First post, by vetz
- Rank
- l33t
I just recently figured out this trick as I had problems using the Avermedia software on the 3DFX cards (had to use a HDMI upscaler which gives low quality) for it to sync properly in 640x480. Instead of using the Avermedia software, I use VLC or VideoLAN (VirtualDub can also be used).
Here are some sampling videos I just captured:
Tomb Raider 320x240 as captured in VLC:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/57506833/files/tombra … oft_320x240.mpg (130MB) (original VLC file is 1.37GB)
Youtube: http://youtu.be/3sHCV_lACc0
Tomb Raider 320x240 streched to how it is viewable on a regular monitor (fullscreen) using Sony Vegas Pro 10:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/57506833/files/tombra … 0_stretched.mpg (130MB)
Youtube: http://youtu.be/19oziTDTJ9s
Larry 1 and Alley Cat EGA and CGA. Showing unstretched and stretched:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/57506833/files/Larry1 … atEGA%26CGA.mpg (300MB)
or Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYgwxlIpWN8&feature=youtu.be
There are no sound in this video as I don't know how to capture the PC speaker directly. Probably you need some sort of cable to the line-in on the soundcard (if someone know how to do this, please reply!). Also stetching the videos give little to no quality loss if done properly.
I also upscaled the videos to 1024x768 so that Youtube will accept them as HD material, which is alot better bitrate. Though a game like Tomb Raider with all that movement and "pixel-noise" really doesn't work well on Youtube.
How to setup VLC for capture:
1. Open Capture Device
2. Then select DirectShow, Avermedia HD Capture and the sound device that has the sound input.
3. Click Advanced Options and check Device Properties, click OK.
4. Click Play
5. Click OK on the first window that pops up.
6. On the next one select 60FPS as framerate and then 640x480 resolution. (select higher if you intend to capture in higher resolutions)
7. Click OK on all the next windows.
8. VLC will now show the captured image, but it is not in-sync with DOS atm.
9. Go into DOS mode, start a 640x480 program/game (I use Tomb Raider's main menu). VLC should sync and show the image. Quit the program. (If you don't have a device/computer which can't show 640x480, then sync the image on another computer unplug the VGA cable and connect it to the other machine. You have around 20 seconds before the "No signal" screen appears.)
10. You should be back in DOS with VLC still showing the DOS prompt.
11. Start the program of your choice and capture away! If you restart your computer you will also be able to capture the BIOS screen and the bootup (this depends a bit on the graphics card as well, for instance the Rendition cards don't like this. ATI Rage and S3 Virge works nicely).
12. Using VLC there is no stop in the recording if the resolution changes. I also believe, but have not tested that 1080p can be recorded with 60fps using VLC.
How to capture with VLC:
1. Make sure under View -> Advanced control is checked so that you see a red button under the screen on the left side.
2. Click that button to record. Videos (uncompressed) go by default into the "My Videos" folder.
3. If you want to change the default folder then go into
Tools -> Preferences -> Show Settings "All" -> Input and Codecs -> In the Input and Codecs window find "Record Directory or Filename" and then input your desired directory.
Some more hints and tricks:
1. VLC have a much higher delay, so playing a game directly through this program can be quite difficult. If you don't have it already, a VGA splitter is the way to go.
2. The trick I describe works in DOS, but what about Windows stuff that is below 640x480? I had alot of problems capturing VGA from Destruction Derby on the S3 Virge. It runs at 512x384 @ 70hz in Windows. Turns out that if you have a S3 Virge GX2 card with TV-out you can turn on both VGA and TV-output at the same time (other cards might work as well). This has the effect that all resolutions and refreshrates on VGA signals are also scaled to 720x480 (NTSC) which is compatible with the Avermedia card. This "combo" mode also works in MS-DOS which gives another alternative to capture DOS stuff. You can see how the quality turned out in my comparison video on Destruction Derby.
3. Sometimes I've experienced the picture not to be 100% stable (jumping up and down), but having the signal go through a 3DFX Voodoo card can help getting rid of this problem.
You can argue that all DOS stuff can be captured in DOSbox, but I feel it's a bit more interesting when it is actually captured on the real hardware.
PS. I can't gurantee that every resolution and game works using this method.
