Settings for ATI Mulimedia center 8.2

[pugvader]

A while back i was told when i was ready some guidence could be given as to how to set the settings to get the best quality. I'm using an ATI all in wonder which has it's own software ATI multi media center 8.2.
Now when i say the best quality I don't mean super HD crystal clear. I just mean the best watchable quality that gets the closet to braodcast. i believe the basic settings are much lower. Something to do with bit rate I think I was told? It also has that video saop built in, do i even use that? Mostly going to use for sports.

[Bodyslide]

Look here LordSmurf has a Great page when dealing with ATI's.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/capture/atimpeg/atimpeg.htm

[edDV]

Lordsmurfs site has all the info, but the rest of us can't steer you until you identify your source and destination for this video. Or, what are you captuing and what do you want to do with it.

[pugvader]

Ok I'll read the lord smurf thing, thanks!
Not sure what you mean by source or destination. It's one of those all in one tv cards, it has a cable hookup on it so it works like tivo, but saves the video to a file. I hope to be able to use it like tivo, setting and taping tv shows, then burn them to dvd or keep on the hard drive to watch.

[edDV]

Ok I'll read the lord smurf thing, thanks!
Not sure what you mean by source or destination. It's one of those all in one tv cards, it has a cable hookup on it so it works like tivo, but saves the video to a file. I hope to be able to use it like tivo, setting and taping tv shows, then burn them to dvd or keep on the hard drive to watch.

OK, If you want a playable DVD avoid the ATI VCR format and capture MPeg2. It is possible to convert VCR to MPeg2 (in library) but it takes time and quality is reduced.

[pugvader]

But the ATI vcr is the only way I know how to work the thing. Do I use that same program or another to capture mpeg2? And is it setable for exact times like the ati thing is?

[edDV]

But the ATI vcr is the only way I know how to work the thing. Do I use that same program or another to capture mpeg2? And is it setable for exact times like the ati thing is?

Follow Lordsmuf's guide. The only reason I've found to use VCR format is preservation of closed captions. MMC can capture MPeg1, MPeg2, Uncompressed, etc.

[Nelson37]

Ed, are you certain about that quality loss on the conversion of VCR format to MPG? My understanding was that it just strips out the header information, no re-encoding or actual change to the video.

You are basically going to set the bitrate to control filesize and quality. All three go up together. There is no right or wrong. Keep the gap between max and average fairly small, between 500-1000.

Cropping maintains correct framesize with DVD-MPG where it does not with VCR. Black bars are added.

3:2 pulldown can be used with hi-quality or downsampled HD source with good results. MPG files do not show the audio de-synch with this that VCR files do.

Adjust brightness, contrast, tint, and saturation in the MMC software AFTER comparing final output, displayed as you intend to play all your recordings. Do not use the PC monitor for adjusting these settings unless you intend to playback your recordings on the PC.