Capture problem with Pinnacle AV/DV Deluxe

[mpiper]

I just bought the Pinnacle AV/DV deluxe.

I have used Pinnacle's products in the past and have always been happy with the results.

Well, now I seem to be unable to capture anything with this new card. It is version 2 of the card/breakout box combo. I have installed the newest drivers and updates to all the software.

When I try to capture, I get between 2 to 8 seconds and then it freezes. I tried AMCap, which is supplied as a testing tool and it captured for a longer time, but dropped frames like crazy.

Does anyone have any experience with this card?

Thanks,
Mike

[thecoalman]

Is that the one with the Firewire on it? That's card I believe that has issues capturing via firewire. Y

You need to be more specific as to what your doing...

[mpiper]

It has a firewire port on the card, not the breakout box.

I am trying to capture analog/ vcr tapes.

So far, no improvements.

Mike

[thecoalman]

What format are you capturing too?

[mpiper]

I am a big believer in mjpeg as a capture format, since each frame is independant. Then, after filtering or editing I go for the newer formats.

he codec I am using is PICVideo. Version 2 comes with the card, but I already own version 3, so I am using version 3 (Pinnacle does not let me access the configuration, limiting me to simply a 1-100 quality scale.)

[thecoalman]

I am a big believer in mjpeg as a capture format, since each frame is independant.

That's incorrect. http://www.digitalfaq.com/capture/avivsmpeg.htm

MPEG capture requires a very fast machine or a hardware encoder. You have neither use AVI.

[mpiper]

I was referring to mJpeg, the motion vertion of jpeg compression, which is an AVI codec. Not mpeg, the "only say what changed" dvd codec.

And by the way, I thought 2.4 Ghz was fast enough for realtime mpeg encoding. Most software specifies 1.6 Ghz or faster for realtime mpeg-2 encoding. I never use realtime mpeg because the results are NEVER as good as when a quality encoder is used on an AVI.

But again, my question is if anyone knows how to get the analog portion to capture. I keep locking up at 2 to 8 seconds.

Conversly, if I cannot get this working in a day or so, What would be another similar product?
Here are my requirements:
Video and Audio captured by the same card.
AVI capture, not hardware mpeg capture.
AVI with selectable codec NOT DV codec avi.

Thanks again!!
Mike