SOFTCAM F.A.Q.
(Fun Media)   (Compatible Products)   (Using Softcam)   (Softcam FAQs)   (About Softcam)    (Download)  

How do I remove the SoftCam logo from my video window?
The logo is present on the Shareware version. However, it is removed from the purchased version as of release 1.0.2.

Can I run SoftCam on my Mac?
SoftCam is designed for Windows operating systems. SoftCam for Windows95 is available today, with support for Windows98 in the near future. Windows 3.x, NT, Mac, and Unix versions are not supported at this time.

How do I start SoftCam?
You can start SoftCam one of two ways. One is to launch the SoftCam Panel directly from the Windows->Start->Program->Luminositi Softcam menu. The SoftCam Panel brings up a preview video window if no other application is currently using SoftCam Video. The second way to start SoftCam is to launch a Video For Windows (VFW) application, such as NetMeeting. When the application opens a video capture device, it will open SoftCam Video and the SoftCam Panel will come up automatically. If you are using a physical camera in addition to SoftCam, you may need to select the default camera within your video application. If, for example, you are using NetMeeting, go to the Options/Video settings and select SoftCam as your default video capture device.

When I bring up SoftCam first, my video application does not respond to the selections I make in the SoftCam Panel.
The SoftCam Panel controls a single video stream at a time, and is sending your selections to the SoftCam Preview window. Close the SoftCam Preview window to control your application video window through the SoftCam Panel.

How does SoftCam Pro work?
SoftCam operates as a virtual video capture device. WaveMux is a virtual sound device. They use Luminositi's patent-pending MediaCortex technology to mediate audio and video between applications and the physical or stored sources (cameras, sound cards, or stored media files).

Why doesn't my SoftCam interface look as pretty as the pictures of it on your website?
Sounds as if your system is set to 256 colors (8 bit). We recommend setting your display to support a higher number of colors (at least thousands, or 16 bit). If for some reason you must keep your display setting at 256 colors, SoftCam will still work. However, we will sacrifice the quality of our application interface and preserve the quality of your video stream.

What kind of stored files can I stream with SoftCam Pro?
SoftCam currently supports the following formats: AVI, GIF (GIF89A including animated GIFs), and BMP. Development plans include support for: MPEG, JPEG, and Microsoft's new Advanced Streaming Format (ASF). WaveMux supports WAV files only at this time.

I'm creating AVI files for use in internet conferencing. Are there any tips for best results?
Internet conferencing applications typically use QCIF video resolution (176 x 144) and rarely excede 12 frames per second. Create content for SoftCam that matches your requirements and try not to create content that excedes the demands of the application that you are using.

NetMeeting is still using my physical camera directly instead of SoftCam. What am I doing wrong?
Go to the Options/Video settings within NetMeeting and select SoftCam as your default video capture device.

Does SoftCam work with every video conferencing application?
No. Some camera vendors have produced their own proprietary video conferencing software that works exclusively with their camera. The LivePicture product currently distributed with Kodak's DV300 is one example of such proprietary software. However, the leading desktop video conferencing applications are compatible. These include Intel's ProShare VideoPhone, Microsoft's NetMeeting, VDOnet's VDOPhone, and Connectix's VideoPhone.

How do I uninstall SoftCam Pro?
Open the Windows Control Panel and select Add/Remove Programs. Highlight Luminositi SoftCam on the list of programs and click the Add/Remove button. DO NOT use third party uninstallers (such as QuarterDeck's CleanSweep) as they will not properly remove Softcam from your system.

 

© Luminositi, Inc. 1998-2001