ATIMMC x PowerVCRII Deluxe x WinDVR3 - what is the best ?

Hi all,

Based on your experience, what of these is the best, specially regarding real-time MPEG-2 capture at full DVD resolution ?

I might say that ATIMMC "schedule" function is buggy;

[vmesquita287]

Try MainConcept 1.4, quality is better IMO than PowerVCR and WinDVR. But requires a really fast CPU.

[]'s
VMesquita

Try MainConcept 1.4, quality is better IMO than PowerVCR and WinDVR. But requires a really fast CPU.

[]'s
VMesquita

Thanks for your tip, but I don't have this sw
Valeu, mas eu nao tenho este software, sou do Rio

[lordsmurf]

I think our schedule issues may be 8.6-related instead of all-MMC-related.

PowerVCR is low quality captures. Only the 720x480 is decent, and even then, you must hack the registry to restore interlace. It also does not report dropped frames.

WinDVR is deinterlaced. Yuck. Again, no dropped frame reporting.

MainConcept 1.4 looks great, but I can't get decent tests. Most internal cards are dropping frames on this software. Most externals are not. Weird.

You and I have talked many times before. I wish I could get everything to work for you, but not sure what's going on in your system. So many variables in this hobby.

Download a free trial of MC 1.4 at www.mainconcept.com

Also dump the ATI MMC 8.6 and try an earlier version, either 7.7, 8.1 or 8.5. I use 8.1 mostly. I recently patched my Macrovision DLL, and it screwed the timer. I removed it. I'll only use the MV hack when needed. I use the timer more.

I think our schedule issues may be 8.6-related instead of all-MMC-related.

PowerVCR is low quality captures. Only the 720x480 is decent, and even then, you must hack the registry to restore interlace. It also does not report dropped frames.

WinDVR is deinterlaced. Yuck. Again, no dropped frame reporting.

MainConcept 1.4 looks great, but I can't get decent tests. Most internal cards are dropping frames on this software. Most externals are not. Weird.

You and I have talked many times before. I wish I could get everything to work for you, but not sure what's going on in your system. So many variables in this hobby.

Download a free trial of MC 1.4 at www.mainconcept.com

Also dump the ATI MMC 8.6 and try an earlier version, either 7.7, 8.1 or 8.5. I use 8.1 mostly. I recently patched my Macrovision DLL, and it screwed the timer. I removed it. I'll only use the MV hack when needed. I use the timer more.

Thanks, I've been using MMC 8.5 only, and after "uninstalling-reinstalling" everything countless times, the scheduler doesn't work when the fomat is MPEG;

Main problem with WinDVR and PowerVCR are the no dropped frames info - I agree with you. I'll try main concept.

[makkar]

Hi Lordsmurf
I have aquestion, ATI AIW 7500 , does this card have hardware compression to MPEG2.
Thanks
Makkar

[lordsmurf]

Hi Lordsmurf
I have aquestion, ATI AIW 7500 , does this card have hardware compression to MPEG2.
Thanks
Makkar

It has hardware assist. Some of it is done in the hardware, most of it is done in the software. But some is better than none. And the quality difference shows. It only works with the ATI AIW using ATI MMC, and only during capture.

[makkar]

Hi Lordsmurf
Thanks a lot, that was fast.
Another doubt - Are these MPEG2 files can be authered directly by TMPGenc DVD Author, I mean without any further encoding or tendering.
Thanks again
Makkar

[lordsmurf]

Hi Lordsmurf
Thanks a lot, that was fast.
Another doubt - Are these MPEG2 files can be authered directly by TMPGenc DVD Author, I mean without any further encoding or tendering.
Thanks again
Makkar

Yes.

[Supreme2k]

PowerVCR is low quality captures. Only the 720x480 is decent, and even then, you must hack the registry to restore interlace. It also does not report dropped frames.

What exactly is this hack? I get decent-to-great results as-is, but every little bit helps

[lordsmurf]

PowerVCR is low quality captures. Only the 720x480 is decent, and even then, you must hack the registry to restore interlace. It also does not report dropped frames.

What exactly is this hack? I get decent-to-great results as-is, but every little bit helps

This will appear on lordsmurf.com by the end of the month. It's a bit involved... os just wait on the guide. The hack is mentioned in these forums in a few places too.

[MOVIEGEEK]

I first used ATI MMC 7.1..then I tried 7.6...and finally 7.9,I still prefer PowerVCRII because the TV scheduler is more stable,has more features and when I capture with PowerVCR I don't have to convert from the silly .vcr format.Another annoyance with MMC is if I use another capture program I can't get into MMC,I have to reboot.

I too would like to know about the reg. hack to improve quality,I did a search but couldn't find any posts.

[lordsmurf]

I don't have to convert from the silly .vcr format.

Use MPEG format at capture.