mpeg1 & 2 encoder card recommendation.

[geniv]

wow awesome site with tons of info and so much knowledgable people. hoping I can get some assistance

I'm looking for a good hardware Mpeg1 & Mpeg2 encoder card.
(captureing to, VCD,SVCD,DVD format directly wiithout any bull of converting etc... ) I'll be mainly recording VCD files

can anyone recommend a good card for that.
I got a budget of up to $300.

as far as I really know I got 3 options right now the
1- WinTV PVR
2- Dazzle DVC II
3- Navis Pro

WinTV PVR
-looks like it pack some good features, TV, remote, but from reading the review the capture is bad

Dazzle DVC II
- use to have this thing but when I had it it would crash after recording over 1 hour. also I get lip/sound sync problem with the video recording over 30 minutes (that alone pissed me off so much I sold the unit). Now I read here on the review that the crash is fixed and that half of the people say they don't have lip sync problems on their system. since I'll be putting the card on a different machine maybe it will clear the sync problem... anyone that have this can u verify to me that recording vcd after 1hours does not have lip sync problem?

NAVIS PRO
- can't find any review of this thing anywhere (links anyone?) got no idea on quality of hardware or quality of encoding. anyone have this or know if this is any good? what bothers me that it they recommmend a PIII 500mhz system.. so I'm worried that it's not "really" hardware based encoding to require such a fast system

link to product:
http://www.pentamedia.com/english/products/navispro.htm

any help is appreciated thanks in advance

[geniv]

ohh yeah forgot.

if anyone have or knows. the three cards I mentioned.
are they compatiable with Windows Media Encoder and most importantly VirtualDub in capturing directly to divix or WMV?

[JHebert]

Here is another option, the PV256 from ProVideo which is an MPEG2 and MPEG1 realtime capture card. The web site is http://www.provideo.com.tw and you can buy it direct from them for about $160 plus shipping. It captures directly into VCD, SVCD, and DVD compliant MPEG files. Here is a thread about it http://www.vcdhelp.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=62553&forum=2 .
On the other hand, if you want to capture directly into WMV or DivX or other AVI file, I would just get a generic BT878 type of card and save your money. The hardware MPEG cards often cannot capture AVI or other formats, and the MPEG hardware does not accelerate AVI, DivX or WMV capture. But, they are good for VCD/SVCD/DVD and save a lot of time compared to first capturing AVI and then software encoding to MPEG in TMPEG.

[geniv]

the PV256 looks like a good card. I"m interestd but want to know alittle bit more about it before slaping down my $$.

here's a few questions remain unanswered.

1- MOST important. for anyone that has the PV256 are there any video/audio sync problems with it? (some don't show/noticable until line in after 1 hour of video)

2- how is the captured vcd/dvd image quality of the PV256 as compared to DVC2 or WinTV Pvr?

3- can I use it to capture from 3party app like Virtual Dub or Windows media encoder?

4- why is the system requirement so high for this (and other MPeg2 encoder)? 500mhz/128meg ram. I thought the encoding is hardware? how is the mpeg2 encoding in a lower sytstem? I got a PIII450

5- geezz can't seem to find a link to a place that sells it..


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: geniv on 2001-10-21 01:30:52 ]</font>

[norm]

Here are my answers to your questions
1) Any capture card with the exception of a couple can have A/V sync problems as the Audio is encoded in Software not hardware and is multiplexed on the fly. So if your CPU is not fast enough or your PCI bus gets held up for whatever reason the there is a chance of sync problems. However the PV256 does a good job in this regard.
2)The DVD capture quality of the PV256 is as good as a DVC2 can't comment on the WinTVPVR. The PV256 produces a crisper capture in VCD than the DVC2
3) No
4) For the reason given in question 1
5) depends where you live

[Mdanner423]

Hey!

I have both the DAZZLE II and the WinTV PVR

If you have an athlon, you should prolly go for the PVR.

The quality for SVCD with the PVR is excellent, pretty much perfect on a normal sized tv...

If you want to play them on a large tv, go with the dazzle the blockiness is drasticlly removed... At 2000 there are blocks during high action scenes on my dvd player, at 4000 no blocks AT ALL! It is so sweet! That is on my 61 inch, on a normal tv, it is perfect at 2000

The editing software with the dazzle is the best i have ever used... With all other software i used it takes over 5 hours to export and the audio would usually be out of sync!

With the dazzle, perfect edit, no quality degrading, becuase it doesnt reencode... If you want to use title and transitions it will take longer... I edit voyager, so i dont use anything fancy... It takes less then 3 minutes to export! Which is amazing, fram acurate, plus they burn easily, i use vcd imager and fire burner, and there you go, the perfect SVCD

Dazzle is amazing quality and for 250 its great... If you want the PVR, mine is for sale for 140 bucks plus shipping!

[vlk3]

DAZZLE MPEG-2 card is piece of CRAP (sold in Europe as FAST DVD MASTER). SVCD from this card is blocky, but sharp picture. TMPEG output is much better

Dont forget to mention the controlling proggie - it is made for lamers, totally crazy and unfriendly interface. No one other app can use this card of course, therefore you must use this lame app. All these cheap cards have C-Cube DVexpress codec onboard and produce very low quality picture. All under 6000 kb/s is worst that any software MPG enoders. Yes, TMPEG or CCE produces FAR BETTER quality MPG.

My reccomend: DONT BUY ANY OF THEM, get yourself any DV board with analog capture option (pinnacle DV500+ for example) and TMPEG or CCE

on these MPEG-2 cards I also dislike
1. NO CROP of picture (you have these stupid bottom lines from VHS on output)
2. no digital input
3. cannot be used for MPEG encoding (as HW MPEG encoders) from file source

[geniv]

as for the buying the PV256 I"m in the USA. the system for the card will be PIII 450mhz, 192 ram, super Micro BX motherbo.

I just downloaded a sample video for the WinTV PVR and the DVC2. and the VCD capture quality in the WinTV is pretty aweful. the DVC2 has good quality VCD encoding even with lot of motion in the video.

yeah the capture program for the DVC2 is kind of lamej/suck. I use to have A/V sync problem with it. awhile ago I went to some review site and even the reviewer said something about the sync problem. A solution was also offered of recording video & audio separately then using another program to f*ck with it then use TEmgEnc to make the final file, but that just ruined the idea of "real time encoding"

Interestingly Dazzle use to have a message board link on their site for their product support and one of the most common post/complaint people have is with a/v sync problems of the DVC2. soon after Dazzle remove the link to the message board. Asside from the message board when I had the card I email Dazzle several time about the problem and not a single reply.

now that I recall all this problem screw Dazzle and the DVC2!

the reason I first got the DVC2 was I also have (and still have/use) the original SNAZZI PCI Mpeg1 encoder. works like a charm, NEVER had a single a/v sync problem. software kind of lame looking but works well. vcd encode is pretty decent but not as good as software encoding. overall great card so I figure the DVC2 is gonna be all that plus DVD/MPEG2 but... I was wrong



I have yet to see a sample of the PV256 vcd/capture quality.
but for now that seems like the choice for me. where can I get it?

[SHS]

Hi geviv yes the WinTV-PVR you can use Windows Media Encoder 4.1 but not Windows Media Encoder v7.1 at this time and yes VirtualDub works and Windows Movie Maker as well and yes to any softcodec.
As for Navis Pro there most like lee talk about MPEG playback, If it is a ture Hardware Encode sould be able record on a low end system way down to P200MHz.
As for Dazzle DVC II vs WinTV-PVR they both have there up down.
I'am not sure what WinTV-PVR sample video you saw but VCD capture quality on WinTV-PVR is good (I'am NTSC user) but not so hot for some Pal user.
Anyway here a real WinTV-PVR VideoCD sample video clip.
http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/pvrpci/_dvcr026.mpg
My web site not up and run so you can'y see my sample video clip sorry.
Oh there min more Hardware Capture like over 10+ diff but one major big problem you have oder from the Manufacturer it self on lot of capture card.
Good Luck.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: SHS on 2001-10-21 22:17:31 ]</font>

[norm]

VLK3 - Since when does a DVC2 ( fast DVD master ) use a DVxpress chip. Try a DVxplore chip.
If you have DVD master with a DVxpress chip in it I buy it off you.
Your other dislikes:-
1) The head switching lines at the bottom of the picture can be cropped by selecting the VCR input option in the DVC2 software or any other decent Mpeg capture card software
2) No digital input - You get what you pay for.
3) Do you mean "transcoding a file" If so tell us what capture cards transcode besides c-cubes Dvxplore and DVxpress ( DV - Mpeg2 in real time ).

Mdanner423 - I agree with you completely

[Jinxer007]

Hi All
Well I seems to be the only one with a Navis Pro here, I know they have only been selling them for just under a month. It is good card, Very each to uses, This card Records from a PAL or NTSC format Via a S-Video or composite port for Video and an Analog Stereo Port for sound, the card then encodes this Live feed into a Preset Mpeg format of your choice ( VCD, S-VCD, or Mpeg 1 / 2 from 2 to 12 Mbps). With this Recorded file there are many options you then have.You can now play back all recorded files Via the S-Video /composite port output i.e. to a TV, VCR, or burn the S-VCD / VCD to a CD-R /DVD-R. If the files are recorded in Mpeg2 in either 4, 6 or 8 Mbps you can then move these files over to there Element Stream Tool which splits the sound (.MPA) and Video (.MPV). Now the File is split you can move them to DVD Junior (the DVD Authoring Software supplied with the product). In DVD Junior this will take the 2 files and make them into a .VOB file for you then play with. Take a look at http://www.pentamedia.com,
Regards
David

[geniv]

actually I just ordered the PV256. seems like I got a GREAT DEAL.

PV256T capture card with TV tuner, Remote Control and Video STudio software (not that I really care for VS). for $170 and $35 shipping. gRand total $205 not bad considering 6 months ago I got the DVCII for $269 and it only does captureing.

Now I can replace my WinTV, HollyWood PLus and SNAZZI with a single board. (assumming the PV256 is able to do what it claims to do properly)

I may be an idiot for saying or thinking this. but when I was looking at pictures ofthe Navis Pro and other mpeg1/mpeg2 capture boards it looks like the Navis Pro have very little chips in the silicon. with my twisted logic I keep thinking it's not as good or can't do as much...

hey Jinxer007 can you post a 15 second VCD capture clip somewhere so other people can compare it's vcd capture quality?

[spiderman2k1]

I think you should get the dazzle 2 there also a time for dazzle 2 so when your not home it will record your shows for you. Also If your going to tape off of cable I would frist get a SVHS VCR that has noise reduction then copy the SVHS to VCD or SVCD. You no when you have those funny line's in your picture from cable you do not want to copy these to your VCD. Go here http://www.crazyg.com/ get the JVC with 4 megs of noise reduction if your doing statellite you do not need a nice VCR or if your not home the vcr can change your channels for you then you can record them back to SVCD or VCD but only use SVHS

[Anonymous65]

If you're interested in VCD only, then you can get the PV-231 card for $100. It makes the best VCD captures I have seen, and I have also tried Dazzle DVC, DVC2, and WinTV PVR. For both VCD and SVCD, then I would go with the PV-256 card.

[Jinxer007]

Ok geniv I will do that, but where do you want the 15 Sec Clip. Is there anyware on this site I could put it ??? I guess i could get round to making my web site, and put it on there for u to see, may take a few days (and a upset wife). I will let you know.

[geniv]

you can email it to me at
jayfarris@aol.com

and ill put it on my host server.

I perfer you do it directly but for some reason it won't allow anomyous ftp user now