Video capture problem

[mchen32]

Hello, everyone,

I installed an ATI All-in-Wonder 9000 Pro Video Card in my computer. I followed the instruction step by step and believe I installed all the necessary drivers and softwares including Pinnacle Studio 8 which came with the card. I connected a VCR to the computer and I can watch movies play from the VCR. However, I cannot capture movies. I tried to use ATI TV and the Studio 8 to record movies. They both can save movies to files (avi or mpeg) on the hard drive. But when I play them there are only audio part; the video part is a green rectangle. During the capturing using Studio 8, I can see from the capture preview the video is a green rectangle but the audio is Ok.

I called the ATI technical support and they just told me the download the latset drivers and reinstall. But it still doesn't work (the video part is still a green rectangle).

I am a newbie. I don't know if I missed something or did something wrong.

My system:
Pentium 866 MHz
Memory 236 MB
Windows 2000 Professional
Before installing the video card I updated the system to the latest service pack and installed the DirectX 9.
DMA is enabled.

Anyone has an idea?

[disturbed1]

Just a shot in the dark, but do you have the correct input connection selected? Using RCA jacks, and select Composite as input, or S-Video cable and S-Video as input?

the capture preview the video is a green rectangle but the audio is Ok.

Or are you attempting capture a production Tape which contains macrovision?

[mchen32]

I believe I have the correct input connection since I can watch the movie without any problem. I use composite input. For the macrovision, I am not sure. I wonder if the ATI video will not capture any video tape contains macrovision.

[mastersmurfie]

I believe I have the correct input connection since I can watch the movie without any problem. I use composite input. For the macrovision, I am not sure. I wonder if the ATI video will not capture any video tape contains macrovision.

There are ATI hacks at lordsmurf's site, www.digitalFAQ.com, for a macrovision hack that might work with your card

not sure if they will work with your card or not...

Your problem sounds a lot like macrovision protection...

OR...I had the same problem after I "upgraded" to DirectX 9...(green video)...maybe that is the culprit???

just a thought

mastersmurfie

[mchen32]

Thanks, disturbed1 and mastersmurfie.

It turns out that the macrovision protection caused the problem. Now my computer can capture video from unprotected tapes. But when I tried to save the video as MPEG-2 files, there were too many frame drops (for MGEP-1, there was no frame drop at all). I read the message "Why does your system drop frames?" by txpharoah carefully, The only reason I can think is my computer is slow, 866 MHz, I am not sure it is a PII or PIII. Any other suggestions?

[mastersmurfie]

The only reason I can think is my computer is slow, 866 MHz, I am not sure it is a PII or PIII. Any other suggestions?

From lordsmurf's site, under capturing MPEG with an ATI card (not quoted word for word...it's at the very bottom of the page...):


Try turning off anything that is running (antivirus, email, anything in the system tray down there on the left...), and if you're connected to the internet (broadband) disconnect it, and see if that helps.

[mchen32]

Try turning off anything that is running (antivirus, email, anything in the system tray down there on the left...), and if you're connected to the internet (broadband) disconnect it, and see if that helps.

I used the Task Manager killed all unnecessary processes running at background. I disabled the network connection and pulled out the cable from the netword card. But still a lot of frame drops.

[deguthrie]

Frankly, I wouldn't try to capture with your setup. You need a CPU with at least 1.5GHZ and 512MB or more RAM. Also DDR would be better. What is your FSB? That will affect a lot of things including how fast you can convert to mpg and store it "real time" on your hard drive.

[chicola]

WIth your CPU speed it will be difficult, but...

Try WinTasks to study all running processes.

Use Starter - http://members.lycos.co.uk/codestuff/download.shtml
to see all starting processes.

[mchen32]

I agree with you, deguthrie. My system is too slow. Is FSB Front Side Bus? I really don't know how fast it is. Thanks.

Thanks, chicola, the Starter is a very useful tool.

[FulciLives]

I use a P3 650Mhz with 256MB RAM running WinXP to capture. It works just fine.

I don't have an ATI card but eventhough the ATI AIW cards use some form of hardware for the MPEG encoding it is also partly software. In short you do need a faster computer than what you have to capture direct to MPEG with such a card. You should be able to do VCD resolution and if you are lucky maybe Half D1 resolution.

However you should be able to capture without issues using PICVideo MJPEG on the 19 quality setting. This means capture AVI then afterwards convert to MPEG using something like TMPGEnc Plus or Cinema Craft Encoder etc.

That method WILL work with your computer specs.

It's the same method I use on my computer which as I pointed out is slower than your computer.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman