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| What is the difference between AVI and MPEG (MPG)? |
In general, MPEG is a kind of CODEC. AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a video file format. AVI file uses MPEG and other codec to encode the video and audio.
When capturing a video using one of our video capture devices, the AVI format is used for products like GrabBEE, Cute! USB TV, and the MPEG format is used for VCD Producer Pro, AV@MPG2 and TV@MPG which have a built-in hardware MPEG encoder. To capture video real-time, a hardware encoder is required to capture and compress the video at the same time to keep the file size small. Since the AVI file captured by some of our products is not compressed by MPEG, it is easier to edit the video file using a video authoring tools. But the file size can be very big if you want to capture a long video clip. The file size for the sample file below captured by GrabBEEIII with default setting is 3.2MB for just 3sec.
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Captured Movie Sample (video game capture)
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RAW AVI FORMAT
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| Image format |
avi (captured from video game) |
| File Size |
320x240, 3 sec, 3.2MB |
| File |
movie1.avi |
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| Is there a way to convert an avi file to mpeg? |
The software that comes with most of idkvideo products, "Ulead Video Studio", has a function to edit and convert the raw avi file to mpeg format. There is also useful freeware available on the web. You can find some of those freeware programs on our useful links page.
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| How can I make a VCD from the video captured to my PC? |
If you are using VCD Producer Pro, all you have to do is burn it on CD-R. If you are using other products like GrabBEEIII, you must convert the avi file to mpeg-1 format first. You can use the bundled software, "Ulead Video Studio" or popular freeware like TMPGnc to convert your file to mpeg file that can be played on your VCD player. Once the file is converted, select "make new VCD" from the menu of your CD writing software. Then select the file you have just converted.
You can make a VCD of approximately 74 minutes long on one CD-R. You can save multiple video clips on one CD. Most DVD players have VCD playback function.
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| I want to watch TV on my PC. What do I need? |
If you are thinking about capturing a whole program (30 minutes or longer), we would recommend to use TV@MPG. Because this product has hardware mpeg encoder build-in, you can keep the file size smaller while keeping the video quality high. If you want to mainly watch TV in realtime and save short video clips here and there, you can also use Cute! USB TV.
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| What is the difference between MPEG-1 and MPEG-2? |
MPEG2 and 1 are different formats of compressing a video image. MPEG-2 can compress the video into higher resolution and higher quality. It is easy to remember and almost accurate to say that "MPEG-2 is DVD quality video image and MPEG-1 is VCR quality".
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| Windows(XP/2K) recognizes GrabBee as Zoran device and installs wrong drivers |
FOR USERS RUNNING WINDOWS XP OR 2000
It is know that in some cases, when the GrabBee device is inserted into the computer's USB port, Windows XP and 2000 will automatically detect the Zoran integrated circuit that is used in the GrabBee II and III, and installs the Zoran drivers for it. You will not get the driver installation screens shown in the User Manual.
To enable all the features provided with the GrabBee device, it is necessary to update the drivers to change them from the Zoran device drivers to the GrabBee device drivers. Please follow the procedure below after you have installed the GrabBee into the USB port.
(a) Go to "My Computer"->"Control Panel"->"System"->"Hardware" ->"Device Manager" ->
"Imaging Device",
(b) Right click the device labeled "Zoran USB Live! Pro (2)", select "Update Driver"
(c) The hardware "Update wizard" should now appear, choose the "Install from a list or
specific location(Advanced)" then click "Next" button.
(d) Select the "Don't search, I will choose the driver to install" then click "Next" button.
(e) Click "Have Disk"
(f) Type "E:\GrabBee3\Driver" then click "OK" (assuming "E" is your CD ROM device letter).
(g) In "Show compatible hardware" list, choose "GrabBeeIII" and click "Next".
Now system start to install correct driver from Driver CD.
(h) Click "Finish" to finished driver installation.
If you are installing a GrabBee III (with audio) Go to "My Computer"->"Control Panel"->"System"->"Hardware" ->"Device Manager" -> "Sound, video and game controllers",
Repeat steps (b) to (h) to update "Zoran USB Live! Pro Audio (2)" driver.
After updating the drivers, you can refer to the instructions in the User Manual to install the
Application Software (starting on page 11 of the manual).
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