MIRO DC1-TV
4 messages in this thread
Hi everybody,
We have a DC1-TV since 3 month ago, we would like to use it for small
videoproduction like fairvideos or companypresentations with VHS standard
quality (250 lines resolution)to record them direct to videotape.
so we build a small professional equipment arround this board.
pentium 90 on plato, 2 enhanced 500 mb at-bus drives for programms,1 micropolis
1,7 gb 2217 av scsi/s harddisk for the captured videodata (this drive is
created for high audio+videoperformance, cause it did not do any thermic
calibration), an adaptec pci scsi/2 adaphter, and a soundblaster 16 asp!
but now we find out, that the system dosn`t work correct!
the quality of the captured video in still mode is fine, so about half
broadcast (max 284 lines resolution)! but if you playback the digitalvideo,
theres nothing like bullshit, cause the video flicker!!
we cant use this dc1-tv board now!!
the flicker effect can`t come from the micropolis, so we thing the problem is
about windows, we try 3.1 and for workgroups or the interleave with audiodata.
so we have tested os2 3 warp, but we cant find a os2 driver and the windows
one dosn`t work under 32 bit os2 !
at last we have to say, the flicker effect begins after about 3-5 min sustained
video, so it is possible to use the board for short clips!
but we cant use it, cause we need about 25 min videos!
sorry, forget the miro hotline, they haven`t help us, we are here in germany
near by and they told us everything is fine! but nobody there can show us how!!
finally, please if there are DC1-OWNER outside, which haven't our problems
please give us a short response.
also all other harddiskinterested people which can give us tips about other
cheap videoequipment.
thanks from
Frank + Ulli
Frank,
I hope I understood your problem correctly, it may be three fold.
1. I also have the DC1 and to view the video on the computer monitor you will
need the miroVideo 20TD "live" video card installed. Otherwise the video will
skip frames.
2. The flicker is caused by improperly syncronized video signals from the VTR.
To eliminate the flicker you will need to insert a TBC (Time Base Corrector)
between the VTR and miroVideo DC1 board. There are other boards that do a
better job of video capture. One that we sell is the IBM Ultimedia II board
and bundle it with D/Touch Pro. It operates in DOS so there is less system
overhead. We sell TBC that will go into a 16 bit computer bus slot.
Also if you want to increase the resolution you will need to go with S-Video.
That will increase the horizontal resolution from 320 to 400 lines.
3. There is a problem with the hard drive. But it comes from the Pentium
system board. The bus speed is set at 33MHz and I know from experience this
has been a bottle neck on these computers. The way around it is to get a
caching controller for the Micropolis hard drive. Put at least one megabyte of
RAM on the controller board. Tekram makes one, we sell them for VLB bus.
There is also one from Adaptec I think. The computer system board with EISA
bus works better and have greater thoughput with the Micorpolis drives.
Sorry my father is not here to translate for you.
I hope they make drivers for OS/2 3.0 aka Warp. MS Windows in this DTV world
is a dog. (Dog is the US english slang word for too slow.)
But if you need anymore help you can write to Bill Kolstad, POB 291490, PHELAN,
CA 92329-1490 USA.
Frank, One problem with the IBM card is that they no longer make it and will
only support it until, I believe, 5/95. I was going to buy a IBM card until I
found this out. As far as flicker goes I have a minimal amount with my Miro.
Play around with the settings until it comes out just right.
John
One more silly suggestion:
When I go to videotape with a DC1, the computer and NTSC monitors 'beat' on
each other, causing an interference pattern that is transfered to tape. I solve
it by turning off the computer monitor when recording.
Nick