FAQ (36)

Setting the Codec - Selecting an External Video Codec (VFW)



 

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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oCam Advanced Settings - Hotkeys

 

oCam is software that provides various hotkeys for user convenience, helping users perform screen recording and capture tasks quickly and efficiently. In the settings window that appears when you click the "Tools - Options" menu, the "Hotkeys" category on the left provides options for setting or disabling hotkeys that let you quickly run oCam's main features. These settings are useful for everyone from beginners to IT professionals who want to streamline their workflow. Below is a detailed explanation of the main settings in the "Hotkeys" category.


Overview of Hotkey Settings

The "Hotkeys" category is focused on letting you run oCam's main functions, such as Start/Stop Recording, Pause, Screen Capture, and Find Target Window, using keyboard shortcuts. Default hotkeys are already assigned for each function, but users can freely change or disable them to match their working environment or personal preference. Using hotkeys greatly improves productivity by allowing you to work quickly without using the mouse.


Recording Hotkey

The "Recording Hotkey" option lets you set the shortcut used to start or stop screen recording. The default hotkey is set to F2. Pressing this hotkey immediately starts recording or stops a recording already in progress. Users can change this setting to a more convenient key or key combination, such as Ctrl+R or Alt+F2. This feature is especially useful in situations that require quick control, such as recording gameplay or live lectures.


Pause Hotkey

The "Pause Hotkey" option lets you set the shortcut used to temporarily pause recording. The default hotkey is set to Shift+F2. This feature is useful when you want to skip certain sections or pause briefly during a recording. For example, you can use this hotkey to leave out unnecessary waiting time during a lecture or to pause recording briefly while editing a certain part of gameplay. Users can change it to a different key combination if needed.


Capture Hotkey

The "Capture Hotkey" option lets you set the shortcut used to capture the screen. The default hotkey is set to F3, and pressing this key saves the selected screen area as an image. This feature is very convenient when you want to quickly capture a moment on the screen for software guides, tutorial materials, or documentation. Users can change the hotkey to suit their work environment, for example to avoid key conflicts with another capture program they use frequently.


Find Target Window

The "Find Target Window" hotkey is the shortcut used to run the "Find Recording Target Window" feature provided when you click the "Resize" button in the oCam main window. The default hotkey is set to F4. This feature is used to automatically detect a specific window or application and set it as the recording area. For example, if you want to record only a specific program window, pressing this hotkey allows oCam to quickly recognize that window and set the recording area. You can change this hotkey to a key that better fits your workflow.


How to Change or Disable Hotkeys

Changing a Hotkey: To change a hotkey, click the input field for the function you want, then enter the new key or key combination, such as Ctrl+Alt+R. After that, click the "OK" button at the bottom right of the settings window to apply the change. Be careful not to assign duplicate hotkeys, and it is best to choose keys that do not conflict with other programs.

Disabling a Hotkey: If you do not want to use a hotkey, simply uncheck the checkbox next to that function. This disables the hotkey for that feature, and the key input will be ignored. This is useful for users who prefer to control oCam only with the mouse instead of using hotkeys.


Usage Tips

The settings in the "Hotkeys" category can greatly improve work efficiency. For example, if you want to start or stop recording quickly during a game stream, it is a good idea to set the "Recording Hotkey" to a key you use often so you can control it instantly. The "Pause Hotkey" is useful for removing unnecessary parts during long recording sessions, and the "Find Target Window" hotkey is efficient when you need to quickly select a specific application while multiple windows are open. When changing hotkeys, it is important to test them in advance to make sure they do not conflict with keys used by other software.


Also, if you use hotkeys often, it can help to write down the hotkeys for each function or keep the oCam settings window easy to open so you can check them quickly. If you often forget hotkeys, you can use the buttons in the oCam main window instead or adjust the settings to minimize hotkey use.

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