How to Use the Proxy Feature in CaptureGem (Linux)

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How to Use the Proxy Feature in CaptureGem (Linux)

Looking for other platforms? See the Windows guide or the macOS guide.

CaptureGem's proxy feature allows you to record private shows and access content from sites that may not be directly supported. This feature routes your browser traffic through CaptureGem, enabling you to record any video stream you can view in Chrome. This feature also works as an alternative method for public recordings, unsupported sites, or downloading saved recordings from cam sites.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• CaptureGem version 2.13.1 or later installed
• Google Chrome browser installed
• A terminal emulator (included with most Linux distributions)

Step 1: Prepare CaptureGem

1. Extract CaptureGem to a new folder on your computer.
2. Close any other version of CaptureGem that is currently running. Make sure to click Exit CaptureGem to fully close the application.
3. Open the new version of CaptureGem from the folder you just extracted.
4. Verify the version: Go to Settings and confirm the version shows 2.13.1 or later. You should also see a new Proxy tab in the application interface.

Step 2: Close Google Chrome Completely

Important: You must completely close Google Chrome before proceeding. This includes:

• Closing all Chrome windows
• Closing all Chrome tabs
• Ensuring Chrome is not running in the background

To close Chrome completely, right-click the Chrome icon in the system tray (if present) and select Quit, or use Ctrl + Q from within Chrome. You can verify Chrome is closed by running pgrep -a chrome in a terminal — if it returns no output, Chrome is fully closed. If processes remain, you can close them with pkill chrome.

Step 3: Get Terminal Commands from CaptureGem

1. In CaptureGem, navigate to the Proxy tab.
2. Look for a button labeled "Show Terminal Command".
3. Click this button to display the terminal command needed to start Chrome in proxy mode.
4. The command will be displayed in a dialog within CaptureGem with a copy button.

Step 4: Start Chrome in Proxy Mode via Terminal

1. Open a terminal on your Linux system. You can typically do this by:
   • Pressing Ctrl + Alt + T (works on most distributions), or
   • Opening a terminal from your application menu
2. Copy the terminal command from CaptureGem (click the copy icon in the dialog).
3. Paste the command into your terminal and press Enter.
4. Chrome will launch in proxy mode with all network requests routed through CaptureGem.

Note: If google-chrome is not found, your Chrome binary may have a different name. Try google-chrome-stable or chromium-browser instead. You can find the correct name by running which google-chrome google-chrome-stable chromium-browser 2>/dev/null.

Expected Behavior: When Chrome starts in proxy mode, you may see warnings or lines crossed out through the HTTPS address bar. This is normal and expected behavior when using a proxy. Your connection is still secure, but Chrome displays these warnings because it's routing through a local proxy.

Step 5: Start Watching a Video Stream

1. In Chrome (now running in proxy mode), navigate to any cam site or video streaming service.
2. Start watching any video stream you want to record. This can include:
   • Private shows on Chaturbate or Stripchat
   • Public streams on any cam site
   • Saved recordings on cam sites
   • Streams from unsupported sites

Step 6: View Streams in CaptureGem

1. Switch back to CaptureGem.
2. Navigate to the Proxy tab.
3. You should see entries appear in the table as Chrome makes requests for video streams.
4. Each stream you're viewing will be listed in the Proxy tab with relevant information.
5. Click the record button (or start button) next to the stream entry.
6. The recording will appear in the Proxy tab while it's active.

Step 7: Stop Recording

1. To stop a recording, click the stop button (or the same button you used to start) next to the stream entry in the Proxy tab.
2. CaptureGem will stop recording and begin transcoding the video. You can check the transcoding status by clicking the grey or green circle icon in the top right.
3. Once transcoding is complete, the recording will appear in the Review tab.
4. The final video file will be saved to your configured output folder.
5. In the Review tab, you can modify the metadata for the recording. You can do this by clicking the three dots and selecting "Edit Metadata".

Step 8: Modify and Fix the Metadata

Currently, the metadata is not automatically set correctly for the proxied recording. You will need to modify and fix the metadata manually.

1. In the Review tab, you can modify the metadata for the recording. You can do this by clicking the three dots and selecting "Edit Metadata".
2. You can change the model username, site, and date of the recording.
3. Once you are done, click the Save button to save the metadata.

Troubleshooting

Chrome Won't Start in Proxy Mode

• Make sure Chrome is completely closed before running the terminal command.
• Verify you copied the entire command from CaptureGem correctly.
• If google-chrome is not found, try google-chrome-stable or chromium-browser instead.
• Try opening a new terminal window and running the command again.

No Streams Appear in Proxy Tab

• Make sure Chrome is running in proxy mode (you should see HTTPS warnings).
• Verify you're actually watching a video stream in Chrome.
• Check that CaptureGem is running and the Proxy tab is visible.
• Keep the terminal window open where you started Chrome (don't close it while using Chrome).

Recordings Don't Appear in Review Tab

• Wait for transcoding to complete. This process may take some time depending on the video length. You can click the grey or green circle icon in the top right to monitor the transcoding status.
• Check your output folder settings in CaptureGem Settings.
• Ensure you have sufficient disk space available.

HTTPS Warnings in Chrome

• These warnings are expected and normal when using the proxy feature.
• Your connection is still secure; Chrome displays these warnings because traffic is routed through a local proxy.

Chrome Binary Not Found

• Different Linux distributions may install Chrome with different binary names:
  • google-chrome (standard Google Chrome)
  • google-chrome-stable (some package managers)
  • chromium-browser (Chromium open-source version)
• You can check which is available by running: which google-chrome google-chrome-stable chromium-browser 2>/dev/null
• Replace google-chrome in the command with your installed binary name.

Tips for Best Results

• Keep the terminal window open while using Chrome in proxy mode. Closing it may stop the proxy connection.
• Test with public streams first before attempting private recordings to familiarize yourself with the process.
• Keep CaptureGem running while using Chrome in proxy mode.
• Don't close Chrome while recordings are in progress.
• Monitor disk space to ensure you have enough storage for your recordings.

Supported Sites

The proxy feature has been tested with:

• Chaturbate (including private shows)
• Stripchat (including private shows)
• CamSoda
• BongaCams

It should also work with:

• Any cam site that streams video through standard HLS protocols
• Saved recordings on cam sites that use streaming for playback
• Unsupported sites that weren't previously recordable

Related Guides

• Windows Guide - Instructions for using the proxy feature on Windows with batch scripts
• macOS Guide - Instructions for using the proxy feature on macOS with terminal commands

If you encounter any issues or have questions, please contact support in our Discord server.