Can ANY software pause, then continue MPEG-2 capture?

[c627627]

I have 2 pieces of 1 hour videos that require no editing just straight transfer to DVD, I'd like to simply capture them directly into MPEG-2 > make a DVD.

I tried capturing to MPEG-2 using Ulead software and it creates a DVD from this MPEG-2 file without any reencoding (which it has to do if the capture is done in AVI instead of MPEG-2.)


Is there any program that allows for MPEG-2 capture into a single file that can be paused, then continued?


(BTW, ATI Multimedia Center can pause/continue MPEG-2 capture but it only has 640x240 as its highest setting, and there doesn't appear to be a registry hack to allow for 720x480.)

EDIT, three years later :
1. WinDVR appears to also be able to record > pause > continue recording: http://www.artech365.com/winvdr/

2. Depends on which capture card you're using. For best results for NTSC:
Use 704 x 480 to capture SD or HD TV, VCR, analog camcorder.
720 x 480 is used by commercial DVD discs and DV format camcorders.

Later versions of ATI MMC had a 704x480 avi capture setting as the highest resolution setting for .avi captures for some cards, but here's how to get 720x480:

720x480 can only be set if you create a new AVI 704x480 preset and give it an unusual, easy to search for name, then go to Start Menu > Run... > regedit >
Go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ATI Technologies\Multimedia\Features\TV\Video Capture\AVI
then click on the yellow folder underneath.
In the right window, double click on the Width entry > SELECT: Decimal >
Change the Value data: from 704 to 720.

3. Simply capture several .mpg files, import them one after the other and Ulead software will play them one after the other.

[thecoalman]

Is there any program that allows for MPEG-2 capture into a single file that can be paused, then continued?

Not sure why you want to do this? Is it because you want a single video file? It's just as easy inserting the two files on the timeline and just don't create any chapter points -or- Just insert on the timeline and create a new single video file. I'm pretty sure VS8 will create just video files.

(BTW, ATI Multimedia Center can pause/continue MPEG-2 capture but it only has 640x240 as its highest setting, and there doesn't appear to be a registry hack to allow for 720x480.)

You capture resolution is limited by your card or the drivers for the card not the software. Go here for capturing info on the ATI www.digitalfaq.com

Suggest you fill in your computer details, particularly what capture your using. There are drivers available for some ATI cards. BTwincap works on some ATI cards utilizing the higher resolutions that some ATI cards are artificially limited to by ATI's drivers.

[c627627]

1. Because I tried making a 1 hour unedited DVD and I could do it very quickly by simply capturing into 720x480, 48K MPEG-2 then immediately burning a DVD from that MPEG-2, no rendering necessary.

That means it takes capture time + a few minutes of burning time ONLY.


But Ulead software I used to do that with does not have a pause/continue recording button.
Is VS8 - Vide Studio 8, I don't think it has a pause button either.


2. When using Multimedia Center, the maximum resolution supported for video capture is 640x240. Higher resolutions such as 720 x 480 are not available. This limitation in capture resolution is by design. Future software releases may add support for video capture at higher resolutions.

Source:
http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/4007.html


So ATI Multimedia center itself cannot capture 720x480 but OTHER SOFTWARE can (I tested it and, sure enough it can)

This means that the card itself can capture 720x480 but no one has come up with a patch or a hack of ATI Multimedia Center to enable 720x480 capture the cards are capable of...

so...

Does anyone know of any capture app with a pause recording button (other than ATI MM) please?
.
.
.

[lordsmurf]

Suggest you fill in your computer details, particularly what capture your using. There are drivers available for some ATI cards. BTwincap works on some ATI cards utilizing the higher resolutions that some ATI cards are artificially limited to by ATI's drivers.

Not artificial. Hardware limitation. ATI MMC requires preview using modes not supported by BT chips in high resolutions.

Easy solution: do not pause. Record entire MPEG with MPEG software (not ATI MMC). Quickly remove unwanted footage with Womble MPEG VCR. Won't take 5 minutes to edit/save. There's the file. Easy.

[c627627]

Thank you for your opinion, my specs are below,

http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/4007.html
Specifically says that 720x480 cannot be captured because of ATI software whereas Ulead software for example, captures 720x480 with this card even though ATI MMC cannot.

This means that this is not a hardware limitation, does it not?


Does anyone know of any capture app with a pause recording button (other than ATI MM) please?


_____________________

ATI TV Wonder VE

Dual boot
Windows XP: Latest drivers and Multimedia Center 9.02
Windows Me: Latest drivers and Multimedia Center 7.9

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Antec SX-835II case ; 380W Antec TruePower TP380
Four 80x25mm Case Fans + 1 Variable speed 80x25mm Fan YS-Tech FD1281259B-2F

[gll99]

WinVDRPro by Artech365 has an mpeg1 and mpeg2 capture feature. It also allows pause and resume within the same file to skip over commercials. I usually use it to capture to avi or wmv and pause out the commercials but I have only done limited testing with the mpeg capture so can't comment on the quality. In addition to vcd and svcd compatibilty, there are custom settings available with some control over bitrate, gop, framesize etc.. so maybe fully dvd compliant mpeg2 could be captured also.

btw) When I say capture it's from a video capture device not a file conversion. This app does not convert existing files to other formats.

[lordsmurf]

This means that this is not a hardware limitation, does it not?

It does not. Again, ATI MMC requires use of a preview function (hardware usage) that the BT cards do not have.

[c627627]

I'll test WinVDRPro and report back this evening.

I understand what you're saying, lordsmurf. It was just that someone with little capture experience looked at it like so:

1. Start Software A > capture 720x480 successfully
2. Start Software B > you cannot capture 720x480, only 640x240
------------------------------------

Conclusion:

Since
Software A can and Software B cannot capture 720x480,

it is Software B's 'fault' you can't use it to capture 720x480.

[c627627]

Much obliged gll99, WinVDRPro indeed appears to be capable of pausing/continuing capture of a single 720x480 DVD ready MPEG-2 file.

I hope I can:

Use WinVDRPro to start capturing the first 1 hour video > Press PAUSE after 1 hour > Continue capturing the second 1 hour video > press STOP an hour later.

As long as I Started/Paused/Stopped exactly where I wanted,

all I have to do next is open the single MPEG-2 file with Ulead DVD Workshop 2, quickly insert a chapter point exactly where I want it > burn the DVD in minutes without any further wait or rendering whatsoever.

or can I?


I'll test it and see, then report back.

[thecoalman]

As long as I Started/Paused/Stopped exactly where I wanted,

all I have to do next is open the single MPEG-2 file with Ulead DVD Workshop 2, quickly insert a chapter point exactly where I want it > burn the DVD in minutes without any further wait or rendering whatsoever.

or can I?


I'll test it and see, then report back.

Yes you can do that but you can also do that if you had 2,3 or 50 files providing they are DVD compliant. There's a "do not convert compliant files" checkbox on the final menu that if checked will leave any compliant file untouched. DVD Workshop only rerenders when this box is unchecked and your files differ from your project settings/disc burning settings.

Sorry for the previous bad advice on the card, I bow to the the little blue guy....

[lordsmurf]

What is "WinVDRPro" ??
If you mean WinDVR, bad choice. Forced blended deinterlace.

[smearbrick1]

What ATI card are you using to capture? I have a TV Wonder and it will capture at full DVD resolution when using MMC.

[johns0]

What is "WinVDRPro" ??
If you mean WinDVR, bad choice. Forced blended deinterlace.

http://www.artech365.com/winvdr/faq.htm

[c627627]

See post 3 of this thread on why ATI TV Wonder VE cannot capture 720x480 using MMC but can using other apps...


Wait, is thecoalman saying that this can be done with multiple 720x480, 48KHz MPEG-2 files?
It doesn't have to be a single file, you can create a DVD with no rendering from multiple MPEG-2 files?


P.S. Anyone know why then are MMC and artech365 winvdr the ONLY pieces of soiftware with a working record PAUSE button we know of thus far?

[Capmaster]

Wait, is thecoalman saying that this can be done with multiple 720x480, 48KHz MPEG-2 files?
It doesn't have to be a single file, you can create a DVD with no rendering from multiple MPEG-2 files?

Yes.

What you're trying to do is author two files into one DVD without reencoding ("rendering" isn't an entirely accurate term).

If you capture the files in a DVD-compliant format (for example ...MPEG2, 720x480 or 352 x 480, VBR between about 2000 Kbps and 9800 Kbps, 48 KHz audio that's either MP2, AC3 (DD) or LPCM (not recommended)) the authoring application should join the two without any reencoding, provided you have selected the right output format. If it doesn't, find one that does. There are plenty in the tools section that are free, or very cheap

See the "What Is" section (upper left) and click the "DVD" button to get the full DVD compliant specs.

[lordsmurf]

TDA does

[Manokat]

Is there any program that allows for MPEG-2 capture into a single file that can be paused, then continued?

.

All you need to do is to capture them into two separate mpeg2 (dvd compliant files) and use TMPGEnc to joint them.

[gll99]

c627627

As long as I Started/Paused/Stopped exactly where I wanted

That's exactly how you do it. Start then pause whenever you want and then stop at end. There may be a slight delay at start (the red button) while the capture driver initializes so I allow 1 or 2 seconds but there is no delay when you continue after a pause by pressing the green button which appears while paused.

lordsmurf:
As was pointed out Artech365's WinVdrPro is a different app than Intervideo's WinDVR. I stopped using WinDVR a long time ago although it has quite a few adjustments including modifying existing profiles and a feature to capture in 16:9 format for those who have the tv to display it on. As it turns out WinVdrPro has as much control over settings and more aspect ratios so there was no need for me to use WinDVR any longer. As I said I did not do extensive testing with mpeg2 captures, only to time shift tv before I got my divx player, so can't vouch for the quality but I know that it's not too cpu intensive for those with upper end P3 and higher.

[c627627]

Thank you all, especially Capmaster for a very informative post.

Can you please advise me on a choice between LPCM and MPEG Audio.
If MPEG Audio, then Stereo or Joint Stereo?



Note to others about my experience:
Using ATI TV Wonder VE, I can capture 720x480 with Ulead DVD Workshop 2 but not Sony Vegas 5 or the latest version of ATI Multimedia Center which only capture at lower resolutions.


Ulead DVD Workshop also allows me to capture two separate files at 720x480, any bit rate, 48KHz sound and immediately creates two chapters ready for burning with finished DVD being only minutes away after capture. This means there is no need for the suggestion of "using TMPGEnc to join them."


I am still puzzled why only Artech365's WinVdrPro has a working pause button, there's got to be a reason, anyone care to speculate?

[Capmaster]

Thank you all, especially Capmaster for a very informative post.

Can you please advise me on a choice between LPCM and MPEG Audio.
If MPEG Audio, then Stereo or Joint Stereo and should I leave it at 224 kbps or bump it up to 256 or 320, how much more space is required to jump from 224 to 256 (or 320) if you're making a 2 hour single layer DVD?

Any time

Don't even bother with LPCM. It's an old format from the days when the US spec. for DVD demanded it to be fully compliant. That is no longer the case.

LPCM is uncompressed and it's not unusual for the audio to take up 1, 1.5 or even 2GB on the disc.

Use Mpeg 1 - Layer 2 (MP2) for short. Use "stereo" instead of "joint stereo". MP2 is a space-efficient compressed format that uses about 10% of the space LPCM needs, and you'll be hard pressed to hear the difference in quality. It sounds just fine

AC3 (Dolby Digital) is about the same quality-wise, and space-wise. It has always been required of PAL DVDs, but all fairly new NTSC DVD players handle AC3 and many standalone recorders sold in the US, like Panasonic, have only LPCM or AC3 as the chioces for the audio format

And I wouldn't bump up the sample rate higher than 224 Kbps for MP2 unless you have a good reason for it. If you are so inclined, make samples of different sample rates on a RW disc and see if there even is a point where you can honestly hear an improvement. I'm betting you'll never hear the difference between 192 Kbps and 384 Kbps MP2 audio

Sorry I can't help you with the other issues as I don't use those apps.

For everything you might ever possibly want to know about DVD, try this page:

http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

[c627627]

Thank you,

Why 'Stereo' and not 'Joint Stereo', please?

[thecoalman]

Wait, is thecoalman saying that this can be done with multiple 720x480, 48KHz MPEG-2 files?
It doesn't have to be a single file, you can create a DVD with no rendering from multiple MPEG-2 files?

Yes that's exactly what I'm saying. They can even be different resolutions, different aspect ratios, different everthing. As long as every file is compliant they won't be reencoded and if they aren't compliant it will only reenecode the ones that aren't .... Just make sure that box is checked.

[c627627]

You are correct and I'm trying this as we speak,
there is a 'Deinterlace output' check box that is UNCHECKED by default, should I check it and select 'Upper Field First'?

[vhelp]

@ c627627

Yes you can. don't be rediculous You can capture @ 720 x 480 resolution
and w/ MMC.

What version of MMC are you using ??

I have the ATI Rage Fury Pro card. It's a Graphics AND Capture card
in one. I love it.. though mostly for other things. This one has the older (or
original) Rage Theater chip. Anyways.

* What is your Card: ____
* What version of MMC are you using: ____
* Who told you, you can't use 720 x 480 _____

Cheers,
-vhelp

[c627627]

These good folks here did: http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/4007.html
...and I can confirm what that web page says is true.

I'm standing by to test any suggestion you may have.

Thanks

ATI TV Wonder VE

Dual boot
Windows XP: Latest drivers and Multimedia Center 9.02
Windows Me: Latest drivers and Multimedia Center 7.9

[vhelp]

Ok. Gotcha.

However, you can still set a resolution to 720 for
MMC (any version) through the registery. I know, because
I've done it. I've had the ATI-TV Wonder (PCI card) for
years. though I haven't done it in v7.1 for this card, cause
it wasn't avaiable then. But, w/ my Fury, it came w/ v7.1
already.

But you should be abel to do too. I'm surprised that
no one has posted the answer here. I'm stumped why
you were mislead (though slightely)

The short answer *IS* through the reg hack

-vhelp

[c627627]

vhelp, that is one of the main questions of this thread, what is the registry hack to enable 720x480, if you know, please, do tell.

Again. it's not the card.

MMC doesn't even have a 720x480 option; Vegas Video 5 does but disaplays an error if you select resolutions higher than 352x___. However!: Ulead software and certain other software have NO PROBLEM capturing 720x480 with ATI TV Wonder VE.


MMC registry hack info would be great.

[vhelp]

Hi c627627

I'll see what it is again. As I said earlier, I'm using MMC v7.1
on my setup w/ my Rage Fury Pro card.
It's ben a while since I tinkered w/ the reg on this issue,
but I"ll have a look. I'm just soo surprised that noone
whats to jump in and just give it to you hmm..

You should no-doubt find the hack on lordsmurf's site.
I can't see him *not* having it somewhere's.., and would
save me the trouble of re-inventing the wheel again

-vhelp

[c627627]

He posted in this thread. Post 4.

He said that you can't get 720x480 because "ATI MMC requires preview using modes not supported by BT chips in high resolutions."

So I take it this preview feature prevents 720x480 with TV Wonder VE + MMC but other software has no "preview requirements" so you can capture 720x480 with this card but you have to use different software.

I hope you can comment if this is not right as well as why this preview feature "can't just be turned off" to enable 720x480.

[Capmaster]

Thank you,

Why 'Stereo' and not 'Joint Stereo', please?

Because joint stereo adds a pseudo middle channel that is unnecessary for a standard DVD audio track. It doesn't make the file any larger but it's an unnecessary step that doesn't yield anything, so it's probably best to just leave it out. Here's a definition of joint stereo:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_stereo