Micomsoft SC-500N1 RGB Capture Card

[blizzz]

I would linedouble to 480p with nearest neighbour, then crop, then upscale with Laczos3.

That's what I did in my Youtube quality test. I'm just thinking that going from 720x240 to 720x720 with nearest neighbour and then streching to 1080x720 (or 1620x1080) with Lanczos3 or something similar would be sharper. Maybe too sharp? I'll need to play around with this a bit more, especially with how Youtube recodes stuff.

lettuce: One way to do this is like this:
1. Record in Amarec without filters (720x240) and Lagarith
2. Open the file in VirtualDub and apply the video filters like scaling and cropping, then export as uncompressed RGB or Huffy (with ffdshow)
3. Encode the avi to H.264 mp4 in Handbrake

[Fudoh]

1. Record in Amarec without filters (720x240) and Lagarith
2. Open the file in VirtualDub and apply the video filters like scaling and cropping, then export as uncompressed RGB or Huffy (with ffdshow)

VDub has a great frameserver. There's no need to export it uncompressed first.

[lettuce]

Is saving a avi file format the only one VD supports??

[lettuce]

Having a problem with MeGUI, if i select the one click encoder, i select the file and click go the process window appears for a second and then disappears, and i get a red circle with an 'X' inside it over the MeGUI icon in the task bar. Any ideas why this happens?

[fagin]

Information I found out indicates that YT changes it's maximum bitrate for conversion based on the resolution of the original. The higher the resolution, the higher the bitrate that YT will allow.

This is something I had forgot when we discussed the bitrate side on the previous page.

It's not just about your encoding method, but also about the resolution.

[blizzz]

VDub has a great frameserver. There's no need to export it uncompressed first.

That doesn't work with Handbrake... and as far as I know MeGUI requires an avs script for frameserving which makes it slightly more complicated.
Someone (with too much time) could do a tutorial on how to capture and encode 240p games for Youtube. Amarec > Avisynth (or frameserved by vdub) > MeGUI might be a good solution. But maybe saving the file in vdub and then encoding it or just using the Windows Movie thingy are easier to understand.

[GregI]

For ease why wouldn't we just do Amarec > Virtualdub post processing or whatever you want for resizing > x264vfw? I see no reason for Handbrake or involving more than two programs.

Also as fagin said you will get much better video quality if you feed YouTube some 720 rather than original 480 for example. I don't know however the extent of a quality jump from 720 source to a 1080 source. I only have 1mb upload so blizzz 1080x720 is perfectly fine for me. Decent size/quality to upload time ratio.

[blizzz]

For ease why wouldn't we just do Amarec > Virtualdub post processing or whatever you want for resizing > x264vfw? I see no reason for Handbrake or involving more than two programs.

That's certainly possible, but I prefer a DXVA compliant H.264 stream in a mp4 or mkv container. Couldn't say if it makes any differences on Youtube though.

Maybe we should get back on topic. Encoding isn't really specific for this card and everyone has his own way and tools which work for him.

[GregI]

Getting back on topic now.

Summary: Buy this card.

I don't know what else needs to be discussed besides answering questions we all have and figuring out best practices.

[blizzz]

blizzz, what settings have you set on the 360 for HDMI?
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox_forums/gene ... 42687.aspx
According to this we should have Standard for both (since the HDMI on card is limited range) and then select the YPbPr 701 (I forget the exact number) setting for HD?

Just tried it out. The SC-500N1 supports full RGB range*. Didn't try YCbCr, but game consoles should use RGB ingame I think. I don't think that there's any real benefit from this, but it's nice to have.
Together with that $40 HDCP stripper this card seems to be the best solution for any gaming console from early '90s up to now. The only thing that they could improve would be 1080p60 support, which some games of the next gen will likely use.

(* the image of the Micomsoft on full range looks like the image of the Aver on limited range)

[fagin]

Also as fagin said you will get much better video quality if you feed YouTube some 720 rather than original 480 for example. I don't know however the extent of a quality jump from 720 source to a 1080 source. I only have 1mb upload so blizzz 1080x720 is perfectly fine for me. Decent size/quality to upload time ratio.

Apparently it's up to twice as much bitrate catered for, between 720p and 1080p resolutions. Also *apparently* the framerate has an effect. The higher the framerate up to 30fps, the higher the bitrate used.

I have a few interesting tests to complete.

[Fudoh]

That doesn't work with Handbrake... and as far as I know MeGUI requires an avs script for frameserving which makes it slightly more complicated.

VDub gives you a .vdr file. If you run into a program which doesn't accept this, you can either put it into a AVS script (AviSource("d:\xxx.vdr")) or just run it through VFAPI which gives you a virtual .avi file which works with every program.

[GregI]

Thanks for the info fagin. I was going to do some original source 480 uploads, 720 and 1080 myself to see if there was anything between 720 and 1080 to warrant the upgrade.

[lettuce]

VDub has a great frameserver. There's no need to export it uncompressed first.

That doesn't work with Handbrake... and as far as I know MeGUI requires an avs script for frameserving which makes it slightly more complicated.
Someone (with too much time) could do a tutorial on how to capture and encode 240p games for Youtube. Amarec > Avisynth (or frameserved by vdub) > MeGUI might be a good solution. But maybe saving the file in vdub and then encoding it or just using the Windows Movie thingy are easier to understand.

This would be ideal for noobs like me, who are overwhelmed with what program, what settings and what codecs to use etc.

I know that either AmarectTV or VirtualDUB are the best progs to use for capturing, even though my first test with VD was awful with frame losses and scratchy audio (obviously i had settings wrong)

What would be good, is settings for VirtualDUB, and then which program & codec to use and settings for the re-encoding process. But the image defo looks better if uploading a 1080p upscale to YT rather than 240p linedouble

[fagin]

Don't piss about with 1080p and the associated bitrates that YT uses for that...... think big and go for the sky!!! The latest 4k resolutions that YT can handle. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9v1ou4zrF4

Remember to choose ORIGINAL as the resolution for the maximum bitrate shizzle.

I'm officially bored now of playing.

[lettuce]

Don't piss about with 1080p and the associated bitrates that YT uses for that...... think big and go for the sky!!! The latest 4k resolutions that YT can handle. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9v1ou4zrF4

Remember to choose ORIGINAL as the resolution for the maximum bitrate shizzle.

I'm officially bored now of playing.

So YT now offers the likes of 4K resolutions yet were still stuck at 30fps!?

Hmm dont see the 'Original' option just 360 to 1080p. Just out of curiosity why do you used the AMV2 codec over Lagarith or Huffyuv?

[fagin]

Don't piss about with 1080p and the associated bitrates that YT uses for that...... think big and go for the sky!!! The latest 4k resolutions that YT can handle. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9v1ou4zrF4

Remember to choose ORIGINAL as the resolution for the maximum bitrate shizzle.

I'm officially bored now of playing.

So YT now offers the likes of 4K resolutions yet were still stuck at 30fps!?

Hmm dont see the 'Original' option just 360 to 1080p. Just out of curiosity why do you used the AMV2 codec over Lagarith or Huffyuv?

What... you don't see the word "original" above the 1080p option? I do.

None of my samples are based on stating what's "the best" and I'm not that bothered about it all to use another encoder. Unless you or anyone else tells me the quality is that much better with another encoding method that is.

[lettuce]

What... you don't see the word "original" above the 1080p option? I do.

Might be as i haven't opted in for the HMTL5 option in YT??

Is it normal for AmarecTV to report only 2 lines for supported video format when used in conjunction with the SyncStrike?....

*w= 720, h= 240, fps=59.94, fcc=YUY2, bit=16
*w= 720, h= 288, fps=50.00, fcc=YUY2, bit=16

[blizzz]

None of my samples are based on stating what's "the best" and I'm not that bothered about it all to use another encoder. Unless you or anyone else tells me the quality is that much better with another encoding method that is.

There are deinterlacing artifacts (field blending) in your video. Not sure how you managed that coming from a progressive source and going to progressive output. Also I don't know how it's for you, but for me Youtube is often so slow that even 480p videos spend more time buffering than playing. Going from 240p to 4k doesn't seem to be the perfect solution for this.

Is it normal for AmarecTV to report only 2 lines for supported video format when used in conjunction with the SyncStrike?....

Nope, something wrong on your installation. I've got tons of resolutions.

[lettuce]

Is it normal for AmarecTV to report only 2 lines for supported video format when used in conjunction with the SyncStrike?....

Nope, something wrong on your installation. I've got tons of resolutions.

Ah ok, i thought it just detected whatever the device connected to the capture card was capable of (in my case SNES) and list just those video modes. How do you stop windows from auto installing a driver once its been removed. Have removed the StarTech device in device manager, but as soon as i restart windows again it installs the driver itself again, and am still left with 2 video formats in AmarecTV?

[Tranquilite]

Well, it turns out that my homemade sync splitter is garbage, I'm still not sure what exactly the problem is, but when I stopped using it, all of my video noise issues stopped. Fortunately I found a really cheap YPbPr to RGBHV transcoder on ebay that also acts as a sync splitter/stripper (just plug your composite video into the the Y port, and then get separate H and V sync from the other side). They also do a stellar job of straight up transcoding 240p, 480i/p, 720p, and 1080i/p signals. If anybody else comes across one of these, I highly recommend them, even though it's kind of weird that all of the inputs/outputs are RCA.

Back on the topic of the Startech card, I learned that it will take either RGBs or RGBHV signals, so if you have a device that outputs pure composite sync, you don't even need a sync splitter.

[Smraedis]

Is there any way of converting a 480i input into 480p, going through component on both sides, then into a capturing device?
I'd like to do this for PS2 games to make them look better, but I don't know if there is any affordable method of doing this.

[fagin]

This card and appropriate capturing software will allow you to do this.

[GregI]

The original option on YouTube has been around since like 2010. You don't need to do 4K IIRC. Even 2048x1152 should do it.

The only issue I see with using the Amarec codec is the logo. You may as well use Huffyuv/Lagarith and have a codec that has been tried and tested by millions rather than a hundred thousand or so that have used Amarec.

[lettuce]

The original option on YouTube has been around since like 2010. You don't need to do 4K IIRC. Even 2048x1152 should do it.

The only issue I see with using the Amarec codec is the logo. You may as well use Huffyuv/Lagarith and have a codec that has been tried and tested by millions rather than a hundred thousand or so that have used Amarec.

Hmm strange that im not seeing this 'Original' option in the video settings then.......come to think of it i dont think i ever have seen this option!, maybe Firefox doesnt display it for some reason. I cant think why i would be able to see or select this option?

[GregI]

I'm using Firefox and latest Flash, see it fine: http://i.imgur.com/kmgJZ.png

Although Firefox and Flash lately have been AWFUL. Having to use task manager to end the program constantly. Tried Chrome? 100% stable for me.

[lettuce]

Is it normal for AmarecTV to report only 2 lines for supported video format when used in conjunction with the SyncStrike?....

Nope, something wrong on your installation. I've got tons of resolutions.

Hmm, have uninstalled the capture card in device manager. but very time i restart windows 7 it auto installs itself again. How do i stop windows from doing this, as im not sure what drivers windows 7 is auto installing. So how many video format lines should i be getting in AmarecTV?

[GregI]

lettuce, I'm pretty sure the card is auto sensing what is connected for resolutions in Amarec.

eg You won't get any 720p resolutions if a 720p source is not connected. This means the card is working fine. If you have a 360 or PS3, try connecting it up and restart Amarec. Watch 720p be selectable.

As long as you have the resolutions that the console you have connected is being displayed I don't see any issue.

[lettuce]

lettuce, I'm pretty sure the card is auto sensing what is connected for resolutions in Amarec.

eg You won't get any 720p resolutions if a 720p source is not connected. This means the card is working fine. If you have a 360 or PS3, try connecting it up and restart Amarec. Watch 720p be selectable.

As long as you have the resolutions that the console you have connected is being displayed I don't see any issue.

Yeah i was wondering if it just auto detects, i though the SNES was capable of quite a few resolutions...more than 2 ??

[GregI]

AFAIK the SNES can only do 240p NTSC and 288p PAL