First install the latest divx codec. Take the time to learn a little about the codec, its high quality high compress. Then grad a copy of Virtual Dub and learn a little about this little wonder capture program. Now with these two appz/programs and a powerful cpu your ready to real time capture divx (mpg4) codec. I'm running an Athlon K7 at 900mhz. I'm only using about 35% cpu during 352x240 capture, but that?s the highest resolution I can capture with divx. Mjepg is great for 640x480 and higher but for home video capture not the best solution. Here are the settings I found good to use for capturing:
Start VirtualDub 1.4c or higher when available.
File: CAPTURE AVI...
Audio Compression: PCM 44.1KHz 16bit, Stereo or Mono
Video Format: YUY2 Packed Data CIF NTSC (352x240)
I use Overlay, but you can turn this preview screen off.
Source: Cable, Composite or S-video
Compression: DivX:-)MPEG-4 Low-Motion then configure it, I use Keyframe every 1 sec, compression control 50 to 80 but the lower you make it the less frames you drop (important not to drop frames) but this is a quality factor also.
Capture: Settings; Frame 29.97, capture audio, and Wait for OK use Advanced at Drop % to 0 (zero) and lock video to audio. Haven't researched enough on the rest of the settings so I won't comment on them but I have a 10 for video buffer limit.
Capture Preferences: ATI Multimedia Video Driver and set you default capture file. (Always have a defragged drive) Click all Save current... and hit OK.
Use F6 to start capture promoted and watch your numbers. CPU usage, compression, frames dropped, time left...I use my left mouse for stop capture or abort. If your done exit capture mode.
Now the finished product is about 28megs per minute and audio takes just over 10meg or over 1/3 so lets recompress the audio.
File: Open video file?find your video you just made.
Audio: Compression?I use MPEG Layer 3 but DivX Audio works for this file format and find the highest setting. 64kbps, 44kHz stereo or mono. Caution for file formats over 352x240 audio gets pitch changes. I capture Mjpeg at 640x480 and get audio of chipmunks if I use this codec for recompressing, so I use mpg3 for my audios. Set Audio to Full Process Mode and set Video to Direct Stream copy if your planning on making this an mpg1 or VCD, if not do?
Video: Compression?MPEG-4 Low-Motion, configure to keyframe every 1 sec, crisp to 100 now set your Data rate to match your desired output size. Get a Bitrate calculator, but 1200 to 1300 gets you about 1 hour divx video on 650meg CD.
Now Save Avi?and let it run, should be over 30fps average. So setting your bitrate to 700 gets you 2 hours on one CD. For home video I stick to under 45min and that?s around 2000 so I?m getting really nice quality. Realistically you can capture at 2000 and not recompress, I like using highest possible capture bitrate and recompressing to mpg1/vcd and divx.
Then I can watch on the home DVD and/or laptop. More to come later.
