README.TXT Darim Vision Co., Ltd. 09/05/98 MPEGator for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT Version 2.66 This file contains the most up to date information about the MPEGator and the supplied software (please see the HISTORY.TXT file for the list of changes in the software) Contents of this package: ------------------------- Low level drivers for Windows 95/98 (installed to Windows\System\) MTREMPGx.VXD MTRIFRMx.VXD MTRACCx .VXD MTRPNP .VXD where 'x' is either a space, '2' or '3' depending on the MPEGator hardware revision. Low level drivers for Windows NT (installed to WinNT\System32\Drivers\) MTREMPGx.SYS MTRIFRMx.SYS MTRACCx .SYS MTRPNP .SYS where 'x' is either a space, '2' or '3' depending on the MPEGator hardware revision. MPEGator DLL files (installed to Win95\System\ or WinNT\System32\) MTR32 .DLL (for Windows 95/98) MTRNT .DLL (for Windows NT) MTRC .DLL MTRR .DLL MTRAVI .DLL (for Windows 95/98) MTRAVIU .DLL (for Windows NT) MTRA32 .DLL MTRCFG .CPL DVICM .DLL (for Windows 95/98) DVICMAU .DLL (for Windows NT) DVACM .DLL (for Windows 95/98) DVACMAU .DLL (for Windows NT) DVIFRM .DLL (for Windows 95/98) DVIFRMU .DLL (for Windows NT) DVMSA .EXE (for Windows 95/98) DVMSAN .EXE (for Windows NT) MTRX .OCX MTRSRC .DLL MPEG2MUX.DLL (MPEG multiplexor) MPEGDMX .DLL (MPEG demultiplexor) Redistributable files (installed to Win95\System\ or WinNT\System32\) MSVCRT.DLL OLEPRO32.DLL OLEAUT32.DLL REGSVR32.EXE MPEGator Application files (installed in Program Files\MPEGator\Tools\) M-CODER .EXE AVI2MPEG.EXE MUXONE .EXE DEMUXONE.EXE HWDETECT.EXE Files required for MPEG Editor (installed in Program Files\MPEGator\Tools\) NRZAGATE.DLL NRZCTRL.TLB NRZFILE.DLL NRZMPEG.DLL NRZMVC.DLL NRZPROX.DLL NRZSRV.EXE MPEG2DEC.DLL Note that one of the redistributable files (MFC42.DLL) is not copied to Win95\System\ or WinNT\System32\ automatically during setup process. It can be located in the \Redist directory and copied manually. New MPEG stream formats supported --------------------------------- Starting from version 2.65 the real time MPEG capture and Accelerated DVMPEG (MPEGator accelerator) support two new MPEG data formats as follows: * VideoPerfect (2x speed VideoCD) - Double-speed VideoCD format that allows increased video quality (bitrate is about 2400 Kbps) in expense of video clip length (max. about 30 mins). This format is supported by some VideoCD authoring software (such as MTC ViaCD bundled with MPEGator) and some VCD player machines * MPEG2 Transport Stream (with MPEG1 video/audio data) - The type of stream is optimized for sending over networks. It provides greater robustness over partial data loss and other communication errors. However, no application support for this type of data is available at the moment. Optimizing MPEG encoding quality -------------------------------- There are several ways to optimize and improve the quality of encoded MPEG video. They are NOT mutually exclusive and for the best results, they should be used altogether. These methods are listed below, the most effective methods first. * Use the highest quality source material available. The order of preference is as follows: Betacam tape DV tape S-VHS/Hi-8 tape VHS/Video8 tape It is very unlikely that you can achieve quality MPEG output from third generation or older VHS recording. * Use video signal conditioning and pre-filtering provided by M-Filter board. Consider the following guidelines: For high quality video sources (Betacam or DV tape) use Median filter and/or Low pass Filter #1 to remove excessive high frequency components of video (ultra fine picture details) that negatively affect MPEG encoding quality and may cause a 'pixelation' effect. For lower quality video tapes such as VHS and some S-VHS tapes use Time Base Corrector (TBC) to prevent color and geometrical distortions of captured video. You may optionally use Low Pass Filters #2 or #3 to achieve additional quality improvements. * Adjust bitrate allocation ratio between static and moving portions of MPEG video (I-frames and P- and B- frames respecively). These parameters are accessible via 'BitrateControl' branch of 'MPEG adv' dialog. Since version 2.65 two quality adjusting templates has been added that affect only 'BitrateControl' group of the advanced MPEG parameters and should be used in conjunction with other templates to achieve the desired quality. These templates are 'Slow moving video' and 'Fast moving video'. The details are as follows. The 'Slow moving video' templates sets the following values: I_percent_bits = 31 P_percent_bits = 42 B_percent_bits = 27 The 'Fast moving video' templates sets the following values: I_percent_bits = 19 P_percent_bits = 36 B_percent_bits = 45 You may further experiment with these three parameters to find out the optimum for your video clip. Consider increasing the 'I_percent_bits' parameter and decreasing the other two if there is little motion in your video or it looks more like a slideshow. Decrease 'I_percent_bits' and give the maximum to 'B_percent_bits' parameter if your video contains a lot of fast moving objects or have a camera panning effects. Remember that the sum of all three parameters should be always equal to 100. MPEGator MPEG source filter for Microsoft ActiveMovie ----------------------------------------------------- The filter allows custom ActiveMovie-based applications to use MPEGator as a source of MPEG video and audio data (stream). The simplest way to use MPEGator source filter is to start ActiveMovie Graph Editor (GRAPHEDT.EXE) that comes with Microsoft ActiveMovie or DirectShow SDK. Then insert the 'MTR Source' filter from the filter selection dialog. Once the filter appears in the Graph Editor, right-click somewhere within filter rectangle and select 'Properties' to access filter-specific and generic MPEG encoding parameters. To start MPEG capture process, right-click on the filter's output pin and select 'Render'. Graph Editor will automatically load and connect appropriate MPEG decoding and displaying filters. Press the 'Play' button to actually start capture. Note that you cannot change MPEG encoding options while rendering filters are connected to 'MTR Source' (the 'Options' button is greyed). You need to disconnect rendering filters by pressing 'Del' button to access 'MPEGator Properties' dialog. Current limitations: -------------------- When using Ulead Media Studio 5.x to output MPEG1 video and audio clip with DVMPEG compression drivers, Make sure to check the 'Interleave video and audio' checkbox in Media Studio Options/Advanced dialog to avoid problems a error message and premature compression end. Captured video contains two scanlines at the top invisible during preview. The work-around is to add 2 to the 'Y offset' parameter in the Video parameters dialog. Xing MPEG MCI driver (up to 3.12) does not playback MPEGator files smoothly from M-Coder. The native Xing playback application does not exhibit this problem. IMPORTANT notes: ---------------- 1. The users of video-only version of MPEGator hardware 1.1 will experience INCORRECT hardware detection after setting up the software version 1.42 or higher. This will result in incompatible software behavior and the 'Error initializing audio board' error message. To correct the situation you need to obtain a special registry patch file MTR11.REG (available at the same location on our FTP site) and double-click on it in Windows Explorer. 2. Pentium CPU running at 120 MHz is required for I-frame MPEG AVI capture. Higher quality capture require more powerful systems. 3. Users of Windows NT 3.51 will have to manually run HWDETECT.EXE once right after SETUP completes. Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0 do not require this step. Please send us all your questions, problems, suggestions or if you want to be notified whenever a new software version becomes available send a message to: techsup@darim.kaist.ac.kr Thank you for purchasing the MPEGator!