Chapter 7
Capture Driver
MPEG-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 only. VBrick's Capture Driver is a virtual video capture card. The Capture Driver software acts similar to the way hardware capture cards work, with the added benefit that it can receive video originating from a VBrick. The Capture Driver receives the MPEG video and outputs AVI or DV video; therefore, all existing software programs that capture or manipulate video and audio may be used with VBrick appliances. The Capture Driver software is currently supported for MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. Video sources may be anywhere on the network. Unlike hardware capture devices, the connection does not require a physical connection to a computer through an analog coax or Firewire cable. Also, any number of video sources is possible. There is no limit imposed by the number of physical audio/video inputs available on the computer. Since the process is digital, there is no conversion loss. The capture driver enables frame capture, motion detection, automatic email notification, logging, and more, for security and monitoring applications. Video can be captured, using an editing program, in multiple formats, including AVI, DV, etc. and edited directly using a familiar editing tool. Video can also be re-encoded from MPEG format to other formats that might be more suitable for the application.
Overview
Once installed, it appears in the Window's Multimedia Control Panel like a physical capture card. Any video application that allows the selection of an installed audio/video device will provide VBrick as a choice for video input. Selecting VBrick Video Capture permits choosing a physical VBrick appliance through a Program Guide. Upon selection, the Capture Driver processes the video stream, identifies it as MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, and decodes it. The decoded audio/video is delivered to Windows via a standard DirectX interface, just like a local physical capture card. The video software does not know or care that the audio/video source may be miles away—delivered to the computer as MPEG over IP—it acts like a local video capture card.
Installing Capture Driver
By default the VBrick Capture Driver is not installed with the installation of the StreamPlayer Plus software. In order to install the Capture Driver software, rerun the
SetupStreamPlayer_4_4_0.exe (the software cannot be installed from Add or Remove
Programs). A maintenance window will appear asking if you want to Modify, Repair, or Remove, Choose Modify and press Next. The Add/Remove Components dialog box will display.
