        | README file for
        |
        | ELSA Videosoftware for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0
        |
        | Copyright (c) 1993-98 ELSA AG, Aachen (Germany)
        |
        | ELSA AG                    Internet   : http://www.elsa.de
        | Sonnenweg 11               LocalWeb   : +49-(0)241-938800
        | D-52070 Aachen             
        |
        | ELSA Inc.                  Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | 2231 Calle De Luna         
        | Santa Clara, CA 95054
        | USA
        |
        | ELSA Asia Inc.             Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | 7F-11, No. 188, Sec. 5     
        | Nanking East Road
        | Taipei 105
        | Taiwan, R. O. C.
        |
        | ELSA Japan Inc.            Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | Mita Suzuki Building 3F        
        | 5-20-14 Shiba, Minato-ku,
        | Tokyo, Japan 108-0014
        |
        | 03.03.98, CSkopinski


        Contents:

        1. Introduction
        2. Installation
        3. Video Display Functions
        4. Recording Videos
        5. General Notes

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1       Introduction


        This file describes how to install and use the Video Software.

        The Video Software consists of several components:

        - A driver of the "Video for Windows"-Capture-API type.
        - A programme for displaying the video picture.
        - Dialogues for selecting the required video input, for
          matching the colour representation and for choosing the
          video size.

        These components are called up via the ELSA WINman Suite in
        the toolbar.

        A correctly installed DirectX 5 is necessary to operate the
        Video Software.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

2       Manual Installation


        Start the Setup.exe programme or click with the right mouse
        button on the videoin.inf file and select "Install" in the
        object menu. The installation runs fully automatically. Now
        please restart the computer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.      Video Display Functions


        After starting Videoviewer searches all video-inputs for
        a connected video-source. It stops and shows, if an active
        video-source is found.

        If you like to select another source, use menuitem "Video
        Source" described later.

        This Videoviewer is handled clicking the left or right mouse-
        key.

        When clicking the left mousekey, the windows systemmenu
        appears.

        When clicking the right mosuekey, a specific context-menu
        appears.

3.1     Functions

3.1.1   Videosource...

        Selecting this menuitem opens a dialog, where you can
        select a video-source or correct the video-colors.

3.1.2   Videoformat...

        Selecting this menuitem opens a dialog, where you can
        select the size of the video and a video-format.

3.1.3   Always on top

        Selecting this item keeps the Videoviewer window always
        on top of all other windows. Its always visible.

3.1.4   Hide Titlebar

        Selecting this menuitem hides the Videoviewers titlebar.

3.1.5   Resize to input

        Selecting this menuitem resizes the window to the actual
        video input size. "Videoformat" allows selection
        of video input size.

3.1.6   About...
        About ELSA...

        Selecting this menuitem shows information about the program
        and ELSA.

3.1.7   Exit

        Quits the Videoviewer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

4       Recording Videos


        The programme MainActor is included for video recording.
        However, any "Video for Windows"-compatible software can be
        used for recording videos.

        Large amounts of data are created during video recordings.
        The following tips may help you to achieve a drop-free
        recording:

        - Close all other programmes and especially DOS boxes during
          video recording.

        - Defragment the hard disk before recording.

        - Use a separate hard disk for recording.

        - Use the ELSA Video Compression.

        - Deactivate the audio recording function if you do not wish
          to record sound.

4.1     Data formats

        You can record videos using various data formats. You can
        determine which data format you wish to use in the dialogue
        "video format", which can be called up using the WINman Suite
        or out of your video application. You can choose from the
        following data formats:
                                      foq:
        - RGB16: The data format RGB16 works in the RGB colour space.
          5 bits/pixel are stored for each of the three colour
          components.
          In addition one filler bit per pixel is stored, which
          results in a storing capacity of 16bits/pixel.
          The colour resolution of such a picture is equivalent to a
          Real-Colour-Picture under Windows.
          The advantage of RGB16 is that this format is directly
          recognised by Windows. The disadvantage is an extremely
          high storage requirement.
          A picture with a resolution of 320x240 pixels occupies
          150kB. A picture with 640x480 pixels requires four times
          the amount of data, i.e.600kB.

        - YVU9 requires less storage room. namely 9 bits/pixel.
          It works in the YUV colour space and offers 256 grey
          gradations per pixel (in comparison to 32 grey gradations
          with RGB16). Compression is achieved by reducing the colour
          resolution. A colour mean is stored for each 4x4 pixel.
          The human eye can detect anomalies in brightness much
          better than anomalies in colour, foso that optically there
          is hardly any difference to an uncompressed picture.
          A YVU9 picture with 320x240 pixels requires approximately
          84kB. A YVU9 picture with 640x480 pixels requires four
          times the  amount of data, 336kB.

          In order to portray a video recorded with YVU 9 on your
          system, you must have installed an Intel Indeo(tm)-Codec
          or you must use the supplied MainActor programme.

          Reports such as "data format cannot be read" or "No
          compatible driver is installed" mean that an Intel
          Indeo(tm)-Codec is not installed.

        - The ELSA Video Compression reduces the amount of data
          compared to YVU9 even further. A special process results
          in only ca. 3-5 bits/pixel being stored.

          As with YVU9 ELSA Video compression works in the YVU
          colour space. The compression ratio depends on the
          picture material to be compressed. Noise-free picture
          material is simpler to compress than noisy picture
          material. Picture material with large, single colour
          areas is simpler to compress than a detailed multicoloured
          picture. Using the ELSA Video Compression a picture with a
          resolution of 320x240 pixels requires between 20kB und
          40kB. A picture with 640x480 pixels generally achieves
          a higher compression than a picture with 320x240 Pixel
          and requires ca. 120kB.

4.2     ELSA Video Compression (ELSA Quick Codec) in operation.

        The ELSA Video Compression is dealt with by your computer
        while you record a video in real time. Using the ELSA Video
        Compression has several advantages:

        - Videos with higher refresh rates can be recorded.

        - The drop rate decreases.

        - Videos can be recorded with a higher resolution.

        - Longer video sequences can be recorded on a hard disk
          than would otherwise be possible without compression.

        AVIs which have been recorded with the ELSA Video
        Compression require a Codec installed in the system in
        order to be played back. This is a programme which
        transforms the compressed information into a Windows-
        compatible standard format. Such a Codec is supplied on
        your ELSA CD and is automatically installed when the
        video software is installed.


        While recording a video, you should proceed in two stages:

        - Initially record a video using the ELSA Video Compression
          in order to benefit from the advantages described above.

        - Then transform the AVI with MainActor into a commonly used
          compression format such as MPEG, Indeo (tm) or Cinepak (tm).

        If you want to play back a video recorded with ELSA
        compression, it is recommended that you use the Media Player
        from Windows and a Real or Truecolour graphic mode. Using a
        monitor setting of 8 bits/pixel will possibly result in the
        video being screened or reproduced with a reduced colour
        count.

        You cannot play back AVIs recorded with ELSA Video
        Compresion on systems on which the ELSA Video Compression
        has not been installed.

        MainActor in the version 1.6 (or higher) is necessary to
        portray the ELSA Video Compression.

        The decompression of the ELSA Video Compression is optimized
        for maximum picture quality so that recompression is achieved
        as loss-free as possible. As a result, playback in real time
        with MainActor is only possible on the fastest computers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

5       General Notes


5.1     The Video Software requires a part of the graphic card's memory.
        The amount of required memory varies according to the video size.
        On the other hand the amount of the free memory for the video
        changes according to the screen resolution. For this reason the
        capabilities of the video driver may alter with the screen
        resolution.

5.2     Recommended screen resolutions:

        - 800x600 pixels with 16bpp and 75Hz refresh rate

        - 1024x768 pixels with 16bpp and 75Hz refresh rate

5.3     In order to show videos recorded with the ELSA Video
        Compression MainActor 1.6 or higher is required.

5.4     Video In/Out cannot be used if MultiMan for Windows95
        is installed.

5.5     Recommended desktop resolutions for operation with Video Out:

        -   640x480 pixels, 16Bpp, 75Hz

        -   800x600 pixels, 16bpp, 75Hz

        -  1024x768 pixels, 16bpp, 75Hz

        - 1280x1024 pixels, 16bpp, 75Hz

        -   640x480 pixels, 32bpp, 75Hz

        -   800x600 pixels, 32bpp, 75Hz

        -  1024x768 pixels, 32bpp, 75Hz

        - Video Out is not possible at 8bpp.

