Cant see new capture card

[mister benn]

Hiya guys. Im trying to copy from my VHS recorder to my pc. My local pc shop just installed a new ATI All in Wonder 128 video card to allow me to do this. They have also supplied a cable , that uses scart to go into the VHS player, and a spltter cable at the other end that connects two yellow cables. It then plugs a s-video type connection into the card.
They say they tested the card and could watch TV on it fine.

Im trying to copy using Windows Movie Maker , tho dont really care if there's a better option. When I click on 'capture from video device' , it says 'the video device is already in use', but then does diplay just one device (my webcam).

Any advice on how to best use this card to capture form my VHS.

Cheers in advance.

[Bjs]

Welcome mister benn

What service pack level is the current xp install up to.

If I recall that error was pre sp2 and refers to windows messenger ... start with this from ms .

Once done you should reboot the system and try capture again.

Windows movie maker isnt the best for capture from those devices and is limited in output types.

If they installed it correctly they would have installed the capture software it was bundled with ... unless it's a second hand device ... you never know with some of these "local" services.

====

Check device manager and make sure all devices are fine ... none in error

[mister benn]

Thanks for the reply Bjs.

They didnt actually say it was new - though it does look it, but I never questioned wether it was, and therefore where is the box / software.
I just hoped it would work when I got home as it was 5pm already. I maybe shouldve gone with my gut instinct and said no to the card & cables when they quoted £30 , but I was desperate to get on with it.

If I cant crack it today, then Im going to call them tomorrow and ask them to resolve the issue or I want my money back. Id rather it work to be honest tho.

Somebody has recommended I download the ATI software. If it will let me I will try that.

[mister benn]

Hi BJ / all.

I am on Windows XP SP 3 .


Ok - I have slight progress.

In both Windows Movie Maker and Nero , I can now select the ATI card , but all I then get is a message that "The capture device is currently in use. Plse close all applications using the device then try again".

Well as far as Im aware nothing is running that is using the device. How can I check what is 'using' the device ?
Thanks.

[mister benn]

Ok - Looks like Ive found another big problem - the cable the shop sold me plugs okay into the AV output on the capture card.
Surely I have got to plug the cable from the VHS into the AV INPUT on the capture card (which the cable they supplied doesnt fit) ?

[Nelson37]

That card is quite old. There should be two connections of the card, they resemble s-video but they are not. They use a custom cable which splits into S-video, composite, and L-R audio on the input, and a single mini RCA jack for audio and the two seperate video types on output. There should also be a Coax connector, which you can use in a pinch.

The ATI MMC software will work best for this card, check carefully for which version your card uses. If the shop did not install this, they have left 90% of the work for you to do.

[mister benn]

To be honest Nelson , I dont really know why I ended up using the shop. They always quoted high figures for anything before. It was just I wanted a card quickly, and they initially gave me one really cheap - but it was the wrong card.

They then 'sold ' me this card for £30 including the cables. I dont really know if thats a good price or not. But there was no software included. The cable they included has from memory, an s-video connector one end with a couple of connectors off it, and the red/yellow/white connectors at the other end. They then supplied another cable that connects to that, which they plugged yellow to yellow cable, and then has a scart at the other end to go into the VHS video.
On the card are two s-video looking ports , one marked av input , the other av output. There is also a coax connector (for tv input I guess).

I guess my choice is to persevere with this card and go back to the shop, or return it and just buy one of these external pieces of kit , but the reviews of those were poor, and I believe they dont copy pre-recorded tapes ? Or buy a card off ebay/ internet with the cables software supplie d?

[Nelson37]

The input cable you should have would be either purple or with a white domino-pattern box on the end. The box would have red-white audio, yellow composite, and s-video on it, Input ports only, the cable is 3-feet or so. The output cable is very short, 2-3 inches, and black. The "ports" on this cable are actual cable ends, not input ports, though they are female. If you Google the AIW cards, you should find a picture of the correct cables fairly easily.

I know when I got my first ATI card, a couple models before yours, I assumed the two ports were S-Video, later found they were not.

Without the special cables, the only available inputs are the coax connection, which I rarely used as it brings the onboard tuner into the picture.

The 128 was my second ATI card, I'm on my fourth or fifth one now. Still have the 128. Cables are available fairly cheaply. It is a good card, Macrovision easily defeated with a Sima Copy Master.

With the ATI software, these cards have some capabilities that other cards just don't offer. Depending on the exchange rate, I'm not sure if you got hosed or not. It would appear that your PC shop is not very familiar with these cards.

[mister benn]

It sounds like this is getting more complicated by the day !

As you say I feel the shop may not be very switched on for this card.

Ive tried lookign for this cable, but struggling to find one like you described. If you have a spare minute could you be kind enough to post a link for one ?

I cant get my pc back to the shop until friday (the pain of not working close to home).
If Ive not resolved the pc issue Im going to try my sisters vhs/ dvd combo at the weekend to see what that does copy. That shouldve been plan 1 , but I wanted to save the hassle of borrowing it.

Thanks for all the advice so far.

[jman98]

With the ATI software, these cards have some capabilities that other cards just don't offer. Depending on the exchange rate, I'm not sure if you got hosed or not. It would appear that your PC shop is not very familiar with these cards.

There is some truth to this, but...

ATI has NEVER taken video capturing seriously. They offer it, but it's kind of an afterthought kind of thing. Their main business is catering to the needs of gamers. If you have problems with an ATI capture card, like the original poster does, he'll have to find a forum and pray that someone there can help him.

Honestly, ATI has never been the leaders in video capturing. I bought an ATI capture card about 9 years ago or so and within a year I was having to replace it because it just wasn't good enough. Other makers, such as Hauppauge, have much better offerings than ATI in my opinion.

[mister benn]

Thing is , I didnt choose the ATI card, the shop did.

Unless they can crack using the card on friday afternoon, Im just gonna tell them to take it out and give me my money back, which they promised beforehand.

Its then a case of trying the dvd/vhs combo, and maybe looking at an external connection. I dont have that much to copy , so its a balance of not paying a lot, but dont mind paying that bit extra for better quality.

[JimmyS]

Here are a couple of links to the type input and output adapters that may work for your card.


http://www.trianglecables.com/atiallinwona.html

http://www.trianglecables.com/vgacartosvid.html

[Nelson37]

Those aren't the factory originals but appear to be correct,

Jman, I'm gonna disagree with you here. My Hauppage sits on the floor now cause it can't offer what the ATI card can.

Encoding options. Bitrate options. Input options. IVTC options. Anamorphic widescreen options. Software options. Filtering options. Real-time MPG encoding, scaled to your CPU, not a 10-year-old chip. DVD-ready output, author and burn. Subtitling resoutces.

The only thing the Hauppage did better was capture OTA HD programming, which gave me files so big they needed re-encoding, yielding a final result after many hours no better than what the ATI could do in real-time, from the same source.

Surround sound was an issue, possible with ATI but much easier on the Hauppage, but again with a huge original capture.

For the OP, download the MMC package for that card, connect the VCR by coax, and see if it's worth another $20 or so for the cables. Too bad you're not nearby, I've got two or three extra sets.

[mister benn]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes , I am in England , I guess your in the USA ?
I shouldve mentioned that when asking for a link , in case I need to order one !

So the cable I would need to go from my VHS into my pc is this one ? http://www.trianglecables.com/atiallinwona.html

I just want to be able to show the pc shop what cable they need, if Im going down that route.

I assume that then plugs into another cable that goes into my VHS recorder ?
They did supply me with one, which has a scart connection one end, and I think the red/white /yellow connections at the other.
What cables then connect togethor to make one cable , is it yellow to yellow like the shop advised me ?

[Nelson37]

Yep, just match up the colors.

The PC shop will most likely tell you that it is the cable that YOU need. Maybe if you educate them about the custom port NOT being S-Video, and the card being of limited use without the cables. Good Luck.

You will most likely need the other cable as well because it has the audio pass-thru that connects to your sound card. This can be connected internally and some sound cards will record without it, but for $9.00 I would get it anyway. It allows for output to a standard TV, as well.

[mister benn]

My gut feeling is the shop wont crack how to use this card. So I will just demand my money back.
(hopefully no squabling as I made it clear thats what i would do if it didnt work).

Then i will try the vhs/ dvd recorder combo, and maybe even look at getting a a simpler external video converter device (if anybody on herere can recommend one ? ).

[Cauptain]

Easy solution.

Download this soft (FREEWARE): http://www.pixelview.com.br/imagens/drivers_prolink/usb_pcmcia/play_tv_xpress/PlayTVUpdate.zip

Extract the application only, run this. Reboot your PC, start this HTV, go to options, select your tv card, select source, select auido source, mpeg config - best settings, OK.

Record your movies.

[mister benn]

Thanks Cauptain - but I need to get the cables first, which seems to be a tricky bit.

I will be hopefully getting the vhs / dvd recorder combo today, so will what that can do first.
The off to the pc shop in the morning.

Will let you know how I get on

[lacywest]

Here is a link on Ebay to the other connector that ATI uses with their capture cards

http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-S-VIDEO-AV-IN-CONNECTOR-BOX-TRIPPLE-AV-GOLD-CABLES-/3703190368...efaultDomain_0

[mister benn]

Thanks for all the tips on the card, really appreciate it , but Im sorry but Ive had to abandon that idea - it just became too much of a stress, so Ive took it back to the shop . The only satisfaction there being getting my money nback off the very stroppy shop owner. I certainly wont return there.

Im now looking at borrowing a DVD recorder (not a combo as first mentioned) , and hook my VHS player to it. Will that work, as long as I get the right cables ?

Thanks again for the tips.

[lordsmurf]

ATI All in Wonder 128 video card is too old. The 128 Pro or newer is what you needed.

ATI has NEVER taken video capturing seriously. They offer it, but it's kind of an afterthought kind of thing. Their main business is catering to the needs of gamers. If you have problems with an ATI capture card, like the original poster does, he'll have to find a forum and pray that someone there can help him. Honestly, ATI has never been the leaders in video capturing. I bought an ATI capture card about 9 years ago or so and within a year I was having to replace it because it just wasn't good enough. Other makers, such as Hauppauge, have much better offerings than ATI in my opinion.

Totally disagree. The ATI All In Wonder Radeon AGP cards were so good that companies like Matrox and Canopus felt threatened. Over the past 8 years, I've put a lot of my ATI knowledge on this site's forum and at digitalFAQ.com/forum, so there's no shortage of advice. ATI's own techs used to refer people to me, in 2003-2004.

The issue here was that he was sold a card from 1999, at a time before ATI really got good at video.

[lacywest]

Thanks for all the tips on the card, really appreciate it , but Im sorry but Ive had to abandon that idea - it just became too much of a stress, so Ive took it back to the shop . The only satisfaction there being getting my money nback off the very stroppy shop owner. I certainly wont return there.

Im now looking at borrowing a DVD recorder (not a combo as first mentioned) , and hook my VHS player to it. Will that work, as long as I get the right cables ?

Thanks again for the tips.

Yes ... that is what I do when I want to copy a VHS tape ... but if it is a store bought VHS tape ... it may have macrovision aka copyguard on it ... in that case you will need to plug in between the video cables ... a small device to filter out the effects that copy guard has a video being recorded. Look for them under the name ... Sima ...