RE: Buzz/Snazzi etc
Here are some first hand accounts I just dug up from Usenet.
The commputer i'm getting (Gateway Destination) already has a
TV tuner built in maybe I don't need a video capture card???
I don't even know....
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Re: Broadway vs Snazzi vs MPEG Wizard
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From paultile@aol.com (PaulTile)
Organization AOL aol.com
Date 11 Nov 1997 11:44:28 GMT
Newsgroups rec.video.desktop
Message-ID <19971111114401.GAA09757@ladder02.news.aol.com>
References 1
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You might want to try the AVerMedia MPEG Wizard,
which connects to an EPP/ECP Parallel Port.
It works quite well, and CompUSA has it for
$300 (have them scan the price code, as the box
was sticker-marked $350).
It does not have as much software as the Dazzle
(the Snazzi for parallel port),
but it does at least 170 minutes in a 2GB Windows 95
space limit (I've read the Dazzle may be limited
to 54 minutes, because of also recording separate
video and audio tracks, to combine later if needed).
They use the same C-Cube chip, but the circuits
and driver software must be very different.
The Wizard configuration menu allows a lot of options in
data rates for audio and video, specializing in
Internet and CD-Video settings.
The quality seems as good as the other good MPEG
examples that I've seen. You can download
the latest software from their web site,
www.aver.com
and also ActiveMovie, which gives a better
looking playback than Net-Toob, which comes
with the unit. ActiveMovie is less "blocky".
George Lees
_____________________________________________________
Re: Broadway vs Snazzi
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From "Not a Republican" <proseco@erols.com>
Organization Erol's Internet Services
Date Sat, 8 Nov 1997 17:57:34 -0500
Newsgroups rec.video.desktop
Message-ID <642qmh$gpf$1@winter.news.erols.com>
References 1 2 3 4 5 6
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pegasus wrote in message <3464c187.3890645@news.primenet.com>...
>On 8 Nov 1997 16:37:11 GMT, johna@magicnet.net (John Anderson) wrote:
>
>>In article <34646f3e.954901@news.mindspring.com>, Earl@nomail.tnx
(EarlGrey) says:
>>>
>>>Besides the Broadway and Snazzi mgep boards there seems to be a slew
>>>of external adaptors arriving on the market that do hw mpeg-1
>>>conversion. These adaptors are very inexpensive and appear to have
>>>similar features. It makes me think that someone came out with a cheap
>>>chip set and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. One individual told
>>>me that the more expensive and better quality Broadway board uses a
>>>more expensive chip set. Do any on you have any information on this
>>>and any insight to what's coming down the pipe in the coming months.
>>>
>>
>>Unfortunately there is no way to really state what the advantages and
>>shortcoming of a product are unless you have it in your hands. I am
>>familier with the board that the Snazzy is based on, because I have worked
>>on some of the software for it. But I haven't had the opportunity to
>>compare the output quality with anything else. It seems like a good
>>value for $400. I am able to realtime encode from about 400kbps to
>>4Mbps on my P200. However I am not familier with the software that
>>the Snazzy people distribute.
>>
>>You're right in thinking it's possible that some of the new boards being
>>released could be a better value, but aren't all computer products like
>>that? Of hand I can think of three chip manufacturers for MPEG encoders,
>>C-Cube, Digital, and Array Microsystems (Samsung).
>>
>>Snazzy - Digital
>Dazzle - C-Cube (Paralell Port 299.00)
>>Broadway - C-Cube
>>Darim - Array
>>Optibase - C-Cube
>>
>>You could check for magazine reviews and see what they think.
>>
>>>I have some reservations about (confusion about) what to expect on the
>>>"averge" machine in terms of playing back converted vhs videos in full
>>>screen. Perhaps a different codec. Indeo?
>>
>>I guess you will need to define average machine. A lot of systems
>>come with VGA boards which support YUV overlay. This really helps
>>accelerate MPEG playback. But I have seen decent playback on machines
>>without this. You will need to install ActiveMovie if it's not
>>present, or go with Visible Light's OnStage which guarantees playback
>>right off the CD. A lot of people continue to opt for AVI playback
>>because it performs well without alot of hassle. My suggestion would
>>be to get a few MPEG files, put them on a CD, and try playing them
>>on some different machines. This way you will know for yourself.
>>
>>
>>John Anderson
>>Algorithm Engineering
>
>I agree.
>Pegasus
>
While MPEG (and if you're discussing within the context of the Broadway
system, then it's likely your talking about MPEG-1) and MJPEG have some
things in common (e.g., both employ DCT), there are, as have been noted,
significant differences.
One germain to this discussion is that MPEG is a highly asymmetrical
codec--the encoding processing is much more intense than the decoding
processing. This is what enables MPEG-1 to be decoded at the rated frame
rate in software, while MJPEG can only be decoded in hardware, as a rule.
However, there is more than the relative symmetry and the interframe
compression of the codec that drive the data rate. MPEG-1 specifies a
resolution (about 320x240 or thereabouts) that is far below that of
full-screen (640x480 or 720x486 or thereabouts) MJPEG. MPEG-1 also is 30
fps, while MJPEG is nominally 30 frames/60 fields per second. This causes
the display of moving objects in MPEG to be less smooth than normal
broadcast-type video. Also, the overall display is less sharp due to the
lower number of vertical lines of resolution.
IMO for the initial poster's stated purpose of producing event videos,
ostensibly on video tape, the 30fps screen of MPEG-1 and the lower
resolution disqualify it as a contending codec. MJPEG is not the only codec
in town for this purpose, it's just a better one than MPEG-1.
MPEG-2, now, that's a different story.
__________________________________________________
Re: Snappy 3.0, Grabit Pro, Dazzle, etc . . .
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From videoguy@concentric.net (Gary Bettan)
Organization The Electronic Mailbox
Date Sun, 26 Oct 1997 13:36:59 GMT
Newsgroups rec.video.desktop,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.video
Message-ID <345346af.177398014@news.concentric.net>
References 1
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On Fri, 24 Oct 1997 14:33:44 -0500, Chett Schmitt
<schmitt_c@kids.wustl.edu> wrote:
>I am looking for an inexpensive (under $150) video capture device for
>personal use with MPEG capabilities. I have seen the ads for the
>subject devices, along with a couple of reviews. Dazzle seems out my
>price range, Grabit Pro got some good reviews, have not heard anything
>about Snappy 3.0. Anybody have opinions, experiences, thoughts or
>suggestions??? Any other products I should consider???
>
If you want video, not just still frames, get the Dazzle. For $299.95
you get the same capture quality and full motion mpeg video. MPEG is
ideal for multimedia, cd rom or just fooling around with video. Dazzle
does not pffer output to video tape. If you want to outout to
videotape, MJPEG is a much better solution.
How much do I like Dazzle? I have amended out\r Top 10 list to include
it. This little puppy is a winner folks. The interface is super easy
to use and it is GREAT for laptops.
Think of it this way. Snappy is like an old black & white movie,
Dazzle is like technicolor. If you want video, why buy a framegrabber?
Gary
The Electronic Mailbox videoguys.com
The Desk Top Video Editing & Production Experts
800 323-2325 or Free DTV tecj advice (516) 759-1615
All DTV purchases include our 30 day customer assuranc program
and FREE tech support
_________________________________________
Re: My video capture card buying experience
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From Denis Kondakov <denis@kodak.com.remove.this>
Organization Eastman Kodak
Date Fri, 10 Oct 1997 08:56:39 -0400
Newsgroups rec.video.desktop
Message-ID <343E2607.2FFC@kodak.com.remove.this>
References 1
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Come on, Jonathan, you almost make it sound like Snazzy can be
used instead of Miro, RR or other NLE cards. That's misleading.
Snazzy is just a MPEG-1 card. It can *not* even make output to the
tape with VHS quality. It can only make MPEG-1 files and it is not
clear how well does it do the job (PC Mag gave visual quality of
resulting MPEGs quite low rating in comparision with several
other cards in the same price range or even cheaper).
And by the way, you don't seem to understand what rendering
is. With NLE cards it will also proceed in real time if all you
do is cuts. What takes a lot of time is stuff like transitions.
Normally capture card does not do them, CPU does...
Final point. Snazzy advertisement that sticks to you posting is
full of it. Sure it can take 1600x1200 snapshots, record/edit
full screen video or use "True Digital technology that is basis
for DVD players", etc. What a bunch of clearly deliberate lies!
Cheers,
Denis
Jonathan Weingarten wrote:
>
> One happy camper
>
> Here's my short testimonial on the road to DV. My name is Jonathan, am a
> jeweler/Gemologist here in NY. My primary role in our family business is
> the buying and selling of diamonds. Over the years I have developed a way
> of communicating the importance of value in diamonds and have pretty
> sophisticated equipment to "show" what I am explaining about (microscope,
> etc.). I have wanted to put this information either into video or software
> and have decided to actually do both. My first project has been the
> software, which I am now in the process of finishing up and have decided to
> include much information in the program by way of video. Digital video. As
> most of you in the DV world know, before anything can be shared and viewed
> on other computers the digital file must be converted to a universal
> format, MPEG being that format. I had a two or three year old video capture
> card in my system (made by Reveal Inc. (now bankrupt)) so decided to go for
> another card with the purpose of making digital video that I can
> incorporate into my diamonds program. I didn't want to go hog wild and
> would consider myself what I found is termed a "prosumer". That is, I want
> to make a decent quality product on a limited budget. My decision boiled
> down between the Matrox Rainbow Runner and a comparatively new product by a
> company named LA-Vision.
> I have to admit I bought the Snazzi from LA Vision rather reluctantly.
> Knowing that I had a full 30 days to return it, I thought I'd give it a try
> and put my nose to the grind (research wise) to see if this was the product
> that I was truly going to keep. Their front page ad in the October issue
> of VideoMaker Magazine is what inspired me to give it a shot and the
> software bundle looked excellent too (which it is). In any case I ordered
> the product and had it shipped to my house all the while searching every
> web site possible that had any and all information available on video
> capture cards. On the NewsGroups I did find a reply by a guy who worked
> for some magazine who didn't have nice things to say about the Snazzi and
> also referred to an article written by PC Magazine about the Snazzi that
> wasn't too motivating. Wow, I thought I gonna wind up returning this thing
> before even breaking it out of the box. Well, I was ready to send it back
> but then that still small voice in my heart kept saying "Why don't you at
> least "try" it???" You still have all this time to return it and get the
> Rainbow Runner. So I thought, why not? Well, let me tell you I'm glad I
> did.
> Installing the Snazzi was a snap and guess what, it did exactly what it
> advertised it would! Captured MPEG in realtime with perfect audio/video
> synchronization. What more could I ask? Something I remember reading on
> the PCMag write-up was that this card could not capture video in 320 x 240.
> This is bull. All the video is captured in 320x240 and can be played back
> full screen at a full 30fps. But I really didn't really appreciate this
> until I found something else out. In just my first two days playing with
> this card and some of the bundled software I've digitized about 20 minutes
> of MPEG video and you know how long it took me? You guessed it. 20 minutes.
> Now being new to this whole digital video scene I wasn't aware that in
> order to render 20 minutes of MPEG video from a Rainbow Runner and most
> other cards that capture in MJPEG format was that this was not a simple 20
> minute process. As a matter of fact for all you guys new to this thing, if
> you ever plan on sharing your digital videos with others AND YOU DON'T HAVE
> A CARD THAT CAPTURES IN MPEG-1 FORMAT, EACH MINUTE OF VIDEO CAPTURED IN
> MJPEG FORMAT TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO RENDER!!! I don't know about you
> but time is money and with only a 3 gig hard drive capturing the video on
> the hardware in MPEG saves both time and money and the end result is
> definitely very well pleasing! Think about that. If I wanted to make a 20
> minute MPEG video on a Rainbow Runner, Miro, (line em up) and twenty
> minutes of render time for each minute it would have taken me 400 minutes
> or about 6« to 7 hours to make the same MPEG video!!!!!!!! If time is
> money and you don't want to eat up hard drive space and get a quality
> product Snazzi is it. The software is simple enough for my 9 year old
> daughter to use and the hardest thing I encountered so far was when I was
> installing one of the software packages I had to hit the browse button and
> go to the folder that the "known bugs" paper told me to go to so I could
> load the proper drivers (which any nincompoop can do)! Am I going to return
> my Snazzi??? I'd be nuts to and I'm making some very cool digital video for
> my soon to be released Multimedia CD-Rom on diamonds. Yes, when this
> product is compared to $1000 to $5000 video capture cards (as PCMag did)
> it's quality is lower than those. But if you are the average Joe like me
> and want to make some excellent digital video, save time, money, storage
> and hard disk space nothing beats this product. It's everything the company
> says it is and when they stand behind it with the guarantee they give, you
> can't go wrong. Oh and I can't forget Chris. When you call their number to
> order the sales people are NOT PUSHY. I had the privilege to get to speak
> to a lady named Chris Allen (1-888-436-4348 ext 30 is her personal line)
> she was very informative, helpful and kind. When I first called I didn't
> order but just wanted information and she answered all my questions and was
> quite personable. I liked her style and because she helped me in such a
> professional way, this was the straw that pushed me over the edge when I
> ordered because I can't stand pushy salespeople. Attached to this post is a
> copy of the original ad I saw and to my knowledge Chris made me aware of
> two typos. With their "Dazzle" you don't get the Ulead or the CeQuadrat
> software. Originally I had called to order their Dazzle product, but after
> hearing the differences between the Dazzle and the Snazzi decided to order
> the Snazzi. One happy camper.
> J_Weingarten@msn.com
> la-vision.com is their website.
>
> [Image - Snazzy Ad]
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