μCapture

Native macOS app for capturing microscope images and videos via capture cards (Elgato 4K X, etc.).

Features

• Live Preview - Real-time feed from capture device
• Photo Capture - Single frame capture with F key or button
• Video Recording - Start/stop with V key, timer in button
• Device Switching - Click device name in header to switch instantly
• Auto Device Detection - Prefers external capture cards
• Configurable Filenames - Prefix, date format, suffix
• Network Storage - Save directly to network drives
• Multiple Formats - JPEG/PNG/TIFF for images, MOV/MP4 for video
• Custom Keybindings - Configure all keyboard shortcuts

Installation

Homebrew (Recommended)

If you don't have Homebrew installed yet:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

After installation, add Homebrew to your shell (Apple Silicon Macs):

echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Then install μCapture:

brew install cvrt-gmbh/cask/mucapture

Manual Download

Download the latest release from Releases and drag MuCapture.app to /Applications/.

Build from Source

git clone https://github.com/cvrt-gmbh/mu-capture.git
cd mu-capture
./build-app.sh
cp -r 'MuCapture.app' /Applications/

First Launch

The app is signed with Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so it opens without any Gatekeeper warnings. Simply double-click to launch.

Note: If you build from source without notarization, macOS may show a warning. Fix with:

sudo xattr -cr "/Applications/MuCapture.app"

Requirements

• macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
• USB capture card (Elgato 4K X, Cam Link, or compatible)

Usage

Quick Start

1. Launch μCapture
2. Grant camera permission when prompted
3. Capture device is auto-detected

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
F	Capture photo
V	Start/stop video recording
⇧F	Quick capture photo (no dialog)
⇧V	Quick capture video (no dialog)
⌘,	Open settings

Switching Devices

Click on the device name in the header bar to see available devices and switch instantly.

Settings (⌘,)

• Device - Set preferred startup device
• Storage - Save path and file formats
• Naming - Filename prefix, date format, suffix
• Keys - Customize keyboard shortcuts
• Feedback - Screen flash and shutter sound options
• Info - App version, developer info, license

Development

Prerequisites

• Swift 5.9+
• macOS 14.0+ SDK

Build Commands

# Debug build
swift build

# Release build + sign with Developer ID
./build-app.sh

# Release build + sign + notarize (for distribution)
./build-app.sh --notarize

# Run directly (without app bundle)
swift run

Project Structure

mu-capture/
├── Package.swift              # Swift Package definition
├── build-app.sh               # Build script for .app bundle
├── README.md                  # This file
├── CHANGELOG.md               # Version history
├── Resources/
│   └── Fonts/                 # Bundled JetBrains Mono Nerd Font
└── Sources/
    └── MuCapture/
        ├── MuCaptureApp.swift     # App entry point
        ├── ContentView.swift       # Main view + buttons
        ├── CameraManager.swift     # AVFoundation camera logic
        ├── AppSettings.swift       # UserDefaults settings
        ├── SettingsView.swift      # Settings UI
        └── Info.plist              # App metadata & permissions

Design

Clean terminal aesthetic with JetBrains Mono Nerd Font and Catppuccin Mocha colors.

Color	Hex	Usage
Background	#1e1e2e	Main background
Accent	#a6e3a1	Green highlights
Blue	#89b4fa	Photo button
Peach	#fab387	Video button
Red	#f38ba8	Recording state

License

Non-Commercial Use Only - Free for personal and educational use. Commercial use requires a separate license. See LICENSE for details.

For commercial licensing, contact: info@cavort.de

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Built by CAVORT Konzepte GmbH