ATI Video input issues

boinkle

Junior Member
Jan 26, 2006
2
0
0
Hi,

I'm having issues with this thing. Which is annoying, because the one time it *almost* worked, it showed itself to be perfect for my needs.

Basically, the WDM video input driver isn't working as it should. After having Cat 6.1, and no luck I installed (over the top) the ATI multimedia console. This yielded 'almost' success in Windows Media Encoder, which I identified as a region issue [b&w, scanlines, etc]. Upon entering the region setting, I selected PAL/I, the picture corrected itself behind the region select panel. Great!
I hit OK, WM Encoder crashes (and burns, forces a reset), and I can't replicate this semi-success, at all, in any app.

Before the removal/reinstall, the WDM driver page used to go nuts flicking between detecting 80/576 lines in NTSC/M mode. Upon selecting Pal/I it'd settle on 640, then crash.

VLC 0.8.4 also hard-crashes when trying to read from this device, so it's not limited to WM Encoder. The ATI Multimedia console tells me there's an issue with the driver, too.

I have tried both Cat 6.1 and 6.2, with and without the Multimedia console stuff. The main issue is, with ATI's stupid download centre, I don't even know which drivers I'm *supposed* to use. Do I need the AIW set (and all 6 separate downloads that entails), or should the vanilla catalyst support VIVO? Documentation on this is woefully inadequate.

Thanks. i'm not exactly new here, I just don't often have reason to post ;)
 

Bull Dog

Golden Member
Aug 29, 2005
1,985
1
81
Welcome to AnandTech

Try using a different program than the crummy Wincrap movie editor. Like say the Intervideo WinDVD editor or the Intervideo WinDVR. Those programs have thier own set of quirks but they are worth a shot. (Free Trial availible
 

boinkle

Junior Member
Jan 26, 2006
2
0
0
Originally posted by: Bull Dog
Welcome to AnandTech

Try using a different program than the crummy Wincrap movie editor. Like say the Intervideo WinDVD editor or the Intervideo WinDVR. Those programs have thier own set of quirks but they are worth a shot. (Free Trial availible
Thanks :)

The thing is, I'm quite sure this is a driver level issue. I've also tried capturing (as above) with VLC, as that was my first choice anyway. I've managed to replicate the weird behaviour though; removal/reinstall + rollback to an older MVS [macrovision] component. Same result though, it works the once [640 lines detected upon selection of Pal/I], hit OK, crash, no signal detected afterward, even after a reset.

I'll give another app a go, but won't they just be plugging into the same Directshow component?

For my next trick: the horribly outdated drivers which came on the install CD :/

[Update]

OK, so I've just reinstalled Cat 6.2. VLC wouldn't find a signal, I started up WM Encoder, it found the signal but was in NTSC mode and thus screwed.

So, [cunningly] I minimise WM Encoder whilst it's playing. Go back to VLC, open the property page for the capture device, behold it's found the signal. I select PAL, hit OK, set it to start encoding, VLC crashes. Return to the minimised WM Encoder, it's now in PAL/I mode & showing a clear picture! I have no doubts, however, that this will royally **** itself back up as soon as I close the app.

This *can't* be an isolated incident! It's too convoluted. Has anyone else even used the VIVO functionality on their X800?