Frequently Asked Questions

I've installed my Videum and it's not working.

• Verify that the board is completely seated in the 16-bit or 32-bit (E)ISA slot inside your PC.  These slots are usually black or brown.   The board should be level and attached to the chassis using the mounting screw.
• Verify that all of the cables are connected securely to the proper board.  If you have a Winnov color video camera it must be connected to the MXC port on the Videum board.  Connect the S-Video version to the S-Video port.
• Verify that there is no other video capture card installed on the computer.  If there is, remove the other card.
• Reboot your computer after installation.

I'm not getting a video display (black screen).  What do I do?

• Verify that your video source is properly connected to the Videum board and powered up.
• Make sure the physical jack used for the connection is the same as the one selected on the Video Control panel.

Composite selects the RCA jack, S-Video selects the 4-pin mini-DIN, and MXC selects the multimedia extension connector.

My video is "scrambled." What do I do?

If your video display is scrambled or video is displayed in the Video Control Panel but not in the application window, try the following:

• Verify that your NTSC/PAL setting is correct for the type of camera you have (Videum AV/VO).
• Verify that your video capture format is compatible with the applications; see the documentation for the application.
• Verify the recommended image sizes and capture formats for the application.
• Try uncompressed capture by setting the compression to YUY2 or RGBT.
• Exit the application and restart the application.

I'm getting lots of "dropped frames" when I capture video.  What should I do?
If you are getting poor video capture performance, try the following:

• Select the WNV1 hardware compression in the Video Control Panel.
• Try defragmenting your hard disk.
• Use the Video Control Panel to set a smaller image size.

I'm not getting any sound.  What's the problem?
If you have no sound output, the following may help:

• Verify that your speakers are properly installed and the volume is turned up.
• If the speakers require external power, be sure they are connected to a power source.
• If you have another audio board, use the Multimedia control panel to set the audio playback to the Videum board.  Then select the Use Preferred Devices Only checkbox.
• Use the Videum Audio Control Panel to verify that the speakers are turned on, the volume is set, and the speakers are not set for mute.
• For Windows 95 only, verify that the SYSTEM.INI file has the following entry: [drivers] wave=moviea0.drv

I'm having difficulty recording and capturing audio.  What do I do?

• Verify that the audio input cable is connected securely to the Videum board.  A mono audio source is only heard from the left speaker.
• If you have another audio board, use the Wave Mapper (Windows 3.1) or the Multimedia control panel (Windows 95/NT) to verify that the Videum board is set for audio recording.  Then select the correct audio source and recording levels.  Set the recording source levels close to the peak loudness, and try again.

How can I speed up Microsoft NetMeeting?
Many factors can affect NetMeeting's frame rate and image quality. If you need more speed, you can "tweak" NetMeeting to get the best possible frame rate. Here are some tips:

• More bandwidth is better. ISDN speeds or LAN speeds provide the best quality.
• The processor power can make a big difference. An MMX processor is the best, although a Pentium 133 (at a minimum) or Pentium 90 will also work. Using a Pentium 75 or slower will often not be adequate for NetMeeting.
• Use a small video size whenever possible because it's faster and the audio is better.
• Increase the compression rate for faster speed. Set the compression rate by right-clicking on the video, choosing properties, and using the slider to choose a sharper video or faster frame. Always keep this on "faster video." If the video quality seems blurry, slide the slider to "better quality" (note: this may delay your audio a bit, depending on the processor).
• Less movement increases the frame rate since videoconferencing compression is based on movement. The less you move, the smaller the amount of data that needs to be sent.
• Less complex images increase the frame rate. You can improve the rate by pointing the camera at a white wall and by adjusting the lighting and the camera.
• Audio quality also affects the speed. Use a headset or microphone with anti-noise and anti-echoing circuitry. This way NetMeeting doesn't need to use bandwidth to send audio "noise."
• Set the Windows Desktop to 16-bit color.