TITLE: ActionMedia(R) II Drivers for Indeo(TM) Video KEYWORDS: AMII, ActionMedia, Indeo ActionMedia II Drivers Update -- Version 2.12-A2 The purpose of this updated version of the ActionMedia(R) II drivers is to provide i750(R) hardware accelerated playback of Indeo(TM) Video files under Microsoft's Video for Windows. This package includes the Indeo Video Driver V2.12, which incorporates the software playback performance and image quality improvements that were introduced in version V2.11. In addition, this Indeo Video driver supports hardware acceleration of AVI files captured by Intel's Smart Video Recorder, including 320x240 resolution. Furthermore, driver support has been enhanced to provide hardware accelerated playback of PLV bitstreams on ActionMedia(R) II. An additional feature was introduced with Intel's Smart Video Recorder that allows the "raw" capture of video data and stores it as uncompressed YVU9 data. The YVU9 Driver allows software playback of these "raw" files. UPDATE DRIVER KITS: ------------------- There are 3 driver update kits available on Compuserve INTELACCESS Library 9 and on Intel's BBS (916) 356-3600. The driver updates are packaged according to the type of video accelerated hardware boards installed, i.e. ActionMedia II or RT Video. The Indeo Video Driver V2.12 is included in all 3 packages. If you have an ActionMedia II Board, then download AM2UPD.EXE. If you have an RT Video Developer Kit, then download RTUPD.EXE. Otherwise, for software playback download INDOVW.EXE. NOTES: 1) These ActionMedia II drivers were originally posted May 11, 1993. This update includes fixes to the reported installation problems. No additional features have been added. Therefore, if you have successfully installed the previous update, then you do NOT need to download this package. 2) In order to decrease the size of this update, we reduced the confidence test file, DANCE.AVI to a 1 second clip. Thus, if you want to maintain the larger file, rename it prior to running setup. NEW AND UPGRADED DRIVERS ------------------------ * INDEO.DRV -- Intel Indeo(TM) Video Driver V2.12 INDEO.DRV has been upgraded to: - Allow playback of files captured using the Intel Smart Video Recorder, including 320x240 resolution. - Provide improved support for analog keying. - Provide improved support for PAL capture. - Provide improved support for Microsoft PowerPoint, version 3.0. - Provide improved support for Lotus Freelance, version 2.0. - Allow for a lower Capture Key Frames default value: 1 (every frame). A sample Indeo video file is provided with the installation package. If the sample video files are installed, select the Dance icon to view the video. * ISVY.DRV -- Intel YVU9 Driver ISVY.DRV is a new Intel driver in the ActionMedia II driver package. ISVY.DRV allows files containing data in an uncompressed video format called "YVU9" to be played back in software-only mode in Video for Windows. YVU9 files are captured by the Intel Smart Video Recorder. * PLV2.DRV -- PLV 2.0 Driver PLV2.DRV is a new Intel driver in the ActionMedia II driver package. PLV2.DRV allows files containing data in Production Level Video (PLV) 2.0 format, to be played back in Video for Windows. A sample PLV 2.0 file is provided with the installation package. If the sample video files are installed, select the ConfPLV2 icon to view the video. To play back video, the PLV 2.0 files need to be converted from AVS file format to AVI file format. You can access Intel's AVS-to-AVI conversion program from Compuserve (Intel Access Library 9) or from the Intel Bulletin Board Service ((916) 356-3600). VGA BOARD COMPATIBILITY ---------------------- In addition to the existing 60-Hz VGA boards, VGA boards running at the VESA 72.809-Hz standard can now be used with the ActionMedia II boards and drivers. NEW AND UPGRADED TOOLS ---------------------- * Configuration Program The Configuration program has been improved to accept PAL-format video capture. * VIDRATE VIDRATE is a new program that runs under Windows, and is used to calculate the Vertical Blanking Interrupt (VBI) frequency. The VBI frequency determines the exact synchronization rate of the installed VGA board. Use VIDRATE any time you: - Change VGA boards. - Change VGA drivers. - Run utility programs that change the settings for your VGA driver. To run VIDRATE, perform the following procedure: 1. Open the "File" menu from the Windows Program Manager. 2. Select "Run." 3. Enter the path for the program; for example: c:\am2\bin\vidrate 4. When the VIDRATE screen opens, select "Check VBI frequency." VIDRATE may display a request to automatically correct the INI file parameters. 5. If VIDRATE made INI file changes, run ALIGNVID to assure proper video display alignment. See VIDRATE's HELP screens for further information. * ALIGNVID ALIGNVID is a program that runs under Windows. This program allows you to accurately align the VGA and hardware-assisted video for Indeo video- or PLV 2.0-formatted data. To access ALIGNVID: 1. Open the "File" menu from the Windows Program Manager. 2. Select "Run." 3. Enter the path for the program; for example: c:\am2\bin\alignvid The ALIGNVID program opens displaying a red, dashed outline of a VGA or XGA display over a grey box (ActionMedia II display). 4. To align either the VGA (or XGA) or the ActionMedia II display, click on the option, "Select alignments." 5. Select the appropriate option: - "PLV, AMII apps align" for ActionMedia II display - "VfW align" for VGA or XGA display See ALIGNVID's HELP screens for further information. KNOWN PROBLEMS -------------- * Resolution Limitations: - Maximum playback resolution size: 640x480 Other video modes are not guaranteed to operate properly with the Indeo video drivers, and may result in misalignment, green-shaded displays, system crashes, or other undesireable system behavior. - Maximum capture resolution size: 160x120 * No support for 75-Hz IBM standard VGA boards. * No audio support. For audio capture or playback, a third-party audio board must be installed into your computer. The audio is directed to the audio board's WAVE driver when a file is played back. * If you play back a file using ActionMedia II hardware, and the video display is not correctly positioned in a Video for Windows window, use ALIGNVID to properly align the video. * If the monitor screen turns green when capturing video, or video playback is jerky, run: 1. VIDRATE to check the VBI frequency. 2. ALIGNVID to check for proper screen alignment. * If the quality of captured video is poor, verify the capture settings in the Configuration program. * In VidCap: - In Overlay mode, when placing an iconized Media Player window over the VidCap window and then moving the icon, a black box remains on the VidCap window. This effect is cleared up by clicking on the VidCap window. - In Monitor mode, when a hardware-assisted video playback window is moved on the screen, there is a slow response time for redrawing the window. * In VidEdit: when expanding a video window using the "Zoom 4x" option, the video plays back only in software mode. * In Media Player: when a software-only video window is zoomed by 2 and CTRL-4 is pressed, there is a slow response time for redrawing the window. * In PowerPoint: if the video display window size appears smaller than the actual size, the alignment is off. * In FreeLance: in Edit mode, a second video window opens when playing the OLE video image. Support ------- For technical support, contact your ActionMedia II board vendor.