Model PX-M401U MPEG-1/2/4 DIGITAL VIDEO CONVERTER FOR USB 2.0 INTERFACE INSTALLATION AND USERS MANUAL JANUARY 2004 Plextor reserves the right to make improvements in the products described in this manual at any time without prior notice. Plextor makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, Plextor Corp. reserves the right to revise this manual and to make changes in its content without obligation to notify any person or organization of such revision or change. This manual is copyrighted, all rights reserved. It may not be copied, photocopied, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form without Plextor's prior permission. Manual copyright ©2003, 2004 Plextor Corp. Second edition, January 2004. Licenses and Trademarks Plextor, and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks and ConvertX is a trademark of Plextor Corp. InterVideo is a registered trademark, and WinDVD Creator and WinDVD are trademarks of InterVideo, Inc. All other licenses and trademarks are property of their respective owners. Notice This product and software are designed to help you in reproducing materials for which you own the copyright or have obtained permission to copy from the copyright owner. Unless you own the copyright or have permission to copy from the copyright owner, you may be violating copyright laws and may be subject to payment of damages and/or other penalties. If you are uncertain about your rights, you should contact your legal advisor. DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY Model Number: PX-M401U Trade Name: PLEXTOR Responsible Party: PLEXTOR Corp. Address: 48383 Fremont Blvd, Suite 120, Fremont, CA 94538-6509, USA Telephone Number: 510-440-2000 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STATEMENT This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment causes harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. · Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. CAUTION: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS STATEMENT This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme a la norme NMB-003 du Canada. This page intentionally left blank. Table of Contents 1. Getting Started ..............................................................................1 About this Manual ...........................................................................1 Meet Your ConvertX.......................................................................1 What You Can Do with the ConvertX.........................................2 Features of the Plextor ConvertX ................................................3 What You Need to Use the ConvertX .............................................3 What's in the Box ............................................................................4 ConvertX Features and Controls .....................................................5 Front Panel ..................................................................................5 Rear Panel....................................................................................6 A Word about MPEG-4...................................................................7 Precautions ......................................................................................8 2. Installing Your ConvertX .............................................................9 Install the ConvertX Video Converter .............................................9 Installing the ConvertX Device Driver........................................9 Install the ConvertX Drivers......................................................12 Turning the ConvertX On and Off ............................................17 Don't Forget to Register!...........................................................17 If the Installation Failed.............................................................18 Make Sure the ConvertX Is Recognized ...................................18 Troubleshoot Other Devices......................................................19 Changing to Another Computer ................................................19 Connect the Video Input to the ConvertX .....................................20 3. Using Your ConvertX with WinDVD Creator..........................21 Install the WinDVD Creator Software ..........................................21 Start Capturing Video....................................................................22 Overview of Creating a CD or DVD Disc.....................................23 Capturing .......................................................................................25 Configuring Your Input Device.................................................28 Editing ...........................................................................................29 Adjusting a Video Clip ..............................................................31 Adding and Adjusting a Transition ...........................................32 Adding and Adjusting a Title ....................................................33 Adding Audio and Audio Effects ..............................................33 Importing More Media Content.................................................33 ConvertX Digital Video Converter Installation and Users Manual v Table of Contents Previewing Your Project ........................................................... 34 Viewing File Properties............................................................. 34 Saving Your Project .................................................................. 34 Creating......................................................................................... 35 Deleting a Chapter Mark ........................................................... 36 Adding a Chapter Mark............................................................. 37 Editing a Theme Menu.............................................................. 37 Sharing .......................................................................................... 37 Burning a Disc .......................................................................... 39 Burning Options ........................................................................ 40 Compression Options ................................................................ 41 Where to Go from Here................................................................. 42 4. Using the WinDVD Player.......................................................... 43 Install the WinDVD 4 Software .................................................... 43 Launch the WinDVD Player ......................................................... 44 Use the WinDVD Controls ........................................................... 45 5. Maintenance and Troubleshooting ............................................ 47 Upgrading Firmware ..................................................................... 47 Troubleshooting Hints................................................................... 48 Problems with Installation......................................................... 48 Problems with Capture.............................................................. 48 Appendix A: Specifications ............................................................ 49 ConvertX Specifications ............................................................... 49 WinDVD Creator Specifications................................................... 52 Appendix B: Technical Support..................................................... 53 How to Contact Plextor Technical Support................................... 54 Before You E-mail/Log On/FAX/Call .......................................... 54 Returns .......................................................................................... 55 Contacting Plextor's RMA Department .................................... 55 Packing Your ConvertX ............................................................ 56 Shipping Your ConvertX to Plextor.......................................... 56 Appendix C: Warranty................................................................... 57 If You're Outside the U.S. or Canada ........................................... 58 Index................................................................................................. 59 vi ConvertX Digital Video Converter Installation and Users Manual 1. Getting Started Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing the Plextor® ConvertXTM Digital Video Converter. We appreciate the confidence you have shown in us. Our goal is to put you--and keep you--on the leading edge of video capture and compression technology. About this Manual Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference. Use the manual for installation, operation and troubleshooting. If your ConvertX needs service, see your dealer or call Plextor's Technical Support Department. (See "Appendix B: Technical Support" for the different ways you can reach us.) Meet Your ConvertX The Plextor ConvertX is a high-quality digital video converter that takes analog video from a video camera, camcorder, VCR, or cable source and provides high-quality compressed MPEG-1/2/4 digital video for display or archiving onto recordable CD or DVD discs. Figure 1: The ConvertX changes analog video to compressed digital video ConvertX Digital Video Converter Installation and Users Manual 1 Section 1. Getting Started What You Can Do with the ConvertX Uncompressed full-motion video with sound takes as much as one megabyte of storage space per second of video. But with your ConvertX, you can compress that video so that an entire movie fits onto a DVD-- or even a CD! The ConvertX Digital Video Converter and the bundled InterVideo® WinDVD CreatorTM software let you: · Capture: Capture video and sound from analog or digital sources · Edit: Modify that video to get just what you want · Create: Author compelling video projects, complete with titles, menus, sounds, and music · Share: Actually make movies and burn them onto recordable DVD and CDs. In addition, the bundled WinDVD software lets you view your videos and play video files. The ConvertX lets you quickly and easily convert analog images on videotapes into digital video on CDs or DVDs. You can also create new videos for your CD or DVD player or computer, or Webcasts for the Internet. Your ConvertX offers MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 formats, with compression that allows users to store up to 100 minutes of digital video on a CD, or up to 10 hours on a DVD. The bundled WinDVD CreatorTM software guides you through each step of capturing and editing video, adding effects, and burning the finished product. You get everything you need for quality digital production--just what you'd expect from Plextor. 2 ConvertX Digital Video Converter Installation and Users Manual Section 1. Getting Started Features of the Plextor ConvertX · Analog-to-digital conversion: Convert analog video from your camcorder or VCR into digital format for a computer. · Archiving video memories: Archive your video on long-lasting CD or DVD discs. · Real-time MPEG-1/2/4 hardware video capture: Select the best type for your quality and speed requirements. · USB connection: Use Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (480 megabits per second), for video capture at high bit rates. A Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connection maximizes data thr ...