I need Help recording a Video through my AIW Card?

[Scottie]

I need help recording some video from my cam corder through my All In Wonder card I tried the software that came with the card and it only lets me copy about 30 minutes at a time I also traid Ulead and it just crashes on me every time I open it.

Is there other software I could use hopefully free, Thank you !

[cwb27]

Do you have enough hard drive space AND enough space allocated for storage?

[Scottie]

yeah I have lots of space. I think it has something to do with the program

[Aske001]

Make sure that you are selecting an appropriate compression scheme, i.e., MPEG-2 or MPEG-4. And keep in mind that file sizes are limited to something like 4 Gbytes under FAT32.

[willy]

Just curious ... I assume you don't have Firewire/IEEE1394 connections on your camcorder and your PC, right ?

[Scottie]

No it's an older Hi8 Camcorder, do you know of any other programs I can try?

[toujours]

Well, 30 minutes at a time seems fine to me. Looks like you're just going to have to sew those 30 minute chunks together afterwards.

[willy]

Have you tried Windows Movie Maker in XP ?

[Scottie]

I'm going to give Movie Maker a try right now can it record from my AIW card directly?

[Blackjack]

Here is what you need, especially for your AIW: http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/capture/index.htm

[Scottie]

ok I can get my AIW card to work fine with the ATI software but only for like 20 minutes at a time but when I try Ulead and Movie Maker it doesn't work right so I think it has to do with the drivers everytime I try to install the drivers for the card I have troubles there are a ton of drivers does any one the proper way to install the AIW drivers?

[Aske001]

The only correct way to install ATI drivers is:

1. Do a System Backup (to be safe)
2. Remove all ATI software from your system
3. Reboot into VGA mode
4. Re-install all the ATI software, beginning with the new drivers
5. Reboot
6. Repair your desktop layout and re-test all your graphics software
7. If it doesn't work out, System Restore and wait for the next driver update

Attempting to update the drivers without following this uninstall-reinstall procedure is not recommended by ATI, and invariably causes problems.

Don't expect updates to fix problems with ATI's video recording software. It's been full of unresolved bugs for years. ATI can barely keep their drivers functional, let alone the secondary application software.

[stevethewheel]

There is nothing wrong with using the ATI capture software. It is actually a really good capture program.

You need to play with the settings though....you'll find that in the "Custom" recording quality menu.

You want to capture in MPEG-2 DVD format for sure.

I set mine up to capture at 704x480, 48khz sound. Leave it on interlaced.

1 P frame, 2 B frame

Variable bit rate. max rate 9000, target 8000. Motion Estimation 100%. Sound sampling rate 256k.

Videosoap setting depends on your source, you could start with a 10 or 15% combo filter.

This works well on my P4 2.4. If you have a slower processor then drop the capture to 352x480 and the Variable Bit Rate to max 4500, target 4000. Do not drop the bit rate unless you are also dropping the capture resolution.



If your drive is FAT32 then you will be limited in file size no matter what program you use. In the ATI software you can limit the filesize to 4GB and the software will automagically end the file and start a new one without crashing. When you are done you will have to stitch the files back together.

Of course you will still need a DVD authoring package, and a burning package. Yes making DVDs out of tapes is not as simple as we would like.

Lots more info here, but confusing for the newcomer: http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/capture/atimpeg/atimpeg.htm

They do include screenshots though, and you have my settings so you can use his screenshots and my settings ;)