A good software to capture and record video from webcam.

[prankstare]

Hi,

I've got a HP notebook which comes with an integrated webcam and would like a program which can record my videos but not with huge output filesizes (I am pointing this out because I have managed to record videos using VLC and the outcome was that the file sizes were simply unacceptable). So, a piece of software that would capture, record and do sort of "on-the-fly" compression would be nice (or if there isn't one which does this, just name some good programs okay?).

Thanks.

[guns1inger]

File size = Bitrate x Running Time. if you configure VLC to use a codec that allows for lower bitrates, and you then use a lower bitrate, you will get a smaller output size.

You could also look at Microsoft Expression Encoder Free (if you are happy with WMV files) or NCH Debut (free version - and watch out for the extra bookmarks they create for you).

[prankstare]

Hi there,

Thanks for the reply buddy, but I was really looking at something else other than VLC. Not that I find it a bad piece of video player, not at all, but I just didn't have really positive experiences with webcam recording with it and can't find the options to encode on-the-fly with it aswell. I wonder whether many of you record using VLC...

[guns1inger]

Look at the other options I suggested then. Not sure what you mean by "on the fly". Are you talking about simply starting to record mid stream - i.e. while the camera is already broadcasting ?

[prankstare]

Hey,

By "on-the-fly" I meant like, just like those camcorders that due to the lack of hdd space they generally have to do some type of compression running at the same time as it records the video (for example, imagine if we could rip a DVD movie to our HDD and as it rips it also encodes both things at the same time).

[prankstare]

Up!

I still haven't found any options as for the file size in VLC so could you or somebody else suggest some other webcam software?

[guns1inger]

As I suggested earlier, NCH Debut or Expression Encoder Free are options to consider. There isn't much around that is free. Most webcams come with software as well, so you should check your laptop.

As for VLC, click on Media -> Convert/Save.

Click on Capture Device and select your webcam from the list.

Click on Convert/Save (button at the bottom of the dialogue). A new dialogue will open.

Set your Destination.

Set you codec under Profile.

Click on the small tool icon next to the selected profile. A new dialogue will open.

Encapsulation - chose your container
Video Codec - choose you codec, set the video bitrate and framerate
Audio Codec - choose your audio codec and set the audio bitrate

Click Save

Click Start

[prankstare]

Hum, gonna be looking onto these options. Thanks.

What I want is something rather weird... I want to record my entire sleeping (about 8 hours non-stop) so that's why I need some HDD space.

[guns1inger]

VLC defaults to 800 kbps, which is less than 700MB per hour. Buy a cheap external USB drive and you record several days at HD resolution if you wanted.

How much space do you have ?

[prankstare]

800kbps? Wow, I don't think so. Last night I was doing another video test and it outputted about 500MB-file for only a few minutes or so. It must be my camera or something, I don't know.

I have 320GB HDD in total - about 130GB left

[huaying1994]

Try Bandicam, FoneLab, OBS, TinyTake, They are all good software