Developer Documentation
PATHHardware Documentation > Original Power Mac G3 Computers Developer Note


Video Input

The Apple Audio/Video Input/Output Card and Apple DVD-Video and Audio/Video Card accept video from an external source and display it in a window on the computer's display. In addition to AV support, the Apple DVD-Video and Audio/Video Card also plays video from DVD media in a DVD drive. The features of the video portion of the Apple Audio/Video and Apple DVD-Video and Audio/Video input/output cards are

The Audio/Video Input/Output Card provides AV features for the Power Macintosh G3 computer. The Apple DVD-Video and Audio/Video Card provides AV features and DVD video media playback. The AV cards can accept video input from an external device, such as a VCR or camcorder. The external device can be connected to the cards through either the composite video connector or the S-video connector.

The default window size for the Apple Video Player software is 320 by 240 pixels; the user can resize the window up to 640 by 480 pixels.

The default DVD-video presentation window size for the Apple DVD Player software is 640 by 480 pixels; the user can select three predetermined window sizes or set the window to proportionally fill the entire screen of the current display. The Apple DVD Player software displays input from DVD media in the DVD drive; no other video input source can be viewed with the Apple DVD Player software

Video can be recorded onto the hard drive from an external source at up to 30 frames per second at 320 by 240 pixels using the Apple Audio/Video Input/Output Card. To capture video at 30 frames per second in a 320 x 240 pixel window, the G3 Video Input Update system extension must be installed. The Apple DVD-Video and Audio/Video Card supports video capture at 640 by 480 NTSC and 768 by 576 PAL and SECAM. Currently, it is not possible to capture video at 30 frames per second into a 640 by 480 pixel window without additional high-speed storage hardware.

The video input circuitry for the Power Macintosh G3 computer is provided by the Apple Audio/Video Input/Ouptut Card or the Apple DVD-Video and Audio/Video Card which plug into a dedicated PERCH slot on the main logic board. The PERCH slot connector is a 182-pin microchannel connector. The PERCH slot is a superset of the PCI specification, and it does not accept standard PCI cards.

You cannot record digital video onto the hard disk from a movie playing in DVD mode in a DVD drive.


© 1998 Apple Computer, Inc. - Revised 8/13/98