AIW Radeon 9700 PRO vs. Digital passthrough

[astroruben]

Hi all,

I'm upgrading my video card to Radeon 9700 Pro. I can afford to get AIW version of it but I'm not sure if it will make any difference. Currently I capture TV programs will my digital camcoder (Sony TRV27 - passthrough, they don't go to miniDV tape, just directly to Firewire). If I will get AIW 9700, will it improve or reduce the quality of the TV captures that eventually go to DVDRs? The only function of AIW I need is capturing TV programs; I don't need rewind shows, timed recording, infrared remote control, etc.

Thanks.

[jdizzy40]

Quality wise you won't see a difference. The AIW 9700 Pro just has all the features you don't need. However, I can't see the wear and tear on a camcorder for capturing TV. I have the ATI AIW 9700 Pro and added a second AIW VE Tuner card for multiview watching and recording. The software that comes with the AIW 9700 Pro supports this wonderfully. record one channel and watch another.

[astroruben]

Thanks!

Just to clarify, can AIW automatically start and record a show for 1hr at set channel in good quality for later DVD burning? Does its files can be encoded to DVD mpeg with external encoders such as CCE? Can I use monitor as a full screen TV? Does it takes advantage of HDTV reception?

[txpharoah]

Thanks!
Just to clarify, can AIW automatically start and record a show for 1hr at set channel in good quality for later DVD burning? Does its files can be encoded to DVD mpeg with external encoders such as CCE? Can I use monitor as a full screen TV? Does it takes advantage of HDTV reception?

Yes. (Except for the HDTV thing. No consumer card does that yet.)

The AIW will be better than passthrough on a camera. Camera passthrough is generally not that great.

[Chordmeister]

I'll post this question here rather than starting a new topic....

Consumer hardware MPEG2 encoders vs. digital camcorder passthrough --> software encoding from DV to MPEG2


First off, in using a passthrough of a digital camcorder, you are effectively compressing to DV, then re-encoding as MPEG-2. This can't be the best option because encoding the source straight to MPEG-2 must obviously be better than encoding already-compressed video.

However, professional hardware MPEG-2 encoders cost big $$$. A consumer level hardware encoder, however, such as an Adaptec VideOh PCI, will not be as good as a good software encoder like Canpous Procoder. But having said that, regardless of how good the software encoder is, it is encoding from already compressed DV.

I know it depends on the quality of the consumer level hardware encoder, but which procedure do you think would give the best final results?

[Will Hay]

I'm upgrading my video card to Radeon 9700 Pro. I can afford to get AIW version of it but I'm not sure if it will make any difference. Currently I capture TV programs will my digital camcoder (Sony TRV27 - passthrough, they don't go to miniDV tape, just directly to Firewire). If I will get AIW 9700, will it improve or reduce the quality of the TV captures that eventually go to DVDRs?....

£1000.00 (that’s ££££ not $$$) says you will never attain the success of DV pass-through with the AIW.
For your price range nothing will compete with DV pass-through, nothing.
Whilst I don't doubt the AIW is excellent (I have the Radeon 64mb DDR Vivo and love it) there are far too many other factors inside your little box of circuits and cables that can affect the quality of your captures.
Not so with the DV pass-through.
Post back when you've bought the AIW and I'll leave you my address where to send the cash (a US cheque, sorry check, will be fine)
Will