Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kosh on June 13, 2010, 03:52:31 am

Title: video capture software
Post by: Kosh on June 13, 2010, 03:52:31 am
I've been thinking about recording some FS2 missions from some of the mods, so other than FRAPS what is out there? I recall someone posted something a while back with a name that started with x (I think), but I haven't been able to find the post so I dont remember exactly what the name was. So what is out there (that's free, but also good)?
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: QuantumDelta on June 13, 2010, 10:42:52 am
Having taken a tour of most of the capture proggies recently, I'd DEFINITELY stick with fraps if you have the hardware to manage 1080p recording.
If you don't, hypercam and gamecam are 'ok', most other stuff... try to avoid.

But FRAPS is the industry standard atm.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on June 13, 2010, 11:10:18 am
Actually, QD, Fraps runs very solidly on all but the most outdated computers. Most of the trailers that you see on my YouTube channel uploads (http://www.youtube.com/user/HeliosExeunt#p/u) were recorded with Fraps on my IBM, which had 248 MB back then.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: SpardaSon21 on June 13, 2010, 12:07:33 pm
Xfire has built-in video capture, and it is pretty good from what I've heard (never used it myself since I've never needed to capture video).
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: watsisname on June 13, 2010, 12:26:18 pm
I purchased gamecam a while back and it's reasonably good, but in hindsight probably not worth the pricetag. 

I'm surprised about the positive things being said for FRAPS -- I might check it out for myself now. :)
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: TopAce on June 13, 2010, 01:01:06 pm
FRAPS is good as long as you purchase it. The free version's 30-second limit is burdensome for recording whole missions.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Mongoose on June 13, 2010, 01:54:51 pm
Xfire has built-in video capture, and it is pretty good from what I've heard (never used it myself since I've never needed to capture video).
I used it myself for my one ill-advised mission-recording attempt, and I was rather impressed with the results.  It wasn't very resource-intensive while recording, and its encoding scheme produced fairly good quality in a very small file size.  And the way I see it, you can't beat free.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: headdie on June 13, 2010, 02:52:55 pm
Xfire has built-in video capture, and it is pretty good from what I've heard (never used it myself since I've never needed to capture video).
I used it myself for my one ill-advised mission-recording attempt, and I was rather impressed with the results.  It wasn't very resource-intensive while recording, and its encoding scheme produced fairly good quality in a very small file size.  And the way I see it, you can't beat free.

how do you get around xfire insisting on using the retail exe ?
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: SpardaSon21 on June 13, 2010, 03:11:43 pm
You can choose manual detection for it in your Options/Games tab in Xfire and then point it to your C:\Games\FreeSpace2 folder, then choose which .exe.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: headdie on June 13, 2010, 03:21:29 pm
I try that but I'm getting this

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Topgun on June 13, 2010, 03:31:33 pm
try the fso exe, not the launcher.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: headdie on June 13, 2010, 03:50:52 pm
I'm still getting the error  :(

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Mongoose on June 13, 2010, 04:12:50 pm
I feel like you might have to re-name the executable you're using to one of those two options, as those are the two that Xfire has as presets.  (There may be some config file somewhere to change that, but I'm not entirely sure.)  I don't think I even had FS2 listed as one of my installed games when I recorded with it, as I just had to add it in there now; I think the in-game recording worked just fine without it.

EDIT:  Ah, here's something that might work.  The Xfire program folder has a file called "xfire_games.ini" that stores info for all of the accepted games on the list.  Presumably, you can change the executable listed there from 3.6.10 to whatever you're currently using.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: headdie on June 13, 2010, 04:18:50 pm
I feel like you might have to re-name the executable you're using to one of those two options, as those are the two that Xfire has as presets.  (There may be some config file somewhere to change that, but I'm not entirely sure.)  I don't think I even had FS2 listed as one of my installed games when I recorded with it, as I just had to add it in there now.

didnt think about renaming, thanks
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Mongoose on June 13, 2010, 04:25:13 pm
Gah, you got in before my edit. :p
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Kosh on June 13, 2010, 04:36:22 pm
xfire, that's the one I was thinking about. Cool, I'll give it a shot in the next couple of days.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: headdie on June 13, 2010, 04:49:03 pm
EDIT:  Ah, here's something that might work.  The Xfire program folder has a file called "xfire_games.ini" that stores info for all of the accepted games on the list.  Presumably, you can change the executable listed there from 3.6.10 to whatever you're currently using.

that did the trick
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: QuantumDelta on June 13, 2010, 07:49:50 pm
Fraps vs Xfire;


Fraps Pros;
Superior Audio.
Superior Video.
Superior Data Rate Handling.
No Watermark (or similar crap on screen).
Video-Loop tech = freaking awesome.

Fraps Cons;
There is a slight jump even on a high quality system when swapping files, fraps cuts videos into 3.9GB chunks, and it's very hard to piece these together smoothly.

Xfire Pros;
Lower quality picture means less data rate to handle, less i/o spam and slightly lower filesize.
Saves everything as one file. - no skipping.

Xfire Cons;
Basically?
Looks like ass, sounds half decent at best compared to FRAPs, and leaves a crappy water mark on the screen.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Enigmatic Entity on June 14, 2010, 08:08:05 am
There's zSoft Game Recorder, don't know how well it compares to FRAPs, but it's only $10 if you decide to pay for it, otherwise it's 60s and a stamp, which is a small www. in the corner. Or there's other methods...
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on June 14, 2010, 08:18:58 am
I remember Fraps used to have that watermark at the top of the screen...

I believe Twitter has a video recording function as well, but I'm not sure if that's true or a load of manure.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: TopAce on June 14, 2010, 08:48:02 am
I remember Fraps used to have that watermark at the top of the screen...

Only if you have the free version. The watermark disappears in the full version.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on June 14, 2010, 09:08:45 am
Oh, it's still there? That's funny, because I use the free version to record less than 30 seconds of video each time, and I never get the watermark.
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: headdie on June 14, 2010, 10:54:38 am
i thought the watermarks were only on stills taken in the free version of fraps
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on June 15, 2010, 02:40:24 am
No. Go to YouTube and search for "fraps watermark".
Title: Re: video capture software
Post by: Kosh on June 17, 2010, 11:40:18 am
Quote
I think the in-game recording worked just fine without it.


I don't think so. I tried it and even though I hit the hotkey, when I checked to see if anything was recorded the folder was empty.