New ATI AIW VE PCI results (incl. MV issues)

[BrainStorm69]

Well, after quite a bit of fumbling around with drivers, etc., I at least have the VE running by itself in my 2nd box. Currently using Cat 3.6 with MMC 8.5. Seems to be having Macrovision problems which are not corrected by the driver hacks...but need to do some more testing. Anyone know whether changing OS from WInMe to Win XP might help?

If I can get rid of that problem, looks like it will capture very nicely directly to MPEG2 (352x480) using Lordsmurf's template...although I'm having a little problem with dropped frames. It's not dropping lots, but it's not perfect either (a little over 1% with VBR).

Time for more testing...

Well, deleted all the new ATI drivers and re-installed what came on the installation CD. Not sure what version of Cat drivers and MMC 7.9. The MV is partially corrected by the driver hacks now. I can capture MV protected VHS tapes, but they have the rotating light/dark issue, and the occassional signal corruption. Will the SIMA Copymaster correct these remaining issues?

Also, MMC 7.9 is missing some of the nice things of MMC 8.x like video soap. I may try the MMC 8.1s next and see if the driver hacks lose their effectiveness or not.

But at least all this seems to confirm much of ATI's MV detection is driver based, even for the Theater 200 chip based cards.

[lordsmurf]

Sima may correct most of them. The DataVideo TBC-1000 WILL correct MV/CG (artificial) errors, and any other real errors too.

MMC 8.7 and MMC 8.1 are my two favorites.

Running the MV hacks on them both, though the MV hack in MMC 8.7 can disable the timer sometimes.

Only thing the MV hack does not do it disable the AGC-like effect caused by harder code written into the drivers themselves. The current MV hacks basically replace the MV-only prevention driver with a bogus DLL that overlooks it. The anti-AGC effect will need sterner stuff. In my opinion, buying a TBC is easier, and will be useful with or without MV in the way.

[BrainStorm69]

Well, I deleted the MMc 7 only and replaced with MMC 8.1 and can still capture MV protected tapes, so that's good. However, this AIW seems much more sensitive to errors in the tapes, or perhaps it just doesn't like my old Mitsubishi deck. Maybe I'll try using my newer Sony and see if it makes a difference.

I realize a good TBC would be a nice tool, but I didn't really get into this expecting to spend several hundred dollars on cards and tools. Howevver, I've got another question...if you had to choose, would recomend that I get a TBC and use if with my existing VCRs (neither of which is S-VHS), or just try to get a good (though not great) S-VHS machine.

I know you recommend JVC, but I'm not sure I can afford putting out for one with its own TBC circuitry. What about JVC's lower priced current models of S-VHS VCRs? Any recommendations, or are they not worth it?

Also, I know you don't really like Mitsus. Care to explain why?

Thanks again LS, your help has been invaluable!

[lordsmurf]

Well, BOB W. in this forum managed to find a refurb JVC SR-V10U unit, which is a 7900 in disguise pretty much, few minor alterations. He paid $150 from what I've heard. Not bad at all. You can sneak deals on eBay too. Look up "JVC VCR" then scroll through them all (hint: don't type in SVHS, VHS or S-VHS in order to get better deals!).

Mitsu SVHS units had issues I didn't like, as did the Magnanox (now Philips) ones.

They also have macrovision/CGSM "breakers" that cost $40-80 online.