#
| README file for
|
| ELSA Videosoftware for Windows 95
|
|
| Copyright (c) 1996-97 ELSA AG, Aachen (Germany)
|
| ELSA AG Internet : http://www.elsa.de
| Sonnenweg 11 LocalWeb : +49-(0)241-938800
| D-52070 Aachen
|
| ELSA Inc. Internet : http://www.elsa.com
| 2231 Calle De Luna
| Santa Clara, CA 95054
| USA
|
| ELSA Asia Inc. Internet : http://www.elsa.com
| 7F-11, No. 188, Sec. 5
| Nanking East Road
| Taipei 105
| Taiwan, R. O. C.
|
| ELSA Japan Inc. Internet : http://www.elsa.com
| Mita Suzuki Building 3F
| 5-20-14 Shiba, Minato-ku,
| Tokyo, Japan 108-0014
|
| 12.05.98 CSkopinski
Table of Contents
1. Overview
2. Installation
3. Videoviewer
4. Recording Videos
5. Notes
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1. Overview
This file describes the installation and handling of
ELSA Videosoftware.
The Videosoftware consists of:
- Video for Windows Capture Driver.
- Software for previewing video.
- Software for viewing teletext.
- Software for selecting video-input
and -format.
All videocomponents are started from the WINman suite.
The Videosoftware requires DirectX 5.
The Teletextsoftware requires a PAL and WST (World Standard
Teletext) compliant videosignal.
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2. Installation
Use the CDïs Setup.exe to install the Videosoftware
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3. Videoviewer
After starting Videoviewer searches all video-inputs for
a connected video-source. It stops and shows, if an active
video-source is found.
If you like to select another source, use menuitem "Video
Source" described later.
This Videoviewer is handled clicking the left or right mouse-
key.
When clicking the left mousekey, the windows systemmenu
appears.
When clicking the right mosuekey, a specific context-menu
appears.
3.1 Functions
3.1.1 Teletext...
Selecting this menuitem starts the Teletextviewer.
3.1.2 Videosource...
Selecting this menuitem opens a dialog, where you can
select a video-source or correct the video-colors.
3.1.3 Videoformat...
Selecting this menuitem opens a dialog, where you can
select the size of the video and a video-format.
3.1.4 Screenshot
Saves a BMP-File of the current picture into the temporary
file directory ( e.g. C:\TEMP ) of your harddisc. The file
is named SCRNxxxx.BMP. xxxx is a number, which is
automatically incremented to preserve the file from being
overwritten when making a series of screenshots.
Alternatively you may use the 'S' hot key for saving
instead of the menu.
3.1.5 Always on top
Selecting this item keeps the Videoviewer window always
on top of all other windows. Its always visible.
3.1.6 Hide Titlebar
Selecting this menuitem hides the Videoviewers titlebar.
3.1.7 Resize to input
Selecting this menuitem resizes the window to the actual
video input size. "Videoformat" allows selection
of video input size.
3.1.8 About...
About ELSA...
Selecting this menuitem shows information about the program
and ELSA.
3.1.9 Exit
Quits the Videoviewer.
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4 Recording Videos
The programme MainActor is included for video recording.
However, any "Video for Windows"-compatible software can be
used for recording videos.
Large amounts of data are created during video recordings.
The following tips may help you to achieve a drop-free
recording:
- Close all other programmes and especially DOS boxes during
video recording.
- Defragment the hard disk before recording.
- Use a separate hard disk for recording.
- Use the ELSA Video Compression.
- Deactivate the audio recording function if you do not wish
to record sound.
4.1 Data formats
You can record videos using various data formats. You can
determine which data format you wish to use in the dialogue
"video format", which can be called up using the WINman Suite
or out of your video application. You can choose from the
following data formats:
- RGB16: The data format RGB16 works in the RGB colour space.
5 bits/pixel are stored for each of the three colour
components.
In addition one filler bit per pixel is stored, which
results in a storing capacity of 16bits/pixel.
The colour resolution of such a picture is equivalent to a
Real-Colour-Picture under Windows.
The advantage of RGB16 is that this format is directly
recognised by Windows. The disadvantage is an extremely
high storage requirement.
A picture with a resolution of 320x240 pixels occupies
150kB. A picture with 640x480 pixels requires four times
the amount of data, i.e.600kB.
- YVU9 requires less storage room. namely 9 bits/pixel.
It works in the YUV colour space and offers 256 grey
gradations per pixel (in comparison to 32 grey gradations
with RGB16). Compression is achieved by reducing the colour
resolution. A colour mean is stored for each 4x4 pixel.
The human eye can detect anomalies in brightness much
better than anomalies in colour, foso that optically there
is hardly any difference to an uncompressed picture.
A YVU9 picture with 320x240 pixels requires approximately
84kB. A YVU9 picture with 640x480 pixels requires four
times the amount of data, 336kB.
In order to portray a video recorded with YVU 9 on your
system, you must have installed an Intel Indeo(tm)-Codec
or you must use the supplied MainActor programme.
Reports such as "data format cannot be read" or "No
compatible driver is installed" mean that an Intel
Indeo(tm)-Codec is not installed.
- The ELSA Video Compression reduces the amount of data
compared to YVU9 even further. A special process results
in only ca. 3-5 bits/pixel being stored.
As with YVU9 ELSA Video compression works in the YVU
colour space. The compression ratio depends on the
picture material to be compressed. Noise-free picture
material is simpler to compress than noisy picture
material. Picture material with large, single colour
areas is simpler to compress than a detailed multicoloured
picture. Using the ELSA Video Compression a picture with a
resolution of 320x240 pixels requires between 20kB und
40kB. A picture with 640x480 pixels generally achieves
a higher compression than a picture with 320x240 Pixel
and requires ca. 120kB.
4.2 ELSA Video Compression (ELSA Quick Codec) in operation.
The ELSA Video Compression is dealt with by your computer
while you record a video in real time. Using the ELSA Video
Compression has several advantages:
- Videos with higher refresh rates can be recorded.
- The drop rate decreases.
- Videos can be recorded with a higher resolution.
- Longer video sequences can be recorded on a hard disk
than would otherwise be possible without compression.
AVIs which have been recorded with the ELSA Video
Compression require a Codec installed in the system in
order to be played back. This is a programme which
transforms the compressed information into a Windows-
compatible standard format. Such a Codec is supplied on
your ELSA CD and is automatically installed when the
video software is installed.
While recording a video, you should proceed in two stages:
- Initially record a video using the ELSA Video Compression
in order to benefit from the advantages described above.
- Then transform the AVI with MainActor into a commonly used
compression format such as MPEG, Indeo (tm) or Cinepak (tm).
If you want to play back a video recorded with ELSA
compression, it is recommended that you use the Media Player
from Windows and a Real or Truecolour graphic mode. Using a
monitor setting of 8 bits/pixel will possibly result in the
video being screened or reproduced with a reduced colour
count.
You cannot play back AVIs recorded with ELSA Video
Compresion on systems on which the ELSA Video Compression
has not been installed.
MainActor in the version 1.6 (or higher) is necessary to
portray the ELSA Video Compression.
The decompression of the ELSA Video Compression is optimized
for maximum picture quality so that recompression is achieved
as loss-free as possible. As a result, playback in real time
with MainActor is only possible on the fastest computers.
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5. Notes
5.1 The videosoftware requires invisible offscreenmemory.
This requirement changes with videoresolution.
On the other side, the free offscreenmemory changes with
desktop resolution. Therefore the videosoftware capabilities
change with changing desktop resolution.
5.2 Recommended Desktop resolutions:
- 800x600 Pixel, 16bpp, 75Hz
- 1024x768 Pixel, 16bpp, 75Hz
5.3 Switching desktop resolution or colordepth without restarting
the system leads to system crash, if videosoftware has been
used before.
5.4 Switchwing between DOS-window and -fullscreen leads to system
crash, if videosoftware has been used before and a TV-Set is
connected.
5.5 To view ELSA compressed video you need MainActor Version 1.6
(or higher).
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.