ATI MMC multi-segment capture? lordsmurf??

[lbblock]

My system is admittedly kind of slow (see profile): I plan on capturing output from my PVR (in 50 minute pieces) and burn it to an authored DVD.

I just picked up an ATI AIW 9000 Pro to replace my old ATI AIW 128 (Rage) card (with MMC 7.2).

In order to avoid overloading the CPU by capturing in M2v, I plan on doing it in multi-segment AVI (Win98se). Some programs can do this and seam them back together upon completion of the capture.

Will MMC 8.x do this (well)?

I have also considered doing a pass-through on my DV camcorder to provide a quality capture source but that would be in DV AVI instead of raw AVI.

Can MMC 8.x do this and will it create an overall benefit like avoiding the need for multi-segmenting or reduced CPU demand?

Didn't see much on multi-segmenting on lordsmurf's homeworld. However, lordsmurf does say...."older variations of AVI present in Windows 3.x and 95/98/nt4 has limitations that prevented file size of larger than 2Gb or 4Gb, however, that has since been removed with newer operating systems and updates for 98/NT4." What updates for 98 will get rid of the cap???

I appreiate your input.

[PolarBearWY]

What are you capturing that will be in 50-min pieces? I assume that whatever you are capturing is commercial-free and runs at 50 minutes per show?

[lordsmurf]

Capturing in segments will not lower CPU load.

It's the same load, regardless of the end file size. The file is hidden, written in a hidden ATI folder during capture, and then moved to the folder on that drive where you have specified capture file to go. Uses RAM at most. All the capture is CPU and ATI hardware, and done at the moment of capture.

Whether you capture 30 second or 30 hours, the CPU load will be the same.

Win98SE will remove 2GB AVI file limits.

MMC 8.x may or may not have reduced overhead. I would guess not, but the quality and other improvements over 7.x is great. Worth an update. But you'll have to hack 8.8 for a 128 non-PRO card, using a hack fileset that I've not seen nor had time to make at this point, seeing as how 8.8 just appeared.

Using MMC 7.7 at 352x480 and 4.0 CBR with default IPB radius (or my 2-2 augment) should allow good captures with no drops.

[lbblock]

Thanks for responding...

The note about the 50 minute length is correct, commerical-free! Actually, it is a bunch of old "Combat!" shows.

OK, on to more serious things.....

I mention MMC 8.x because I just picked up a AIW 9000Pro to potentially replace my AIW 128. I thought that with the newer theater chip, the AGP interface and the ability to use MMC 8.x that there would be definate benefits to this process. Yes? (with 98SE, my upgrade choices are limited)

I am glad that 98SE has rid us of the 2Gb cap but what about the 4Gb FAT32 cap?? Won't segmented capturing be necessary because of that?

I also learned that the math crunching for M2v is pretty big compared to AVI. So, capturing in AVI instead of M2v would not stress out my 1Ghz P3 and if I went with the inherently larger AVI sepc, then the FAT32 cap would require segmented capturing. It was not a time thing that was generating my thoughts of CPU-related dropped frame avoidance but the M2v demands. Also, I understand, anyway, that editing in AVI is the way to go, vs. M2v.

I guess I need to confirm then, that segmenting will or will not be required because of FAT32 and AVI capturing, and if so, will MMC 8.x do that (seamlesssly?)?

I will ask this again only because I am trying all angles. The hardware pass-through encoder in my Sony DVcam. Will that be of any benefit here?

And lordsmurf, I greatly appreciated your taking vacation time to ease my concerns.

Thanks again to all. This board has been invaluable.

[lordsmurf]

Yes, as the last step of a MMC template, you can setup the segment. The 9000 card runs all 8.x without problem, though not sure if 98 will be a problem. You may want to upgrade to WinME or Win2K.

[PolarBearWY]

capturing in AVI instead of M2v would not stress out my 1Ghz P3

There are quite a few people in this forum that capture with AMD 1200s, which is not quite the power of a true P3 1.0. You might want to check out some of the longer threads and look at people's computer specs. If they have a similar system, ask them how they do things.

[lbblock]

Thanks guys.

I am grateful for the insight and I don't mean to be a little repetitive. I was hoping for your thoughts on the change of video card from AIW128 to AIW 9000 Pro. Other than the MMC 8.x, will the card itself make any difference?

I assume that no comment on my anticipation of FAT32 multi-segmenting is concurrence to my train of thought that it is inevitable.

And that no comment on the use of the hardware encoder in my Sony DV cam will taken as that it will not be of any use.

If I use VirtualDub for the capture, can MMC accept framserving from VD?

As far as looking for other threads with older systems like mine.... there are plenty there and just like XP and P-4 systems, there are a million ways to go!!

The quest continues. Happy Holidays.

[lordsmurf]

Changing from an ATI AIW 128 (non-pro) to a ATI AIW 9000 will make a BIG difference.

Changing from from an ATI AIW 128 PRO will do nothing for captures, the chips are the same on the PRO cards all the way up to the early 9600 cards.

[lbblock]

That's great news! Thanks, lordsmurf.

Will MMC accept framserving from another capture prog like VD or Avi_io??

[lordsmurf]

That's great news! Thanks, lordsmurf.

Will MMC accept framserving from another capture prog like VD or Avi_io??

No.

[lbblock]

Bummer.

I just fired up MMC 8.x. So, MMC just captures and that is all.

Is there a way to import the huffyuv codec into MMC?

Thank you.

[lordsmurf]

Bummer.

I just fired up MMC 8.x. So, MMC just captures and that is all.

Is there a way to import the huffyuv codec into MMC?

Thank you.

MMC is a capture program. What else is it supposed to do?
Anyway, follow the AVI captures guides on lordsmurf.com for what you ask.