How to Use the x264vfw External Codec
oCam supports external codecs (VFW), and here we will look at how to use the x264 codec.
You can download the x264 codec from the site below.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/x264vfw/
Go to the site and click the Download button.
The download will start automatically.
On the installation screens, just keep clicking Next.
Accept the license agreement.
Specify the installation path.
The installation is complete.
Click Finish.
After installing the codec, you must restart oCam before it will appear in the external codec list.
After restarting oCam, click the Codec button in the oCam main window, then click the External Codec menu.
Select the Use External Codec checkbox.
From the list, select x264vfw - H264/MPEG-4 AVC codec.
Then click the Settings button to view the detailed codec settings.
The codec settings window will appear as shown below. Since we need to record the screen in real time rather than perform normal video encoding, select Ultrafast in Preset and check the Zero Latency checkbox so that encoding is performed as quickly as possible, then click the OK button.
( This setting method is useful for real-time recording, and you can adjust it as needed depending on your situation. )
After configuring it this way, your recording will use the x264 codec.
* For game recording, if the game you want to record is 64-bit, you must also install the 64-bit version when installing x264vfw ( by default, it is installed automatically unless you change the installation options ). Then run x264vfw - Configure x264vfw64 from the Start menu and configure it the same way as described above.
* The x264vfw settings Keep/Accept only YUV 4:2:0, Keep/Accept only YUV 4:2:2, and Keep/Accept only YUV 4:4:4 are not supported, and recording will fail if you use those settings.
Today's News/Tips
What to Do If the "Failed to av_image_alloc" Error Appears When Starting Recording
While using oCam, this error message may appear in very rare cases. This error is usually caused by insufficient available memory on the Windows system. Below is a detailed explanation of how to resolve this issue.
The first solution is to reduce memory usage. To do this, close other programs that are currently running to free up system memory, then try recording again with oCam. The more programs you have running, the more system resources are divided, so closing unnecessary programs can help reduce memory shortage issues.
The second method is to reduce the size of the recording area. If the recording area is set too large, memory usage can increase. In oCam, try reducing the recording area using the mouse or shortcut keys (such as Shift + arrow keys) before recording. This can lower memory usage and help prevent the error.
Third, this issue can also occur if oCam's video resolution setting is too high. For example, if recording is set to a high resolution such as 8K, it can place a heavy load on system memory. To fix this, follow the steps below:
1. In the oCam main window, click 'Tools' in the top menu, then select 'Options'.
2. In the Settings window, go to the 'Recording' tab.
3. In the 'Resize' section, find the 'Video Resize' option and check the currently configured resolution.
4. Change the resolution to a lower value, such as 1080p or 720p, and save the setting.
5. Restart oCam and try recording again.
Applying the methods above can resolve errors caused by insufficient memory and allow you to record more reliably in oCam. If the problem continues, consider checking your system's memory status or updating oCam to the latest version.