
                  Hardware MPEG Drivers for Windows 95
                 Hardware MPEG Drivers for Windows 3.1
                     DirectDraw/DirectVideo Runtime

                            August 2nd, 1996

       Terminator 64/Video with Hardware MPEG (T2212M, T2212MEDO)
            Terminator 64/3D with Hardware MPEG (T2312MEDO)

Contents:

How To Set Up And Use Hardware MPEG Decompression
        Introduction
        What Does It Do?
        Step 1: Install The Microsoft Software
        Step 2: Install Our Hardware MPEG Driver
        Step 3: Connect The MPEG Decompression Module's Audio Output To
        Your Sound Card, Speakers or Stereo System
        Step 4: Play an MPEG File
        Testing MPEG Playback
	Known Limitations
        How To Contact Hercules


How To Set Up And Use Hardware MPEG Decompression
=================================================

[note: these are the same instructions that are contained in the printed
"How To Set Up And Use Hardware MPEG Decompression" supplement included
with your Hercules product.]

Introduction
------------

Thank you for buying a Hercules product!

Your new Terminator 64/Video or Terminator 64/3D came with our TMPEG2000
hardware MPEG decompression module.  This README file contains the
information you need to install the software necessary for the module's
operation under the Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 operating systems. If
you've just opened the box and you haven't yet installed your new
accelerator into your PC, you'll want to put this aside for a moment and
turn first to the main Installation Guide.  It covers the installation
instructions for your hardware and the main display drivers.  Then, read
this supplement for instructions for installing the special hardware
MPEG decompression drivers.

What Does It Do?
----------------

The TMPEG2000 MPEG-1 decompression module performs the
processor-intensive work of decompressing MPEG-1 video clips and VideoCD
titles.  It can greatly improve the quality of MPEG playback, giving you
a smoother frame rate with less audio dropouts.  Since it's performing
most of the work involved in MPEG playback, it also frees up your
computer's CPU to perform other tasks.  So, if you like, you can run a
Windows application and watch an MPEG video clip at the same time.

There are four steps for setting up your MPEG decompression module:

1. If you're using Windows 95, you'll install the Microsoft DirectDraw
   and DirectVideo software we've provided.  If you're using Windows
   3.1, you'll install the runtime version of Video for Windows that
   we've provided.

2. Next, you'll install the hardware MPEG driver.

3. Next, you'll connect the MPEG decompression module's audio output to
   your sound card, speakers or stereo system

4. lastly, you'll play an MPEG file to verify that everything is
   installed correctly.

Step 1: Install The Microsoft Software
--------------------------------------

If you're using Windows 95:

The first step is to install Microsoft's DirectDraw and DirectVideo
software.  DirectDraw and DirectVideo make your system more compatible
with multimedia software and hardware add-ons.  You may already have
DirectX installed on your PC, but for best results, we recommend
installing the copy we've provided.

1. Start Windows 95.

2.  If you received your software on CD-ROM, execute the
    \DIRECTX\SETUP.EXE program on the CD-ROM.  If you received your
    software on diskette, insert the diskette labeled "Microsoft
    DirectDraw/DirectVideo Runtime" and run the SETUP.EXE program on the
    diskette.

3.  The DirectX setup program will install a few files.  We recommend
    that you restart Windows 95 after the setup program has completed.

If you're using Windows 3.1:

1.  Start Windows 3.1.

2a. If you received your software on CD-ROM, you'll execute the
    setup program from the CD-ROM:

If you own a...        Execute the following setup program...
-------------------------------------------------------------
Terminator 64/Video    \TERM\WIN31\T64VIDEO\VFW\SETUP.EXE
Terminator 64/3D       \TERM\WIN31\T64_3D\VFW\SETUP.EXE

2b. If you received your software on diskette, insert the diskette
    labeled "Video for Windows Runtime" and run the SETUP.EXE program on
    the diskette.

3.  The Video for Windows setup program will install a few files, and
    then ask you if you'd like to restart Windows.  Select Yes.


Step 2: Install Our Hardware MPEG Driver
----------------------------------------

After Windows has restarted, you'll install the device driver that
allows Windows to recognize your MPEG decompression module.

If you're using Windows 95:

1a. If you received your software on CD-ROM, you'll execute the setup
    program from the CD-ROM:

If you own a...        Execute the following setup program...
-------------------------------------------------------------
Terminator 64/Video    \TERM\WIN95\MPEG\T64VIDEO\SETUP.EXE
Terminator 64/3D       \TERM\WIN95\MPEG\T64_3D\SETUP.EXE

1b. If you received your software on diskette, insert the diskette
    labeled "Windows 95 Hardware MPEG Driver" and run the SETUP.EXE
    program on the diskette.

2.  The hardware MPEG setup program will install a few files, and then
    ask you if you'd like to restart your PC.  Again, select Yes.

If you're using Windows 3.1:

1a. If you received your software on CD-ROM, you'll execute the setup
    program from the CD-ROM:

If you own a...        Execute the following setup program...
-------------------------------------------------------------
Terminator 64/Video    \TERM\WIN31\T64VIDEO\MPEG\SETUP.EXE
Terminator 64/3D       \TERM\WIN31\T64_3D\MPEG\SETUP.EXE

1b. If you received your software on diskette, insert the diskette
    labeled "Windows 3.1 Hardware MPEG Driver" and run the SETUP.EXE
    program on the diskette.

2.  The hardware MPEG setup program will install a few files, and then
    ask you if you'd like to restart your PC.  Again, select Yes.

NOTE: If you're using either version of Windows, installing our hardware
MPEG driver will override most software-based MPEG drivers, like the
XingMPEG software that you've also received with your new Hercules
product.  This is okay - now that you have hardware MPEG decompression,
you won't need to rely on software-based MPEG decompression any more -
but if you need to revert to software-based decompression, reinstalling
your software MPEG driver will override our hardware MPEG driver.  You
can switch back nd forth between software and hardware MPEG
decompression by reinstalling the appropriate driver.


Step 3: Connect The MPEG Decompression Module's Audio Output To Your
Sound Card, Speakers or Stereo System
--------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT: we recommend that you turn your PC off before taking this
step!

The audio portion of MPEG files comes from the MPEG decompression
module's audio jack.  This 1/8" audio jack is mounted on the bracket of
the multimedia or 3D accelerator and puts out a line-level stereo
signal. If you already have a sound card in your PC, you can use the
audio cable we've provided to route the output of the MPEG decompression
module through your sound card and to your speakers.  Insert one end of
the cable into the audio jack on the MPEG decompression module, and
insert the other end into the "line in" jack on the bracket of your
sound card. You may also attach a pair of amplified computer speakers to
the MPEG decompression module; the output may also be sent to a stereo
system with a suitable adapter cable (not included).

Step 4: Play An MPEG File
-------------------------

Next, you'll want to play one of your MPEG clips or VideoCDs to verify
that the module is working correctly.  If you don't have an MPEG file
and you've received your software on CD-ROM, you'll find some in the
\CLIPS\MPEG\ and the \XING\ directories.  Before playing an MPEG file
for the first time, we recommend that you turn down the volume control
on your speakers or amplifier, just in case the default volume is too
loud.  Once you're viewing the file, turn up the volume to an acceptable
level.

If you're using Windows 95:

The Video Player in our Hercules Entertainment Center(tm) multimedia
control center may be used to play MPEG files.  You'll find Hercules
Entertainment Center in the Hercules PowerTools folder.  Click on the
Video Player to turn it on, then click on the "file open" button.
Select "MpegVideo..." from the "List Files of Type" menu, and then
navigate to a directory that contains an MPEG clip. If you've routed the
audio output of the MPEG decompression module to the line in jack of
your sound card, you can use the Video Player's volume control to adjust
the output level.  Click on "Configure" in the Hercules Entertainment
Center bookshelf, and then select the "Video" tab.  Choose the option
marked "Volume buttons control sound from sound card's external line-in
jack." You can also play MPEG files with the Media Player that's
included with Windows 95.  If you chose to install the multimedia tools
when you installed Windows 95, you'll find it in
Programs/Accessories/Multimedia.  Select "MPEG..." from the "Device"
menu, then use File/Open and choose an MPEG file.  If you've routed the
audio output of the MPEG decompression module to the line in jack of
your sound card, you can adjust the playback volume with the Mixer in
Hercules Entertainment Center, or with the "Vo lume Co ntrol"
application in Programs/Accessories/Multimedia.

Please see "Testing MPEG Playback", below, for more instructions.

If you're using Windows 3.1:

You can play MPEG files with Microsoft's Media Player application.  The
location of Media Player will vary depending on your Windows
installation, but you'll probably find it in the Accessories program
group.  Launch Media Player, select "MPEG.." from the "Device" menu,
then use File/Open and choose an MPEG file.  If you've routed the audio
output of the MPEG decompression module to the line in jack of your
sound card, you can use your sound card's mixer software to adjust the
playback volume.

Testing MPEG Playback    
---------------------

Once the MPEG file is playing, try expanding it to full-screen (if
you're using the Video Player in Hercules Entertainment Center, you can
do this quickly by double-clicking on the video screen to turn it into a
window, then right-clicking on the window and selecting "full screen"
from the floating menu).  If everything's working correctly, you should
be able to view your MPEG file at full screen size without degradation
in audio quality or frame rate.  Additionally, your Hercules accelerator
is performing filtering and smoothing which improves image quality.

When you're operating your Terminator 64/Video or Terminator 64/3D at
the limits of its performance by running your display at one of the
higher resolutions, color palette sizes, or refresh rates, the
Terminator's ability to process the video stream from the MPEG
decompression module is reduced.  When this happens, you may see
distortion in the form of blocky pixels or "sparkles" on the video
playback window.  You can lessen this distortion by selecting a lower
refresh rate, running at a lower resolution, or with a smaller color
palette size.

If you encounter any problems, or if you have any questions, please
contact us.  We'll be glad to help you.


Known Limitations
-----------------

Noise problems may be experienced when playing video files at following
modes:

    640x480x32bpp - 90 Hz or higher
    800x600x8bpp - 120 Hz
    800x600x16bpp - 90 Hz
    1024x768x8bpp - 70 Hz or higher
    1024x768x16bpp - 60 Hz or higher

You may avoid this problem by lowering the refresh rate via the refresh
rate selection utility within Touch 95.


How To Reach Us
---------------

Here's how to contact Hercules:


United States                           Germany
=============                           =======

Telephone:
(800) 323-0601 or (510) 623-6050        +49-89-8989-0573

Fax:
(510) 623-4215
Fax-back service: (800) 711-HERC        +49-89-8989-0585

BBS:
(510) 623-7449                          Analog: +49-89-8989-0576
                                        ISDN: +49-89-8989-0234

Mail:
Hercules Computer Technology            Bussarstr. 5
3839 Spinnaker Court                    D-82166 Grafelfing
Fremont, CA 94538                       Munchen
Hercules Computer Technology            Germany

CompuServe:             GO HERCULES

World Wide Web:         www.hercules.com

FTP:                    ftp.hercules.com

e-mail:                 support@hercules.com


We've set up a page on our Internet World Wide Web site just for Windows
95 users.  It contains the latest information on Windows 95 drivers and
utilities, as well as the answers to our most frequently asked
questions, so you'll want to check it first before contacting us.  The
URL is:

http://www.hercules.com/support/Win95/

We're on an aggressive Windows 95 development schedule, so if you have
an Internet e-mail address, be sure to join one of our mailing lists to
keep up on the latest news.  Complete instructions for subscribing to
this service are on our World Wide Web site, in our Installation Guide,
and in the README.TXT file on the CD-ROM or Installation Diskette that
came with your Hercules product.


-----

Hercules Computer Technology, Inc. makes every effort to ensure that
this document is accurate.  However, because we are always striving to
improve our products, we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of this
document after the date of publication, and we disclaim liability for
any changes, errors or omissions.  No reproduction of this document, in
any form, is allowed without the permission of Hercules Computer
Technology, Inc. Copyright (c) 1993-6, Hercules Computer Technology,
Inc., 3839 Spinnaker Court, Fremont, CA 94538, 510-623-6030.  Hercules
is a registered trademark and Hercules Terminator and Hercules
Entertainment Center are trademarks of Hercules Computer Technology,
Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners
who are not associated with Hercules.


