ActionMedia II

@EFDC.ADF - IBM ActionMedia (TM) II Display Adapter/A 
@EFDC.ADF - Intel DS2 Adapter same card / rename to @EFDC.ADF
191-189 PS/2 Actionmedia II Display Adapter/A 2MB, Capture Option
291-594   Actionmedia II Developer's Toolkit ver. 1.0
292-360   Actionmedia II Developer's Toolkit ver. 1.1
192-153   Actionmedia II Upgrade Kits (drivers only)

Software
AM2DRV.EXE:  v2.12 driver Win3.x,  Indeo Video v2.12, YVU9 Video, PLV v2.0, AVS. 
AM2SET.EXE:  (v2.10). Setup and configuration 
actmed2.exe Option disk from IBM 
AM2DOC.PDF:  Hardware installation guide 
AM2SFTDC.PDF: Installation and troubleshooting for Win 3.x 
amiiprog.zip AM II Programmer's Guide and Ref for MCI programming in MMPM/2
            (source with library included)

AVSAVI.EXE: Windows program which converts  some AVS into AVI files. 
avsavi.txt Reame for AVSAVI.EXE
am2os21.exe 558 Kb OS2 driver v1.2 1/2 
am2os22.exe 450 Kb OS2 driver v1.2 2/2 Media Control Driver for MMPM/2
am2win1.exe 271 Kb Windows driver v1.2, 1/2 
am2win2.exe 463 Kb Windows driver v1.2, 2/2 
DVision Cineworks

Person To Person (P2P) Page
DVI Technology Products by Douglas Dixon

Tech notes
ActionMediaŽ II Resource List
Limitations of Using the ActionMediaŽ II in Windows 3.x
ActionMediaŽ II vs. Smart Video Recorder Pro Comparison
ActionMediaŽ II End Of Life Letter



Action Media II
   Delivery Card 
      Setting Jumper E1 for Digital or Analog Keying
   Capture Card
      Install Capture Card
Removing the AVE Contacts
Configure ActionMedia/2 Under OS/2 with AM/2 Configuration Utility
Connectors and Cables
   Video Cable connector (HDD-15)
      Video Cable Pinout
   Auxiliary Video Output Connector (S-VHS / 4 pin DIN)
   Audio/Video Capture Cable 
      Audio/Video Capture Connector Pinout 
   Audio Signal Cable
      ActionMedia/2 to M-ACPA Cable
Power Usage
Autoconfiguration Problems (Not present or disabled)
ActionMedia/2 Error Codes
ADF Sections


ActionMedia II Adapter/A

Delivery Card FRU 69F9733 / PN 69F9732
E1 Digital or Analog Keying 
J1 60 Pin Header 
J2 20 Pin Header 
J3 Video Cable Connector 
J4 S Video Connector 
J5 Audio/Video Capture Connector 
J6 Audio Signal Output 
U20 Intel  82750LV VRAM Gate Array 
U21 Intel 82750PB Pixel Processor 25 
U22 Analog Devices ADSP-2105 
U23 Intel 82750DB Display Processor 
U24 25.0000 MHz Osc 
U26 27C256-12 PLCC 
U27 Intel 82750LA Audio Gate Array 
U32 FPX16.9 
U33 Analog Devices ADV476KP35E 
U35 Intel 82750LH Host Gate Array
1

U21 Intel 82750PB Pixel Processor datasheet
U22 ADSP-2105 DSP Microcomputer datasheet
U23
Intel 82750DB DISPLAY PROCESSOR datasheet
U33 ADV476KP35E CMOS 40 MHz 256x24 Color Palette RAM-DAC datsheet

U35 Intel 82750LH
U20 Intel  82750LV

Intel 82750PB Microcode Programming Guide

272341-003 82750PD VIDEO PROCESSOR
272352-001 82750PD USER'S MANUAL

Jumper Block E1
Analog Analog keying supported. Need Overlay Cable

Digital Dgital keying via AVE / BVE

NOTE: Only one type of keying should be used. 

Removing the AVE Connectors
  While deep in the depths of a hand-to-keyboard struggle with Warp 3 and the ActionMedia/2, I faced a desperate conundrum. I wanted to use an ATI Graphics Ultra Pro, which is an AVE adapter, along with an ActionMedia/2, which is also an AVE adapter. Unlike BVE capable cards, AVE adapters MUST be placed in the AVE slot.

   Fortified with desperation and caffeine, I figured that the AM/2 was to be used with the three port video cable, 69F9737, which means that I'm dealing with analog, so the need for digital keying is moot. NOTE: If you don't have the overlay cable, do NOT whack the AVE connector, as you are stuck with digital keying over the AVE / BVE connectors.

   I took an AM/2 which had complained of a serious error, cut the connector off, and tested it with advanced diagnostics. It passed all tests. The problems that it reported earlier were gone. I then altered another AM/2 and placed it into Slot 1. Configured without a hitch and passed advanced diagnostics.

  I used a pair of diagonal cutters, parallel to the edgecard traces, and just snipped it off a little at a time. I cut the remaining "tooth" off, then used an X-Acto knife to whittle the ragged edge down. I didn't worry about shorting out any traces or pulling them up when I nipped and shaved my way to bliss. The green solder resist is TOUGH and it holds everything in place.


Capture Card Also called the CS-2 FRU 69F9735 / PN 69F9734
J1 20 Pin Header 
J2 60 Pin Header 
U10 Motorola PC44010A 
U11 Intel N85C220 
U15 Motorola XC44250FN 
U16 Intel N85C220 
U18 Intel N85C220
U19 Intel N85C220 
U20 Motorola GSC38PG386CE02 
U21 Intel N85C220 
U24 PLCC 
U25-U28 NEC D42101G-3 
U30-U33 NEC D42101G-3
1



Install Capture Card



       Single monitor configurations, operating in either VGA 640x480 non-interlaced or in XGA (TM) 1024x768 interlaced modes, are supported when the text and graphics information provided by the host PS/2 may be overlaid on the images provided by the ActionMedia II display adapters.  In these configurations, the keying of the overlay is controlled by the output of the host graphics adapter, such that a zero (black) output results in the host information becoming transparent to the images provided by the ActionMedia II adapter. 
       A dual-monitor configuration is also supported, with one monitor used for the host's graphics adapter and a second monitor used for the images provided by the ActionMedia II display adapters, but that does not allow any host text or graphics overlay. 
      With the addition of the ActionMedia II Capture Option, the display adapter's capabilities are extended to include the capturing and digitization of audio and of analog video input signals conforming to either NTSC or P.A.L. television standards, allowing such signals to be monitored on the PS/2 display screen, captured as still frames, or compressed in real time using the DVI Technology Real Time Video capability. 

MACHINE REQUIREMENTS:   The ActionMedia II Display Adapter/A 2MB can be installed in PS/2 machine types 8555, 8557, 8565, 8570, 8573*, 8580, 8590, 8595, and the 7546 Industrial Computers.  Use of the ActionMedia II Audio Video Kernel requires a minimum of 4MB of system memory.  If additional OS/2 applications are required to run in the PS/2, then a minimum of 6MB of system memory is recommended. 
* Models 161 and 401 only, and when configured for external display only. 
NOTE: The ActionMedia II Display requires a 16 or 32-bit AVE slot. 

Supported graphics adapter and monitor cabling configurations
o  PS/2 color monitor connected to AM2 and host VGA with AM2 Video Cable. 
o  PS/2 color monitor connected to AM2 and host XGA / XGA adapter with AM2 Video Cable 
o  PS/2 color monitor connected directly to AM2 and a second PS/2 monitor connected directly to the host VGA / XGA output connector. 

PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS:  IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 is required for the installation of the Audio Video Kernel Version 1.0 device drivers. 
       The MEDIAscript (3) OS/2 Desktop Edition program product from Network Technology Corporation (NTC) is available from NTC for those customers who require an OS/2-based ActionMedia II application authoring and development environment. 

We have found a problem that causes a "Trap 8" (double protection exception) in the device driver "HWDDD$" which is part of ActionMedia II. The problem is caused by a configuration incompatibility with the 3270 connection card. The problem will typically be found when booting up OS/2 with both ActionMedia II, and the 3270 connection ver A card installed at interrupt level 9.

     The 3270 Connect ver A card has only one interrupt level - 9.  The ActionMedia II 2MB/A card has three interrupts, audio, video and capture.Video defaults to level 10, audio to level 10, and capture to level 11. Audio and capture can be set to level 10 or 11, and video to 9, 10, 11 or 12.


Connectors and Cables

 

ActionMedia/2 Video Cable
  This is FRU 69F9737, the three port cable.
 

Auxiliary Video Ouptut
  This is a standard S-VHS / S Video connector
 

Audio/Video Capture
  This is FRU 69F9736, I got mine off Ebuy.
 

Audio Output
   Uses standard 3.5mm connector.
 
 
 
 



ActionMedia II Video Cable connector (Video Cable is FRU 69F9737)
     The ActionMedia II Video Cable connector (15-pin) enables the ActionMedia II Display Adapter/A to take the video signals from a normal PS/2 VGA or XGA display adapter, combine it with ActionMedia II video signals, and send the mixed video signal to a PS/2  display. 
    Depending on the program, the presentation on the PS/2 display is developed from either: 
  o VGA or XGA video signals, 
  o ActionMedia II video signals, or 
  o Mixed ActionMedia II and VGA or XGA  video signals. 
  The default for the ActionMedia is to pass VGA or XGA video signals to the PS/2 display. 

RGB Overlay System (Analog Keying)

 NOTE: Ensure the black and grey connectors are correctly connected. Any other cable connection may cause the adapter to malfunction and cause damage to its internal components. BLACK (short cable) end to ActionMedia II and the (longer cable) end with GRAY connector to VGA (System board) or  XGA adapter. The GREY connector has a pin hole blocked and will not fit on an XGA-2 adapter.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video Cable Pinout FRU 69F9737 
    This may not be perfect.  NOTE: The (White) Base Video HDD15 has Pin 9 missing, the (Black) AMII HDD15 has all pins present. 

Base (White)      Monitor        AMII (Black) 
1  - AMII (15)  1  - AMII (1)   1  - Mon 1 
2  - AMII (4)   2  - AMII (2)   2  - Mon 2 
3  - AMII (12)  3  - AMII (3)   3  - Mon 3 
4  - Mon 4      4  - Base 4     4  - Base 2 
5  - NC         5  - AMII (10)  5  - Base 6-9,10 
6  - AMII (5)   6  - AMII (7)   6  - Mon 7 
7  - AMII (5)   7  - AMII (7)   7  - Mon 7 
8  - AMII (5)   8  - AMII (8)   8  - Mon 8 
9  - NC         9  - NC         9  - Base 14 
10 - AMII (5)   10 - AMII (10)  10 - Mon 10
11 - Mon 11     11 - Base 11    11 - Base 13 
12 - Mon 12     12 - Base 12    12 - Base 3 
13 - AMII (11)  13 - AMII (13)  13 - Mon 13 
14 - AMII (9)   14 - AMII (14)  14 - Mon 14 
15 - AMII (15)  15 - Base 15    15 - Base 1 



Auxiliary Video Output Connector
      The Auxiliary Video Output Connector (4-way DIN) allows connecting an ActionMedia II  Adapter to an S-VHS (also referred to as Y-C) video recorder or similar device. 
NOTE: A cable is not supplied with the option. 

   Pin Signal       Pin Signal
    1  Y Video Gnd   3  Y Video Gnd
    2  C Video Gnd   4  C Video Out
 

Audio/Video Capture Connector
      The Audio/Video Capture Connector FRU 69F9736 (8-way  DIN) is only required when the Capture Option is installed.  If you see mention of an input called "Composite 1", that refers to the red and green connectors of the 8 pin DIN. 

        Capture cable connector ID 
 

Video source
R
 G
B
Y
-Composite video 1 (VCR)
Yes
NC
NC
NC
Composite video 2
NC
Yes
NC
NC
SVHS (Y/C)
Y
C
NC
NC
RGB (sync-on-green)
R
G
B
NC
RGBS
R
G
B
S
R= Red, B=Blue, G= Green, Y= Yellow

Capture Connector Pinout
Pin
Description
Pin Description
1
Comp Sync In
5 Left Audio In
2
Blue Video In
6 Green Video In
3
Red Video In
7 Right Audio In
4
Video Ground
8 Audio Ground

Audio Source Device that provides data at one of these levels: High LINE level output of 6.0 Vp-p. max (audio CD interface). Low LINE level output of 2.0 Vp-p. max (std LINE interface). MIC output of 60 mVp-p. max. A preamp may be necessary for - CD players , VCRs, and mics.



Audio Signal output connector
      The Audio Signal output connector is a 3.5mm standard stereo jack output connector. An amplifier, or active speakers can be attached to the ActionMedia II Display Adapter/A. The input impedance of the headphones or speakers should be at least 600 Ohms to match the output impedance. Use of a lower impedance devices may cause a POST error and a reduction in audio quality. 
   If you are going to use sound, a stereo amplifier or self-amplified stereo device that can accept standard LINE-level audio output (0-2.0 Vp-p.) from the Delivery Board. The audio device must have an input impedance level of approximately 10 KOhms or greater. 
   Headphones are generally low-impedance devices. To use headphones, plug them into an audio amplifier rather than directly into the Delivery Board socket. 

AM2 to ACPA Audio Cable

  If you need to send the output from your M-ACPA to the AM/2, just use a normal male/male audio cable, but put a Y plug to split the audio. It doesn't matter if you plug the Y plug into the M-ACPA or into the AM/2.



Power Usage
      When configuring a PS/2 System with ActionMedia II, it may be necessary to limit the utilization of the system expansion slots to avoid the possibility of overloading the 12 volt power supplies. 
      If the ActionMedia II Display Adapter/A is being installed with the ActionMedia II Capture Option then, besides the slot for the ActionMedia II Display Adapter/A, it is necessary to have a  minimum of either: 
           One empty expansion slot, or One expansion slot occupied by an option card not requiring +12 Vdc or -12 Vdc power. As a guide, it may be assumed that option cards providing networking or communication support are likely to require  +12Vdc or -12Vdc power. 

ActionMedia II Board Power Requirements
Voltage
Delivery Board 
(2 MBytes VRAM)
CaptureModule
Total Power
+5 V
1200 mA
400 mA
8.0 W
+12 V
140 mA
190 mA
4.0 W
-12 V
60 mA
40 mA
1.2 W



Is anyone successfully using the ActionMedia II board to improve the performance of Video for Windows and as a capture device.  It looks to me from the Microsoft documentation that I will need INDEO drivers.  I have the MCI and other Windows drivers for AM2. 

Kevin Laux replied:
        The INDEO drivers are included with Video for Windows.  If you go into the control panel and run the drivers applet, you should see the INDEO driver. Click on setup which will bring up a dialog box that has two checkboxes, one that says Software only, the other says Hardware first, then Software.  If the second checkbox is grayed out, then there are several steps that you must take.
        First of all, you must have AM2MCI\BIN in your PATH.  Then you must have a particular microcode file in this directory that Video for Windows looks for in order to enable the hardware assist.  If you don't have the microcode file, which is KE080201.BIN (I think; maybe it's KE080205.BIN), you must get the files from Intel in Princeton, NJ (609-936-7611 is the Customer Support number - leave a message and they'll call you back).
        Once you have the appropriate key microcode file, run the drivers applet from the control panel.  Choose Add, then Add updated or unlisted driver.  Insert the Drivers diskette for Video for Windows and indicate what floppy drive to the Add driver dialog (such as A:\).  Next a list of drivers will be displayed.  Choose the INDEO driver.  You are reinstalling this driver.  If it has already been installed, you will be prompted whether to replace it or not.  Choose New.  The driver will be reinstalled.  You should then see a Message Box saying that the AM2MCI software has been detected and has been updated.  I think you should also see the dialog box I described above concerning the Hardware first, the Software.
        Once, this is complete, you'll be ready to play and capture AVI files with AM II hardware assist.  Note that you only get the assist on AVI files that are INDEO files.  Actually they are RTV 2.1 files in an AVI wrapper.
        Lastly, this stuff is NOT documented anywhere that I know of (well, it is now that I've done this post :-)). Oh, and finally, if you don't have the AM2MCI software, you can call Asymetrix and get into the Beta program - the latest release is Beta 3.  The phone number is 206-637-1660.

;     Has anyone been able to use the IBM/INTEL ActionMedia 2 card with a  laser disc player? Specifically, I want to use my PS/2 DV M57 486SLC2 to operate a Pioneer LD-V4400 player. IBM's multimedia group in Atlanta says I can't do it ... that I would an M-motion card to do what I want. I'm not sure I believe them. Suggestions as to software which can do what I want are greatly appreciated.

George Mulford
   With an ActionMedia II you can control the videodisc player using the MCI drivers from Pioneer (bulletin board number recently posted here).  You can (alternatively) use the MCI drivers included in the most recent version of the M-Control program from IBM;  that's the only way to control a Pioneer 6000, as far as I know.  But the M-Control Program is and has always been a separate product from the M-Motion card...more's the pity, if you bought an M-Motion and wondered where the drivers were!

   You need the capture option on the ActionMediaII in order to do video overlay.  Now...maybe this is what Atlanta was saying:  there is no MCI support for the overlay capability of the ActionMediaII.  You have to link the AVK functions.  Here I get fuzzy:  there exists ToolBook code to do this, but it was only available in the "DVI ToolBook" that was in beta test for a bit and has now been withdrawn?  Have I got this right?  Is anybody bossing the ActionMediaII from ToolBook without using the (now black-market) beta DVI ToolBook?

Digital Video Arts has operating system support software for Windows 3.1 for the AM II card.  Called the NewWorld Operating Environment, it provides indeo acceleration, WAv driver support, digital video MCI device driver support, AVI and AVS file support and more.  Several utilities are included for capture and coniversion of movies and still images.  Their phone number is (215) 586-7920.

>>We've purchased an IBM Action Media II board a while ago, and we've captured some videos in AVSS format with it. Now that MMPM/2 is available, it would be nice to play these videos without having the board installed. Since AVSS seems not to be supported directly by MMPM/2, the AVSS files probably need to be converted to AVI format. Does anybody know about a converter for doing that or has experience in using AVSS files with MMPM/2?
>>
>AVSS files contain compressed video using either RTV or PLV proprietary Intel algorithms.  These data streams are rather computationaly complex for realtime playback in software.  I understand Intel provides a utility that changes the file format to AVI format and converts the RTV or PLV data to Indeo 2.1. Since the AMII had it's own audio formats, I've heard that audio can be problematic depending on how the original clip was created.

        Well, having done a few....you first of all need to capture using RTV 2.1, not 2.0. It will take the audio out of the AVS file, an save it as a Wave file, to be integrated with the AVI file. But this utility is SLOW! It runs at 1 frame per second...even on a DX2/66 M77 machine!

        There is another utility called "SPLICE". It did faster conversions...but again, it had to be RTV 2.1 captures. The New Version of Splice doesn't support AVS/DVI, so it is kinda useless.


Automatic configuration problem with ActionMedia/2 or Image Adapter/A
   After an Automatic Configuration, the adapter support  drivers for ActionMedia/2 or Image Adapter/A will indicate the adapter is not present, or is not functional (No video). 
   The current automatic configuration algorithm will always select the adapter configuration address option that  occupies the smallest amount of space in the "adapter ROM area."  Depending on the software set-up options and application, this may not be adequate.  These address options are the same choices displayed during the manual "Change Configuration" function. This will select "NO SPACE USED (DISABLED)" for the ActionMedia/2 or Image Adapter/A  ROM space.
    Use the Reference Diskette (System Partition) "View Configuration, Change configuration" function, to manually configure the ActionMedia/2 or Image Adapter/ROM address to a selection other than 'DISABLED'. 
  [ed. This may be due to downlevel refdisks. I didn't see this on my 9595-OPT]


ActionMedia2 Error Codes
   If a hardware failure is detected, an 8-digit error code beginning with "0109" is displayed.  The format of the code is:

  0109EESN

  0109 Identifies the ActionMedia II board
  EE   2-digit test category/subsystem code
  S    1-digit slot number (1 to 8)
  N    1-digit nature of failure or portion of test that failed.

EE codes
01 VRAM disable failure
02 Delivery board expansion slot number not found
03 POST ROM checksum failure
04 Reserved
05 Page Access Register test
06 FIFO register Test
07 Video Capture Register test
08 Quick Access Register Test
09 Palette test
10 SCSI test
11 Host memory test, VRAM bank 0 (1st MB)
12 Host memory test, VRAM bank 1 (2nd MB(
13 NA
14 NA
15 82750DB Display Processor clock test
16 82750PB Pixel processor memory test TimeOut error
17 Digital Signal Processor/audio test
18 Reserved
19 Monitor test
20 Reserved
21 82750PB pixel processor memory test, VRAM bank 0 (1st MB)
22 82750PB pixel processor memory test, VRAM bank 1 (2nd MB)
23 NA
24 NA
41 Capture Module VICTOR registers test
42 Capture Module CHROMA registers test
43 Capture Module microcontroller test
44 Capture Module Control Register test
45 Capture Module CHROMA not running

For advanced error codes that show up under advanced diagnostics, go HERE



AdapterID EFDC IBM ActionMedia II Display Adapter/A

Adapter I/O Addressing
   This adapter occupies 64 bytes of I/O space which may be located on any of the available 1024 byte boundaries.
  <"I/O Addresses C000 - C03F" >, C400 - C43F, C800 - C83F, CC00 - CC3F, B000 - B03F, B400 - B43F, B800 - B83F, BC00 - BC3F

Extended Memory Window
  The OS/2 and Windows drivers for this adapter require an 8K window to operate. Some other drivers may require a 32K window - see the information supplied with your driver in this case."
   <"8K  at Address C0000" (C000-C1FF)>, C2000, C4000, C6000,  C8000, CA000, CC000, CE000,  D0000, D2000, D4000, D6000, D8000, DA000, DC000, DE000, "32K  at Address C0000"  (C000-C7FF), D0000, D8000, Disabled

Capture Option Interrupt Level
    You can use interrupt 10 or 11 for the capture Even/Odd interrupts.
      <"Level 11">, Level 10

Video Interrupt Level
     You can use one interrupt from level 9 - 12 for Video interrupts.
     <"Level 10">, Level 11, Level  9, Level 12

Audio Interrupt Level
      You can use level 10 or 11 for Audio interrupts.
     <"Level 10">, Level 11

Adapter Memory Location
   An 8KB block is needed only when the POST prom runs.
        <"C0000-C1FFF">, C2000-C3FFF, C4000-C5FFF, C6000-C7FFF, C8000-C9FFF, CA000-CBFFF, CC000-CDFFF, CE000-CFFFF, D0000-D1FFF, D2000-D3FFF, D4000-D5FFF, D6000-D7FFF, D8000-D9FFF, DA000-DBFFF, DC000-DDFFF, DE000-DFFFF

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