Kino Preferences

Capture

Base File Name
Enter the path where you want to store captured video followed by a file name stem. Do not add the extension. Kino generates a sequence number and optionally a timestamp that it appends to the stem file name. It also generates the file extension, currently only .avi.
File Type
Currently, Kino only supports DV AVI file formats. You can choose between standard DV1 or DV2 formats. DV2 is more compatible with other applications because it creates a separate interleaved audio stream. However, if you are only capturing for Kino use or for another program that supports DV1, then choose it because DV natively interleaves audio with the video and the audio stream in DV2 is wasteful. MPlayer and Avifile only playback DV2 AVI. Current versions of Windows DirectShow do support DV1, but Windows application support for DV1 is inconsistent.
Auto Split Files
Generate a new file whenever Kino detects a new scene while capturing video.
Put Timestamp In File Name
If enabled, during capture, Kino appends a date and time to the base file name specified above.
Frames per File
Set the maximum number of frames a single AVI is to contain. While Kino has recently added support for reading large files, it does not support writing large files. The default is 7000 frames, which should be safe for PAL DV2 files. An NTSC DV1 file can hold 9000 frames.
Write Every n Frame
This is time-lapse record function. If entered, Kino skips n frames between capturing a single frame and adding it to the AVI.
Max File Size
Not yet implemented.

IEEE 1394

IEEE 1394 Interface
This provides support for multiple IEEE 1394 host adapters, NOT the individual ports on a single adapter. Nothing needs to be done to address a port on a single adapater, as 1394 automatically takes care of this. This is a zero-based number.
IEEE 1394 Channel
This provides support for selecting an isochronous channel for capture and export. The default is 63 because that is the broadcast channel. All other channels are for point-to-point communication. Only advanced users would ever need this.
VCR (AV/C) Control
Kino detects all cameras on the bus that support the AV/C command set. Select one from the list. It attempts to read the name of the device from its Configuration ROM, but not all devices implement it. If the name is not readable, then the numeric node is used. Most users only have one AV/C device connected anyway. You do not need a camera supporting AV/C to capture video! It is only used to control the tape transport mechansim.
DV Export/Timing
These two timing entry fields let you tweak the parameters of the DV export algorithm to achieve successful results. A value of 0 for either field selects its built-in default, which has been deemed compatible for most users based upon current feedback. However, if you need to adjust them, then it helps to know the built-in values to use as a starting point for experimentation:
Setting PAL NTSC
Increment 1 2436
Threshold 16 38400
DV Export/SYT Offset
video1394 must generate a timestamp in DV transmission stream that must be a fairly precise offset of the bus' master cycle timer. This can vary on systems due to latency or device compatibility. Values between 18000 and 20000 seem to work for most users.

Display

Display Method
GDK: very compatible with X servers and the X Windows client/server architecture. Not very fast. Does not maintain frame aspect ratio.
XVideo (Xv): requires XFree86 4.x and supporting hardware and X server. Run 'xvinfo' from the shell to get information about support on your system. Very fast and Kino maintains both frame and pixel-accurate aspect ratio. You can not take a screen capture of the video preview in this mode. XVideo is similar to Microsoft DirectDraw.
Reduce Xv: Similar to XVideo above with the same advantages and disadvantages. This variation, however, uses half of the data bandwidth that is needed for compatibility on some X servers and hardware. The reduction in data bandwidth does invoke a scaling CPU overhead thereby affecting performance.
Enable preview during capture
To reduce the chance of dropped frames during video capture to disk, disable this option. If you have a fast enough system, you can turn this om and get a live preview of the video being captured.
Drop video frames as needed
When enabled, Kino uses sophisticated algorithms and threads to sacrifice the video frame rate in order to provide better audio quality of play back and to provide an overall playback rate that is consistent and true with time. Basically, only disable this if you are interested in seeing if you machine is fast enough to decode DV in realtime. If you machine is not fast enough, then your will hear audio clicks and gaps.
DV decode quality
You can adjust the quality of the DV decoder to reduce the processing overhead for increased playback performance. This does not affect the quality of DV exported over IEEE 1394 back into your camera.

Audio

You can enable or disable audio and set the OSS device file to use for your machine. Kino only supports OSS at this time. If you are running a sound server in your desktop environment such as esd for GNOME, or aRts for KDE, then Kino cannot open the sound device unless your driver explicitly supports it. The SoundBlaster Live series cards and driver support multiple opens.

Jog/Shuttle

Enable this if you have a Contour Shuttle Pro or Sony USB Jog/Shuttle controller. See the README_jogshuttle to build the kernel module and its dependent modules.

Other

Disable Key Repeat
If you find that your keystrokes are buffering and you inadvertently have to wait for Kino to process all of them, then you might enable this option. If enabled, Kino only operates on the oldest event in the queue and discards all pending events. On the other hand, enabling this option may require you to use the keys more slowly in order for Kino to receive the ones you do intend it to process.
Enable time code display on startup
By default the video clip timestamp and timecode display is turned off for performance reasons. You can click the timecode field labels in the main window to turn them on, but Kino does not automatically remember that. Enable this option to make Kino always start with the timecode display active.

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