Windows Media Encoder can also convert videos as well
as capture screen content from a video session. These functions are
useful utility features that give media producers some basic tools for
editing and publishing content.
Capturing Screen Content with the Windows Media Encoder Software
Capturing screen content
from video is not as simple as you might think. Simply pressing
Ctrl+Print Screen does not capture video content. This usually results
in a grayed-out box where the video was being played. Third-party screen
capture tools also typically do not capture video screens—they
typically capture bit images of a video screen, and the DirectX video or
streaming video caches video content that does not show up on the
active screen.
A tool like the one built in to
Windows Media Encoder allows users to capture video screens. The screen
capture function in Windows Media Encoder can capture an entire
streaming video session. This is useful if you are watching a webcast, a
video stream, or some
other session that you might not otherwise be able to download for
replay later. By capturing the entire video and audio session using
Windows Media Encoder, you can bypass any access limitations to the
streaming information.
To capture a screen using Windows Media Encoder, do the following:
1. | Click the Capture a Screen option, and then click OK.
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2. | On
the Screen Capture Session window, choose to capture a specific window,
a region of the screen, or the entire screen. Choose to capture audio
from the default audio device by selecting the appropriate check box and
then click Next.
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3. | Depending on the option selected in step 2, choose the window or region you want to capture, and then click Next.
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4. | Enter the name of the file to which you want to capture the file, and then click Next.
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5. | Choose the quality setting: low, medium, or high. Click Next to continue.
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6. | Optional
information can be added to the captured file, such as title, author,
copyright information, rating, and description. Enter the desired
information and click Next to continue.
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7. | The
next screen gives you the option to begin the capture when the Finish
button is clicked, or to simply finish the configuration and start the
session later. Make the appropriate selection and click Finish.
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After the session has been
captured, it can be played back by opening the file with Windows Media
Player or another video playback tool.
Converting Videos to Windows Media Video Format
Converting a file might be
necessary for the producer of media content. Many times, a video file is
stored in a format or has been encoded with a codec that is not widely
or easily distributed. A video file might also be stored in a format
that does not support the Windows Media server publishing capabilities.
One way to convert the file is to use the screen-capturing capability of
Windows Media Encoder, as covered in the section “Capturing Screen Content with the Windows Media Encoder Software.” The other way to convert the video is to use the conversion functionality built in to Windows Media Encoder.
Windows Media Encoder can
convert files from the ASF, AVI, BMP, JPG, MPG, MP3, WAV, WMA, and WMV
formats to a WMV video format supported by the Windows Media server. To
initiate a file conversion, do the following:
1. | Click the Convert a File option in the Windows Media Encoder software, and then click OK.
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2. | Select
the source file of the file you want to convert. Choose the directory
and filename where you want the output written. Click Next to continue.
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3. | Choose
how you want to distribute your content. Your choices are File
Download, Hardware Devices (CD, DVD, Portable), Windows Media Server
(Streaming), Web Server (Progressive Download), Windows Media Hardware
Profiles, PocketPC, or File Archive.
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4. | The
next screen will prompt you for the encoding options. The various bit
rates for encoding will be shown, displaying Total Bit Rate, Frame Rate,
and Output Size. Choose the desired bit rate or bit rates and click
Next to continue.
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5. | Optional
information can be added to the captured file, such as title, author,
copyright information, rating, and description. Enter the desired
information and click Next to continue.
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6. | The
next screen gives you the option to begin the capture when the Finish
button is clicked, or to simply finish the configuration and start the
session later. Make the appropriate selection and click Finish.
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After the file has been
converted, it can be played back by opening the file with Windows Media
Player or another video playback tool.
