New to ATI/video capture....need help!

[Buz2b]

Ok, I loaded the software as to spec but now I want to know what happens next.

 

[rbV5]

Pretty vague, what kind of help do you need? (maybe specify the ATI card you installed, software..ect)

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: rbV5
Pretty vague, what kind of help do you need? (maybe specify the ATI card you installed, software..ect)

Sorry, I was in a hurry earlier. Ok, it's an ATI PCI video capture card w/tuner. Specifically it is the ATI TV Wonder Pro. I downloaded and installed the newest software from them. The TV tuner part works just fine but when trying to record/capture video and play it back, we get garbage. Clicking on the Record button does indeed seem to work. A file is created in the folder specified. However, when trying to play it back we get no picture; just jumbled pixels. If I remember correctly there is sound, just no picture. This is using the software player that is included with the card. I haven't tried viewing the files in something different like Media player.

 

[rbV5]

Perhaps you don't have a (proper)decoder for the format you are recording to? For MPEG formats, it uses the decoder you have installed for playback. If its MPEG2 or ATI's VCR formats, it will use the DVD decoder you have installed for playback(ATI DVD, PowerDVD, WinDVD,NV DVD decoder,Dscaler5 ect. For MPEG4, it will use the MPEG4 decoder you have installed (ffdshow,Divx, Xvid) ect.

What format are you using to record to? Does it do the same thing playing back the same files in WMP?

 

[Buz2b]

Thanks for the reply. I don't have the computer in front of me (I installed this for a friend on his system) but I don't recall choosing a playback option or player. Perhaps that came during the install and I missed it but not sure. As for the player, I'm just trying to use the one that is included with the software. I would have thought using the default player would not be problematic. Clicking on "Player" in the software browses to the folder that the captured video is residing in. Double clicking on the video file starts up a screen but there's only garbage on it. I can create additional files by clicking to record again but the same thing happens when trying to play the files.

 

[rbV5]

I would have thought using the default player would not be problematic

It "shouldn't be" problematic, however, PC video and multimedia depends on a number of factors to be correct in order to function properly. ATI's MMC can record video in a number of formats, including formats other than ATI's and everything has to be configured properly.

To troubleshoot the issue you'll have to be specific as to the format(s) you are trying to record to and the codecs and software you have installed.

 

[Buz2b]

All the drivers I installed were on this page. . I first installed Directx9 and the Windows Media encoder ATI?s site recommends. Then I installed the DAO/MCAC (mmc-9-1-0-0dao-mdac), the tv wonder pro wdm and the mmc-9-06-1 . All in that order as they recommended. As to what format it is recording in, I'm not sure. I'll have to go over and check it out tomorrow and see if I can make any sense of it. I'm also going to try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers to see if there is something I missed.

 

[rbV5]

You'll still need additional MPEG2/4 decoders to playback ATI VCR, MPEG2 or MPEG4 format files.

For MPEG4, you might want to use something like ffdshow (divx, xvid are others) and for MPEG2, installing a DVD software player like PowerDVD or WinDVD or decoders like NV DVD decoders, or even something like dscaler5 should do the trick.

For TV Wonder cards (and most other TV tuner cards) you don't get ATI's DVD player (or other DVD player software)for MPEG2 playback, which sucks, but is the standard..same with MPEG4...you need a codec installed first.<--from the sounds of it, this is likely your issue)

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: rbV5
You'll still need additional MPEG2/4 decoders to playback ATI VCR, MPEG2 or MPEG4 format files.

For MPEG4, you might want to use something like ffdshow (divx, xvid are others) and for MPEG2, installing a DVD software player like PowerDVD or WinDVD or decoders like NV DVD decoders, or even something like dscaler5 should do the trick.

For TV Wonder cards (and most other TV tuner cards) you don't get ATI's DVD player (or other DVD player software)for MPEG2 playback, which sucks, but is the standard..same with MPEG4...you need a codec installed first.<--from the sounds of it, this is likely your issue)

NO SH^T!! Even though the ATI software has "Player" listed on the tool bar, there's nothing loaded to actually play the file?? You could of knocked me over with a feather when I read that! I've got an older version of PowerDVD and something else. I'll install one of them on his system and see what happens. Man, that still blows me away. I'll get back to you once I try this. It could take a day or so, depending on his schedule. Thanks!

 

[rbV5]

The player will playback files if you use MPEG1, Windows media or some AVI codecs. Don't be too shocked about lack of MPEG2 support however, its industry standard.

Even a PVR equipped multimedia OS like MCE 2005 doesn't include MPEG2 codecs and you cannot playback recorded files or even watch TV without them installed. TV cards themselves don't normally include DVD player software (hence no MPEG2 support out of the box), however most graphic cards do, so I guess the idea is that you would already have the decoders.

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: rbV5
The player will playback files if you use MPEG1, Windows media or some AVI codecs. Don't be too shocked about lack of MPEG2 support however, its industry standard.

Even a PVR equipped multimedia OS like MCE 2005 doesn't include MPEG2 codecs and you cannot playback recorded files or even watch TV without them installed. TV cards themselves don't normally include DVD player software (hence no MPEG2 support out of the box), however most graphic cards do, so I guess the idea is that you would already have the decoders.

Well, I guess I get some free education, thanks to you. I guess it just makes too much sense that if you are going to capture video, you might want to play it. Duhh! What a racket! I thank you again for assisting me in this. You've really "enlightened" me on this subject. I hope this solves it. Man, I can't wait to tell the guy about this. He's a retired engineer so he's going to really get a laugh about this.