What/Where is Video Soap?

[gary]

Recently bought an AIW X800-XT primarily to record TV
programs to HD and create custom, commercial-free DVDs. Now
that I've got everything working, and using the cool
Pinnacle 9.4.3 for editing/burning the DVDs, was wondering
about the VIDEO SOAP??

On the AIW box it advertises VIDEO SOAP as a feature of the
card/software. But I can't find any documentation on it
anywhere.

Is this something that just runs in the background,
automatically, with no settings or adjustments? Is it part
of MMC, or part of one of the add-on products like Pinnacle?

I noticed Pinnacle has something whereby, if you click:
TOOLBOX, ADD VIDEO EFFECTS, then click on ADD AN EFFECT TO A
VIDEO CLIP on the left, one of the options is: SHARPEN. It
shows as a "locked" feature.

Is THIS Video Soap? Or is this something similar, or
totally different than Video Soap?

Appreciate any advice/tips. Thanks.
Gary

 

[Harkhof]

Recently bought an AIW X800-XT primarily to record TV programs to HD and
create custom, commercial-free DVDs. Now that I've got everything working,
and using the cool Pinnacle 9.4.3 for editing/burning the DVDs, was
wondering about the VIDEO SOAP??

1) Right click on the TV window and choose set up
2) Click on the "Personal Video Recorder" tab
3) click on the "Map Preset" button
4) Either edit a preset or create a new one or simply click on the "Edit
Videosoap" button for the current preset.

Hark

 

[gary]

Thanks Hark for the tips. I never would have found it,
hidden in those settings.

Question for you or others who use VideoSoap. Since I'm
using a cable splitter to run a cable-TV cable to both my
main TV and the AIW card, my picture on both is just
slightly degraded (expected with a splitter).

My VideoSoap default settings were set to LOW. So
apparently, it's been running without my knowing it. But
there are also MEDIUM and HIGH settings for VideoSoap.

It's hard for me to tell with the preview window, but my
question is: "Why wouldn't you always use the highest
setting for VideoSoap, in order to get the cleanest, least
noisy picture quality?"

Are there trade-offs with having higher VideoSoap settings?

I also added a little Sharpness, about 10% to the custom
filter (DVD High). This is for recording TV programs to the
disk drive. I understand about controlling the level of
sharpness, as too much can distort the image. Just not sure
about VideoSoap.

Thanks for any advice, especially from those who've
experimented with various settings, and who maybe could
share some of their optimal settings?? Thank you.

Gary
================

 

[Harkhof]

Thanks Hark for the tips. I never would have found it, hidden in those
settings.

Question for you or others who use VideoSoap. Since I'm using a cable
splitter to run a cable-TV cable to both my main TV and the AIW card, my
picture on both is just slightly degraded (expected with a splitter).

My VideoSoap default settings were set to LOW. So apparently, it's been
running without my knowing it. But there are also MEDIUM and HIGH
settings for VideoSoap.

It's hard for me to tell with the preview window, but my question is:
"Why wouldn't you always use the highest setting for VideoSoap, in order
to get the cleanest, least noisy picture quality?"

I do most of my recording with a Navis Pro card, so I haven;t fooled around
much with the video soap, but I believe that too much video soap can make
the picture too 'soft', or blurry. Also, as far as the splitter issue goes,
you may want to install a signal amplifier after the splitter going to the
AIW. If you are watching what you record on a high res monitor, you can
expect the image quality to be grainy.

Hark

 

[Marx]

Harkhof napisa³(a):

1) Right click on the TV window and choose set up
2) Click on the "Personal Video Recorder" tab
3) click on the "Map Preset" button
4) Either edit a preset or create a new one or simply click on the "Edit
Videosoap" button for the current preset.

I did but I can't see any differences on screen, I even can't hit button
allowing to see half of picture with videosoap, and half without.
Does it works only during recording?
Marx

 

[xmradio]

Harkhof napisa³(a):


I did but I can't see any differences on screen, I even can't hit button
allowing to see half of picture with videosoap, and half without.
Does it works only during recording?
Marx

It works during recording. You can still buy the program for $300.

xman

 

[Marx]

xmradio napisa³(a):

It works during recording. You can still buy the program for $300.

And then it will work during playback too?
Where can i read about it?
Marx

 

[xmradio]

xmradio napisa³(a):


And then it will work during playback too?
Where can i read about it?
Marx

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_2/ati-aiw-9700-pro-6-2003.html
ATI has also included what they call Videosoap to help clean up poor or
noisy video signals. For those of you familiar with DScaler, Videosoap would
be similar to the filters menu. There are several filter options which can
be applied in combination. The supplied filters include Despeckle, Soft
Focus, and Sharpen. I was impressed with Videosoap when dealing with poor
signals, as it made playback noticeably better, but with a good signals you
will want to leave Videosoap off because it can soften and introduce edge
enhancement to the image.

Videosoap is only available on pre-recorded video, which is most likely
because it is CPU intensive and could cause dropped frames, resulting in
jerky video. However, I am not convinced this is a valid reason, since ATI
has provided a preview window which shows the filters applied in real-time
with no noticeable degradation in playback.



http://www.driverheaven.net/archive/index.php/t-38596.html



http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/whathappenedto/p/photosoap.htm

http://www3.shopping.com/xPR-ATI_ALL_IN_WONDER_9800_PRO~RD-180335447684

Capturing is also awesome on this card. ATI has some built in filters they
call "Video Soap" to help clean up the video's as they're captured, and they
work well. However, I prefer to filter after the video has been captured so
that I don't accidently make the video too blury.

I don't see where you can buy the software anymore. Guess its been bought by
ati.



xman

 

[gary]

Thanks to all for the tips. Been using the PREVIEW button
on VideoSoap, sometimes in half-screen and sometimes in
full-screen. I can see the difference in the preview screens.

I try to position the preview screen, so it is in FULL
SCREEN mode, and to the left/right of the original TV screen
to get a better comparison.

I've noticed too, that too much VideoSoap softens the image,
and too much sharpness makes it grainy.

What I can't tell, and don't know, is what the DEFAULT
"combo filters" are composed of. Do they use some
combination of the OTHER filters, like sharpness, despeckel,
soften, etc.? Or is it something entire different?

My guess is that it's a combination of the available filters
shown on the filter list. There are two COMBO filters (#1
and #2). I guess the only way to find it, is to just test
them both, and find what works the best on different channels.

If you're cable is like mine, some channels come in more
clear and sharp (and colorful) than others. And thus
depending on the channel you're recording, you need varying
amounts (or none at all) of VideoSoap and other so-called
filters.

It's the old trial-and-error thing. Hey thanks again to all
who replied to this thread, and to xman for providing all
those helpful links.

Gary
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