| Author |
Topic: Bundled software |
Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
|
Posted 27 Jul 2001 11:23 am |
|
When I purchased my ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon video card, MGI's VideoWave III came bundled with it. I upgraded to Version 4.0 at a cost of $99. All gung ho, I proceeded to capture video and make some video tapes, but this never happened. I had problems transfering my captured video to VCR. Contacted MGI for help. They informed me that ATI does not support MGI software. What the hell gives??? Why would software be bundled with a product if it is not supported. I am a very unhappy camper. has anyone else had this problem with MGI/ATI or any other products???
Thanks
Joe |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 27 Jul 2001 3:39 pm
|
|
I would have went to MGI if I had a problem with their software, not the hardware vendor. I wouldn't expect the hardware vendor would be able to support someone else's software products.
There may be exceptions but in most cases a vendor that supplies bundled software with their product does not support it.
Two other things to consider on the bundling. First, a lot of the s/w is "promotional" from the s/w vendor's and second, most of the bundled s/w is either older versions or special "lite" versions and they supply that in hopes you will update to the current or full version. |
|
|
|
Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
|
Posted 27 Jul 2001 4:14 pm
|
|
Jack, They got their wish with me. I upgraded and bought the full version of VideoWave.
Now I'm really screwed. I can't go to the hardware people because they don't support the software & I can't go to the software people because they don't support the hardware.
Bundling software with hardware is very decieving and I think criminal. By simply putting both products into one box leads me to believe they would be compatible with each other. That's like giving a years supply of gas to a new diesel car owner or a bike tire for a spare for a tractor or a can of paint for hair dye or a toilet bowl brush with a tube of tooth paste, etc, etc.
Joe |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 28 Jul 2001 2:28 am
|
|
Usually with bundled software, they bundle programs that will show off the capabilities of the hardware. They wouldn't provide s/w that was incompatible as they would be shooting themselves in the foot.
Look closely at the MGI requirements and see if your system meets their minimum requirements for the software. It could be you need something else, other than just the ATI hardware for the software to work correctly. e.g. a certain level of Direct X, minimum CPU, etc.
Also, fall back to the original software supplied with the ATI card and try that, to see if everything works.
I don't have an ATI card and have never done any work with recording video, but check your procedure against the instructions to make sure you are doing it correctly. Could be one small, not apparent, step that is missing.
I have no knowledge of what you are doing and you may be following the instructions completely, but a lot of calls I get from my clients because something doesn't work right is because they didn't follow the instructions or were trying to do something it was not designed to do.
Finally, in ANY computer hardware/software it's mostly "buyer beware". I find that vendor support in general sucks. |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 28 Jul 2001 2:43 am
|
|
| I just went to the ATI site and according to their listing, they supply Ulead Video Studio, not an MGI product????? |
|
|
|
Lem Smith
From:
Long Beach, MS
|
Posted 28 Jul 2001 8:28 pm
|
|
Here's a link to a page where you can access customer forums for MGI products. I do video capture/editing on my computer also. Although I don't use MGI software, but instead use the Studio line of products from Pinnacle, I often find that the customer forums provide some of the best information regarding problem solving.
http://www.mgisoft.com/support/community/index.html#
Hope this helps,
Lem |
|
|
|
Everett Cox
From:
Marengo, OH, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 29 Jul 2001 2:30 am
|
|
Joe-- You never got back to me to let me know if any of the info I emailed you did any good.
Checking the ATI and MGI sites, it would not seem you should have compatability problems. While there may be other choices, both will handle .AVI as well as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 files. I had requested you check the name of your captured/edited clips to determine what the file type is.
What happens when you double-click one of your edited files??? Does it open? If so, with what player/viewer? If it DOES open and you can watch the video on your computer monitor, I'm sure your problem getting it out to the vcr is not caused by bad software.
I had noted that in order to get video out to a TV, VCR, or anything else, you must FIRST get your ATI card connected. That means physically with the supplied cables/adapters and ALSO thru the 'Display Settings'. Get to the ATI display settings from Control Panel or from the ATI icon in your system tray.
When you open the ATI display settings, a window will appear with both a monitor and a TV representation. Presuming you have properly made the PHYSICAL connection and the TV or VCR is turned on, click the 'switch' on the 'TV' in the ATI window. The 'TV' should then indicate 'Connected'. If so, you're ready to roll. If it still is 'Not Connected', check the cables and make sure the device is turned on.
I had also noted that some TV's and VCR's require you to 'enable' the external connectors. I've got one TV which must be set to channel 2 in order to accept composite input and another TV and VCR which must have the 'AUX' enabled.
ATI provides NTSC (US), PAL (Europe) and SECAM (Asia ?) products. You DID get the NTSC version, right??? Don't laugh - people have made that mistake.
If you wish, edit a clip of 1 or 2 minutes or whatever will fit on a floppy and send it to me. Hope this helps. --Everett |
|
|
|
Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
|
Posted 29 Jul 2001 8:10 am
|
|
Everette
I'm sorry I never replied, but while cleaning out the email folders,I accidentally trashed my emails before I could save them and/or rememeber who they were from. Need a backup, backup trash can.  First, thanks for all the info, and I'll be in touch. I'm re-checking and reading all the manuals and cables. Can be a bit frustrating.
Thanks Joe |
|
|
|
Joe Delaronde
From:
Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
|
Posted 7 Aug 2001 5:32 pm
|
|
OK!
I finally got a reply from MGI.
You guys hit it on the head, but the block between my ears couldn't or wouldn't understand.
This is what they wrote. It might help somebody else.
Dear customer:
To output items back into the VCR you would not use our software. Keep in mind our software is merely a VIDEO EDITING software and not a VIDEO OUTPUT software. What you need to do is produce your movies in an MPEG format, go to the location on your hard drive where this produced files resides at, double click on it so that it comes up in WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER, and run your movie in a full screen mode through there. If there are questions on how to output your video using the FULL SCREEN FUNCTIONALITY of WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER, you need to actually speak with ATI for further assistance. Being that the files have been produced for you, our software's editing functionality is complete and it's the ATI card that comes in to play at this time.
So there we go!
Now to try it.
Thanks formites.
Joe
|
|
|
|
