Problems with MMC 7.7 and divx

[Ryo94]

This it's the situation.
I have an ATI radeon AIW and use MMC 7.7.0.1 (needs windows media format codecs to install) to capture under WinxP, when I capture a video in divx (3.11, 4.12 or 5.02) from tv all works ok, the problem is when the video is re-encoded or even saved in direct stream copy with any program (virtualdub, tmpgenc, ulead, premiere, etc), a big audio sync problem appear, that not happens with MMC 7.1 or re-encoding videos captured with MMC 7.7 + any other codec (just with divx) I'm almost sure that it's a problem between MMC 7.7 and divx, if somebody has the same problem and found the solution, please let me know.

Thanks.

[setarip]

If you have plenty of hard drive space, try capturing video with a lossless codec (e.g. HuffyUV) and audio as Uncompressed PCM (.WAV). This will assure synchronization. Then use VirtualDub to convert and compress both video and audio.

Let us know of your success ;>}

[Ryo94]

Thanks I tried capturing with lossless codecs but If I have plenty space on my HD... ,the unhappy fact it's that I don't have it, my HD has just 40Gb and 2 partitions (Win98, WinXP) I capture under WinXP and my current free space is around 10GB (less than 2 hours using hufyuv + PCM_half resolution pal_352x288) That's why I capture in divx.
Just a few seconds ago I tried with Xvid (the first time that I use it), the good is that the quality really surprised me (it's really good), but the bad is that has the same damned problem with MMC 7.7.

[setarip]

At the very least, use Uncompressed PCM (.WAV) audio for capturing...

[Ryo94]

Well, this's what I'm doing since ATI MMC cannot capture audio in other format unless wav (uncompressed PCM ) so I don't see solution to this problem. Anyway through their site I sent a form to ATI explaining to them this problem, but I really doubt the they answer me or keep in mind this in future versions of MMC.

Anyway, thanks and greetings.

[miker]

Ryo94,

Why don't you try MMC 8.0? I use it and never had a sync problem. As for MMC 7.7, I didn't try to capture with it, but 7.6 gave me good results as well.

Mike

[Ryo94]

Hi miker, I tried MMC 7.6 but had serious stability problems (under WinXP!, can believe it). About MMC 8.0, I didn't know that it existed, in ATI´s site it's just posted the 7.7.0.1 to download and in the cd that comes with my AIW I have the 7.1 that works fine capturing divx (in fact it's what I using now) but some features like TV-on-demand doesn't works under XP. If exist a web version of MMC 8.0 to download and you know where please let me know.

Best regards.

[miker]

It seems not to be available any longer where I've downloaded it from, but this thread should get you started:

http://www.driverheaven.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=67397#post67397

[Ryo94]

Seems to be that v8.0 works 100% just with the last AIW (9500-9700) and in a couple of months would be available the v8.1 that would be compatible with old AIW (like mine)
Thanks for the info.

[Teemo]

Im playing with MMC7.7 too. Have the same problem with disk space
Direct to DivX is no good - as you say, sync problems.
So, I captured from VirtualDub instead (need a "wrapper").
Captured DivX5 with Quantize between 4 & 6. Read about settings in Rage3D forum (Nightshift).

Today I experiment with MMC(MPEG) and VDub(Xvid).
Capturing with MMC to a MPEG1 file (VDub don't like MP2).
Settings are 8000kbps, MPEG1, 480x576 (25fps PAL), Quality slider to 100%.
Gives a nice file with perfect sync.
Then I feed the file to VirtualDubMOD, using NullTransform filter to crop and Resize to 464x352 (100/133 16x16).
Coding with Xvid 2-pass with H.263 option. Fitting 90min to one CD using the slider in 2nd. pass (nice feature, but remember to subtract the audiostream).
This gives me the same quality (or better) than the "direct 2 avi" DivX capture. But have the advantage of being able to do whatever I like with the video before coding.

The 90-minute MPEG mentioned takes 5GB of my diskspace.

Im sure using the Huffy-something would create better results - got to get that new disk soon

Please experiment and let us know how things turn out.

Have fun.

[Ryo94]

Hi, thanks for the advice, but at this time I return to MMC 7.1, so I tried capturing 75min with MMC 7.1 at
8000kbps, MPEG1, 480x576 (25fps PAL), quality slider to 100%
then encoding in VD with Xvid 2-pass with H.263, desired size 640mb, resize 464x352.

Also I tried capturing 75min directly in divx 5.02 with MMC 7.1 (no sync problems also no tv-on-demand but who cares) at
3000kbps,352x288 (25fps PAL), max quantizer=8
then encoding in VD with Xvid 2-pass with H.263, desired size 640mb, no resize.

These are the results (to my eyes)
1 place_ divx 5.02 capture 352x288 and encoding in VD with Xvid 2-pass (looks more clear)
2 place_MPEG1 capture 480x576 and encoding in VD with Xvid 2-pass; resize to 464x352 (has a little artifacts due to the mpeg source)

So, I encountered divx capture at half resolution better than Mpeg1 at high resolutions that cause more macrobloks, frame dropping and a noisy capture.

I tried too capturing with VD but I cannot get sound, I don't know why, capture audio is selected in "capture settings", anyway I encountered MMC more handy for capture mainly for the possibility to create profiles.

Best regards.

[Teemo]

Maybe you get even better results by encoding directly to DivX in the size you want (you should). Then just compress the sound in VD.
If you are dropping frames, this would for sure be the reason that you get the MPEG1 macroblocks. It could be MMC7.1 but I doubt.
My mpegs are pretty close to the original, but I wish I had a better TV signal.

Here is an example of the MPEG and the convertion to xvid.
Quality is ok, but not at all, what i wish.

http://hjem.get2net.dk/tmo/Pictures/MPEG1.jpg

http://hjem.get2net.dk/tmo/Pictures/Xvid.jpg

And here a high motion that clearly shows that the number of pixels are way to big for the divx stream. Lots of m-blocks.
It also shows that this in no problem for MPEG1.

http://hjem.get2net.dk/tmo/Pictures/MPEG1_HM.jpg

http://hjem.get2net.dk/tmo/Pictures/Xvid_HM.jpg

I still have a lot to learn.

Regards

[Ryo94]

Originally posted by Teemo
I wish I had a better TV signal.

I wish it too, I hope that the next generations of AIW be compatible with HDTV.

Originally posted by Teemo
I still have a lot to learn.

Me too, A lot!!!

Greetings.

[techno]

read my new capture guide on my site...part 1 of my success and download the samples too....


and ATI ARE BAD!

Techno

[Teemo]

tecno, plese be a little more constructive, thanks.

We are not asking for what to buy.
Just trying to get the best of what we have.
Since we don't have huge HD's we cant use YUY2 or other "uncompressed" formats.

Here is a small clip I just captured. Cut out the sound.
Length and size same as your clip nr.1
I captured direct to Xvid @ 528 x 288

http://hjem.get2net.dk/tmo/video.avi

Compare quality, you be the judge.

Did I mention my bad ATI card...

Regards