Controlling videoQC

videoQC can be called by external applications with command line parameters, keyboard/mouse, cut/paste and via a full REST/HTML command set. If there is already an instance of the application running, the parameters will be transferred to the running instance, and the called one will exit.  This is especially useful where the workflow requires the system to display particular aspects of a clip in an automated fashion.

Command Line Parameters

videoQC -t <timecode> -c <framestart> -f -o -h -m -a -x <id> -v -d -p -g -b -s <source-filename> [filename]

Examples:

Do a quick parameter check between a converted file and its source:
    videoqc -v -s d:\source\orignal.mxf d:\record\proxy.mp4

Create a single ended analysis database, with video and audio analysis:
    videoqc -a d:\record\amberfin_0000572516.mxf

Create a full reference analysis database:
    videoqc -m -s d:\source\orignal.mxf d:\record\proxy.mp4

Compare basic information about two files
    videoqc -i d:\source\orignal.mxf d:\record\proxy.mp4

Opening From A Browser

videoQC can be opened via a web link on the user's machine.  The videoQC installer registers videoQC as a reg helper so you can use a link to open it up with a specific file:

Configuration Files 

For selected time code source, display page (metadata, time code, etc.), audio meter type, and other settings, they will be remembered between runs from the last selection.  To modify these settings programmatically, the registry (Windows) or prefs (macOS) must be changed.  The basic settings are:

Windows (registry)
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Drastic\videoQC

macOS (~\Library\Preferences\)
    com.drastic.videoQC.plist

Linux (~\.config\)
    videoQC.conf

Settings:

Keyboard/Clipboard Commands

videoQC has a full set of keyboard commands available.  Key press events can be sent to control playback like:

c = play
v = pause
b = reverse play
z = fast reverse
x = fast forward

<CTRL>+C = copy the current time code to the clipboard

<CTRL>+V = seek to the time code in the clipboard 

<CTRL>+l = step forward through interlaced files by field (2 steps = forward 1 frame)

<CTRL>+j = step back through interlaced files by field (2 steps = back 1 frame)

A full set of keyboard commands is available here:

videoQC Keyboard Layout PDF 

videoQC also supports using the system clipboard.  A cut/copy on the application (via keyboard or programmatically) will pull the current time code in a ##:##:##:## format.  Pasting a time code into the application will cause it to seek to that absolute (0 based) point in the file.  If the pasted buffer contains a file URL, then that file will be loaded into that application.

Mouse Control

videoQC also features extended mouse controls.  These include:

• <MouseWheel> - zoom in and out
• <LeftClick>Drag - pan and scan the video image in the app
• <RightClick> - reset zoom to view all
• <MiddleClick> - zoom 1:1
• <CTRL><MouseWheel> - volume up and down (0..200%)
• <CTRL><LeftClick> - volume to 100% (unity)
• <CTRL><SHIFT><MouseWheel> - change background luminance
• <LeftClick>Drag - pan and scan the video image in the app
• <ALT><LeftClick> - view magnifying window
  • <LeftClick> - bring up color selector with color under cursor
  • <RightClick> - exit magnify mode
• <DoubleLeftClick> - enter and exit full screen mode
• <T> - enable or disable time code display in full screen

Making Marks and Guides

Making Marks/Guides (cross, line, rectangle, ellipse)

• <SHIFT><LeftClick> - Make a point/cross
• <SHIFT><ALT><LeftClick> - Undo last
• <SHIFT><CTRL><LeftClick> - Drag to make a line
• <SHIFT><CTRL><ALT><LeftClick> - Drag to make a box
• <CTRL><ALT><LeftClick> - Drag to make an ellipse
• <SHIFT><RightClick> - Clear all markers/guides

Launching videoQC from a Web/HTTP Address

videoQC supports running from a browser request when the client is running Windows.  The form the URL should take is videoqc:// followed by the path.  For instance, for a local file:

   videoqc://J:\MediaFolder\MediaSubFolder\mediafile.extension

This can also be a file existing on a network, http, s3, or supported IP stream like rtp://, udp:// or srt://.  For more details on streaming URLs, please see:

Streaming URLs in videoQC

 RESTful HTML AJAX API

videoQC supports a full set of control and status requests via a built in HTML REST/AJAX command set.  This powerful API allows full control over a videoQC instance from anywhere on your network.  Commands include:  transport control, time code and play status, audio metering, video preview retrieval and an optional full set of disk contents display and loading commands.  There is an HTML page sample included in the install that uses the most common commands and can be used as a  base for custom UIs.

The documentation for the REST API is available here:

VVW REST Command API