ATI Capture - some audio info

[panamayellow]

I've learned a couple of things about audio while capturing with an ATI AIW card. My card is an All-In_wonder 9600XT. These were the problems:

1. I was having trouble with buzz in the background of all my captures.

2. Audio / video sync would be quickly lost when capturing AVI in Multimedia Center. Note that MPEG captures in MMC and AVI captures using other tools (e.g. VirtualVCR and VirtualDub) had no problems with A/V sync.

I had been using the external audio connector (that comes out of the back of the AIW) plugged into my sound card's external Line-in jack. I bought an internal audio cable from ATI (ATI part # 6110006000), available at http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2538001 to see if it would address either problem. Well, it fixed both for me. Hurrah!

I can't offer experienced advice about capture of video as others can but I thought that this would be helpful to somebody at some point.

Cheers.

[BrainStorm69]

Interesting, as I have noticed the same problems with my ATI 7500 AIW. I fixed the buzzing problem by just going directly to the sound card from my vcr, but I haven't been able to fix the a/v synch when capturing to AVI with it. Maybe this is the solution.

How do you connect it up?

[panamayellow]

Brainstorm69,

One of the reasons I spent the money for the ATI-sourced cable instead of just cobbling one together was that I didn't have to think about what went where. The cable just fits into the AIW and into the "CD Audio" connector on my motherboard (MSI K8N Neo - Athlon64). Page 49 of the AIW 9600XT user's guide (available online, I'm guessing, for reference) shows the ATI end. I figured that if something went south, I'd send the cable back to ATI and try something else.

Hope this helps.

[BrainStorm69]

Thanks, maybe I'll try it this weekend if I have the right connectors.

[panamayellow]

Brainstorm69,

Have a close look at both female connectors (CD audio and AIW). I don't think that they're the same (size, keys, etc.)

I can photograph the ATI cable ends for you if it will help.

Good luck!

[BrainStorm69]

If your cable is the same as shown in the picture on ATI's site, there is only two things I need to know.

1. Are you plugging in the black connector on one end and the white connector on the other?

and

2. Does the white connector have holes for 4 pins?

Thanks.

[lordsmurf]

My first one came with my 7200 card, and my second one I bought for $2 at Fry's.

[panamayellow]

The CD Audio end is black, the ATI end is white. There are two white ends, one long and the other short, otherwise identical.

All three connectors will accept 4 pins but have only three conductors.

[BrainStorm69]

I had a cable that worked. Unfortunately, it didn't solve my sync issues when capturing AVI.

[panamayellow]

Maybe the difference is related to the audio side of the issue? Mine is onboard audio in an MSI K8N Neo motherboard. Maybe some kind of timing difference in the onboard audio due to connecting at CD_AUDIO instead of LINE_IN?

Best of luck

[BrainStorm69]

My audio is on-board also. Epox 8RDA. Oh well.

[dj4monie]

No Sync problems...

Several captures

From AIW to Sound Blaster Live! OEM edition's in-line

Just recored "The Saint" and 3 dropped frames total on an almost full 60GB main drive with DSL connection up and running and several things running in the background.

Came out very well

I'm using MMC 9.2 BTW

[BrainStorm69]

I do have a SBLive card that I don't have installed. Maybe I'll try that this weekend.