Recording Movies with the Connectix QuickCam
This documentation contains basic instructions for recording movies with the
Connectix Color QuickCam. For more detailed information, refer to the QuickCam users manual or CD-ROM, both of which are located in the FDS.
Step 1:
Start up QuickMovie...
- At Wesleyan: QuickMovie is in the folder "Mellon One\Applications\QuickCam"
Step 2:
Double-click on the QuickMovie icon. A window will appear prompting the selection of a save location for the movie
file which is to be created. Select a name and location for the future movie, and then click "New".
Step 3:
The QuickMovie program will now launch, and a window will appear showing the current view of the QuickCam. This
window will have the same title as the save location, with the default title being, "Untitled QuickMovie 1".
Below the viewscreen image contained in the window is a brightness adjuster, which is automatic but may be
controlled manually as well. In the lower-left corner is a button which toggles between the record and edit modes,
and a "Record" button is in the lower-right corner.
Step 4:
Adjust the QuickCam until the desired image appears in the window. Check that "Normal" recording is selected.
To do this, drag down the "Video" menu from the toolbar, and select "Normal". If sound is desired to be recorded
simultaneously, drag down the "Audio" menu and select a microphone source. Selection is indicated by a
check mark which appears to the left of the option. Click "Record" to begin recording, and "Stop"
to stop recording. Note that both command buttons appear in the same location.
Step 5:
To view the newly-recorded movie, click on the toggle button in the lower-left corner. It will change from a
QuickCam image(record mode) to a computer image(edit mode). The new movie can be viewed by pressing the arrow
button(play) on the lower-left of the image screen. To stop the movie at any time, press the double-line
button(pause) which appears in place of the play button while the movie is running. To move frame-by-frame, click
the left- and right- arrows to move in those respective directions. The location of the current on-screen image
in respect to the entire movie is indicated with a rectangle on the progress bar, which moves from left to right.
This bar may be dragged as well in order to locate a particular selection of the movie.
Step 6:
Once viewed, the new movie is ready to be edited. This is done by first locating the segment of the movie which
needs to be cut or copied. This can be accomplished through the use of the arrow buttons or by dragging the
rectangle to the appropriate location. To select a segment of film, hold down the "Shift" key while cycling through
the movie. The selected portions will appear in the status bar as black, as opposed to the standard gray.
Step 7:
Once a segment is selected, the movie may be edited by dragging down the "Edit" menu on the toolbar. This menu
contains the following options:
- Cut: Cuts the segment to the clipboard.
- Copy: Copies the segment to the clipboard.
- Paste: Pastes the most frequent cut or copy.
- Clear: Erases the segment.
- Select All: Selects the entire movie.
- Undo: Undoes the most recent "Edit" action.
Step 8:
Upon completion of editing, the movie must be saved. This may be done by selecting "Save" from the "File"
toolbar menu. If a change in title or save location is desired, select "Save As" from the "File" menu.
All movies will be stored in Quicktime format(.MOV). If compression is desired, select "Compress Movie" from the
"File" menu, and then select a location and title for this save. (N.B.: If a movie is compressed, it must be
decompressed before it is able to be viewed)
Step 9:
With the movie saved, the program may be exited if no other recordings are desired. Select "Quit" from the "File"
menu on the toolbar.
These basic instructions do not cover many areas of the QuickMovie
program. For more detailed instruction, consult the users manual or contact
one of the Student Technical Support Specialists or the Assistant Director.
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