Command to encode: ================== mplayer and mencoder first had to be compiled manually using the /usr/local/mplayer/ prefix for it to support v4l, debian's default didn't. Well, actually debian didn't provide mplayer/mencoder, so it was actually previously a debian package provided by a third party, and it didn't do the job. Once recompiled and reinstalled manually using the proper build options, it can work. I also had to come out with this command out of trial and error :) /usr/local/mplayer/bin/mencoder -tv driver=v4l:input=0:adevice=/dev/dsp:audiorate=44100:norm=NTSC:width=320:height=240:chanlist=us-cable:outfmt=yv12:fps=30:channel=26 -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vbitrate=800:vhq:vqmax=31:keyint=300 -oac mp3lame -lameopts br=128:cbr -ffourcc divx -o output.avi -af volnorm -vf denoise3d -endpos