MSN Webcam Recorder Help
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Latest Version: 1.0.2


Note: do not choose the "libMimic v2.0.0" codec to export video files. This specific codec is not installed on the system, so you won't be able to play videos that use it.

Open the program before starting a webcam session.


This is the main window of the program:


As soon as the program opens, it's already looking for webcam streams on the internet traffic on your computer. It will have an icon on the systray, so that if you click the X button on the window, it will still be open.

Right-click the icon on systray to "Show"/"Hide" the main window, or to "Exit" the program.

Any incoming or outgoing Webcam stream will be identified. As of version 1.2rc1, it does detect Video Conversations.

When a new webcam stream is found, it will be added to the list on the main window. The program might not be able to detect the correct emails of both users. In those cases, the IP address and port will be used instead for the stream name.

To watch a webcam stream, double-click it, or right-click it and select "Play", or select the stream, click on the "File" menu and choose "Play".
To stop recording a stream (not recommended unless the stream has finished), right-click it and select "Stop", or select the stream, click on the "File" menu and choose "Stop".
To restart recording a stream that you have previously stopped (will result in pixelated video), right-click it and select "Restart", or select the stream, click on the "File" menu and choose "Restart".
To rename a stream (it must not be recording or playing), select it and press "F2", or right-click it and select "Rename", or select the stream, click on the "File" menu and choose "Rename".
To remove a stream (it must not be recording or playing), select it and press "DEL", or right-click it and select "Remove", or select the stream, click on the "File" menu and choose "Remove".
To save a stream as a pure ml20 stream (good for converting .udp files to .ml20), right-click it and select "Save", or select the stream, click on the "File" menu and choose "Save". If you want to save a file that is not in the streams list, you must add it to the streams folder and restart the program.
To export a stream (in .avi format), right-click it and select "Export", or select the stream, click on the "File" menu and choose "Export", or click the "Export" button while on the Play window.
To open a stream that is not in the list, click on the "File" menu and choose "Open". Check both the .ml20 and .udp extensions.


When you start watching a stream, this window will open:

The sliding bar depends on the frame, not the time, so it may scroll faster or slower depending on how the stream is.
The seek buttons, in order, have the following actions:
{< - Go to start of selection
{ - Select start of selection
<< - Go to first frame
pk - Go to previous key frame
|< - Go to previous frame
> or || - Play / Pause
>| - Go to next frame
nk - Go to next key frame
>> - Go to last frame
} - Select end of selection
>} - Go to end of selection

The first line of text means "Selection Start Frame", "Previous Keyframe", "Current Frame", "Next Keyframe", and "End Selection Frame".
The second line of text means "Selection Start Frame's Time", "First Frame" (always 0), "Previous Frame", "Next Frame", "Last Frame" (number of frames in stream), and "Selection End Frame's Time".
The third line of text means "First Frame's Time", "Current Time", and "Last Frame's Time" (total stream time).

The "Always on Top" check box makes the video window the top most window, above all others, so you can always see it even if you're using another program. It's good for when you're watching a live stream and doing something else.
The "Follow Stream" check box only works for live streams. It will follow the stream as it is received by MSN, so you don't depend on MSN's window.

The "Play" button will play only the selected part of the stream (with { and }).
The "Export" button will export the selected part of the stream to .avi format.

If you Right-Click on the play window, you will get a menu that lets you "Show"/"Hide" the Control window, "Close" the play window, set the video size to "1x", "2x", or "max" (maximize or restore window). You may also resize the window to the size you see fit.


When you start exporting a stream, this window will open:

The "Input" field has the input file's fullname along with the selected frames to export in brackets.
The "Output" field has the output file's name (.avi file) where you want the stream to be exported.
The "fps" field sets the output file's FPS rate.
The "Priority" field sets how much of the processing time should go to decoding rather than handling the display. High numbers will make the program less responsive.
When you "Start" exporting, the program will prompt you for a codec to be used to recompress. Different codecs have different qualities and compression ratio.
"frames in" shows how many frames have been read from the input file, at a "fps in" speed. "Video Time" shows the time of the video that has been exported.
"frames out" shows how many frames have been exported to the output file, at a "fps out" speed. "Time taken" shows how long your computer has taken to export so far.


Back on the Main window:

The "View" menu lets you choose the view of the streams box, just like in Windows Explorer.

The Language Menu lets you choose different languages (English, Portuguese, French and Spanish).

The "Help"->"Help" Menu brings you to this page.
The "Help"->"Donate" Menu brings you to the donation page so that you can support the program to keep it improving.
The "Help"->"Report Bug" Menu brings you to the forum to report bugs on the software.
The "Help"->"About" Menu opens an About Box.

The "Advanced" Menu should only be used if you know what you're doing.
The "Interfaces" window shows you the interfaces WinPcap has found.

A Green circle means it's capturing. A Red circle means either that WinPcap couldn't open the device, or the libpcap file has ended.
The "kb" field shows how many kbs have been intercepted in the device (or file).
The "Start/Stop" button lets you (re)start or stop capturing on a device (or file).
The "Add file" button lets you Add a libpcap file (such as the ones recorded with Ethereal) to the capture device list.

Help with Codecs: here

The "Codecs" window lets you choose what codec to use for decoding the video. Any codec selected will be used for new "Play" or "Export".
To play Webcam streams you need to use one of these 2 codecs:


The "OK", "Cancel", and "Default" buttons are pretty straight-forward.
The "Search" button will search for any instances of MSN Messenger running on your computer. If any is found, you may select it to use its internal codec to decode the video. It's dangerous. Only use if you know what you're doing. If you close MSN Messenger, be sure to change the settings again.

Well, that should be it. If you have further questions, try going to the forum.

Note: It's illegal and immoral to record without the other party's knowledge.