Avermedia Dark Crystal HD Capture SDK User manual

AVer MediaCenter
User Manual

Disclaimer
All the screen shots in this documentation are only example images. The images may vary
depending on the product and software version. Information presented in this
documentation has been carefully checked for reliability; however, no responsibility is
assumed for inaccuracies. The information contained in this documentation is subject to
change without notice.
Copyright
©2010 by AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means
without the prior written permission of AVerMedia Technologies Inc. AVerMedia
Technologies Inc. reserves the right to modify its models, including their characteristics,
specifications, accessories and any other information stated herein without notice. The
official printout of any information shall prevail should there be any discrepancy between the
information contained herein and the information contained in that printout.
"AVerMedia" is a trademark (or registered trademark) of AVerMedia Technologies,
Inc. Other trademarks used herein for description purpose only belong to each of their
companies.
International Headquarter
Address No. 135, Jian-Yi Road Chung-Ho City, Taipei Hsien Taiwan
Website www.avermedia.com
Telephone [phone]
MCS-1.7.8
201006

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction.........................................................................5
1.1 Device Introduction .........................................................................................6
1.2 System Requirements .....................................................................................7
1.3 Activating AVer MediaCenter ..........................................................................7
1.4 Overview of AVer MediaCenter........................................................................8
Aver MediaCenter Console....................................................................................................... 8
Control Buttons On Title Bar.................................................................................................... 9
Control Buttons On Playback Window Control Panel.............................................................. 9
Navigation Tree....................................................................................................................... 10
1.5Running AVer MediaCenter for the First Time.................................................11
Chapter 2 Getting Started ..................................................................13
2.1 Capture...........................................................................................................14
Capture in Live ....................................................................................................................... 15
Operations of TimeShift.......................................................................................................... 16
Operations of Recorded Files.................................................................................................. 17
Using Schedule Recording...................................................................................................... 18
2.2 Video...............................................................................................................20
Playing Video Files................................................................................................................. 20
2.3 Music ..............................................................................................................21
Adding Music to your Playlist ................................................................................................ 21
Playing Music ......................................................................................................................... 22
2.4 Images............................................................................................................23
Viewing the Captured Images ................................................................................................. 23
Playing Slide Show................................................................................................................. 23
Chapter 3 Advanced Operations ........................................................24
3.1 General Settings............................................................................................25
Configure Recording............................................................................................................... 25
Configure Snapshot................................................................................................................. 26
More Options.......................................................................................................................... 27
3.2 Capture Settings............................................................................................28
Configure SD Input Source > SD recording format................................................................ 28
Configure SD Input Source > SD Timeshift & Color Adjustment.......................................... 29
Configure SD Input Source > SD Color Adjustment .............................................................. 29
Configure HD Input Source .................................................................................................... 30
Video Standards ...................................................................................................................... 31
Closed Caption........................................................................................................................ 31
3.3 Video Settings................................................................................................32

Picture-in-Picture(PIP) / Picture-by-Picture(PBP) Display .................................................... 32
3.4 Images Settings.............................................................................................33
3.5 About..............................................................................................................34
Appendix .............................................................................................35
Hot Keys ................................................................................................................................. 36
Glossary .................................................................................................................................. 37

Chapter 1
Introduction
Thanks for purchasing AVer Media DarkCrystal HD Capture SDK. This high quality
capture card is especially designed for professional players with high standards
towards image/ video quality.
AVer Media DarkCrystal HD Capture SDK also comes with a powerful application
AVer MediaCenter, allowing you to capture high resolution images, record HD
video clips, create your own slideshows with both the captured and images of other
sources, and even create your own music library for both audio and video luxury.
Each function of AVer MediaCenter goes further with detailed options for a more
professional taste. There is no more need to compromise yourself with all fixed
default settings using a capture card.
This Chapter will guide you through the essential information of AVer MediaCenter.
Please read this chapter before using AVer MediaCenter.
Device Introduction...........................6
System Requirement.........................7
Activating AVer MediaCenter............7
Overview of AVer MediaCenter.........8
Running AVer MediaCenter for the First
Time .................................................11

Introduction
6
1.1 Device Introduction
What is video capture card and what can it do?
Video capture cards are a class of video capture devices designed to plug directly into expansion
slots in personal computers and servers.
A video capture card product typically includes a driver to get the device going and a bundled
software to bring out the best features of it. The bundled software usually further processes the video
for specific purposes. The functions of the video capture cards vary from one another. Some are
used to capture base band analog composite video, S-Video, some are equipped with tuners,
RF-modulated video, some others are specialized cards that support digital video via digital video
delivery standards including Serial Digital Interface (SDI) and some, with the emerging hi-tech HDMI
standard becoming more popular, support both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD)
variants, and this AVer Media DarkCrystal HD Capture SDK you just purchased belongs to the last
model.
The functions of the supplied AVer MediaCenter for video capture cards include converting a live
analog source into some type of analog or digital media, (such as a VHS tape to a DVD), archiving,
video editing, scheduled recording (such as a DVR), etc.
Product Name AVerMedia DarkCrystal HD Capture SDK
Model No. C727
Supported Signal
Sources S-Video / Composite (RCA) / Component (YPbPr, 1080i/720p) / HDMI (HDCP spupport, 1080i/720p) / Analog Audio L/R

Introduction
7
1.2 System Requirements
System requirements are described in details below. Before using AVer MediaCenter, please verify
that your PC meets the requirements below.
For SD Video Capturing:
Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz (Hyper-Threading)
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
For HD Video Real-time Capturing (MPEG-2 Format):
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core 2.8 GHz
For HD Video Real-time Capturing (H.264 Format):
Intel Core i5 750 or AMD equivalent
VGA card with DirectiveX9.0c or above
512 MB RAM
PCI-E Slot
Sound card
Windows 7/ Vista/ XP (32/ 64-Bit)
Standalone graphics card is recommended for HD video capturing.
2GB RAM is recommended for HD video capturing
1.3 Activating AVer MediaCenter
To launch AVer MediaCenter, double-click shortcut on desktop, or go to Start -> Programs ->
AVerMedia. If AVer MediaCenter is launched, double-click AVer Quick “ ”icon on the lower right
of the system tray.

Introduction
8
1.4 Overview of AVer MediaCenter
The functions of AVer MediaCenter are categorized into five buttons on the main menu, including
“Capture”, “Video”, “Music”, “Images” and “Settings”. This section briefly introduces main menu,
sub menus and initial setups. For more information on advanced operations, please refer to contents
from Chapter 2.
AVer MediaCenter Console
Description

Title bar: Control over AVerMedia Console

Main function menu: Capture, Video, Music, Images, Settings

Playback window: Display of the selected source/ file
Playback window control panel: Control over the Playback window
System time display: indication of current time

Introduction
9
Control Buttons On Title Bar
Click To …
Go back to the main menu
Go back to a previous level
Bring out the user’s manual
Minimize AVerMedia Console to
system tray
Restore AVerMedia Console to
previous size
Exit AVerMedia Console
Control Buttons On Playback Window Control Panel
Click To …
/ Switch from real-time video to
TimeShift mode. / Pause the
playback temporarily.
Stop playback, recording,
TimeShift, etc.
Play the selected file.
Record the current program.
Play the previous/next file on
the playlist.
Move backward or skip forward
in intervals.
Capture a single image or a
sequence of images.
Enable the PIP function.
Switch to different aspect
ratios.
Mute/ Unmute the audio
volume.
Increase or decrease the audio
Volume.

Introduction
10
Navigation Tree
This is an overview of the operations under each main function. For specific
operation of each function, please refer to the table of contents and go to its
according page.