Desktop to firewire (dv) at DVinfo.net

Sam Eklund · June 19th, 2003, 05:49 AM

I am looking for a software that can output my windows desktop to firewire. What I'm trying to do is to make an instructional video on a software and would like to record the entire screen with mouse movements and all to an external device.

I know there are a couple of screen-capture sw's out there that can save my desktop to file, ex. avi. However that is not really working for me due to a too slow machine.

Anyone got any advice?

Best regards,

Sam Eklund
Stockholm, Sweden

Rob Lohman · June 19th, 2003, 06:55 AM

The best thing would be to get a video card with composite and/or
SVHS out and hook that up to a VCR/DV deck or DV cam. Easiest
way.

I don't think there is any soft that can send your desktop through
firewire in realtime while compressing DV. That'll take much more
CPU time then the software you mentioned.

My approach doesn't require any software what-so-ever. Only a
video card with analog out (some cheap GeForce cards have it,
most laptops do). You do need to lower your desktops resolution
for it to work, though.

Sam Eklund · June 23rd, 2003, 12:59 AM

Ok, thanks Rob, however that's not really what i'm looking for, I need for my screen resolution to be approx 1024 X 768 to fit all the windows I want in there. However, this is a very good low-cost approach to the problem.

Scott Silverman · June 23rd, 2003, 01:05 AM

I think someone makes a box that will convert a regular monitor out into a TV out (S-Video or composite) and it handles high res. Dont remember off the top of my head. Maybe try doing a search or call some video computer specialty store. Only thing is, it might just be better (and cheaper) to just upgrade your computer. Good luck!

Dennis Adams · June 23rd, 2003, 09:14 PM

Another solution is to record to desktop and your movements to a file using Camtasia, and then load that into your NLE, optionally edit it, do voice overs, etc., and then render to the format of your choice. If your NLE can zoom in on the video (Vegas can do this easily), you can highlight the area of interest as you go. I have also seen good results shooting video off of an LCD screen (not a CRT, it will flicker).
///d@

Brendan Getchel · June 25th, 2003, 08:03 PM

Can't be done -- not in the way you're thinking anyway.

The standards are mismatched. Native DV -- even over Firewire -- is only 720 x 480 (or thereabouts). Your 1024 x 768 will still have to be downsampled to that actual resolution. Therefore a standard S-Video output WILL show the full screen, but only at 400 lines.

Sam Eklund · June 26th, 2003, 01:14 AM

Ok, I think I'll try and use the s-video out way of doing it. I guess, depending on what graphics card I use, the actual S-video signal will contan the whole 1024 x 768 screen, however, downsampled.

Fortunatley I'm working in PAL, thus having a few more lines to work with in the end product.

Thanks a lot for your time and your input!

/ Sam

Hans Henrik Bang · June 26th, 2003, 06:05 AM

I have done something similar to what you want. Using my GeForce 4 TI-4200 card that supports dual output you can run the main display in 1024 x 768 and simultaneously have S-Video or composite out to your camera. Use "Nview" from Nvidia to control that.

Of course the output to the camera will be downsampled as already mentioned. The resulting image on tape will be considerably blurry, and any small text you have in 1024 x 768 will be illegible on video.

Hans Henrik

Jesper Hallen · June 28th, 2003, 12:49 PM

(swedish)
du kanske har en av-out från din dator, kanske i s-vhs eller vanlig, som du kan koppla in i dv-kameran om du har av-in, funkar kanske=)

Rob Lohman · July 11th, 2003, 10:13 AM

Keep it in English please! Thank you.

June 19th, 2003, 05:49 AM	#1
Sam Eklund Tourist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 4	Desktop to firewire (dv) I am looking for a software that can output my windows desktop to firewire. What I'm trying to do is to make an instructional video on a software and would like to record the entire screen with mouse movements and all to an external device. I know there are a couple of screen-capture sw's out there that can save my desktop to file, ex. avi. However that is not really working for me due to a too slow machine. Anyone got any advice? Best regards, Sam Eklund Stockholm, Sweden

June 19th, 2003, 06:55 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	The best thing would be to get a video card with composite and/or SVHS out and hook that up to a VCR/DV deck or DV cam. Easiest way. I don't think there is any soft that can send your desktop through firewire in realtime while compressing DV. That'll take much more CPU time then the software you mentioned. My approach doesn't require any software what-so-ever. Only a video card with analog out (some cheap GeForce cards have it, most laptops do). You do need to lower your desktops resolution for it to work, though. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 23rd, 2003, 01:05 AM	#4
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	I think someone makes a box that will convert a regular monitor out into a TV out (S-Video or composite) and it handles high res. Dont remember off the top of my head. Maybe try doing a search or call some video computer specialty store. Only thing is, it might just be better (and cheaper) to just upgrade your computer. Good luck! __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

June 25th, 2003, 08:03 PM	#6
Brendan Getchel Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Waterbury, CT Posts: 101	Can't be done -- not in the way you're thinking anyway. The standards are mismatched. Native DV -- even over Firewire -- is only 720 x 480 (or thereabouts). Your 1024 x 768 will still have to be downsampled to that actual resolution. Therefore a standard S-Video output WILL show the full screen, but only at 400 lines. __________________ Dumb Guy.

June 28th, 2003, 12:49 PM	#9
Jesper Hallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Gothenburg, EU Posts: 35	(swedish) du kanske har en av-out från din dator, kanske i s-vhs eller vanlig, som du kan koppla in i dv-kameran om du har av-in, funkar kanske=) __________________ - jeha!

June 23rd, 2003, 12:59 AM	#3
Sam Eklund Tourist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 4	Ok, thanks Rob, however that's not really what i'm looking for, I need for my screen resolution to be approx 1024 X 768 to fit all the windows I want in there. However, this is a very good low-cost approach to the problem.

June 23rd, 2003, 09:14 PM	#5
Dennis Adams Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 123	Another solution is to record to desktop and your movements to a file using Camtasia, and then load that into your NLE, optionally edit it, do voice overs, etc., and then render to the format of your choice. If your NLE can zoom in on the video (Vegas can do this easily), you can highlight the area of interest as you go. I have also seen good results shooting video off of an LCD screen (not a CRT, it will flicker). ///d@

June 26th, 2003, 01:14 AM	#7
Sam Eklund Tourist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 4	Ok, I think I'll try and use the s-video out way of doing it. I guess, depending on what graphics card I use, the actual S-video signal will contan the whole 1024 x 768 screen, however, downsampled. Fortunatley I'm working in PAL, thus having a few more lines to work with in the end product. Thanks a lot for your time and your input! / Sam

June 26th, 2003, 06:05 AM	#8
Hans Henrik Bang Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Frederiksberg, Denmark Posts: 133	I have done something similar to what you want. Using my GeForce 4 TI-4200 card that supports dual output you can run the main display in 1024 x 768 and simultaneously have S-Video or composite out to your camera. Use "Nview" from Nvidia to control that. Of course the output to the camera will be downsampled as already mentioned. The resulting image on tape will be considerably blurry, and any small text you have in 1024 x 768 will be illegible on video. Hans Henrik

July 11th, 2003, 10:13 AM	#10
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Keep it in English please! Thank you. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors