Capturing video with a Geforce4

[Fredrik_A]

There is some problem when I try to capture video with my Geforce4 card. When using VirtualDub there is a lot of dropped frames, for example 31 of 161, and the captured movie is slow and "skips ahead" (if you know what I mean). When I try to change the capture format the best resolution I can choose is 720x480 and not 720x576 as I want. I have also tried the 'Set custom video format' I can choose 720x576 but when I press OK I get the message "Error 418: Unsupported video format". Have I got the NTSC version of the WDM drivers? ;)

I have also tried VirtualVCR but without success. When I try to capture I get an error that says: "Can not add the File Writer Filter".

The Geforce card is from Sparkle but I downloaded WDM drivers from Leadteks website. Why doesn't nVidia have them on thier site?

I have a VHS camera and want to use a high resolutaion (720x576 25fps). My system is an AMD Athlon 1800+, 256Ram, 2 HD 7200RPM (one for win2k and one for the movies) and a clean (and optimized) installation of Windows 2000 SP3.


Any ideas what I could try next? I haven't found much information about Geforce4 cards and capturing. I have a feeling that it is something wrong with the WDM drivers...

[SunDanceKid2001]

Yes, you got the NTSC-Version of the WDM-Drivers.
I got the same Problem a Week ago.
Fix this like that:

DeInstall your Driver.

Unpack WDM-Driver manually.
Locate the "NVCAP.INF"-File.
Now, search for the Line, that says "VideoStandard,,NTSC".
Change this to PAL !

Save your changed inf-File.

Then reinstall the Drivers, but: (!!!)

You HAVE TO delete all Registry-Keys from the old
Driver !!! Do a Search and you'll find a Key which contains all of your Capture-Device-Settings.
Delete it complete !

If you dont do this, the New-Install of the Driver will take all of our old Settings, because
deinstalling the Driver will not delete those Registry-Keys...

If you did it right, you now should be able to change the Capture-Res to 704x576 for PAL, also
there will be no Frame-Drops...

Sorry bout my English ;-)

If you got Problems, or are not sure, ask...



- SunDance -

[Darksoul71]

You don´t need to reinstall drivers with the modded inf file.
Just browse your registry and search for a key with the value "NTSC". You´ll find one somewhere listed under diplay devices. Change this to PAL, reboot and you´re done.

NVidia doesn´t even offer a point to choose PAL as option what really sucks because not all country are "NTSC" (or are NVidia cards ment to be sold in US only ? :devil: )

-D$

[SunDanceKid2001]

...hmmm...

So the Reboot was the only thing i forgot...
Damn... :-(
Of course i changed this setting in the registry first...

Thanx...

BTW: There's also a "VideoOutput"-Setting in the Registry/INF-File. The default is "CCIR656".

1. What is CCIR656 ?

2. Is there a need to change this?
(perhaps to YUV422 or anything like that?)

[Fredrik_A]

"Yes, you got the NTSC-Version of the WDM-Drivers."

:eek: :eek: :eek: :cool:

I had the comment about the NTSC-version as a joke just because I recognized the 720x480 resolution as a "NTSC resolution". But I could never imagine that it could be so stupid that it acuatelly was true. To sad that nVidia doesn't seem to care about their VIVO users...

Anyway, thanks alot. Now it works fine and there are no dropped frames.

[wotef]

whilst editing the inf will set the "correct default" for your region, it's not right to say nvidia is at fault for hardcoding the default to NTSC (although, maybe you could argue they should set your default after quering windows' language and region settings?!)

the tv chip is capable of outputting to either/many regions, all supported by the driver (even commented as such in the inf file)

the issue is rather whether your WDM capture application has enough intelligence to let the user set and retain the correct setting (after determining the range of supported modes), and basically, not all of them do this

[Darksoul71]

@wotef:
whilst editing the inf will set the "correct default" for your region, it's not right to say nvidia is at fault for hardcoding the default to NTSC (although, maybe you could argue they should set your default after quering windows' language and region settings?!)

It´s not a fault to set something as default for country XYZ. It´s just ignorant !

NVidia sells cards all over the world and so their drivers should have either an option to set your countries TV standard or read the coresponding setting from registry.

I mean: Come on, this is NVidia ! One of the greatest 3d chips company out there (if not the biggest). It´s not some garage company selling 100 graphic cards per year.

This reminds me of the misery with the Voodoo 3 3500TV. It was a great card in hardware and worked very well in NTSC countries but had a pain in the a$$ drivers support for europe. Nothing worked well here.

Think of Joe Average going to a computer store and buying a GF4 for capturing. Do you think that he should set any country code be4 he´s able to capture with the correct res ?
Defenitely NOT.....

the issue is rather whether your WDM capture application has enough intelligence to let the user set and retain the correct setting (after determining the range of supported modes), and basically, not all of them do this

Jupp, and even the DS capture module of Ulead Videostudio doesn´t let you set the country code for your GF in the capture properties. :D

-D$

[wotef]

virtual vcr does, but i could never get audio to work

virtualdub does it best anyways :D

[diogo6]

can someone tell me how to capture audio along with the video using my geforce4 ti 4600. I've got a Gainward PowerPack 750XP with geforce4 ti 4600 with VIVO and TV-out

[Darksoul71]

@diogo6:

That´s quite easy:
Connect your audio source (cinch out from VCR ?) to the line input of your soundcard (usualy 3,5 mm connector). Select your line in under the recording options of the windows volume control.

There you go :)

Depending on your capturing app you might have to select line under audio options (Virtual VCR for example).

Hope this helps...

-D$

[diogo6]

which app should I use for capturing and then muxing the audio file?

[Darksoul71]

you usualy capture audio DURING capturing video.

-D$

[diogo6]

okay, I thought I was gonna get it right this time. I'm using Intervideo's Wincoder to capture (bundled software). I was able to capture video perfectly, but I just installed the SPDIF card that came with my motherboard (ASUS P4B533-E), and now the computer freezes, I'm running Windows XP SP1 P4 2.8Ghz 1GB Ram on this machine