The 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 SoftwareCapturing 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 screensthey 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 the Windows Media Encoder allows users to capture video screens. The screen capture function in the 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 the Windows Media Encoder, you can bypass any access limitations to the streaming information. To capture a screen using the Windows Media Encoder, do the following:
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 FormatConverting 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 the Windows Media Encoder. The 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:
After the file has been converted, it can be played back by opening the file with Windows Media Player or another video playback tool. |