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Guide‐Video Manager

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TyRaS edited this page Aug 20, 2026 · 2 revisions

1. What is Video Options Manager?

Video Options Manager is a graphical (GUI) tool for Windows, that allows you to easily edit and customize the video options used by MPV-SW-Capture.

With this tool you can:

  • Adjust key video parameters such as buffer size, resolution, FPS, threads, window scale, hardware decoding, and more.
  • Apply changes directly to the MPV-SW-Capture.bat file without editing it manually.
  • Restore default settings with one click.
  • Save your custom configuration as a JSON file for backup or sharing.
  • Import custom configurations from JSON files.
  • Switch the interface language between English and Spanish.

2. Where to find the program

  1. Open the folder tools.
  2. Open the file MSC_Video_Manager.exe.

3. Main interface

When you open the program, you will see a window with the following layout:

Video Options Manager Main Interface

3.1. Header

  • EN / ES buttons to switch the interface language between English and Spanish.

3.2. Paths panel (information)

Displays the paths the program is using:

  • Root folder: project root.
  • Tools folder: tools/ folder (where the JSON file is stored).
  • BAT file: path to the MPV-SW-Capture.bat file that will be modified (located in /data).
  • Custom JSON: path to the user-video_options.json file where your custom settings are saved (in tools/).

3.3. Video options panel

Here you can adjust the main video parameters used by MPV. Each option includes a brief description (displayed below the control) to help you understand its effect.

Option Description Available values
Video Buffer Size Sets the buffer size used by MPV before playback. Lower values reduce lag; higher values improve stability. 32M, 64M (default), 128M, 256M, 512M, 768M, 1024M
Video Resolution Forces the default resolution. "1920x1080" (1080p) is the most stable option. Use "1280x720" if you experience lag at 1080p. 1280x720, 1920x1080 (default), 2048x1152, 2560x1440, 3840x2160
FPS Forces the default FPS. "Auto" uses the capture card's native FPS. Auto (default), 60, 30, 24
Video Decode Threads Selects the number of threads used for video decoding. "1" is best for low latency; "0" uses automatic value (may increase buffering). 1 (default), 0
Window Scale Adjusts the initial window size. Higher values make the window larger and can slightly increase rendering load. 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 (default), 1.25, 2.0
Video Output Selects the video output renderer. "gpu-next" is the modern and recommended option; "gpu" is suitable for older PCs. gpu-next (default), gpu
Hardware Decode Enables or disables hardware acceleration. "no" is the default (disabled); "auto-safe" reduces CPU usage with hardware acceleration; "auto" and "yes" are more aggressive. no (default), auto-safe, auto, yes
Demuxer Thread Enables or disables the demuxer thread used while reading the stream. "no" is recommended to reduce latency. no (default), yes

Each control is presented as a dropdown list with the available values. The current value is highlighted.

3.4. Actions panel

  • Reload from BAT: reloads the current settings from the MPV-SW-Capture.bat file (useful if you have manually edited the file).
  • Save to BAT: applies the current settings from the form to the MPV-SW-Capture.bat file.
  • Restore DEFAULT Options: resets all options to their default values and writes them to the BAT file.
  • Save Custom Options: saves the current settings as a JSON file in the tools/ folder (for backup or sharing).
  • Import Custom Options: loads a JSON file with custom settings and applies them to the BAT file.

3.5. Log/Status area

Displays a log of actions performed (reloads, saves, errors, etc.) and the current status of the program.

4. Typical workflow

Load current settings

  1. Open Video Options Manager.
  2. The program automatically loads the current settings from the MPV-SW-Capture.bat file. If you need to reload them (e.g., after manual changes), click Reload from BAT.

Change video options

  1. Select the desired value from each dropdown list.
  2. The description below each option will help you understand the effect of your choice.

Apply changes to the BAT file

  1. After adjusting the options, click Save to BAT.
  2. The program will update the MPV-SW-Capture.bat file with your new settings.
  3. Restart MPV (or run the BAT file again) to see the changes.

Restore default settings

  1. Click Restore DEFAULT Options.
  2. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click Yes.
  3. All options will be reset to their default values and the BAT file will be updated.

Save custom configuration as JSON

  1. Once you have your desired settings, click Save Custom Options.
  2. The program will save a JSON file named user-video_options.json in the tools/ folder.
  3. This file can be shared with others or used as a backup.

Import custom configuration from JSON

  1. Click Import Custom Options.
  2. Select a JSON file (previously exported or provided by someone else).
  3. Confirm the import. The settings will be loaded into the form and automatically written to the BAT file.

5. Generated files

The program creates and manages the following files:

  • user-video_options.json (in tools/): contains your custom video options in JSON format (created when you click Save Custom Options).
  • MPV-SW-Capture.bat (in /data): the main launch file that is modified when you click Save to BAT or Import Custom Options.

6. Tips and best practices

  • Understand each option: Read the help text (in the interface) to know how each setting affects performance and latency.
  • Start with defaults: If you experience issues, use Restore DEFAULT Options to revert to the stable default configuration.
  • Save your custom JSON: After finding a configuration that works well for you, save it as JSON to quickly restore it later.
  • Backup your BAT file: Before making major changes, consider making a backup of MPV-SW-Capture.bat (the program does not create automatic backups).
  • Test changes incrementally: Change one or two options at a time and test the result to isolate the effect of each parameter.

7. Troubleshooting common issues

Problem Possible solution
The program cannot find the BAT file Make sure MPV-SW-Capture.bat exists in the /data folder.
Changes are not applied Ensure you clicked Save to BAT after changing the options. Also, restart MPV or run the BAT file again.
The JSON file is invalid If you get an error when importing, check that the JSON file has the correct structure (it should have all keys: rtbuf, videoSize, fps, threads, windowScale, demuxerThread, vo, hwdec).
MPV performance is worse after changes Use Restore DEFAULT Options to revert to the stable settings and then adjust gradually.

8. Final notes

  • This tool is designed for MPV‑SW‑Capture and should not be used with other configurations.
  • If you find any bugs or have suggestions, please open an issue in the official repository.

MPV-SW-Capture Wiki

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