2
Windows Media Encoder
is a great tool for producing streaming webcasts. When
starting with pristine uncompressed video from the XenaHS board, Encoder can
produce high quality images low-bandwidth networks. Encoder can also capture
uncompressed video and audio to a
.wmv
file (for use on a high-speed disk system).
WmCap
and
Sound Recorder
are simple tools useful for verifying XenaHS system set-up.
Some of the more complex applications have many possible settings that can interfere
with proper XenaHS usage.
WmCap
and
Sound Recorder
can also be useful in their own
right; WmCap can save uncompressed video to an
.avi
file for viewing with Windows
Media Player, or save compressed video for use with an encoding application such as
Cleaner or Windows Media Encoder.
Windows Media Player
can be configured to play video files through the XenaHS card’s
SDI output. There is a configuration setting in the Xena Control Panel for Windows
Media Player. When it’s chosen, the Windows registry is modified so that all Windows
Media Player output goes to XenaHS instead of to the Media Player’s own video
window.
Note:
This configuration may interfere with preview capability in some video
capture programs.
Other Applications
XenaHS boards also work great with many applications for character generation,
producing stills, and general video work. Applications known to work, include Adobe
Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, PowerCG, and ThumbsPlus.
Requirements
Software
•
Windows XP or Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 or better. (Windows XP is
highly recommended for Windows Media applications.)
•
DirectX 9 or 8.1 minimum. (DirectX 8.1 is included with Windows XP.) The
latest DirectX Runtime is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx
The DirectX 9.0c setup program can also be installed from the XenaHS CD.
Note:
DirectX 8.1 may work for some applications. However, DirectX 9 is highly
recommended for Windows Media applications.
•
Administrator privileges are required for driver installation.
For Windows Media applications, the following requirements apply:
•
Windows XP
•
DirectX 9
•
Windows Media Player 9 is required for the Windows Media Player application
•
Windows Media Encoder 9 is required for Windows Media Encoder application
Application
Requirements
•
Photoshop 5.0 or above (for use with the supplied Photoshop plug-ins)
•
Windows Media applications each have their own requirements for working with
XenaHS. See the “Using XenaHS With Application Software” topic later in this
manual for more information
