Encoding Content
After you have set up a session, you can encode content. If you are broadcasting a live event, the stream begins shortly after you start encoding.
If you are encoding a session with multiple source groups, you can use the Sources panel to switch between the source groups to stream different content. If you want to insert scripts into a stream, use the Script panel.
If you are creating an archive of a broadcast, you can use the archive controls on the Control panel to pause and resume archiving while encoding, which helps you to remove portions of the broadcast that you do not want to appear in the archive file.
As you are encoding, you can use the Monitor panel to view status information about the session, including time elapsed, bandwidth, and disk space left on the computer.
To start encoding:
- Click Start on the Control Panel. A message will notify you that encoding has begun.
To stop encoding:
- Click Stop on the Control Panel. A message will notify you that encoding has stopped.
To switch between multiple source groups
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On the View menu, click Sources Panel.
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On the Sources Panel, click the source group you want to start with, and then start encoding.
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To switch to a different source group, on the Sources panel, click the button for that source group.
Note: You can change the order in which source groups are displayed in the Sources panel. Open the Session Properties dialog box, click a source group, and then click Move up or Move down.
Capturing and Encoding Screens
The screen capture feature of Windows Media Encoder enables you to capture your entire desktop, individual windows, or a region of the screen and broadcast them or encode them to a file just as you would any other content. You will need a high speed computer to capture and encode screens because this feature requires high performance. You can use the screen capture feature for:
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Capturing from .avi files that were created with a third-party screen-capture utility.
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Capturing directly from your desktop.
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Capturing from a card that is connected to a scan converter device.
To create a screen-capture profile
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On the Tools menu, click Manage Profiles, and then click New.
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On the Profile Selection page of the New Session Wizard, click Create and Manage Profiles , and then click New.
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In Name, type a name for the profile.
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Click Video, and then click Compressed.
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In Description, type a description for the profile (optional), and then click Next.
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Select the audience or audiences that you want this profile to support, and then click Next. Selecting more than one audience creates a multiple-bit-rate profile.
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In Audio, select the Windows Media Audio codec and appropriate bit rate.
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In Video, select the Windows Media Video codec and video size, and then click Advanced.
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In Buffer size, click Custom, and then type 10. Click OK, and then click Next.
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In Frame rate, type a number between 1 and 5. In Key frame interval, type 10. In Image quality, select the desired quality, and then click Next.
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Review the settings, and then click Finish.
To capture and encode a screen:
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Set up a session using the New Session Wizard.
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When prompted to configure devices, select Screen Capture for the video device.
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Click Configure to choose the capture area and quality.
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In Capture Source, select the item that you want to capture. You can specify a specific window, the whole screen, or a region of the screen.
If you select Window or Region of Screen, use the Region button to capture the exact area. The capture dimensions are set automatically when you point to the desired capture area. You can also set the dimensions manually.
Note: When capturing a window, if you enlarge the window so that it exceeds the output size specified in your profile, part of the window will not be captured. If you decrease the size of the window so that it is smaller than the specified output size, the excess area around the window will be black.
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When you are prompted to choose a profile, choose one that makes use of the Windows Media Screen codec. Using a profile that doesn’t use the Windows Media Screen codec results in a poor-quality encoding session.
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Provide the rest of the information required to complete the wizard, make sure the window or portion of the screen that you want to capture is on top, and then click Start.
To capture and encode a screen using an existing session configuration file
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On the Session menu, click Open.
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Select the .wme file containing the screen capture configuration that you want to use, and then click Open. Be aware of the following:
When you capture a specific window, the title of the window and its coordinates are saved along with all the other configuration information in the .wme file. When you reload the .wme file for a subsequent screen-capture session, the encoder will look for a window that matches the stored title. If it doesn’t find one, it will capture a window that matches the stored coordinates.
When you capture the entire desktop, the display size and color settings for your monitor are saved in the .wme file as part of the session configuration. If, after saving the configuration, you decide to change the screen size or color, you must create a new session to include these settings.
To encode an .avi file containing screen content
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Set up a session using the New Session Wizard.
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Using the wizard, click Convert an audio or video file into a Windows Media file.
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Specify the source and destination files, and then click OK.
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When prompted to choose a profile, choose one that makes use of the Windows Media Screen codec.
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Provide the rest of the information required to complete the wizard, and then click Start to begin encoding.