Best way to Capture Video of your iPhone App

[Ringo50k]

Hi Guys,

I am an iPhone App Dev - part of the art team at Enabled
and want to capture some video for promotion use - of an App we've developed.

I have to ask,
what is the Best way to Capture Video of your iPhone App?

I assume the solution would be running on the Mac
rather than on your iPhone

I've seen there are many options out there for Mac Vid cap
but
What have people found to be the best?

Thanks...

[don_k]

Suggestions:

1. Capture the vid from Mac, then put it on an iPhone frame, similar to how Gameloft did their demo, eg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG3DrSKs1Qk

2. You don't have to put the 3d hand, it can be a very simple and graphic hand.
You can also use the simple and graphic fingers to demonstrate multi-touch.
eg: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/111/262200322_ba14839c48.jpg

3. Put some logo / cut-scenes / intro / outro. They will make it really feel crafted and push it several steps further.

Hope you can nail it. I'm very happy to hear a developer wants to put some effort on the video demo as it would be very helpful for customers. Good luck!

[different]

You can get a video using the iPhone Simulator, however this doesn't have accelerometer support.

edit: You can get a nice video using Screenflow, it records hd quality video in real time. :)

http://www.flip4mac.com/screenflow.htm?utm_source=vara&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=varahome&utm_term=screen

[Armbruster]

Use IShowU.

Then use the iPhone Simulator, it comes with the Apple SDK package.

Record it, put it on YouTube.

There we go.

[kwigbo]

Snapz Pro X

Free 30 day unlimited trial

http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/

[Warhorse Games]

What is the best solution? I present my ultimate capture studio!

[inkstar]

What is the best solution? I present my ultimate capture studio!

I went to check out your website. www.warhorsegames.com

This Account Has Been Suspended
Please contact the billing/support department as soon as possible.

Nothing shows the customer that you care more than a 404 page when
he is seeking support :P

[Warhorse Games]

I went to check out your website. www.warhorsegames.com

This Account Has Been Suspended
Please contact the billing/support department as soon as possible.

Nothing shows the customer that you care more than a 404 page when
he is seeking support :P

Thanks for letting me know. The site is back up now. My provider claims my site was under attack so they suspended the account... they really should have sent me an email :mad:.

Anyways, if you have a question about Blackbeard's Assault, just email support@warhorsegames.com or send me a PM.

[arn]

What is the best solution? I present my ultimate capture studio!

genius! :)

arn

[Hippieman]

We use the simulator and ScreenFlow (which is hands down better than Snapz in every aspect).

For our website, the iPhone frame is part of the page, and we figure people on Youtube don't really care to see the frame.

We also do H.264 versions at 480X320 (and reversed) so they will play natively on the phone at actual size.

[blikstad]

We've used the simulator too, this have some "issues" though. First of all our audio code doesn't seem to work in the simulator, and second the acceleratometer and multitouch (in any sensible way anyway) obviously won't work.

For the Smack Boxing video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LSxuhj_rS4) I worked around the first issue by simply manually mixing in the sound effects (urgh, I said "simply", but it was a pretty lengthy and painful process).

The second issue was harder to overcome since the game depends on both multitouch and tilting, the way I did this was to hook up our enemy AI code to the player too. (In essence putting the game in "demo mode", was rather amusing watching the two computer controlled fighters duke it out :)).


It seems now with 2.2 there's ways to get proper TV-OUT of not just movies though, so will definitely look into that for the future.

[Hippieman]

2.2 fixes the Simulator not playing OpenAL Audio (it wasn't a problem with your code). So it's still the most ideal way to get video.

Output to TV is really slow and requires quite a bit of hacking at your app. Sim + ScreenFlow is the best right now.

Also, open up a blank TextEdit document, and full screen it, and put it behind the sim. Then you get a nice looking iPhone on an Apple like white background in the video. Works really well now that YouTube is HD and Widescreen.

[blikstad]

2.2 fixes the Simulator not playing OpenAL Audio (it wasn't a problem with your code). So it's still the most ideal way to get video.

Ah, that's interesting. Will have to look into that, thanks! (there's still the issue of "simulating" input though... but I suppose that can usually be worked around).

[Hippieman]

For simulating input, we either tie things to touches (even if it should be tilt) or we just wire the game to play it's self.

Then in screenflow you can remove the mouse cursor. Works like a charm.

[drunknbass]

screen flow is hands down the best.. and if you NEED acceleromoter support for your game there is some frameworks to use wiimote through your mac for input. so you could record the simulator but actualy be using the wiimote for controls.. this only works through mac by using the macs bluetooth not deployed to device.. so dont ask :D

[drunknbass]

We've used the simulator too, this have some "issues" though. First of all our audio code doesn't seem to work in the simulator, and second the acceleratometer and multitouch (in any sensible way anyway) obviously won't work.

For the Smack Boxing video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LSxuhj_rS4) I worked around the first issue by simply manually mixing in the sound effects (urgh, I said "simply", but it was a pretty lengthy and painful process).

The second issue was harder to overcome since the game depends on both multitouch and tilting, the way I did this was to hook up our enemy AI code to the player too. (In essence putting the game in "demo mode", was rather amusing watching the two computer controlled fighters duke it out :)).


It seems now with 2.2 there's ways to get proper TV-OUT of not just movies though, so will definitely look into that for the future.
tv out is not new in 2.2

these same classes(or variations) existed before sdk was even out.

[PoV]

No doubt you'll have figured something out by the time I'm done, but I've been writing a blog post about exactly this.

In summary though, I set my camera up on a tripod. "Hugged it", while looking and playing the game beneath it. Resting my hand and iPod touch on the desk comfortably (instead of trying to keep it held up).

Be sure to include extra lighting if you don't want "shadow hands".

Also don't be afraid to record too much footage, to leave some lead time before and after the things you want to show, and edit it afterwords.

There's much reference to pull from, and I'm particularly proud of mine. It's been well received (with the occasional amusingly harsh remark). :)

[Azreal42]

I think sometimes the simulator is not enough (accelerometer, missing opengl extentions)
What about using the iPhone composite AV Apple cable?
(that one (http://www.macway.com/fr/product/10788/cable-composite-av-apple-pour-ipod-et-iphone.html))

[Hippieman]

I think sometimes the simulator is not enough (accelerometer, missing opengl extentions)
What about using the iPhone composite AV Apple cable?
(that one (http://www.macway.com/fr/product/10788/cable-composite-av-apple-pour-ipod-et-iphone.html))

It's slow, scales the video and requires to reprogram your app to use it. Screenflow is the best option for clean looking video. Remember, you can carefully pick and choose your video to not show the limits of the Sim.

[HandheldGames]

Add my vote for using a HD camcorder on a tripod. We can't capture ours on the Mac. Power VR's implementation in the simulator with boned characters produces a result that is unusable and sometimes hilarious. Our tennis players show up all jumbled up. Nothing like seeing a deformed tennis player serving with her leg.

Thx!
HHG

[AppStoreGamer]

If you're using Unity (I doubt you are) but if you are, use iShowU or your choice of screen capturing device and just capture the editor screen while using Unity Remote on your iPhone....here's what I got:

http://www.apptheater.com/video/470/Rolly-Official-Promo

However, I do know that there is an application out there somewhere that actually displays the video right off of your iPhone onto your mac....they used it in this video here (the dev team showing off the new spiffy 3G unlock due tonight):

http://qik.com/musclenerd

[yourofl10]

What is the best solution? I present my ultimate capture studio!

rofl

[jameswedmore]

HA! That is awesome!! Are those Mega-Blocks?!

James Wedmore
LegosAreBetter dot com

[RockRidgeGames]

We bought something called iSimulate, which is supposed to allow you to use your phone to control what's happening in the simulator, but have yet to try and get it up and running.

http://www.vimov.com/isimulate/documentation/

[schplurg]

How about the video output adapter at the Apple Store? $50

[RockRidgeGames]

I just made a quick video of Western Wind using iShowU... took about a half hour to get set up and capture the video. I'm going to play around with it a bit more... it's great for grabbing video, but I can't move my mouse fast enough.

YouTube: video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cifoHYCqzRU)

[isitechinc]

This is a neat thread! I use my Casio EX-F1 attached to a small tripod pointing straight down, and I also attach an external mic so I can get clearer audio. Then I record in 720p HD and hold the iPhone or Touch in place with my left hand, while tapping and such with my right. Works alright.

[iPhoneTankGame]

I bought iSimulate from App Store ($16), and iShowU HD from www.shinywhitebox.com ($30), and downloaded a framework from www.vimov.com (you need to add that framework to your app to make iSimulate work, no new code, just add the framework to your project).

Run iSimulate on your device, and run your app in Simulator. Device connects via WiFi to your MAC, and voila, you get touches and accelerometer events from the device in your Simulator.

I used iShowU HD to record the video at 480x320 (my game goes into landscape when you turn the device, and so does Simulator window on my MAC).

I had problems with System Sounds. Still trying to figure that out. But here is a video I did for T.A.N.K. Arena Battle.


CzLZLQMmgaM

[RockRidgeGames]

Just got iSimulate up and running... pretty slick. I'm going to need to build some sort of cutout template over my ipod touch screen so I can know where the buttons are... it's tough with the display it gives you to be very accurate.

Quick question for you iPhoneTankGame, is there a way to turn off the white circles that appear on the simulator to indicate a touch? I don't want my captured video to have those appear when I tap the screen.

[RockRidgeGames]

n/m, just figured it out:



Disabling Touch Indicators

* By default, iSimulate displays circles on the iPhone Simulator at the positions of the touch events. If you want to disable these touches, add the following code to applicationDidFinishLaunching method in your AppDelegate class:

if (NSClassFromString(@"iSimulate"))
[NSClassFromString(@"iSimulate") disableTouchesOverlay];

[mobilainteractive]

iShowU HD is pretty good for capturing. I used MS MovieMaker for editing and VLC to convert from MOV to ASF (which is required for MovieMaker)

Here is what I got after a couple of hours of playing with the software...
3DSeqvfmuOc

[saintsalive]

Is this program, by any chance, free for download on Windows systems? It looks useful and it could help with a computer game I'm coming out with.

[mobilainteractive]

Is this program, by any chance, free for download on Windows systems? It looks useful and it could help with a computer game I'm coming out with.
no but you may wan to try screentoaster

[saintsalive]

no but you may wan to try screentoaster

Cool thanks that works well!

[ElectricGrandpa]

Does anyone know how people are able to show little rings whenever you click in the video? I've seen some videos where people do that.

[mobilainteractive]

Does anyone know how people are able to show little rings whenever you click in the video? I've seen some videos where people do that.
It's usually a property of capturing software.. I think iShowU HD can do this, although I disabled it for my video...

[airzao]

It's far from perfect and definitely not very high-tec but for those of you that simply want to show how your app works, you can just video record from one iPhone to another, if you reduce the brightness on the object iPhone and do this in the dark. You'll then likely have a biggish file but it won't be too big for YouTube. See our vid on www.6zer0.com/pr as en example of this.

And if you need to rotate I can recommend this excellent freeware for flipping / rotating: http://download.cnet.com/Free-Video-Flip-and-Rotate/3000-2194_4-10763530.html

[Razoric]

aE-0h3-fcWI

Just made this trailer for my first iPhone game (sent to apple will hopefully be approved by this week or next).

I used a combination of iSimulate, ScreenFlow 2 and Flash.

Let me know what you think.