Changing resolution in Virtual VCR?

[garycahn]

I have tried to change the resolution in Virtual VCR from the default of 320 X 240 to something larger. When I try that, I get the error message "Can't set video format e-fail."

Another poster on another website suggested that I look at the tab in Virtual VCR labeled Devices-Video Capture Pin. When I go there, the largest resolution that I see is is 352 X 240. That is also the largest resolution that I see when I use Microsoft's Windows Movie Maker.

Someone suggested that this means my card isn't capable of capturing anything larger than that.

However, when I use the software that is included with my card (Zio Camera Mate) I have resolutions available to me of up to 720 X 480. So I assume that my card is capable of capturing at this resolution.

By the way, I cna't use the Zio software, because when I capture with that software I have hundreds of dropped frames.

So my questions are:

1. Is there some way to increase the capture resolution in Virtual VCR?
2. If I can't accomplish this task with Virtual VCR, is there a low cost alternative that someone can suggest?
3. If I can't capture in a higher resolution with Virtual VCR, why am I able to do so with my Zio software (albeit with dropped frames)
3. Are all cards capable of capturing at 720 X 480, or are some of them limited to lower resolutions only?

I have a P4--2.8 ghtz computer with 512 meg of memory and a 80gig 7200rpm hard drive.

Gary Cahn

[TaranScorp]

Just out of Curiosity, what chipset does your capture card have?

[garycahn]

I don't know which chipset it has. Is there a way that I can find this out?

[steveryan]

Change the colour format - settings (hammer), video, Colour Format.

[tedkunich]

I have tried to change the resolution in Virtual VCR from the default of 320 X 240 to something larger. When I try that, I get the error message "Can't set video format e-fail."

Another poster on another website suggested that I look at the tab in Virtual VCR labeled Devices-Video Capture Pin. When I go there, the largest resolution that I see is is 352 X 240. That is also the largest resolution that I see when I use Microsoft's Windows Movie Maker.

Someone suggested that this means my card isn't capable of capturing anything larger than that.

However, when I use the software that is included with my card (Zio Camera Mate) I have resolutions available to me of up to 720 X 480. So I assume that my card is capable of capturing at this resolution.

By the way, I cna't use the Zio software, because when I capture with that software I have hundreds of dropped frames.

So my questions are:

1. Is there some way to increase the capture resolution in Virtual VCR?
2. If I can't accomplish this task with Virtual VCR, is there a low cost alternative that someone can suggest?
3. If I can't capture in a higher resolution with Virtual VCR, why am I able to do so with my Zio software (albeit with dropped frames)
3. Are all cards capable of capturing at 720 X 480, or are some of them limited to lower resolutions only?

I have a P4--2.8 ghtz computer with 512 meg of memory and a 80gig 7200rpm hard drive.

Gary Cahn

Since this device is a USB capture device, you are pretty much limited as to what you can use. I assume you checked the vendor for an updated WDM driver?

As to dropping frames, are you using USB2.0 or 1.1? with 1.1 you will never be able to capture full frame without drops - there is not enough bandwidth to handle that much data.

T

[garycahn]

I also tried changing the color format box settings to all the other choices that were available, but I still got the same error message as before, when I tried to use a larger capture resolution. My error message was "Can't set video format efail."

I have USB 2.0 on my computer. However my capture device doesn't specify whether it is a 2.0 or 1.0 device.

[tedkunich]

I also tried changing the color format box settings to all the other choices that were available, but I still got the same error message as before, when I tried to use a larger capture resolution. My error message was "Can't set video format efail."

I have USB 2.0 on my computer. However my capture device doesn't specify whether it is a 2.0 or 1.0 device.

Have you updated to the latest drivers for your device?

Since your device is USB, you can try unplugging EVERY usb device in your system (hubs, mouse, keyboard, card readers, etc...) when you capture - Even though USB is supposed to have isochronous channels, if there are multiple devices either interrupting the host controller or overloading the PCI bus's bandwidth with concurrent requests, you will get sporadic dropouts and thus dropped frames.

Alternativly, get rid of the USB device and get a PCI card or an external IEE1444 (firewire) device. USB is not very good with dedicated bandwith applications - a LOT of things have to be done correctly on both ends for it work... unfortunately I don't trust the PC end of the equasion because Billy G has his grubby little fingers in it.


T