cannot view capture while in progress in virtualvcr

[jaybird]

I just finished configuring "VirtualVCR" and completing my first long capture.

Perfect @ 720 X 480, not a single dropped frame in over an hour and no "dirt"!!

I am using a WinTV GO! card with the latest WDM drivers from Haupp., WIN2000 Pro, a custom built dual PIII 1.26 Ghz machine with 512 meg PC133 SDRAM, a SBLive Platinum 5.1 sound card, a 20 gig 7200 rpm IDE drive for the OS's(dual-boot w/WIN98SE) and a 60 gig 7200 rpm IDE drive for the video.

VirtualVCR is working perfectly, however, I cannot figure out how to "view" the capture while in progress(I have a 19" TV hooked up to the VCR but I sure would like to be able to see the actual "capture" while in progress).

Funny thing, @ 320 X 240, before and during the capture I can view material just fine.

Any ideas as what I am missing?

Regards,

jaybird

[iantri]

Brooktree based cards can not preview (in overlay mode) video at the same time as capturing at full 480 line resolution. This is because of hardware limitations; it does the simultaneous preview/capture at 240 lines by showing one field and recording the other.

If you can turn overlay off, you can see it, however this causes a great deal of CPU usage which could cause dropped frames.

[sacajaweeda]

[johns0]

Pictures paint a thousand words.

[iantri]

Oops. Forgot about that. Does it put an increased load on the CPU, out of curiosity?

[sacajaweeda]

I don't know for sure, but I would think it would. I've got a strong enough PC though that it really isn't an issue for me. I preview and do lots of other stuff when doing a full D1 cap and I don't drop many if any frames at all.

[jaybird]

What about the "new" Conexant (I understand that they bought out Brooktree?) based cards that I see on ebay?

Is this still the same old Brooktree chip or have they changed it?

Does it really matter if I can "see" the actual capture or not?

Maybe the TV gives me a better "feel" for what I am actually going to "see" as far as the finished product (size wise?) is concerned?

Almost all of what I do is going to be converted and burned to DVD and played back on standard NTSC-TV's here in the USA.

As you can see, I am some what of a "newbie" at this but I have been working around computers, building custom PC's and training people for many years.

I have found this site to be absolutely invaluable and the people very helpfull, thanks to all for your input and help !

Regards,

jaybird

[jaybird]

Almost forgot, I am using YUY2 and PIC MJPEG (@ 720 X 480) compressor during capture, Tmpgenc PLUS! to convert to mpeg2, MoveXone and/or Premiere 6.5 for editing and DVD IT! SE to "Author" and burn, or, if VCD or SVCD is required, I use "NERO" to produce video CD's.

Any comments would be welcome as I am very new to all of this .

Again, regards,

jaybird

[sacajaweeda]

What about the "new" Conexant (I understand that they bought out Brooktree?) based cards that I see on ebay?

Is this still the same old Brooktree chip or have they changed it?

I don't know much about it but I do know that they use a BT8xx chipset that does work with the BTwincap WDM drivers, and that some of the newer ones (Conexant CX2388x) don't.

Does it really matter if I can "see" the actual capture or not?

Maybe the TV gives me a better "feel" for what I am actually going to "see" as far as the finished product (size wise?) is concerned?

You don't actually need to have the preview running in order to capture video if that's what you're asking. It will record either way, but the preview may be too much for a weaker system and you could drop frames, etc.

[SatStorm]

Your CPU is not the best for realtime preview of your captures.

Use Smart Tee Filter as sacajaweeda suggested and see in practice if your computer can handle it...