CompuServe Thread

To All Oct. 27/95 Here are some more purchasing tips that might help you configure a DPS PVR, in:sync Speed Razor Mach 3 system on Windows NT. Many of the tips are not new, but useful if you didn't already know them. I can't vouch for 100% accuracy but would appreciate any corrections, feedback or additions to this information from anyone. If you want the previous 43 tips, you can download them from the Library in AMMEDIA (ASOFT) or DTVFORUM. If that doesn't work, let me know & I'll private E-mail them to you. 44/ Eron 76735,660 from in:sync just told me that they probably will be setting up a vendors forum in the DTVFORUM of Compuserve to respond to users regarding their Speed Razor Mach3 editing software for Windows NT. Hopefully DPS & other related vendors will join them so we can all exchange information in the same area. 45/ The following are some of the forum areas that I've come across on Compuserve that have threads relating to the PVR or products used with the PVR. If you know of other areas, please post them to me. If you have a list of Internet sites please post that too. AMMEDIA 3 HWARE/OPSYS/VIDEO (otherwise known as ASOFT) COMANIM 20 Non-Linear Video Section DTVFORUM 6 Editing and Editors GRAPHBVEN 16 Matrox MIDIAVEN 2 Turtle Beach Sys. MIDIDVEN 11 MediaTrix NTWORK 138 NT Workstation Forum SEAGATE 16 AV Audio Video WINAPD 1 Other Vendors ADOBE 46/ I just downloaded the newest version (2.04) of the PVR software for Windows NT from the DPS BBS. It's 2.45 meg zipped & took me 25 minutes at 14.4. It nicely unzips into 2 directories that say Disk1 & Disk2. 47/ I finally got my AudioTrix Pro card from MediaTrix to work in NT. The drivers for Win 3.11 worked fine, but I could only get the NT drivers to work in Play, not Record at first. After much experimenting (many hours), I found that the settings had to be in half duplex to record. Full duplex allows you to play & record at the same time but, for some reason the NT install routine for this driver doesn't work right. To set it for full duplex, you have to go into DOS & install it. This sound card came with a good user's guide for Windows 3.11, but no guide or read me file for NT. I believe that MediaTrix is sufficiently motivated now that they will soon include at least a read me file with the NT drivers. Insist on it if you buy this card. The NT driver supplied was not written by MediaTrix, but they will probably write their own even better NT driver now that interest is picking up for this card. The customs computer builder who helped me put this system together seemed quite impressed with the sound quality, especially from the sample sounds that come with it. The package comes with 2 small 4 watt speakers that plug into the stereo 1/8" output jack. This jack can also be used for line levels by lowering the software volume a bit. I would prefer to have dedicated standard line level RCA inputs & outputs that don't have an amplifier. Mediatrix says it's amplified line out is 1 to 1 & can be used with line level devices without compromise. Since it didn't come with 1/8" stereo to 2RCA connectors, I had to go out & find a pair. If you want to purchase the cable that connects directly from your CDROM to the AudioTrix Pro card, you need to specify the brand & model of CDROM & whether it is SCSI or IDE. For example, it's a different connector for a Panasonic CDROM SCSI than for an IDE. If you purchase this optional cable that attaches the CDAUDIO line out to the AudioTrix Pro card, you need to know that it is a direct parallel connection to the "line in" connector on the back of the card. If you're playing CD music, audio will go out the "line in" connector, so make sure the "line in" isn't connected to anything that it would interfere with. So far, this card looks like it will work well in a PVR Windows NT application. My board came equipped with the optional DSP/voice effects card, but it will be some time before I can check this feature out. It also comes with a bunch of extra programs & other utilities. It is compatible with Wav, Soundblaster & Midi files and has many other features. You can reach MediaTrix by phone (819) 829-8749 or BBS (819) 829-5101 or on Compuserve 74774,1335. They have a forum on Compuserve under MIDIDVEN but it isn't real active. They have much more activity on Internet. 48/ The Phoenix BIOS version 2.0 in my motherboard (ECS TS54P) was indicating at boot up that I had a Pentium 150. That would be nice, except there's no such thing yet. Otherwise it appeared to be working fine with the Pentium 133 and everything else. Since there was a newer version 2.2 available on the BBS for Flashing the BIOS, I tried that & immediately introduced a problem where it would not recognize the NT driver for the PVR card so I couldn't even launch that program. The driver for Windows 3.11 PVR worked fine with it. I tried uninstalling & reinstalling all the PVR & NT software to no avail. The motherboard manufacture recommended that I Flash the Bios again with the old 2.0 software which they didn't have on their BBS so they downloaded 2.1 to me. I Flashed the Bios again as per same instructions, but this time it didn't reboot, just a black screen & the audio beeping at me. Now I'm really dead in the water & more than a little bit angry. Now waiting for 2 days until manufacture can courier 3 versions of preflashed BIOS chips. Hope to have it operational later today. The moral of the story, if it ain't badly broke, don't fix it. 49/ There have not been any contention problems with the Matrox MGA Millennium 4WRAM graphics card & the PVR that I'm aware of. The incompatibility rumor with the PVR may have been just that, a rumor. The DPS Canadian technical guys didn't have any first hand knowledge of this possible problem other than the fact that this might have all started by a faulty third party PCI riser card. They referred me on to Dan Denedy at DPS Kentucky. I faxed him about this 17 days ago & 7 days ago, but he still hasn't returned either message. About the same time, Dave White from Matrox claimed to have heard nothing about the problem. If there is someone out there that can be SPECIFIC about this supposed problem, I would like to hear from them. The only minor problem I know of with the Matrox Millennium is an interrupt latency problem. This would show up if you clicked on the scroll arrow of a file. When you release the button, sometimes the file keeps on scrolling until you move the mouse. According to Dave White at Matrox, a fix is in the works. 50/ If you've read this far in my ongoing tips list, you'll realize that hiring a "qualified" customs builder or purchasing your PVR system from a complete systems integrator is a must for most purchasers at this stage in the game. Make sure your Value Added Reseller (VAR) can provide you with a few referral names & phone numbers of customers with similar systems. Make sure that the VAR will make the system work right within a specified period of time or swap piece for ones that will work at no restocking charge or refund your money. Try to appreciate what is & what isn't within the control of the VAR and don't blame the VAR for delays in software. It seems in the computer industry, that many will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to get your business. Few suppliers care about how much or your time is wasted until the system gets up & running. Let the buyer of any computer product beware. As purchasers and end users, we have to ensure that manufacturers & VARs are responsible for delivering on their promises. Actively and diplomatically using these forums will help them treat us right. Vote with your dollars for the products that come the closest to delivering as promised. Wise shoppers ensure a more responsible industry. Doug Hembruff Compuserve 102711,1127 Impact Televideo Productions, London, Ontario, Canada