Can't find automated capture solution for ATI AIW 128...

[brianafischer]

I have scoured the net left and right. I have searched these boards for two hours now. I can't seem to find a solution for my setup. I have an ATI All-In-Wonder 128 (BT829 Chipset) and I would like to automatically capture my favorite tv shows. This requires the capture program to control the tv channel. However, I cannot seem to find a program that has the ability to do that on the AIW 128. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks,
Brian:devil:

[prot0vision]

... other than the built-in software? (MMC)

It does a pretty good job. Leaves a small scheduler program running all the time, to start recordings at the right time.

I've heard mixed things about other capture software and the AIW128, due to its WDM drivers. Some people can use virtualdub or AVI_IO to record shows, but have problems with the video being limited to 320x200. Not sure if this is the case for everyone, but I know I (and others) can't capture bigger than 320x200 in AVI format.

prot0vision

[brianafischer]

Well....you can't use Huffy for capturing with MMC. It has a maximum file size limitation (4GB), and there are no advanced options. I am limited to 320 x 240 on my caps and the AVI doesn't look perfect in Vdub so I am seeking for another solution that can schedule tv recordings.

Thanks,
Brian

[Ookami]

>I have an ATI All-In-Wonder 128 (BT829 Chipset) and I would like to automatically capture my favorite tv shows. This requires the capture program to control the tv channel

The modification of VD on http://www.virtualdub.net/ supports channel change and timed captures. So it's almost like an real VCR...

The channel change is only supported for BT (now Conexant (sp?)) chipsets.

Cheers,

Ookie.

[brianafischer]

Are you SURE that ATI AIW 128 can be controlled by this program?

Quoted from the ReadMeTuner.txt:

Sorry, WDM driver or NT/W2k/XP dont support at this time the tuner feature.

You can use any generic BT8x8 card and Windows 9x/ME VfW driver.

Other tested cards are:
Pinnacle PCTV pro (only cards without FM-Radio)
Avermedia TVcard
TerraTec TVvalue
and the most other BT8x8 capture cards (please tell me if you found one)

I have tested vdubvcr with my current drivers, I believe they are WDM...maybe I need the VfW wrapper? BTW my chipset is a BT829, NOT a BT828.

Thanks,
Brian

[Ookami]

>Are you SURE that ATI AIW 128 can be controlled by this program?

Nope.

I don't have a BT card, so I can't help you :( .

I thought that this modification supports all BT cards, my mistake. :(

Sorry. Thank you for clarifiying this. Did you tried the wrapper?

Hope that some user with the same card as you have will help you.

Cheers,

Ookie.

[brianafischer]

I just installed the wrapper, rebooted and it doesn't show up in the vdub preferences. I assume this means that my drivers are somehow not compatible with the wrapper. However, by installing the wrapper it still will not allow me to schedule channel changes. I haven't really found any resources on the web regarding this issue...

-Brian

[mdk]

I've been capturing with HuffYUV at 640x480 on my AIW 128 for quite awhile now, it takes 500 meg/minute. I even recorded a 1 hour / 60 gig movie in standard AVI. I think your 4 gig limit is due to FAT32, not MMC.

Which OS, ATI Driver and MMC version are you using?

ATI also comes with some sort of TV Guide software (GuideStar?) that appears as a new button in the TV controls. You get the listings via the internet, and can see a typical grid of what's coming on. You click a button to record any show at any time (it just prompts for the file name). Real nice and easy.

[brianafischer]

Windows 2000 SP1
ATI MMC
5.0.143.0
Installer File: w2k_r128_635cd21.exe

I don't want to upgrade or touch the drivers because it's always a nightmare to upgrade them.

[mdk]

Wow, kinda old stuff, not even Win2K SP2? I had my AIW 128 on a dual boot Win98/Win2k SP2 (PIII-600) running version 6.3 and 7.1 respectively. I do know that several things have changed in the recent versions (including a VCD preset, not a VCD Custom Setting). It is now in my Win2K SP2 (XP-1800+) still with version 7.1

I had alot of issues with audio in version 7.0, but 7.1 seems very stable and actually a bit better in quality. If you don't want to upgrade, I'm not sure how much I can help. They have even higher version numbers about there for Windows XP.

If you want to try it, I can look up my exact install files/versions and let you know what works for me...

[brianafischer]

Well...I seem to hold a grudge at ATI and their software so I was really looking for a solution other than the ATI MMC. My entire reason for this post was to find a non-ATI capping program.

Thanks,
Brian

[cofferscuffs]

I have the same problem as you (shitty WDM drivers... etc). All I can suggest is you do what I do, dual-boot WinXP/2k and Win98 and on the Win98 setup install the last set of drivers which supported VFW (I think its wmew98r1284126292.exe...) and the old MMC, then you get the joys of VDub actually working.

Now if you want automated capture solution, try IuVCR (http://www.iulabs.com/index.shtml?iuvcr/about) it's quite like Vdub underneeth but clearer interface... which supports VFW codecs too!

[Rauli]

If you want to use vdub in w2k you have to have the wrapper installed. As I understand w2k does not support vfw at all. For w98 finding ATI's drivers with vfw support is a pain in the but, since they don't support it any more, and you also have to have a correct version of the MMC installed also.

If you have the wrapper working in w2k you should be able to use any vfw supported captureprograms at least vdub and avi_io.

You can get vdub to work in w2k by following the advise in vdub's page which I quote here:

"First, install DirectX 8.0a, the DirectX 8 DV update, and Windows 2000 Service Pack 2. SP2 is mandatory, because it includes a file that you may not have. Once you have it installed, check for a file called \WINNT\ServicePackFiles\i386\vfwwdm32.dll. Copy it to \WINNT\System32\vfwwdm32.dll, if a file by that name doesn't already exist there.
Next, open up Registry Editor (regedit.exe), and drill down to:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\msvideo
Create a key called MSVideo.VFWWDM, and in it, create the following entries:


Name Type Data

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

Description REG_SZ Microsoft WDM Image Capture (Win32)
Driver REG_SZ vfwwdm32.dll

The Microsoft VFWWDM wrapper should now appear as a usable capture device in VFW-based capture programs. Another method is to try the following strings in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion:

Name Type Data

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

drivers.desc\vfwwdm32.dll REG_SZ Microsoft WDM Image Capture (Win32)
Drivers32\msvideo REG_SZ vfwwdm32.dll

If msvideo already exists, use msvideo1, msvideo2, etc. With this method you will most likely get two video capture entries, one that works and one that doesn't. If this occurs, check to see if the MSVideo.VFWWDM key has been created; if it has, back out the second patch and apply the first.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.virtualdub.org/docs_vfwwdm © 2000-2002 Avery Lee <phaeron at virtualdub dot org> "

[_Vengeance_]

I have an ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon.
OS: WinMe
Driver wrapper installed.

I use virtualdub for everything.
I even use the www.virtualdub.net version-with-timer to get my saturday morning toons.
Once I installed the wrapper, everything was fine.

I think one trick is to NEVER install MMC :)

[Eagle117]

I would try PowerVCR if you can find a trial version. I'm using it with a Pinnacle, an IO/Magic, and a WinTV. They just released a new patch a few days ago and they claim that it fixes a "No video input" problem with AIW cards. Might give it a shot.

[cofferscuffs]

NEVER go to www.virtualdub.net...

why?

They constantly violate the GPL, I won't touch their stuff because they don't simply care about it. I've emailed Avery Lee before and he said he would look into www.virtualdub.net... 3 months later I email (sucessfully) www.virtualdub.net informing them, and all I get as a response is "I dont want your fucking comments". A fat lot of use the GPL is...

[Sulik]

Make sure you're using MMC 7.6, it has lots of improvements over older 7.x version.

[_Vengeance_]

IMNSHO Politics is a stupid reason to avoid a solution to a problem.

Of course if Avery would just put the timer in HIS vdub the problem would be solved . . .

[prom3theus]

First let me say this 5 day registering stuff for REPLY is CRAP!

First I loved virtualdub for a long time but I always had problems getting video capture to work well in it. I decided to lay out the $25 for AVI_IO, although I'm not sure I'd do it now, due to the fact that it's probably out of development permanently and will probably not support directshow at all. I like AVI_IO because it allows multi-file, multi-disc capture, and uses a lot of buffering. Either I can't capture at the bitrate at all, or I capture video only with 0 frame drops. My audio card is slightly off so I drop 1 frame per minute due to that. AVI_IO also lets you define a custom frame size if you want.

The ATI MMC is crap, totally crap. Like most people making video programs these days, ATI tried to give a lot of functions without specializing any of them, which generally means a crap application if you really want to do something with it. It was designed for FAT drive systems, and therefore the lack of a multi-file capture is just unbelievably stupid. The VCR2 codec could be great but at the slightest motion it inserts fatal artifacts into the video which even the MMC editor can't handle. It's really only good for watching dvd/television full screen.

I use a program called Automate to keep my computer from idling while the vfw is open (I have all powersaving off in bios and windows but in win98 it seems like it idles on it's own and vfw locks the machine). I then have it start a capture session and wait 5 seconds for files to allocate, then it starts the capture. Then I have a stop timer and a restart trigger in case it buffers out during the capture (basically a permanent start trigger actioned off the buffer error message).


I also use a priority changer app to set my priority to high for capturing.

[mrgone]

i do can capture files bigger than 4gb on win xp

[cofferscuffs]

Originally posted by prom3theus
First let me say this 5 day registering stuff for REPLY is CRAP!
wow.

The ATI MMC is crap, totally crap. Like most people making video programs these days, ATI tried to give a lot of functions without specializing any of them, which generally means a crap application if you really want to do something with it. It was designed for FAT drive systems, and therefore the lack of a multi-file capture is just unbelievably stupid. The VCR2 codec could be great but at the slightest motion it inserts fatal artifacts into the video which even the MMC editor can't handle. It's really only good for watching dvd/television full screen.
The lack of multi-file capture!! You obviously havent installed MMC 7.6 then :P Even on my AIW 128 16mb it works nicely. And the MMC can be brilliant if you tweak it *cough* Stinky's MMC Reg Tool *cough* then make a custom setup for capture as I do admit, ATI's codecs are worthless.

[_Vengeance_]

Originally posted by prom3theus
I like AVI_IO because it allows multi-file, multi-disc capture, and uses a lot of buffering.
[/B]

Virtualdub does multifile multidisc capture, and lets you define custom buffer size (I copied AVI_IO's buffer settings to virtualdub and got much better results)


Originally posted by prom3theus
The ATI MMC is crap, totally crap. Like most people making video programs these days, ATI tried to give a lot of functions without specializing any of them, which generally means a crap application if you really want to do something with it.
[/B]

Agreed. I refuse to even install it because it messes up the drivers too much. After 10 or so OS installs in many years since MMC first came out (1995 or so), I have completely given up on ATIs product.


(As an aside, does anyone know a good TV viewer I can use to view tv full screen? VFW is fine since I have the driverwrapper installed.)


Originally posted by prom3theus
The VCR2 codec could be great but at the slightest motion it inserts fatal artifacts into the video which even the MMC editor can't handle.
It's really only good for watching dvd/television full screen.
[/B]

Agreed. Also, no one can view your videos. Capture using virtualdub into HuffYUV codec and recompress into divx using xvid. Much better.