VIA chipset & capturing

[DaveQB]

slightly off topic, but what Nelson37 mentioned, still a good read on capture interference

http://www.tv-cards.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?p=2484#2484
two posts down, poster: Narler

[Nelson37]

OK, now we are getting somewhere.

Have you tried a completely different audio source AND cable? Like a portable CD player, combined with Video Only input from your regular source? Mic input not generally recommended, but try it just to change input jack.

Is audio input being routed thru the capture card? Can you go direct to Sound card and take capture card out of the loop?

Try lowering line-in volume level, then make NO CHANGES in capture software. For instance, if you increase playback volume in MMC, you are increasing the line-in volume levels, not the output volume.

Have you monitored sound output from the sound card while capturing? Interesting that you do not hear it until file is played back. Try changing audio capture parameters (Mono, 32KHZ, etc). The video cap card may be forcing a downconversion of some sort. Is the crackle present if you demux the file and play audio only?

Are you doing any processing of the file before playback? Tried different playback software? Also, try doing a seperate sound capture, and a video only capture at the same time using different software, if possible. Total Recorder works well for this.

Can you try a different capture card? That is one other constant which should be investigated, if you could borrow one or try a new one and return it after testing.

Logical analysis - Audio cap alone is OK, problem is only when audio AND video captured at same time. Crackling not heard when monitoring thru sound card (?). So the crackle is being induced at some point AFTER audio passes sound card inputs. Only difference is (1) increased throughput due to video, and (2) video capture card is now involved. Have you tried a VERY LOW res video cap? This is to DRAMATICALLY decrease throughput, try the lowest possible video settings. If that has no effect at all, I would tend to suspect capture card. If you CAN change the crackling by lowering throughput, then IMO that would tend to indicate a board problem, assuming all other possible sources have been eliminated.

Forgot to ask. Has this problem ALWAYS been present on this configuration? Have you EVER gotten a good capture?

[thebach]

Yes sound is routed through capture card (ATI All In Wonder) but I have bypassed card and went directly to line in while capturing and it did the same thing. I have tried capturing from different sources it didn't help. I have also used another capture card, but it was an All In Wonder also, just different model. I have tried different sound capture settings. The crackle is there before doing any conversion, its in the original capture file, you can hear it on any playback software. As you can see, it looks like I'm screwed. This problem has always been there since I started to capture.

[bbb]

Can you post a small 5 second video clip with the sound crackle?

If not, have you tried transferring a small video clip to another computer to see if you can hear the crackle in the video clip on a different computer.

I would like to confirm that the crackle is indeed captured to your file and not just occuring during playback on your KT266A system.

[thebach]

I can try that but obviously since any other AVI or MPEG file plays back fine its in the capture. I really think I'm screwed and I don't mean by the homecoming queen

[bbb]

Please try playing a capture clip on another computer to confirm that the crackle has been captured to the file. Or post a small clip.

BTW, what video resolution, sound frequency, capture bitrate, and video compression codec are you using? Are you compressing the audio?

[vcdforme]

I have Via chipsets on both my
Asus and MSI motherboards, and
neither of these can capture
video/audio properly.
Both systems have aud/vid sync problems.
Just purchased an Asus with an
SIS chipset and finally things
look pretty good. I'm still in
the testing stage, but at this point I can concur that the via
chipsets are stinky.

[Coop]

Hey all....

I skimmed through most of the posts in this thread, and I'm wondering....what version of Windows were/are you running when you've experienced issues?

My last machine was running Win 98 with a Gigabyte GA-6VX7-4X mobo, 512mb PC133 RAM, Soundblaster live soundcard, and Creative Labs Geforce2MX Annihilator Pro 4X AGP video card.

I experienced alot of BSOD and crashes - but thought my problems were related to the video card rather than the sound card - changing an obscure "comp driving" setting in BIOS seemed to help the most, but I was never really able to fix it, and ended up having to do OS reinstalls a few times for the duration I owned it, one for a bios flash that totally screwed things up. Luckily I was able to flash back with no damage done.

I'm now running Win2k with an Epox 8kha+ board with VIA chipset, with the same soundblaster card, and was ran for several months with the Annihilator Pro with no video issues before upgrading to a Gainward Geforce 4 TI4200 128mb card with VIVO in November. my captures have turned out great, I feel quite lucky.

[Dr_Layne]

I have a Asus A7V266C. I also have an Audigy 2 Platinum and an AIW 8500DV. I have the same problems. Clicks in the audio when doing video captures. I've tried the PCI latency patch, updated the drivers, turned off ACPI, etc, nothing solved the problem. I've given up on this VIA and I've just ordered an A7N8X Nforce2 chipset based board. Probably should have done this in the first place.

Steve

[thebach]

There is nothing anyone is recomending that will help, I'm screwed, I'd like to take the VIA people and tie them naked to a tree and wipe boogers on them and yes I get the crackle with or without compression. The A7N8X Nforce2 board is the one I'm gonna get too unless someone has an answer. It's so obvious it's the board I can't believe I'm still screwing with this. Death to the VIA people

[Fozzee]

My original problem was just that. Crackle on playback of capture.
The Hercules Fortissimo III has solved that but at a fair cost.
The Nforce2 board will be a future upgrade for me too.
But I want to try a Athlon XP 2600+ (333FSB) in this Mobo first.

Fozzee

[DaveQB]

a vote for the EPoX here
8RDA+

200 FSB and solid as a rock!!!

most stable system i have had running,
awesome!

[Fozzee]

Hi
Just whacked the SB Live Value back in for curiosities sake.
This time the video when capturing is flickery and the audio is still a bit crackley.
With the Fortissimo III the video is spot on and the sound good although tweaking is necessary as the sound recording level isn't fixed.
Only problem is.....
I can only run PowerVCR2 without the patch.
With the patch I have no audio at all.!!!!

Toying with returning the soundcard and moving straight onto a new mobo again.
Oh decisions decisions!!!

Fozzee

[bbb]

thebach,

Download and try Total Recorder ( www.highcriteria.com ). It is a universal sound driver that will overshadow your sound card drivers for all sound purposes. Then try capturing in low resolution and playing back the file again.

I've used Total Recorder 2.0 in the past and found it very efficient. It solved my 48 kHz to 44 kHz downconversion distortion.

It's worth a shot since it's an easy download.

[DaveQB]

thebach,

Download and try Total Recorder ( www.highcriteria.com ). It is a universal sound driver that will overshadow your sound card drivers for all sound purposes. Then try capturing in low resolution and playing back the file again.

I've used Total Recorder 2.0 in the past and found it very efficient. It solved my 48 kHz to 44 kHz downconversion distortion.

It's worth a shot since it's an easy download.

does this help sync problems too ???

[Fozzee]

bbb

Can u PM me with your email address I have a 1MB clip to send you.
It's an example of the crackle I get.

Fozzee

[stryker1080]

Hi i have a VIA Technologies, Inc.VT8363 Release M805LR-6A6LME19C-00 (Slot A) mother board. Do any of u know if this board will work with aiw 7500??

[ofbarea]

I have VIA chipset board, and NOTHING I do will get rid of the sound crackling, I have tried everything ever suggested, is buying a new board the only answer? Cause if so I will buy a new board cause I'm pissed good!!!

Try removing IDE led cables (and all other leds). Some people have reported that this may help. In acouple of years ago I had this noise problem when ripping CDs. The HD was connected to a promise IDE Ultra-66 card. And the IDE LED was connected to the promise Card. The problem also happened when connected to the mobo.

[bbb]

Fozzee,

I got your clip and it was very crackly (and had lots of bass). My distortions were never so prevalent in my captures prior to my buying a new sound card.

Your new sound card did fix your capture distortions for good, right?

------------

thebach,

Did you try Total Recorder yet? After installing Total Recorder. Make sure Total Recorder is your "Sound playback Default device" and is your "Sound recording Default device" by checking the "Sound and Audio Devices" control panel.

Please report the results. I have one more (big) thing for you to try.

------------

DaveQB,

I don't know if Total Recorder can fix sound sync issues. It does take over your sound recording device. It never hurts to try because you can always uninstall it.

Some people speculate that certain sound cards use low quality internal crystals that perform inconsistently and are unable to sync sound with captured video. I don't know if this theory holds water since I haven't seen evidence regarding this theory.

Another theory proposes that if the AVI file is unsynced, especially at the later parts of your capture AVI, then, it may be due to framedrops being flagged instead of being inserted as (repeated) frames. Some encoders skip these frame drop flags resulting in shorter video. This theory seems more plausible as one cause of AVI desync as this is discussed by the programmers of capture apps who indicate the limitations of their capture apps and mentioning how they treat framedrops in their capture apps.

Your best bet is to try AVI_IO using a VFW wrapper if you use WinXP(Markus is working on what sounds like an incredible WDM upgrade). AVI_IO is the only app that consistently syncs audio due to Markus's ingenuity and hardwork. Other programmers base their capture apps soley around DirectVideo filters which aren't reliable for syncing sound.

[Fozzee]

Fozzee,

I got your clip and it was very crackly (and had lots of bass). My distortions were never so prevalent in my captures prior to my buying a new sound card.

Your new sound card did fix your capture distortions for good, right?

------------

.

Yes it did but I'd rather have found a solution and saved £50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Think I'm gonna return the card and get a new mobo.

Fozz

[bbb]

Ok Fozzee, good luck on your new mobo.

[thebach]

Ok tried total recorder and no luck, why can't we just admit this problem shouldn't be happening and it's the VIA chipsets fault? If I had any other chipset I wouldn't even be here with this problem. I don't see how there is anything left to try. DOWN WITH VIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fozzee]

OK, now we are getting somewhere.

Have you tried a completely different audio source AND cable? Like a portable CD player, combined with Video Only input from your regular source?

OH MY GOD

I'm sure I tried this before BUT......
I just captured from my satellitte TV and used my DVD player as the sound source. I put in a old CD (Whitney Houston - NO COMMENTS!!)

It is crystal clear!!!!!!

Now I have to figure out what is going on with my DIGITAL satellite tv signal.
It sounds fine during capture. But obviously something is wrong with the signal off to try a booster.

BTW this is with my Soundblaster live in the machine!!

I'm sure I tried this earlier!!

Maybe I used a crappy CD??

Oh well here goes........


Fozzee

[Fozzee]

Hi
Well I chucked a booster on the system NO DIFFERENT!!

I can only ASSUME my cable satelitte has a weak signal or there's interference.

I was capturing audio fine in my old system with the same cables.

Any ideas?????

Fozzee

[bbb]

thebach,

Hold on. Here it is. Just for you. It's the thebach comprehensive troubleshooting guide.

Preparation Advice: It pays to have an extra large bag of your favorite dry non-sugary snack (pretzels, crackers, son's spare Aderall) and a radio or a TV in the room while you troubleshoot away. This will help pass time (during formatting and OS installations) and mellow out one's tensions so one can work the night away.

Let's Go! Before troubleshooting, I would start with a clean OS with bare drivers installed (video card drivers, sound card drivers, capture drivers, network drivers and Windows Update). Don't use VIA Drivers just yet. XP doesn't really need VIA drivers. Use default OS settings. Don't manually assign IRQs, change Latency Settings, or use Latency Patches, etc.

*Also, have the original audio and VIA drivers & the newest audio, video, network, and VIA drivers handy in a folder or in a CDR.


Test The Following in Order (do not deviate or skip a step):

1. AV Cables: AV cables and stereo cables not firmly inserted.
Test: Make sure AV cables and stereo cables are fully plugged in and don't slide out.
-> Capture video and check playback.

2. Speakers: Speakers may be damaged or poorly shielded.
Test: Try headphones. Or play back capture files on a different computer with different speakers.

3. AV Source: VCR giving off excessively high audio out or distorted audio.
Test: Try capping from another VCR or DVD Player.
-> Capture video and check playback.

4. Sound Card Drivers: Sound Card Drivers corrupt.
Test: Delete sound card from Device Manager. Install newest sound card drivers.
-> Capture video and check playback.

5. Sound Card: Sound card may be defective or damaged.
Test: Change sound cards. Try onboard audio (use original drivers then try newest ones).
-> Capture video and check playback.

6. PCI Video Card: PCI Video Card hogging PCI bandwidth and distorting audio capture or playback.
Test: Try an AGP video card.
-> Capture video and check playback.

7. HD: HD speed compromised due to cabling, age defect, or slow model (e.g., 5400 rpm).
Test: Make sure IDE Controller is using DMA setting in Device Manager. Test HD thoroughput. Scan HD for errors. Make sure IDE cables are properly and firmly connected. Try a different 7200 rpm HD.
-> Capture video and check playback.

8. OS Drivers: Windows Media Player Codecs Damaged/Missing/Replaced or Registry Corrupt.
Test: Play capture file on different computer. Or Format HD & Reinstall OS.
-> Capture video and check playback.

9. Windows XP CD: OS Installer CD scratched/damaged giving faulty installation.
Test: Inspect Installer CD for damage/scratches. Use another OS Installer or different OS (e.g., Win98 CD). Remember to reinstall with the bare drivers (video, sound, capture card, and windows update only) again.
-> Capture video and check playback.

10. Via Drivers: Your KT266A maybe does require VIA Drivers in XP.
Test: Install the original VIA Drivers off your motherboard CD.
-> Capture video and check playback.If capture still yields distorted sound, install the newest VIA Hyperion Drivers.
-> Capture video and check playback.

If you still hear sound distortions, rejoice! This is not to celebrate losing one's sanity slaving through all these steps only to find out that the motherboard is defective/damaged. This is to celebrate the fact that you know with a very high degree of certainty that your motherboard is damaged and now you have peace of mind that you are justified in making a new motherboard purchase.

Now, get a RMA and demand a new motherboard. If it's out of warranty, you can use your KT266A motherboard for MPEG encoding or for general computer usage (other than capturing).

[bbb]

thebach, post your results when you are done.

[Fozzee]

No suggestions on my post then BBB???

I probably wouldn't be so fussed but my favourite capture program PowerVCR2 doesn't work with this new soundcard.

I think something in the registry is wrong.

Everything is enabled and works in other capture programs.
But for some reason PowerVCR2 is silent in audio playback and capture.
In volume properties the line-in is UNMUTED but nothing is coming out.
Just this last problem to solve and I'll be happy to keep the board.

Fozzee

[Fozzee]

Further tests reveal PowerVCR2 is muting ALL sound on my computer when I start it up.
It didn't do that with onboard sound or SB Live.
When I say muted I don't mean the boxes are ticked MUTE.
I mean there is no audio to be heard!!

Fozzee

[bbb]

Sorry I overlooked your post, Fozzee. When you told me that your new sound card fixed your distortions for good, I became more focused on thebach's unresolved sound issues.

Fozzee,

What patch do you mean? Do you mean an upgrade patch for PowerVCR2? Is the patch necessary?

Have you tried readjusting (just move it around a bit) the volume switches in PowerVCR2 and in the Volume control on the taskbar?

Are there settings in PowerVCR2 to select your sound source? Sometimes capture apps default to the "microphone" instead of the "line in." Check to make sure that the patch didn't change your sound source in PowerVCR2.

[thebach]

bbb, tried most everything you listed, was messing with using onboard sound, I can play sound files but can't capture sound, I'm on line in, drivers are loaded, why can't I record sound with onboard sound when capturing? thanks