Capturing real time MPEG2 at 480x480 using Matrox PC-VCR

[Dan P]

I recently purchased a Matrox Marvel G450 and am looking for a way to capture real time MPEG2 at 480x480 (so that I can burn SVCD). Mpeg2 capture is no problem at all and looks great. However, all the capture apps seem to go from 352x240 to 640x480. Does anyone know where I can I either find a program that will capture MPEG (real time) at 480x480, or how I can modify the registry settings under Matrox PC-VCR for this size?

Thanks

[Christrati]

With the Matrox driver, there is no way to force it to 480x480 by my knowledge. However, you can use Ulead VideoStudio and set custom frame sizes, but the VFW driver only gives you 6 options if you use YUY2. As for RGB, no such luck with 480x480.

On an upside note, if you don't mind recording to an AVI file, you can use VirtualDub or AVI_IO and set a custom frame size of 480x480 and capture it using Huffy or PICVideo.

Chris

[Dr Mordrid]

IF you update the VideoStudio 4.0 SE that came with the eTV to ver. 5.0 and patch it with the update provided on the VideoStudio support page you can capture directly to 480x480 MPEG's.

Here's the link to the VS5 patch and the changes it makes;

http://www.ulead.com/tech/vs_ftp.htm

Note there are two patches at the top of the page. The first adds functionality for the Pentium 4, the second adds the 480x480 capture mode, among other things.


Because you have VS4 SE you can get VS5 at a discount on Uleads site. Here's the link to the VS5 update discount;

http://www.ulead.com/vs/upgrade.htm

Chosing the DVD edition gets you the DVDPlugin, which updates the MPEG encoder to give higher quality than the standard VideoStudio 5 encoder. Recommended.

Dr. Mordrid

[Dan P]

Thank you !

[Dr Mordrid]

No problem Dan.

BTW: if you do the downloadable update you should also visit this page;

http://www.ulead.com/vs/esd.htm

This is content normally found in the boxed version that isn't in the download update.

You'll also be able to burn VCD, SVCD and DVD right from VideoStudio.

Also: these new capture modes only work in VideoStudio. PC-VCR is locked into its "normal" capture modes.

Dr. Mordrid

[Dan P]

Interesting.....
It's a little pricey for me right now. I just upgraded my whole system to a P4 1.4Ghz.

Thanks for the info. I recently got into this. Started off with a little
400Mhz Celeron and an ATI TV Wonder - Now playing with a P4 1.4Ghz and the Matrox Marvel G450.

What a difference!

[Sciascia]

You can also use avi_io to resize to 480*480 during capture. It costs $25 and is worth every penny.

Of course it may not support the MPEG2 realtime compression. I have a Marvel G400, so I don't use MPEG2 compression during capture. You can download the demo for free and see if it works.

[joeholley4]

This may seem a bit odd, but does the G450 automatically de-interlace the video before encoding it to MPEG format? Aren't you running into hella bad interlacing problems using 480 pixel horizontal width with a custom frame size?

Sorry if the question doesn't apply, I have no experience with the 450. I use the 400.

-Joe