ATi MMC 9.3 upgrade

[kenmo]

Since upgrading my ATi MMC to 9.3 (I have an ATi PCI TV Wonder) I lost the ability to record to MPEG1 or MPEG2. I followed the on-line help which suggested I can set this up in settings->map presets but I do not have a DVD option

Any ideas ??

[lordsmurf]

ATI "online help" sucks (as does phone support). Never use their crappy presets. They are completely incorrect for normal use.

www.digitalFAQ.com for some real ATI guides

[kenmo]

Sorry Lorsmurf but your guides are not applicable as they work if the Mpeg option is available to you. Since I upgraded to MMC 9.3 when I attempt to create a MPG template the only formats available to me are AVI or Windows Media. There is NO Mpeg option as there was with version 7.3 of MMC.

Thus I can not create a new template for Mpeg. I've done this a few times before with MMC 7.4 but I can't since the upgrade

[lordsmurf]

Downgrade. The guides are for far more than just MPEG, covers AVI and general setup too.

[kenmo]

Sorry but downgrade to my previous version of MMC 7.3.?

[Bodyslide]

Here's a link to older versions needed for your hardware.

http://www.ati.com/support/products/tvwonderwinxppreviousmmc.html

[kenmo]

Lord Smurf. I did as you suggested and I downgraded to MMC 8.8. Now I have the Mpeg settings back. Thanks very much.

However I can not get a resoultion beyond 640x240. I would like 704 x 480. Matter fact all settings are x 240.

One more things if you don't mind. Every time I launch the MMC TV software I get the initialization wizard. Each time I select the same settings.

Thanks again

Kenmo

[lordsmurf]

Your card cannot go past x240 with ATI MMC, as it requires a preview mode not availavble to those cheapo BT-based chipset cards.

Use something else for capture.

ATI AIW cards are the good ones, not these.

[canadateck]

cheapo BT-based chipset cards.
Use something else for capture.
ATI AIW cards are the good ones, not these.

Being kinda hard on his hardware, somtimes this is all people can afford.
No offence

[kenmo]

cheapo BT-based chipset cards.
Use something else for capture.
ATI AIW cards are the good ones, not these.

Being kinda hard on his hardware, somtimes this is all people can afford.
No offence

Lord Smurf. No offense taken. Can you recommend a AIW card (ie: model) that I should be considering ? Do the AIW do hardware mpeg encoding like the Hauppauge PVR 250 ?

I just bought a Toshiba DR2 DVD recorder and I am quite pleased with it. However it will not copy some of my VHS tapes due to macrovision, hence the need to capture some stuff with my PC.

Again many thanks to all those that replied. You're the best !


Kenmo

[canadateck]

You will have the same macrovision problem with capturing to your computer With a AIW card, there are some software hacks but i really dont think they work all that well, if at all, They are software encoding cards not hardware, but if everything is set up right they work great. I use one the AIW 64mb cards, works great, but if i'm caping to mpg2 i always use a set top DVD recorder, with a TBC to get around the macrovision.

[canadateck]

Also if you have a Camcorder it may have pass through and you maybe able to cap that way.i do this alot too.

[Dr_Layne]

You should consider purchasing a full frame time base corrector. This will strip the macrovision signal and will also allow you to capture to the AIW card without dropping frames due to video sync problems. Two recommendations:
Datavideo TBC-1000
AV Tools AVT-8710

Steve

[lordsmurf]

They [ATI] are software encoding cards not hardware,

Incorrect.

They are hybrid, using both hardware and software to achieve excellent results. Hybrid has an edge over both hardware- and software-only methods, because newer CPUs can improve the abilities of the card.

[canadateck]

My mistake. Not fully Hardware. I still think there is many hardware capture cards that are much better then the ATI cards. But it is still left to how, the user "uses" such cards. And the ATI cards are not that "Basic" User friendly, once they are set up right they are great.

[canadateck]

The major Problems with the ATI cards are the software.

[lordsmurf]

The major Problems with the ATI cards are the software.

I disagree. It's the driver installation. Once that's done, a guide for ATI MMC is piece of cake.

[canadateck]

Drivers or software.All the same to me.

Cant forget about the sound problems people have.I have see this problem more then anything, other then droped frames. I think if you are new to computers/Capturing. I wouldnt get the ATI, to many problems.I can Capture with the ATI cards just as good as anyone, but now i always use a Hardware card or Set-Top DVD recorder, For T.V and backing up old VHS, To do this with an ATI card is way to problematic for just a Simple back up, or T.V capture. This is my opinion.

[lordsmurf]

Audio sync is usually the same as dropped frames. That's what's causes it 99% of the time.

With advent of DVD recorders, I use ATI AIW card for restoring imperfect video, or editing work, nothing more. Perfect sources, MPEG output, no editing, DVD recorder. Reauthor on PC. Easy.

[canadateck]

I know that droped frames do cause sync, what i meant was people hearing the hard-drive or some hissing sound, this could be, bad sound card or cheaper sound, but this is a big problem people have with these cards.

[lordsmurf]

Usually cheapo sound card or MORE typical, cheap crap audio cables being used.