Recording computer's screen-help! at DVinfo.net

Petre Nicolescu · September 22nd, 2007, 07:04 PM

I'm about to finish my project which implies recording from the computer's display. Instead of making a time consuming CG with the whole explanation process, i'd rather prefer to capture the screen.
I've only tried to record the image via fire-wire port, which I sincerely doubt that can carry video signal.

Does anyone know how can I connect the camera to the monitor/video card in order capture the computer's screen? What type of cables do I need?

I work on a Mac Quad with the standard dual DVI video card. My EIZO monitor also has a spare DVI port and USB. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find connectors DVI to --> any camera's input.

Any input is gold in hand! I've already missed the deadline!
Thanks.

John Miller · September 22nd, 2007, 07:57 PM

Does your dual video card have an S-video output? If so, then if you can clone the main display so that it appears on the S-video output, you can simply record it with any analog recorder or a DV camcorder with S-video input.

I don't know the Mac world - this is something that is quite common on Windows. The graphics hardware is the same, so I suspect you can.

If that option doesn't work, you can either get a dedicated hardware box that will convert the monitor's signal to a regular video one.

Finally, and least preferable, you can shoot the display with your camera. You have to make sure you set the display's refresh rate and the camera's shutter speed such that you don't see rolling bands of brighter video.

Petre Nicolescu · September 22nd, 2007, 09:35 PM

Hi John. Thank you for the reply.
I forgot to mention that I own a canon XH A1 but I assumed that being a Canon XHG1/A1 forum implies that my camera is one of them. Sorry!
Anyway, neither the camera nor the video card have S-Video input/output capabilities and considering another camera for this job is out of question.
It's pretty lame that I'm stuck in such a minor thing after spending £2.4k on the camera and almost £3K on the computer.
I really don't want to invest any more in any equipment. I would only buy cables or connectors for a while :)
Framing the display could be a way to sort it out eventually, but I try to avoid this method as much as I can.
Thank you.

Bill Pryor · September 22nd, 2007, 09:41 PM

You're trying to capture what's on your computer screen? An easy way to do it is with screen capture software, and there's some great stuff that works with a Mac for only around $60. It's SnapZ pro:

http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/

With the Mac you can capture at a 10 bit animation if you want, keeping the high resolution of the screen. Drop it in the timeline and edit just like captured video (except there's a pretty hefty render on the 10 bit).

If you're only capturing still shots off the screen, just use the screen grab software the Mac already has. Grab the screen, drop it into your timeline.

Petre Nicolescu · September 22nd, 2007, 09:54 PM

Hi Bill. Thank you very much for your input. I tried last month such a software (i can't remember the name. It was smth very obvious). I downloaded a demo version and it really sucked.
My old iMac G5 1.8 GHz with 2 GB RAM was processing every mouse movement incredibly slow. I'm afraid that the SnapZ software won't do the job either since the resolution on the new monitor is 1900x1200.
Thanks again.

Dearl Golden · September 23rd, 2007, 09:49 AM

As a last resort, can you not use the "Clear Scan" setting on the A1 and simply shoot the screen with the cam?

September 22nd, 2007, 07:04 PM	#1
Petre Nicolescu New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom Posts: 17	Recording computer's screen-help! I'm about to finish my project which implies recording from the computer's display. Instead of making a time consuming CG with the whole explanation process, i'd rather prefer to capture the screen. I've only tried to record the image via fire-wire port, which I sincerely doubt that can carry video signal. Does anyone know how can I connect the camera to the monitor/video card in order capture the computer's screen? What type of cables do I need? I work on a Mac Quad with the standard dual DVI video card. My EIZO monitor also has a spare DVI port and USB. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find connectors DVI to --> any camera's input. Any input is gold in hand! I've already missed the deadline! Thanks.

September 22nd, 2007, 07:57 PM	#2
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 968	Does your dual video card have an S-video output? If so, then if you can clone the main display so that it appears on the S-video output, you can simply record it with any analog recorder or a DV camcorder with S-video input. I don't know the Mac world - this is something that is quite common on Windows. The graphics hardware is the same, so I suspect you can. If that option doesn't work, you can either get a dedicated hardware box that will convert the monitor's signal to a regular video one. Finally, and least preferable, you can shoot the display with your camera. You have to make sure you set the display's refresh rate and the camera's shutter speed such that you don't see rolling bands of brighter video.

September 22nd, 2007, 09:35 PM	#3
Petre Nicolescu New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom Posts: 17	Hi John. Thank you for the reply. I forgot to mention that I own a canon XH A1 but I assumed that being a Canon XHG1/A1 forum implies that my camera is one of them. Sorry! Anyway, neither the camera nor the video card have S-Video input/output capabilities and considering another camera for this job is out of question. It's pretty lame that I'm stuck in such a minor thing after spending £2.4k on the camera and almost £3K on the computer. I really don't want to invest any more in any equipment. I would only buy cables or connectors for a while :) Framing the display could be a way to sort it out eventually, but I try to avoid this method as much as I can. Thank you.

September 22nd, 2007, 09:41 PM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	You're trying to capture what's on your computer screen? An easy way to do it is with screen capture software, and there's some great stuff that works with a Mac for only around $60. It's SnapZ pro: http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/ With the Mac you can capture at a 10 bit animation if you want, keeping the high resolution of the screen. Drop it in the timeline and edit just like captured video (except there's a pretty hefty render on the 10 bit). If you're only capturing still shots off the screen, just use the screen grab software the Mac already has. Grab the screen, drop it into your timeline.

September 22nd, 2007, 09:54 PM	#5
Petre Nicolescu New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom Posts: 17	Hi Bill. Thank you very much for your input. I tried last month such a software (i can't remember the name. It was smth very obvious). I downloaded a demo version and it really sucked. My old iMac G5 1.8 GHz with 2 GB RAM was processing every mouse movement incredibly slow. I'm afraid that the SnapZ software won't do the job either since the resolution on the new monitor is 1900x1200. Thanks again.

September 23rd, 2007, 09:49 AM	#6
Dearl Golden Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gallatin, TN Posts: 147	As a last resort, can you not use the "Clear Scan" setting on the A1 and simply shoot the screen with the cam?