Design Suggestions for new Encoder App UPDATE DropBox

[Pakman]

Greetings SWF Users!!

I have been around these boards for some time, and I wanted to add some thing to the community.

I have a Computer Science Degree from Drexel University, and have been programming for about 7 years.

I have been researching the Microsoft Media Encoder SDK(software development kit), and the API seems easy enough. So I am going to program a new Media Encoder application that will be optimized for and more intuitive towards recording and uploading video game matches.

Last Updated 06/02/09
* Created a Dropbox account. I will periodically be dropping the code here. After a beta can be established, I will post either an installer or a zip with the exe file and various dll's that it would need.

05/13/09
* Added a features section to the main page.

05/12/09
*Project kicked off


Preliminary Technical Specs

1. It will be programmed using Microsoft C# (sorry Mac users. C# and Visual Studio make programming so much easier.)
2. It will use the .NET Framework 2.0. (Free download for all Windows users. If I am not mistaken, Tio requires it.)
3. It will use the Microsoft Media Encoder SDK for development and thus will only output .wmv files.
4. Initial plans are to make this an open source application after a somewhat stable version with most of the features included.

Now the purpose of this thread is to get suggestions for what this software can do and possibly some style feedback.

For the initial version, I don't want to make it too complicated. I want to stay away from any kind of streaming or network based functionality. I also want to add a few editing features, but the first release will not include that. I want to focus on making recording video game match videos from a digital device an easier process.

I will post screen shots of the interface when it begins to form. For now I have a lot of designing to do.

Features
Here I am going to list the features I want this software to have. This is where I am really hoping to get the community's help. What do you want this software to do? I am also looking for a rad name.

1. Split up individual matches of a recording of a tournament set with single button or single click.
2. Name each output file automatically
3. Output compressed videos optimal for uploading to youtube and other video streaming sites.
4. Intuitive interface. Vague: Needs to be fleshed out
5. Allow for multiple audio streams. (Commentary and game sound streams) Deferred until after initial release.

 

[Mogwai]

If you need any coding assistance, you know I've been C#ing for 3 or 4 years now, and you know how to reach me

 

[Pakman]

<3 Mogwai.

I would love some help. I might set up a cvs or svn repository for the code.

Is sourcesafe free?

Do you have VS 2005?

 

[Mogwai]

yea, i have vs 2005 and vs 2008 and .net 3.5.1

 

[Pakman]

yea, i have vs 2005 and vs 2008 and .net 3.5.1

I want to keep it 2.0. Mainly because the Media Encoder SDK doesn't work right in VS 2008 on vista. It works on 2005 on vista. It also works on 2008 in xp, but for some reason VS 2008 and vista make the most basic program crash. At least that is what googling it told me.

 

[EC_Joey]

I'd be happy to do test runs, trying to spot bugs and/or design flaws.

 

[DarkDragoon]

I'm not well versed in C#...yet...
But if you need any GUI work done, I can do that.

And like...test recording stuff...
-DD

 

[Pakman]

I think I am going to use this thread to informally document features and design. I don't want to get a full scale spec/design documentation thing, because this really has no customers, but I would like a record of what I want this project to be.

No offense DD, but GUI's are my strong point too. :-/

 

[DarkDragoon]

I think I am going to use this thread to informally document features and design. I don't want to get a full scale spec/design documentation thing, because this really has no customers, but I would like a record of what I want this project to be.

No offense DD, but GUI's are my string point too. :-/

*throws shoes at Pakman*
>=o Then make it and lets see it!
-DD

 

[Pakman]

*throws shoes at Pakman*
>=o Then make it and lets see it!
-DD

I WILL!!!!

 

[CT Chia]

you know im definitely willing to help

wow iv wanted to make my own video recording software for so long now, but iv never had the full coding knowledge to really get it off the ground

i have a ton of great ideas that i can contribute, and basic coding knowledge with extensive digital video knowledge that will help

whatever you need done, just say it

 

[Vlade]

Dazzle compatibility would be great.

Pinnacle studio is so terrible, I'm considering getting a new recording device.

 

[Pakman]

I was fooling with the Windows Media Encoder SDK and in a matter of about 10 minutes I got a combo box listing video devices connected to my computer including my Pinnacle Device and my webcam. When I get something up and running I will give it to Mogwai who has a dazzle.

Things I need: Icon/Logo (I am thinking about asking Kandoken to draw something for me).
Neat title for the app. Game Encoder is too boring.

 

[SyOn]

MacGyver Encoder.

 

[CT Chia]

Windows Smash Pakoder

lol its just a random thing i threw together in 5 min
but i do like the idea i had with the pellets being various media icons

 

[Vlade]

^ That's actually pretty good ^_^

 

[Pakman]

Windows Smash Pakoder

lol its just a random thing i threw together in 5 min
but i do like the idea i had with the pellets being various media icons

I appreciate it, Chibo, but I definitely want to keep my name/alias out of the title. I am going to be pretty picky about the name.

 

[Wogrim]

Sounds like the main goal of the program is capturing a series of matches and easily breaking them up, so I think your program's name should have something to do with that.

 

[sauc3]

please make it possible to record both in game audio and commentary, and maybe a mixer?
like you can choose vid source, then audio source 1 and audio source 2, that would be amazing, also its a good idea to ask for the file name after its done recording (like prompt the user before saving), that way if it was a bad match they can just not save it

 

[Wogrim]

please make it possible to record both in game audio and commentary, and maybe a mixer?
like you can choose vid source, then audio source 1 and audio source 2, that would be amazing, also its a good idea to ask for the file name after its done recording (like prompt the user before saving), that way if it was a bad match they can just not save it

Technically your computer has to save it as you capture. What you're asking for is more along the lines of it capturing to an autonamed temporary file, which you can either delete or rename (auto-prompted) when you stop capturing.

Problem with mixing audio like that could be the relative volumes might be way off from what's desired. It would probably be better to have a synchronized audio capture built into the program, so you can make sure later that the volumes are how you want them before mixing them.

 

[Pakman]

Well I think there should be a way to save both audio inputs. If so, I can either mix them at whatever volume the inputs are or I can save both as separate audio files and allow the user to play with the volume. I don't think this would be a phase one feature but I definitely like the idea.

Another option would be setting one as a primary audio (the sound from the game) and one as an overlay audio (sound from the commentary). I have noticed that radio stations do this. Basically the primary audio is always playing. Whenever the overlay audio volume is over a specific threshold, the primary audio's volume is decreased and the overlay audio sort of takes over.