[AG-TECH] more on multi-input capture.

[Fred Dech]

thanks, Derek.
but what i don't understand is this.
if the Spectra8 currently uses WDM drivers in Windows...
VIC relies on VFW type drivers.  that's what the problem is/was with the
newer WDM driver Winnov Videum cards and VIC.
i'm missing something.

--fred

On Tue, Jul 12, 2005 at 04:38PM, Derek Piper said:
> 
> 	Hi,
> 
> 	Having installed a Spectra8 after using a WinTV 150PVR, I can tell 
> 	you it's *very easy* to get going. Yes, each input installs a driver 
> individually (4 goes round the 'found new hardware' wizard - yawn, but 
> once it's done it's done). After that it just works like 4 individual 
> capture cards. As mentioned before, the inherent problem with VIC not 
> being able to differentiate between the sources and 'colliding' over 
> what input to use still remains, but that's Windows thing and happens 
> any time there is more than one capture device. You just have to select 
> the 'other' source(s), whatever they may be, when the window prompts you 
> and all sources will come up nicely.
> 	Spectra8 cards, being 4 BT878 chips, would work nicely under Linux 
> 	and not suffer from that problem (they'd just be /dev/video0, /dev/video1 
> etc.), although I have not personally tested it.
> 
> 	Derek
> 
> Fred Dech wrote:
> >this has been covered in various ways at various times.  but i've got
> >a new question on this subject.
> >
> >we had a problem with the last Winnov Videum card we spec'd for another
> >institution because before they purchased the card the Videum been upgraded
> >to WDM drivers.  while the VFW drivers would make it work right for AG, 
> >this
> >other institution needed to use the software that came with the capture 
> >card.
> >
> >i've noticed quite a few posts by people successfully using the Spectra8
> >4 input card.  so i've now come to the point of replacing that Winnov
> >Videum with something that will cover all the needs of our collaborators;
> >proprietary capture software and AG.
> >
> >i'm looking at a web page with Spectra8 specifications.  i'm very, very
> >surprised to see, "... each frame grabber channel has it's own WDM driver,
> >allowing you to capture from 4 individual video channels."
> >now i'm really confused.  is the WDM driver relatively recent for the
> >Spectra8?  it must be... or how have people made it work well with AG...
> >
> >any insights would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> >--fred
> >
> >
> 
> -- 
> Derek Piper - dcpiper at indiana.edu - (812) 856 0111
> IRI 323, School of Informatics
> Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana