PVR software for ATI cards that burns to DVD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter grolschie
  • Start date Start date
G

grolschie

Is there such a beast? NeroVision Express insists
on transcoding my DVD compliant files, so am
looking elsewhere for an all-in-one package. Any
recommendations? Thanks in advance.
grol
 
What version of NeroVision Express. With the latest updates, you'll see a
check box that allows you to turn on smart endoding, which does not
re-encode DVD compliant files. Works fine for video captured with my ATI
Wonder Pro.

Editing large clips with Nero is another issue entirely, unfortunately -
huge sync problems. The most recent versions Studio 9 and WinVideo do a
much better job.
 
edelbeb said:
What version of NeroVision Express. With the latest updates, you'll see a
check box that allows you to turn on smart endoding, which does not
re-encode DVD compliant files. Works fine for video captured with my ATI
Wonder Pro.

Hi. I have the latest NeroVision 3.1.0.0. I use
PowerDirector 2.55, WinPVR, ATI MMC 8.8.0.0. I
noticed that some transcode mega-fast with smart
encoding, and other are fully transcoded slow as.
What software do you use to record TV with your
Wonder Pro?

grol
 
Is there such a beast? NeroVision Express insists
on transcoding my DVD compliant files, so am
looking elsewhere for an all-in-one package. Any
recommendations? Thanks in advance.
grol

I've never liked relying on one source to capture, edit, author and
burn a DVD. From past experience, I've found at least one element in
the chain (in the all-in-one programs) is weak and does something I
neither need or want, doesn't work at all, or corrupts my video
through additional re-encoding.

You didn't say what you're trying to do, but it sounds as if you
simply want to capture DVD compliant videos through your ATI card
which you then want to burn to DVD. That's what I do and, after
several months of frustrating trial and error, I've finally gotten it
down to a rather smooth running. error-free system.

I use my ATI All-In-Wonder 9600XT to capture cable TV programs. I've
set the ATI card to capture using the "stock" DVD recording pre-set.
This produces MPEG-2, 720X480 NTSC, 800 M bit/second. Since I work for
a cable TV company, I know how to ensure I have the best, quality
signal pumped into the ATI card, a crucial factor that typically
produces no dropped frames during the capture process and as clear an
analog signal as possible.

After my video is captured, I now want to cut and trim commercial ads
from the video. What I do NOT want, however, is have this
DVD-compliant capture I've spent so much time and effort setting up
re-encoding that video any more than is necessary. For that reason I
use a very good and inexpensive product called VideoReDo to accomplish
my editing. VideoReDo only decodes and re-encodes when it has to,
usually just one or two frames at each cut point.This makes editing
very fast, but most importantly, there is no further loss in quality.
(Each time you decode and re-encode an MPEG2 video stream, you lose
some image quality as a by-product of the decoding/encoding process.)

After my video has been trimmed in VideoReDo and I now have the video
I want to burn to a DVD, I now use TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 (TDA) to
prepare menu(s) and chapter points for the video. Again, I use TDA
because it does NOT re-encode the video.

Because I typically combine videos that end up being 3-4 hours in
length, I compile my TDA authored video directly to my hard drive
where I now use a very good free product (DVD Shrink) to re-compress
and fit on one standard DVD-5 disc.

I do have Nero 6 Ultra Edition installed on my system and DVD Shrink
edoes use Nero's buring ROM to burn my final DVD. But I rarely use
Nero by itself.

HTH

f
 
I've never liked relying on one source to capture, edit, author and
burn a DVD. From past experience, I've found at least one element in
the chain (in the all-in-one programs) is weak and does something I
neither need or want, doesn't work at all, or corrupts my video
through additional re-encoding.

You didn't say what you're trying to do, but it sounds as if you
simply want to capture DVD compliant videos through your ATI card
which you then want to burn to DVD. That's what I do and, after
several months of frustrating trial and error, I've finally gotten it
down to a rather smooth running. error-free system.

I use my ATI All-In-Wonder 9600XT to capture cable TV programs. I've
set the ATI card to capture using the "stock" DVD recording pre-set.
This produces MPEG-2, 720X480 NTSC, 800 M bit/second. Since I work for
a cable TV company, I know how to ensure I have the best, quality
signal pumped into the ATI card, a crucial factor that typically
produces no dropped frames during the capture process and as clear an
analog signal as possible.

After my video is captured, I now want to cut and trim commercial ads
from the video. What I do NOT want, however, is have this
DVD-compliant capture I've spent so much time and effort setting up
re-encoding that video any more than is necessary. For that reason I
use a very good and inexpensive product called VideoReDo to accomplish
my editing. VideoReDo only decodes and re-encodes when it has to,
usually just one or two frames at each cut point.This makes editing
very fast, but most importantly, there is no further loss in quality.
(Each time you decode and re-encode an MPEG2 video stream, you lose
some image quality as a by-product of the decoding/encoding process.)

After my video has been trimmed in VideoReDo and I now have the video
I want to burn to a DVD, I now use TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 (TDA) to
prepare menu(s) and chapter points for the video. Again, I use TDA
because it does NOT re-encode the video.

Because I typically combine videos that end up being 3-4 hours in
length, I compile my TDA authored video directly to my hard drive
where I now use a very good free product (DVD Shrink) to re-compress
and fit on one standard DVD-5 disc.

I do have Nero 6 Ultra Edition installed on my system and DVD Shrink
edoes use Nero's buring ROM to burn my final DVD. But I rarely use
Nero by itself.

HTH

Hi nospam4me,

Thanks for that info. I will check these programs
out. An all-in-one should save all this messing
about though. I guess if I was using Linux, the
equivalent Linux apps could all be semi-automated
(invoked with a script). I have used TmpEnc DVD
Author before. It was so simple, really NeroVision
Express could learn from it - I am tired of cheesy
Nero tropical templates etc, and perfer no menus
if possible sometimes.

IIRC the output files from MMC are .vcr (one touch
record) and .mp2 (sheduler) files. Are these both
mpeg2 files? Or something fishy in them.

Regards,
grolschie
 
Hi nospam4me,

Thanks for that info. I will check these programs
out. An all-in-one should save all this messing
about though. I guess if I was using Linux, the
equivalent Linux apps could all be semi-automated
(invoked with a script). I have used TmpEnc DVD
Author before. It was so simple, really NeroVision
Express could learn from it - I am tired of cheesy
Nero tropical templates etc, and perfer no menus
if possible sometimes.

IIRC the output files from MMC are .vcr (one touch
record) and .mp2 (sheduler) files. Are these both
mpeg2 files? Or something fishy in them.

You can configure the presets to just about anything you want. Since I
do no real editing (only trimming) I record in MPEG-2 using the stock
DVD preset already configured and available. In fact, I find the DVD
preset better for my purposes than the DVD-High preset.

Open the TV Set Up window, click on the Personal Video Recorder tab
and you'll see the Map Presets button midway down on the left. Open
the Map Presets and you'll see the many varieties of presets
available. Any of these can be changed, or you can create a new preset
of your own choosing. Personally, I've never needed anything different
than the standard DVD preset found there.

f
 
I'm recording with MMC ATI 9.06.1.

grolschie said:
Hi. I have the latest NeroVision 3.1.0.0. I use
PowerDirector 2.55, WinPVR, ATI MMC 8.8.0.0. I
noticed that some transcode mega-fast with smart
encoding, and other are fully transcoded slow as.
What software do you use to record TV with your
Wonder Pro?

grol
 
I'd like some advice on this issue as I'd prefer the best recording
possible.

- Prometheus Xex
 
I'd like some advice on this issue as I'd prefer the best recording
possible.

- Prometheus Xex

Sorry, I haven't been to this newsgroup for a few says and only just
now saw your post.

I'd be happy to provide any information I can but it might be better
if you could be a bit more specific as to what you need.

In general, most of the problems people have with analog video
recording doesn't involve the quality of the signal at all, but the
inefficiency of the internal wiring system in one's home. Cable
companies are usually pretty good at ensuring good signal levels are
coming to each of the homes they serve. And, they consistently monitor
such things. The majority of signal problems occur from the ground
block in (where the cable attaches to the home and inside the home
itself.)

Good quality coax cable (RG-6, Quad Shield) should be used with good
quality F-Connectors, PROPERLY installed. Splitters used (and there is
always at least one) need to be of good quality, properly shielded and
used in a configuration that minimizes signal loss. A splitter needs
to be in the proper frequency range that matches the ranges provided
by the local cable company.

Cable TV signal needs to flow through lines that are completely
sealed. I've always found a good analogy is to think of it as water
flowing through a hose. Water, or cable signal, cannot be allowed to
escape -- anywhere. Any opening whatsoever can allow cable signal to
leak or seep out and away from its intended destination -- the TV or
TV tuner card. (In the case of cable TV signal, the slightest opening
can also allow signal from local over-the-air TV signals to seep IN to
the cable system causing such things as ghosting.)

Many people who internally wire their own homes to add additional TV
outlets never seem to grasp the absolute importance of installing good
quality connectors, properly and TIGHTLY. This is rarely possible
using store-bought (Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, etc.) connectors and
crimpers. Not only will the quality be suspect, purchasing the proper
connectors and tools can be very expensive, especially when one
considers these items will rarely be used again. For this reason I've
always believed it best to simply pay the cable company the one-time
fee to install additional wiring. They'll use the proper equipment
PROPERLY to get the job done at a cost far cheaper than the average
layman can were s/he to purchase the same quality tools and equipment.

Splitters are another source of lost or improperly directed signal
most people fail to consider with any degree of importance. But it IS
important. One must understand spllitting a signal SPLITS the signal.
That is to say, it cuts it in half, or 1/4, or 1/8, or 1/16 depending
on how may splitters have been installed and where they've been
installed.

Splitters can also vary in quality as well as frequency range. Like
good quality F-connectors, splitters must be shielded so as to keep
cable TV signal in and not allowed to leak or seep into the
atmosphere. While spllitters can be purchased just about anywhere, the
quality of a store-bought splitters can be equally suspect. I'd
recommend just stopping a Cable TV Tech on the street and asking for
one. S/He will always have a supply of cable-quality splitters which
adhere to the proper standards and frequency range. (Of course, you'll
want to slip the Tech a few dollars for assistance you've been given.)

One additional area that seems to go unnoticed but can occasionally
provide a problem is the grounding of the cable system. Many people
don't even know their cable system is attached (grounded) to the same
grounding post as is their internal electric system. Sometimes the
ground connection can become oxidized and produce interference often
in the form of hum bars - those wide but faint bars you see on your TV
screen that move somewhat slowly from bottom to top. It's important
to note that hum bars can also be the result of other poorly-shielded
appliances operating inside the home -- a refrigerator, a microwave
oven or even the TV itself. But sometimes it's the degraded quality of
the ground wire where its attached to the ground block. Cleaning or
removing the oxidatoin from these connections can sometimes eliminate
this kind ofTV interference and improve reception or the quality of
the picture.

I've just given some general information here, written quite
impromptu, in the hope it gives you some information to work with. I
hope you find it helpful.

f
 
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