Pinnacle PCTV capture error in XP ??

[oz1cd]

Hi

I have upgreaded to XP (Downgreaded) and now i can't capture VCR's.
The highest freamrate is 12. Do I have to install Win 98 again or is there a workaround. I have tryed to install a lot of diferent drivers but with no luck.
PLEASE HELP....!!!

Christian

[j1d10t]

What program are you using to capture? I found with Pinnacle's PCTV and WinXP I had to use Pinnacle's Studio 8.

[oz1cd]

Hi

I am using the latest PCTV ver. 5.50 from Pinnacle I allso have Studio 8 but have not tryed yet.

Christian

[j1d10t]

I purchased the PCTV Pro PCI card, and it came with PCTV Vision, which was OK (but not great) for capturing to .mpg, but I wanted to capture to .avi then convert to .mpg with TMPGEnc. I tried VirDub, MS Movie Maker, Ulead, and a bunch of others, and finally ended up buying Studio 8. I even contacted Pinnacle about why the other programs wouldn't capture from my PCTV card, and they said that they didn't recommend having Ulead even installed on the same system as the PCTV card, and Studio 8 was designed to be compatible with the card. So, I ended up bighting the bullet and getting Studio 8. It's not the greatest program, but it lets me capture to .avi. I found that Virtual VCR worked with the PCTV card, but it dropped a lot of frames when I would capture, whereas Studio 8 wouldn't. I'd try Studio 8, and if you really hate it, then try something like VirVCR.

[uxbridge]

I have a Pinnacle PCTV, and I have given up on their software for a long time...I use much better freeware.
I remember the first time I called their support they told me their software could not work on Win2000 if you had ACPI enabled...

You'll be fine with:

BTWincap drivers
VirtualDub
Dscaler

You do not need anything else and it is free stuff.
Ciao

[j1d10t]

I downloaded everything people recommended, like a different WDM capture drivers/WDM VFW wrapper, some tweaked WDM drivers, everything, and none of them would let me capture in a program like VirDub with WinXP. I tried Adobe Premier, several Ulead programs, VirDub, Windows Movie Maker, VideoWave 4 and 5, Dell Movie Studio, you name it. They all said the device was already in use by another program, or something like that. I tired ending almost every program (background or otherwise) running on system, because Pinnacle said that "might" help. They put a big emphasis on "might". I shut down every program except what was required to keep my system still running Windows, and nothing ever helped. I've read that it may be something with WinXP that causes the problem, but since I never had this PCTV card on my old system running Win98, I don't know for sure. The only to programs that would work (and capture in .avi) were VirVCR and Studio 8. I could use PowerVCR, but that captures in .mpg, and not the greatest mpg either. Another program that would work (but only capture in .mpg) is WinDVD Recorder. WinDVD Recorder was better than PowerVCR, but still not the greatest.

[LSchafroth]

I use my PCTV card with XP Pro. Works great. I purchased IuVCR and use it to capture. I can capture at 720x480 and browse the internet and do other work and not drop any frames at all. In fact I've never seen a dropped frame.

I used Pinnacle Studi 8.5 this weekend and it will nto use the composite inputs of my card, it defaults to channel 3 which I do not use.

I found Studio 8 to be sluggish and not enough details control over it.

Lannie

Specs:
Athlon XP 1700+ @ 2012Mhz
256Mb DDR333
PCTV PCI

[andie41]

I use the BTWinCap driver and VirtualVCr to capture - excellent, no drops, simple. I have an Athlon XP1700 and XP Pro.

I tried the VRW Wrapper and that messed things up, had to remove it. I haven't tried the Pinnacle 5.5 drivers; I installed 5.1 drivers and then the BTWinCap driver and this is far and away the best setup for me. The iuvcr capture program will not work on my system with the BTWinCap driver (it will with the Pinnacle 5.1 driver, however, but I discovered that I was dropping an occasional frame even though iuvcr reported no drops.) Virtualdub also works fine with the BTWinCap driver, but I find VirtualVcr uses less system resources and works really slick.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Hi

I am using the latest PCTV ver. 5.50 from Pinnacle I allso have Studio 8 but have not tryed yet.

Christian

Any problems with running/installing the latest drivers? Pinnacle's forums seem to have a few complaints. I'm curious as I'm intending to install XP Home Edition, so I'd rather avoid problem drivers. Ironic as I read somewhere they were supposedly WHQL certified!

[buttsy00]

j1d10t....

I am having the same problemas you are with my Pinnacle PCTV card (I am running Win98)....

Did you manage to fix the problem with your Pinnacle card saying "device is already in use by another program"???

If yes then how did you fix it? Please let me know because I have tried just about everything....

Anyone else having the same problem or have any ideas how to fix it?

[j1d10t]

I never did fix the problem, or even figure out what exactly was causing it. I shut down everything except what I needed to keep Windows running, and it still said it was in use by another program. Sorry

[VessmaN]

Hey everyone!

I have this odd problem - I currently have 5.50 drivers that came with the TV Tuner. (PINNACLE PCTV) but VirtualDub doesn't work with them ? So I had to try BtWinCap drivers... but with no sucess... I could even watch the regular channels with these drivers... and capturing with VDub is still impossible. What would you recommend ?

[j1d10t]

When I contacted Pinnacle, they said that you "really shouldn't use a third-part app" to do anything with their card. I couldn't get VirtualDub to work, so ended up going with Pinnacle Studio 8, or VirtualVCR - those are the only 2 programs I've found that work (and capture in AVI).....

[andie41]

Unless you use genuine GM parts, Mr Goodwrench will not smile on you. Take Pinnacle's advice with a grain of salt.