ati.vcr file conversion to mpeg2 - finally!

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This is so simple. I picked this up from another forum. After you set up a new ATIVCR profile in MMC 7.5 do this:

1. Capture in ati.vcr format.

2. Open the ATI Library.

3. Right click on the file and choose convert to Mpeg2. It takes only a couple of minutes!

In very preliminary testing I have found that the quality of capturing in ati.vcr format and then doing this conversion is outstanding! Much better than straight real time mpeg2 captures. But my findings are preliminary. Wanted to post this first and then continue testing.

Give it a try!

[ironwood321]

The ati vcr 1 and 2 codecs are an old non standard version of MJpeg compression. You probally be beter using PIc motion or a hardware mjpeg card.

[cofferscuffs]

Pic Motion can be opened in Vdub too, unlike the VCR codecs

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Old codecs yes - but they seem to be optimized for the ATI hardware and I still think they are being tweaked. By using the "export to mpeg2" feature in the ATI Library my VCR2 captures convert quickly to mpeg2. There is no time consuming re-encoding involved.

I'm still playing around with it but the quality seems to be very good. If the VCR codec is in fact optimized for ATI hardware - as I assume it is - then captures in the ATI VCR format with a quick "export to mpeg2" using the ATI Library feature may provide a better real time capture as opposed to straight mpeg2 captures. Not sure because I have not had sufficient time to test.

I am curious as to why ATI still included the VCR codecs in MMC 7.5. Perhaps the codec does offer better quality than the mpeg2 codecs included. If that proves to be the case then the "export to mpeg2" feature may prove to be a nice feature for SVCD creations.

I have the Picvideo codecs installed but encoding post capture is required which can be time consuming.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: next on 2001-12-31 21:14:04 ]</font>

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<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-12-31 12:49:59, ironwood321 wrote:
The ati vcr 1 and 2 codecs are an old non standard version of MJpeg compression. You probally be beter using PIc motion or a hardware mjpeg card.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually I think they may be some sort of non standard version of mpeg codecs not mjpeg compression. The reason I mention this is because the "export to mpeg2" feature does not re-encode the VCR captures. It may just be an offset or header non standard issue. Not sure at the moment though but i'll find out.