* What is a codec?
A codec is hardware or software that performs encoding and decoding. It includes algorithms for compressing data, decompressing it, or converting it into another format. In oCam, codecs are used to convert screen video data into a video file and to generate audio data. The generated data is then saved according to the digital container format selected by the user.
For more information about codecs, see Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CodecSimply put, a codec is a tool that compresses and converts video or audio data so it can be stored or played back efficiently. Common codecs used in oCam include XVID, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and H.264, while common audio codecs include MP3 and PCM.
* Codecs and container formats in oCam
In oCam, a codec is used to encode video and audio data in order to convert screen recording data into a video file. This encoded data is then saved as a file in the digital container format selected by the user, such as AVI or MP4. For example:
- If the file extension is AVI, the container format is AVI, and the video data inside may be encoded with H.264 or MPEG-4. The audio data may be saved as MP3 or PCM.
- In the case of an MP4 file, the container format is MP4, and it may similarly contain video encoded with H.264 and audio encoded with MP3.
* Summary
In oCam, the digital container format is the framework that defines the file structure, such as AVI or MP4, while the codec is the method used to compress and convert the video and audio data inside it, such as H.264 or MP3. oCam's default settings are enough for high-quality recording, but depending on your specific purpose, such as optimizing file size or improving editing compatibility, adjusting the codec and container format can make your workflow more efficient. If needed, try selecting the codec and format you want in oCam's codec settings menu.
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Detailed Guide to CapturePlus Preferences
In Preferences, you can configure capture options, image saving settings, and hotkeys.
If you adjust the various options to suit your preferences, CapturePlus becomes even more convenient to use.
It is divided into Capture, Save, JPEG Quality, Additional Features, Hotkeys, and Language, and below is an introduction to the functions available in each option.
As shown on the screen above, the Capture section contains options you can apply when capturing, and each one can produce a noticeably different effect.
Below are the settings that users especially need to pay attention to.
-Include mouse cursor in capture: Check this if you want the mouse cursor to appear in the captured image.
-Automatically save to clipboard after capture: This option saves the capture to the clipboard at the same time, so you can paste it immediately.
-Hide the program during capture & do not activate the program after capture: This allows the program to remain minimized only on the taskbar without becoming active.
-Fixed rectangle area size: Capture inside a fixed rectangle area (Shift+Ctrl+F) sets the window size used for that capture mode.
- Editor Background: If you find the default checkered grid hard on the eyes, you can check Apply Solid Color and choose the color you want.
In the Save section, the Ask whether to save the image option is useful because
even though you can click the "No to All" button when closing with dozens of capture tabs open,
it is more convenient to disable this option if you often sort through many captured screens.
Automatically save the image after capture. If you check this option, each captured image is saved immediately to the specified folder as you capture.
And if you check the Close the tab immediately after auto-saving. option, the image is saved and the tab closes automatically.
The file name-related features, which many users had requested, were improved with the greatest care.
The File name after capture or auto-save section outlined in orange on the screen above has been expanded with various options to satisfy as many users as possible.
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You can change the file name to match your preferences.
Inside <>, you can use date/time and serial number formats, and any text outside <> remains unchanged in the file name.
( The serial number is explained after the date section below. )
There are several available formats, as follows.
[The following are the default formats used. (These are the formats used inside <>.)]
YYYY = year, YY = year (two digits)
MM = month, M = month (single digit if possible)
DD = day, D = day (single digit if possible)
HH = hour
NN = minute
SS = second
C = time format displayed by the computer ( 2011-04-13 8:26:17 PM - however, it cannot be used as a file name. )
ZZZ = millisecond
# = serial number
## = serial number (two digits)
### = serial number (three digits)
########## = serial number (ten digits)
[More broadly, you can also use formats like the following. ( Actual usage examples )]
<d-m-y> = 5-6-00
<dd-mm-yy> = 05-06-00
<dddd d mmmm yyyy> = Wednesday 13 April 2011
<ddddd> = 2011-04-13
<dddddd> = Wednesday, April 13, 2011
<h_m_s.z> = 1_2_3.4
<hh_mm_ss.zzz> = 01_02_03.004
<t> = 01:02 ( cannot be used as a file name. )
<tt> = 01:02:03 ( cannot be used as a file name. )
[Time formats and serial numbers can be used together.]
<YYYY_MM_DD_##> = 2011_04_13_01
[You can insert any file name you want outside <> and use the <> format to define the full file name.]
Capture_<YYYY_MM_DD_##> = Capture_2011_04_13_01
<YYYY_MM_DD_##>_Capture = 2011_04_13_01_Capture
[<> can appear repeatedly in the same file name, and serial numbers can also be repeated.]
Year_<YYYY>_Month_<mm>_Capture = Year_2011_Month_04_Capture
SerialNumber<###>_SerialNumber<#> = SerialNumber001_SerialNumber1
SerialNumber<## # # ##> = SerialNumber01 1 1 01
[Serial Number]
The serial number behaves differently depending on whether Automatically Save Captured Images is checked or not.
If auto-save is not checked, the serial number increases internally by 1 each time you capture,
and that number is assigned.
For example, if you capture 3 times and the file name is set to "Image <##>,"
the file name will become "Image 03."
If auto-save is checked, the serial number is assigned based on the auto-save path and whether a duplicate file name already exists.
For example, if the file name is set to "Capture_<##>," the program checks the auto-save folder
to see whether a file named "Capture_01" exists. If it does not, "Capture_01" is saved. If it does, it checks whether "Capture_02" exists.
If "Capture_02" does not exist, it is saved as "Capture_02."
In other words, the program keeps checking whether the file already exists and assigns the serial number accordingly.
If the serial number format is not included in the file name while using auto-save, the program automatically assigns a serial number internally
before saving. For example, if the file name is <YYYY>, it works the same as <YYYY#>.
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The JPEG Quality section lets you adjust the quality to reduce file size when saving as JPEG.
Using the concept of subsampling, images can be saved with better image quality.
For reference, the medium-quality setting, 4:2:2, is the general default option.
In the Additional Features section, Use Tray Icon allows the program to run automatically when Windows starts,
and it can also be hidden to run from the tray icon.
In the Hotkeys section, you can assign whatever hotkeys are most convenient for each capture method.
For example, you can assign the PrintScreen key.