Software To Capture Streaming Video

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Video is the wave of the present and the future on the internet. Streaming video files can transmit huge amounts of data to users while not overloading servers. Internet video is used for business, education and entertainment by millions of viewers all over the world. Many users find it convenient to record streaming internet video files for viewing later or for personal archiving. Free software to capture streaming video is available for most video file types. More sophisticated paid software is also available that can do more than the free versions.

There are dozens of different video file formats and file extensions being used on the internet today. Some of the commonly used ones are xmv (XBOX video files), wtv (Windows Media Center recorded television file), wmv (Windows Media video), wm (Windows Media audio or video file), xas (Sony PlayStation video file), vro (video recordable file), vid (Apple QuickTime video file), vbs (MPEG movie clip), ts (MPEG-TV recorded file), rv (RealVideo video), rm (RealMedia), qt (Apple QuickTime movie clip), pa (RealPlayer file), mv4 (Apple QuickTime file), mpeg (MPEG movie), hdmov ...
... (Apple QuickTime HD movie), and flv (Flash Video file).

Many of the video file types require different software applications for streaming onto a computer. Likewise, there are many different software applications that can be used for recording incoming video streams. Some file types are copy-protected and cannot be recorded directly by the viewer, while others are freely recordable with the right software. If a user cannot find software for recording a particular file type, free software for screen capture of video and audio can be used to record directly from the computer screen. Screen capture videos will not have the same quality as files saved from the incoming video stream, but they are free and will serve the purpose of archiving information for personal use.

Users who want to record incoming video for their personal use should be aware of the copyright laws surrounding use of the video. Many video files, including those used in rental movies, are copy protected and should not be recorded by viewers for anything other than personal use, such as for viewing offline when an internet connection is not available.

Computer users may also want to create their own videos for uploading to the internet. Commercial software such as Camtasia, and similar free open source applications such as CamStudio, can be used to create videos by screen capture. These applications can be used to turn Powerpoint presentations or other screen images into video presentations for training, for sale, or for distribution to video networks like YouTube.

Since the variety of video file types is so extensive, there is no “one size fits all” application, whether free or for purchase, that can do everything a user may need for every type of video. Doing research online to find the exact software needed for working with a particular video file type can save a lot of money and time.