ATI's TV WONDER ELITE (TV capture card)

[TheUltimateNewbie]

I guess it might be time for me to step up from being a newbie PVR user. I've had my Winfast TVXP2000 Deluxe for almost a year now and all I use is Winfast PVR. What kind of software would I have to use(for recording) for this new ATI card? The Deluxe has been a decent performer but quality has become an increasing priority for me, so the Deluxe just isn't cutting it any more.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: ngvepforever2

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Features:

* Theater? 550 PRO core
* MPEG-2 video encode support
* MPEG Audio Encoder with sampling rates of up to 48khz
* Dolby Digital 2 channel encoding
* Programmable filters
* NTSC/PAL
* Motion adaptive 3D Comb Filtering
* FM Radio
* World-Wide Audio Decoder
* 16MB DDR memory controller

This will be far from the best analog quality.....

Get something that encodes in MJPEG.....

Wrong, the Theater 550 PRO chip has hardware mpeg 2 encoding and best of all it has got a 12-bit Video decoder. This is sure to be one of the best Tv Tuners yet. Probably even Better than my poor Hauppage 250MCE

meh....i know it's hardware encoding, but i doubt this will be the best analog quality, despite what the PR department at ATI says. It may be the best MPEG2 encoder for $85, but it surely wont be the best analog encoder for under $150. MPEG2 is great and all, but it is really only good as a final source because MPEG2 stinks for video editing. That said...it has great potential because of one reason....

Built-in digital audio capture

If they mean full hardware capture of audio, this could, as a package, run with the big boys. I can only think of one other video solution solution that is under $150 (when on sale) that has hardware audio capture. That in itself is a big leap for a solution that encodes in MPEG2. If this is as good as ATI claims (and if their video filters actually work), this would be able to comparable to any high end TV on the market. Seeing as how ATI beat out some of the best DVD players in the market years ago with their mpeg2 decoder and dvd playback, it seems very possible.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: ron2368
If I have old vhs tapes can I input them into this card with the standard old rca input plugs. I want to make dvds off of the vhs content, is this a product that will do it? thanks

for that use, yes, it should have good quality and the video compression is exactly what you need.

 

[JohnDoh]

You know when it looks like sh*t when you watch dvd from your vid card tv-out compaired to normal set top dvd player?
This will solve alot (not all) of that.

 

[Tab]

So wait, if I buy this I'll be able to watch SDTV or HDTV on my computer right?

 

[mcveigh]

Tabb: not HDtv yes SDtv.

gibson: where do you see digital audio capture? it's still capturing from an analog source. this card is designed for viewing tv, not high quality editing. it may convert the analog sound into dolby digital but I see no way it can capture digital and keep the process 100% digital

 

[rbV5]

I hope they do a better job with the drivers for this card. I have one of the those ATI tv-wonder pci cards that has been retired to the junk box as the drivers never worked with any stability for me.

This card shouldn't have those issues, it has little in common with the craptastic TV wonder series. I use ATI's version of the PVR250 (eHome Wonder) and its a great card for SageTV or MCE 2005...I would expect no less from these cards.

 

[rbV5]

where do you see digital audio capture?

Digital audio in this case refers to no analog connector needed for audio capture like in prevoius models and AIW cards. No audio issues are the #1 support issues with AIW and TV Wonder, this should dramatically reduce those calls, and "supposedly" keep audio and video sync much better.

 

[sumrtym]

It is now IMPOSSIBLE to have out of sync audio captures with this card. No jumpering sound card to the TV card as this does it all.

As far as video quality, one of the managers in charge of MCE for Microsoft says that this card is, even on a 100" screen, putting out the best quality NTSC TV viewing experience possible. It's also the only card on the market to pass (I forget the name of the certification) for video quality, which Microsoft has been beating up on TV tuner manufacturers about.

I consider that a pretty high endorsement.

 

[Albis]

i'll wait for some reviews before i jump. i've been needing a tv tuner card and this seems to be the right choice

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: rbV5

where do you see digital audio capture?

Digital audio in this case refers to no analog connector needed for audio capture like in prevoius models and AIW cards. No audio issues are the #1 support issues with AIW and TV Wonder, this should dramatically reduce those calls, and "supposedly" keep audio and video sync much better.

yup....that is what it means. The problem with capturing via your audio card is that it relys on timing to be perfect. It just records the video, and records the audio and slaps them together. In theory, it should work, but not when you are dealing with compression. The problem is that, when recording video, you will drop, lose, or combine frames. Once that happens your audio and video become off. When you have onboad sound, that is no longer a problem since the audio chip can now respond to the video chip. It no longer soley relies on timing.

 

[THRILLHOv]

if you go to beyondTV's forums they basically say you have to get a winTV card, and that even the most expensive all-in-wonder cards wond do nearly as good as the 150 or 250. i have a crappy $20 wintvgo right now (i miss my wintv theatre) and i had an ati tvwonder. for $85 how will this card work with beyond TV is all that i care. any one know if this will solve all the conflicts beyondtv and ati have?

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: THRILLHOv
any one know if this will solve all the conflicts beyondtv and ati have?

It ought to as this is a hardware encoder now. Like I said regarding quality, the comments by that manager over at Microsoft on the MCE team sold me about the quality without needing to see a review (he posted on the AVS forum).

However, one big drawback to me is the remote is IR vs. the RF of the remote wonder. Not only that, but I'm betting the new Remote Wonder Plus that's shipping with ATI'S TV Wonder Elite probably has been redesigned to better work with MCE (not that I'm a huge fan of MCE because of the DRM).

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: sumrtym

Originally posted by: THRILLHOv
any one know if this will solve all the conflicts beyondtv and ati have?

It ought to as this is a hardware encoder now. Like I said regarding quality, the comments by that manager over at Microsoft on the MCE team sold me about the quality without needing to see a review (he posted on the AVS forum).

However, one big drawback to me is the remote is IR vs. the RF of the remote wonder. Not only that, but I'm betting the new Remote Wonder Plus that's shipping with ATI'S TV Wonder Elite probably has been redesigned to better work with MCE (not that I'm a huge fan of MCE because of the DRM).

I'm betting most people don't care about the remote and will care first about stability, then quality.

 

[Chadder007]

Now if someone would release one with the SDTV quality signal capture of this one.....with DIVX hardware compression like the new Pinnacle tuner/capture card. ....We would have a winner.
Then again...do the HDTV cards capture a better SDTV quality too or are they just as good as the 10bit cards from everyone else when used to tune SD channels? Any digital signal tuners out, as in comcast digital cable tuner?

 

[Chadder007]

This card and this one is also based off of the TV Wonder elite..
http://www.gecube.com/mbu/productCategory.php?proID=64
http://www.tul.com.tw/global/productVM.aspx?folderid=7

 

[Oceanus]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: ngvepforever2

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Features:

* Theater? 550 PRO core
* MPEG-2 video encode support
* MPEG Audio Encoder with sampling rates of up to 48khz
* Dolby Digital 2 channel encoding
* Programmable filters
* NTSC/PAL
* Motion adaptive 3D Comb Filtering
* FM Radio
* World-Wide Audio Decoder
* 16MB DDR memory controller

This will be far from the best analog quality.....

Get something that encodes in MJPEG.....

Wrong, the Theater 550 PRO chip has hardware mpeg 2 encoding and best of all it has got a 12-bit Video decoder. This is sure to be one of the best Tv Tuners yet. Probably even Better than my poor Hauppage 250MCE

meh....i know it's hardware encoding, but i doubt this will be the best analog quality, despite what the PR department at ATI says. It may be the best MPEG2 encoder for $85, but it surely wont be the best analog encoder for under $150. MPEG2 is great and all, but it is really only good as a final source because MPEG2 stinks for video editing. That said...it has great potential because of one reason....

Built-in digital audio capture

If they mean full hardware capture of audio, this could, as a package, run with the big boys. I can only think of one other video solution solution that is under $150 (when on sale) that has hardware audio capture. That in itself is a big leap for a solution that encodes in MPEG2. If this is as good as ATI claims (and if their video filters actually work), this would be able to comparable to any high end TV on the market. Seeing as how ATI beat out some of the best DVD players in the market years ago with their mpeg2 decoder and dvd playback, it seems very possible.

I appreciate your cautionary comments, but would prefer you give some specific alternatives (leaders). Thanks

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Chadder007
Now if someone would release one with the SDTV quality signal capture of this one.....with DIVX hardware compression like the new Pinnacle tuner/capture card. ....We would have a winner.
Then again...do the HDTV cards capture a better SDTV quality too or are they just as good as the 10bit cards from everyone else when used to tune SD channels? Any digital signal tuners out, as in comcast digital cable tuner?

While I have nothing to back it up, I have heard over on AVS forums that the HD capture cards don't do as good of a job as a dedicated SDTV card.

maybe someone who has one can comment.

 

[Glendor]

I've been waiting on the new AIW and TV Wonder Elite card for months, and untill last week thought the All In Wonder X800 XT was going to have the Theater 550 Pro chip, but it won't!!! If the new Remote Wonder has better compatibility with MCE then it will be a huge bonus.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: Glendor
I've been waiting on the new AIW and TV Wonder Elite card for months, and untill last week thought the All In Wonder X800 XT was going to have the Theater 550 Pro chip, but it won't!!! If the new Remote Wonder has better compatibility with MCE then it will be a huge bonus.

That's right, the 550 chip looks to cause significant difficulties in terms of design for being incorporated into an AIW board. I don't expect that to happen till late in the year.

That's my assumption given they've gone through that picture qualification, and added hardware encoding to satisfy Microsoft, about the remote. After all, the press release originally didn't say anything about a Remote Wonder II, which means this will be the third Remote Wonder design (Plus).

 

[linuxthinker]

Is this card supported by the IVTV driver?

 

[syyid]

Originally posted by: linuxthinker
Is this card supported by the IVTV driver?

Same here if this works with MythTV, definitely want in.Also someone mentioned the Remote Wonder Plus is IR instead of RF, any confirmation for this? I looked up ATI's site and only came across this.

Control Your Digital World with the Remote Wonder Plus
Gain wireless control of your computer and its applications with the included REMOTE WONDER? PLUS. Equipped with increased range, the REMOTE WONDER? PLUS eliminates the need to aim ? enabling you to operate your computer from another room, even through walls up to 60 feet away! Set-up is easy ? just install the software and plug the receiver into a USB port. The REMOTE WONDER? PLUS supports the latest operating systems to provide the industry?s most versatile and advanced control of your multimedia needs.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: syyid

Originally posted by: linuxthinker
Is this card supported by the IVTV driver?

Same here if this works with MythTV, definitely want in.Also someone mentioned the Remote Wonder Plus is IR instead of RF, any confirmation for this? I looked up ATI's site and only came across this.

Control Your Digital World with the Remote Wonder Plus
Gain wireless control of your computer and its applications with the included REMOTE WONDER? PLUS. Equipped with increased range, the REMOTE WONDER? PLUS eliminates the need to aim ? enabling you to operate your computer from another room, even through walls up to 60 feet away! Set-up is easy ? just install the software and plug the receiver into a USB port. The REMOTE WONDER? PLUS supports the latest operating systems to provide the industry?s most versatile and advanced control of your multimedia needs.

IR can't go through walls so it's RF.

 

[syyid]

Yeah what I thought but just wanted to make sure / was double checking with <i>sumrtym</i>

 

[Chadder007]

Found this forum thread on the card....this page has some example videos of a capture...
http://htpcnews.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=10151&st=60
Not sure how it compares to the Hauppauge 150 though since I haven't seen any videos from one of those.