Any USB Device Capable Of Capturing Mpeg1 @ 700kbps?

[leebo]

Here's my situation:

Using a new laptop (2Ghz w/ 1 Gig ram) I need to capture from a camcorder, Mpeg1 at 700kbps.

I bought a Pinnacle Moviebox USB because someone who owns one said it could do what I need. But it cannot. The lowest it can capture at is VCD quality (Mpeg1 @ 1150kbps).

I want to be clear because another post of mine was mis-understood: VCD quality is too high for my purposes!


Does anyone know of an external device (USB) that can do realtime hardware encoding of Mpeg1 at 700kbps??? I've looked under Tools, but many of the devices listed as being able to capture Mpeg1 are out of date and not even sold anymore.

[Baldrick]

please help me keep the list updated...if you find a tool that is toooooooo old click on the report this tool and I will delete it.

[leebo]

Whoops! I meant I searched Capture cards, not tools. I sent an email about one of them. I'll check back when I have more time.

[Baldrick]

okey..but I don't want to delete old cards...the comments may be useful for some.

[leebo]

True, but confusing for someone who's shopping for one. Maybe you could add "No longer sold" or "Discontinued"?

[ekr2940]

Why don't u just capture at 1150kbps and then RE-encode it at @700kbps

[Richard_G]

But when is something discontinued? When the manufacturer stops making it, when the retail stores stop selling it or when they stop appearing as an 'end of line' special offer?

Does the capture device have to encode in real time? Why not just capture as VCD compliant mpeg 1 with the corresponding resolution and bitrate and then re-encode it later. I assume you will be reducing the resolution too or the results will look terrible.

[leebo]

Why don't u just capture at 1150kbps and then RE-encode it at @700kbps

Yes, I thought of that. And I can do that.

But I'm still asking if anyone knows of a capture device that will do what I asked. I have an old Dazzle DVCII that will do it, but it's PCI so can't use it with a laptop. I need USB.

[vhelp]

First, its not a good idea to start posting (reporting) links or
whatever for deletion until it is abosutely proven it needs to be.
(before you know it, users's will be reporting everything for
deletion - pfew -- don't want that)

Anyways..

@ leebo

I know for a fact, that the ADS DVD Xpress box can do it. I know,
because I tested this evening (after reading this topic this morning,
and wanting to test this out for myself when I got home) and everything
worked, down to 700kb/sec capture.

But, this method requires:

* via .reg tweak++
* and, user interaction and technique -- which isn't a big deal

++ (no hack words. I don't like that word. Tweak sounds better)

I think I am leaning on building an Xpress Tweak utilitiy, because I
am finding some acceptable uses for it after all, and this tool will
definately serve/come in handy.

Now.., regarding your 700kb/sec bitrate ...

I would also like to point out one important factor, which I know
you noted previously, but..

Quality from a 700kb/sec capture (even at 352 x 240 pixels) was
pretty terible. The pixalation is not too unbarible when viewing
at its native 352 x 240 resolution. But, enlarge it twice its
size in vdub/vdubmod (or powerDVD) and you have eye strain from
the pixelation. Sorry.

But, as someone pointed out with a 1150 capture. I recommend,
don't do it. Instead, make the setting higher, using both fields
(on account of the poor results produced when capturing 1 field,
by dropping another, in favor for the VCD standard requirement
for MPEG-1 encodes)

You are better off capping both fields (can still be in MPEG-1)
using a high bitrage, enough to reduce the pixelations, and then
do a re-encode to 700kb/sec for your final "purposed" project

If you want, I can U/L a small xVCD sample clip for you to see
for yourself, from the Xpress box. But, it would be pointless,
on account of the quality-hit. I'm sure you have your reasons for
such a low bitrate (700kb/sec)

I suggest for a capture to high bitrate; both fields; and re-encode;
process

-vhelp 3500

[leebo]

Thanks for answering my question rether than suggest I do something else. Oops, you did both!

But I'm grateful because you did answer my question in the process.

Yes, I have my reasons. My clients want it. They can use it as a quick and dirty way to view their videos (legal depositions) on their laptops. They'll get the full res DVD's later.

I'd be more interested in details of the "tweaks" that have to be done. I'll buy one and try it for myself, and return the dazzle (unless you think your tweaks will work with the Dazzle too). BTW, does the ADS capture at that rate using hardware encoding?

Capturing at VCD quality and converting to 700kbps takes 40 minutes per two hour capture. I typically have 5 to 6 hours of video per job, so thats 2 more hours just to convert, then I still have to burn to CD's. I'd like to be able to offer them the CD's at the end of the job.

I anxiously await your response!

[vhelp]

>> BTW, does the ADS capture at that rate using hardware encoding?

YES

>> Yes, I have my reasons. My clients want it. They can use it as a quick and
>> dirty way to view their videos (legal depositions) on their laptops. They'll
>> get the full res DVD's later.

Ok. NOW I have an understanding and makes sense.

Now, regarding the tweaks.. they are a bit comlicated to get up and
running, if this were in an everyday scenario, where things could be
pretty busy (and rushy) for one to have to bother with the setting up.

- That is why I thought up the Xpress Tweak utilitiy idea, to make
things easier in a rushy setting.

- btw, Fulci is also anxiously awaiting his Xpress box (by the way, it's
not the Express box ) and my tweak settings. Wait till he find out
something else I discovered. He'll be even more-so thrilled for sure,
hehe.. for sure!!

Actually, I think he already got his, but is too busy playing with it

-vhelp 3502

[leebo]

Well, I'm very interested, but until I can test it for myself I'm not going to purchase one. Until your program is ready or you're willing to document what one must modify to allow capture at the rate I need, I can't test it I guess.

I don't want to get it otherwise due to my experience with the Pinnacle device.

[dkelly701]

I have a Hauppauge WinTv USB2 and I can record at your specifications. I tried it and it seems to record. When I play it back it doesn't seem to play though. The picture is frozen. Not sure what the problem is. The WinTV allows you to record at any bitrate you choose.

[leebo]

BTW, converting my VCD quality captured file to 700kbps using Pinnacle Studio 9 results in a file that starts to play OK, but freezes when I try to skip ahead, and is out of sync. It also produces a file well under 700 megs.

Converting it with MpegVideoWizard produces a file that plays perfectly, but is way over 700megs - more like 1 Gig!

[Bjs]

In the guides section you'll find my guide on how to frameserver from virtualdub too bbmpeg correctly , use it .

Bbmpeg will do what you want , but depending on system speed , it can take a while .

On average , a dvd containing 5gig , doing it my way , on an athlon 2800 xp will take about 3 hours , but you get what you want and need .

Just one hint for bbmpeg though , in the settings is a setting for mquant , which is auto set for bitrate , just dont go past 6 , or it will be complete crap , 4 I use all the time for non standard vcds all the time .

You can also specify the bitrate if you want .

The only thing you need to do is create a script for vdub to load like

c:\dvd\vts_01_1.vob
c:\dvd\vts_01_2.vob
c:\dvd\vts_01_3.vob
c:\dvd\vts_01_4.vob

And in this case , you save this as

vts_01.lst

Place it in the same dir as the video files , so you know where it is .

Load the lst file in vdub , extract audio as wav / pcm .

When in vdub , go to audio , full process .
In audio , select WAV , locate ripped wav file .
In audio , check conversion , it may need setting too 44.1khz
or bbmpeg will chuck it .

In video setup , compression = none

Once audio is set , in my guide , I mention the how to lock the first frame , and lock the end frame , then setup frameserver .

I'll say this once more , make sure ausetup in vdub folder has been activated and handlers installed .

Fireup avi2mpeg_vfw .

If you followed the frameserver part from my guide , just hit the little add button in bbmpeg , and locate the temp avi file you created .

Setup bbmpeg to what you need and go .

When done , close bbmpeg , close vdub , playback the new mpeg file .
If ok , you may delete all temp video content (vobs , lst and avi) as used in the conversion process .

This mpeg can be burned using vcdeasy , as non-standard only vcd , basic menu if required , but dont do chapters , there never acurate .

Or just burn it as mpeg to a cd and enjoy ...

[leebo]

Well, a communication directly with ADS tech support casts doubt on vtech's claims of the DVD Express being able to do what I've been talking about.

Here is my inquiry followed by an answer from ADS:

Problem / Issue I'm interested in purchasing this unit. I need to know it the device is capable of capturing Mpeg1, 352X240 at 700kbps. I recently purchased a Pinnacle Moviebox USB because their tech support told me the device was capable of doing what I asked above, but after trying it for myself, I discovered their device can only capture as low as 1150kbps (VCD quality). I need to fit 2 hours of Mpeg1 on a 700 meg CDROM (yes, I know the quality will suffer). Please advise.

Their answer:

this device also will not do that. the mpeg1 capabilities are limited to VCD (correct resolution but 1150 kbps)

most likely you'll want to get a device that does not use any compression then use software to do mpeg compression (many can do it real-time). there are still many products on the market that can do that, i'm sure. we have one called the USB Instant VideoCD that will allow you some flexibility in capture formats (since it's a directshow device, you can use any video program to access it, or you should be able to... most will work.)

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