Best results using ATI TV WONDER VE ???

[Lcarvone]

For those members currently using the ATI TV WONDER VE card I am curious as to what combination (drivers, capture software, authoring tools, burning software, etc.) you have been most successful with?

As of now I have simply captured a handful of TV shows to mpeg-1 via MMC 7.1 with near VCD 2.0 compliance per the specific guide listed on this site and then burned to disk via the Nero 5.5 VCD template. The quality is not too bad but I also want to capture a number of VHS tapes. Following the same capture procedure as above from VHS has produced less than stellar results.

I understand my unique system will have some effect on the outcome but why not try something that has been successful for somebody else first...

Any input is greatly appreciated!

[monoxide77]

i use the sourceforge drivers (totally discarded all the ATI junk software). i use VirtualDub to capture (normally 640x480). after capture, i open the new file in VirtualDub and apply filters (varies depending on quality of the source). then i inverse telecine (if the file was a film). save as avi. after that, i open the newest file in TMPGenc, set it up the way i want it. encode. then it's off to Nero (for VCD or SVCD) for burning.

that's the way i do it if i dont any chapters, menus and such.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Beware,those soundforge drivers caused me to reinstall my OS.
I no longer use a TV wonder VE but when I did I obtained good results in MMC7.1 using the following profile:
352x240(288)
MPEG-2
3000kbps CBR(4GB limit gives you almost 3 hours)
set "Motion Quality" to 100
I would use this to record TV and burn to CD(my Mintek plays anything)
If I wanted a VCD I would run the file through TMPGEnc.

[jackieshane]

Hey monoxide77.....

Using ATI TV WONDER VE or ALL IN WONDER 128 16MB PCI version limits capture to 352x288 in AVI. Its impossible to get 640 X 480 using virtual dub as ATI drivers don't support this resolution anymore in AVI capture format.

Are you saying that using the Soundforge drivers we can capture in 640 x 480 in AVI? If so, where do we get these drivers and will they run on Windows 2000.

Your reply would be appreciated....

[monoxide77]

actually, i can capture at 720x480 with about 60% CPU usage. and yes the drivers work on Win2000. Get these drivers from http://btwincap.sourceforge.net/
make sure you follow the simple instructions to the tee or you will be spitting obscenities all over your screen. instructions are at
http://btwincap.sourceforge.net/installation.html

[kenmo]

actually, i can capture at 720x480 with about 60% CPU usage. and yes the drivers work on Win2000. Get these drivers from http://btwincap.sourceforge.net/
make sure you follow the simple instructions to the tee or you will be spitting obscenities all over your screen. instructions are at
http://btwincap.sourceforge.net/installation.html

I have an ATi TV Wonder and using the ATi drivers I capture just fine at 640x480 in any wdm software (ie: VirtualVCR, MGI VideoWave, etc). Vfw software (VirtualDub) is a different story.

I would never recommend those EVIL btwincap drivers unless you want to frustrate yourself or give yourself a reason to rebuild your pc. And YES I did follow the instructions to a TEE.

EVIL drivers....stay away from 'em.

[jackieshane]

Umm Monoxide mate...

CAn you actually capture at 640 x 480 in AVI format with these drivers your talking about? Thats what I'm really after

[monoxide77]

Umm Monoxide mate...

CAn you actually capture at 640 x 480 in AVI format with these drivers your talking about? Thats what I'm really after

yes.

i've used these drivers for over a year now and they work great. Here's a sample: http://www22.brinkster.com/mikemelancholic/flightsample.html

[monoxide77]

I no longer use a TV wonder VE

understandably so. while this is a decent little cheap capture card, it's quality is far from great. it lacks s-video input, doesn't tune TV in stereo and the OEM drivers have limited capabilities. This is, however a good card to start with and it's okay if you only have $40 to spend.
sorry, just my little rant about this card.

[Lcarvone]

Hey I just noticed....monoxide, you live in Cincy??

[mopar7]

I had been using the 128 pro, now the TV wonder pci, using the tools on this site, the registry tool especially, capture at 2mbps or 2.18 at 352x240, mpeg 1, depending on movie length, quality is better than tape, slightly less than dvd, 46mins at the first speed, 43min at the second, I put over 100 min movies on 3 cds. Picture quality is worth it, I like it as it's a straight capture and burn, no converting. Plays on 3 apex players and a friends Pioneer. Wished I had captured the earlier vcds this way, now will have to redo them. I have less than 1% frames dropped on a XP2200, only 256 meg of ddr, and have used windows 98SE and ME.

[macleod]

I own the ATI TV wonder card (with tv tuner and svideo.

Here is the best advice you'll ever get. Get the CD that came with the card and toss it out the nearest wndow. The ATI drivers and software are total garbage.

Really though, I use IUVCR with mjpeg encoder set at 19 and cap at 720x480. People will say its a waste of time, I say its my time to waste. I then convert using DVD2svcd(CCE) and they look great on DVD-R (I convert to 352x480 6000-8000.


Give it a whirl, you might surprise yourself.

[Nitemare]

I'm going to side with monoxide77 ... with a few exceptions

"i use the sourceforge drivers (totally discarded all the ATI junk software)." --Completely true, these drivers are excellent when installed correctly on a system with no known bug issues.

"i use VirtualDub to capture (normally 640x480)." --respectfully disagree. (crowd waits with baited breath as Nitemare starts another resolution war) when capturing VHS anything over 352x480 (NTSC) is a waste of resources. This is HOTLY debated here on this forum. If your plan is eventual SVCD/DVD conversion, this is the way to go for VHS. If you're making a PC file, you may as well go for the 640x480.

"after capture, i open the new file in VirtualDub and apply filters (varies depending on quality of the source). then i inverse telecine (if the file was a film)." --agree-- "save as avi."--I prefer to frameserve myself but this is also correct.

"after that, i open the newest file in TMPGenc, set it up the way i want it. encode."--I agree completely.

"then it's off to Nero (for VCD or SVCD) for burning."--or the burning program of your choice.

Some warnings though. If you're looking to make VCDs just capture at 352x240 (NTSC). If you want PC files, capturing at higher than 240 lines creates an interlaced video file and will look like garbage on the PC. Why bother deinterlacing when capturing at 352x240 will automatically be deinterlaced? (and VCD compliant)

The exception are films than can be inverse telcined. They will not be interlaced when you've finished this process. I also recommend an MJPEG codec which someone else brought up.

If you're looking to make MPEG2 files (SVCD), then capture at 352x480 and leave the file interlaced (unless IVTC can be applied). If you want to make DVDs, the either 352x480 or 720x480.

For those claiming they can cap at more than 240 lines... is this the VE version of this card? I'd like some more info on this as ATI says the VE card is DESIGNED to max out at 240 lines. Using the sourceforge drivers was the only way I found to beat this and I tested extensively.

Other TV Wonder cards have been designed to cap at 480 lines and work extremely well with the ATI software that is almost completely useless for the VE card. Are we talking about the same cards here? I'm not going out of my way to dispute anyone... I just can't believe I missed something in my testing. If it existed and had a trial version, I tested it. (6 months ago) Are these programs new?

Respectfully,
Nitemare

[lordsmurf]

My guide may have some info in it to help you. Maybe.