For automotive enthusiasts and professional racers, achieving peak performance requires every component to work in perfect harmony. The torque converter is a critical element in this equation, responsible for transferring engine power to the transmission and ultimately the wheels. A high-performance converter from a trusted brand like ATI can dramatically improve stall speed, launch characteristics, and overall drivetrain efficiency, making it a vital upgrade for both street and strip.
This roundup focuses on essential ATI performance parts and related conversion tools to help you build a more powerful and reliable vehicle. From robust internal components like dampers and flexplates to the tools needed for video analysis, we’ve compiled a selection of products designed to meet the demands of serious gearheads. Whether you’re fine-tuning your drag car or preserving old racing footage, these items represent some of the best solutions available for high-quality performance and conversion needs.
Our Recommended ATI Performance and Conversion Products
- ATI PERFORMANCE CONVERTER TRANS STREET DRAG CAR RACING STICKER
- ATI PERFORMANCE Bellhousing
- ATI Performance Products 950200 Damper Bolt Kit
- ATI Performance Products 917080 7″ Harmonic Damper
- ATI Performance Products 915700 164 Tooth Flex plate
- Elgato Video Capture – Digitize Video for Mac, PC or iPad
- ClearClick Video to Digital Converter 2.0
- Honestech VHS to DVD 7.0 Deluxe [Retail Pack]
ATI PERFORMANCE CONVERTER TRANS STREET DRAG CAR RACING STICKER
Show your support for high-performance drivetrain components with this large 42-inch decal. It’s an excellent way to customize your car, van, motorcycle, or trailer with a graphic that reflects your passion for racing and performance. The bold design clearly represents the ATI brand, known for its quality torque converters and engine components.
This decal from Hooked-Up-Graphics is designed for easy application on vehicle windows and other smooth surfaces. It offers a custom image look that can enhance the visual appeal of your vehicle, making it stand out at car shows or on the racetrack. It’s a simple and effective method for personalizing your ride and showcasing your mechanical preferences.
ATI PERFORMANCE Bellhousing
Constructed with increased thickness in critical areas, this ATI bellhousing is built to withstand the high-stress conditions of performance driving. The reinforced extension housing and bell flange area are specifically designed to ward off breakage, providing a more reliable connection between your engine and transmission. This durability is essential for handling the increased torque and power of a modified engine.
This component is an exact fitment and designed to meet original part specifications, ensuring a straightforward installation process. As an original replacement, it integrates seamlessly with your existing setup, offering peace of mind and maintaining the integrity of your drivetrain. It’s a robust solution for racers and builders looking for a component that matches OEM fit with superior strength.
ATI Performance Products 950200 Damper Bolt Kit
This damper bolt kit is a crucial hardware set for ensuring your harmonic damper is securely fastened to your engine’s crankshaft. Proper installation is key to the damper functioning correctly, and this kit provides the specific, high-quality bolts needed for the job. The package is substantial, weighing 7.25 pounds, which indicates the durability and robustness of the components inside.
With compact package dimensions, the kit is easy to store and handle in your workshop. It is specifically categorized as an auto part, confirming its dedicated use for automotive applications. For anyone installing or replacing an ATI harmonic damper, having the correct factory-style bolt kit is a necessary step for a professional and reliable build.
ATI Performance Products 917080 7″ Harmonic Damper for Small Block Chevrolet
This 7-inch harmonic damper is engineered for Small Block Chevrolet engines, designed to control harmful torsional vibrations that can cause engine damage. By smoothing out the power pulses from the crankshaft, it helps protect your crankshaft, bearings, and other rotating assembly components from premature wear and failure. This is particularly important in high-RPM and high-horsepower applications common in racing.
The product arrives in a sizable package, reflecting the solid construction and quality of the damper itself. Weighing 11.8 pounds, it is a substantial piece of engineering that contributes to the overall balance and longevity of your engine. It’s a fundamental upgrade for any serious Small Block Chevy build aiming for both performance and reliability.
ATI Performance Products 915700 164 Tooth Flex plate
This SFI 29.1 certified flex plate is built for automatic transmission applications, offering a high level of safety and durability. The SFI certification means it has passed rigorous testing for strength and integrity, which is a mandatory requirement for many sanctioned racing events. It is designed for a vehicle-specific fit, ensuring compatibility with your particular engine and transmission combination.
The flex plate features double MIG/TIG welding, a process that provides additional strength and lasting precision. This meticulous welding technique ensures the component can handle the repeated stress and high torque loads experienced during aggressive launches and shifts. It’s a critical link between your engine and transmission that is engineered for performance and safety.
Elgato Video Capture – Digitize Video for Mac, PC or iPad
The Elgato Video Capture device is a straightforward tool for converting analog video from sources like VCRs and camcorders into a digital format. By connecting via USB 2.0, it allows you to transfer your footage to a Mac, PC, or iPad for editing, sharing, or archival purposes. This process helps preserve old home movies or racing footage that would otherwise degrade on tape.
Its user-friendly design makes the conversion process accessible even for those with limited technical experience. The included software guides you through the steps of capturing and saving your videos. For motorsports enthusiasts, this is a great way to digitize historic races or personal track day recordings for analysis or nostalgia.
ClearClick Video to Digital Converter 2.0
This converter kit is an all-in-one solution for transferring video from VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, and other analog sources onto your computer. A significant advantage is that it includes all necessary cables and software in the box, so you have everything needed to start your conversion project immediately. It simplifies the task of preserving your video library in a modern digital format.
The ClearClick Converter 2.0 is designed for ease of use, focusing on a plug-and-play experience. The bundled software typically allows for basic editing and formatting of your captured videos. This comprehensive package is a convenient choice for anyone looking to convert a collection of tapes without sourcing components separately.
Honestech VHS to DVD 7.0 Deluxe [Retail Pack]
Honestech VHS to DVD 7.0 Deluxe provides a software-based solution for converting your VHS tapes directly to DVD. The retail pack includes the necessary application to run on your computer, allowing you to capture, edit, and burn your videos onto DVDs for playback in standard DVD players. This creates a durable and universally playable archive of your content.
This software often includes features for improving video quality, adding menus, and creating chapters on your DVDs. It’s a dedicated tool for those who prefer the physical media of DVDs over digital files. For racers with a library of events on VHS, this offers a method to compile and preserve those memories on a more stable and viewable format.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in an ATI Performance Converter
When I’m looking for an ATI performance converter to handle high-quality video, my first priority is always the video quality itself. I need a device that can take my raw footage and make it look crisp and professional without introducing artifacts or weird color shifts. I check the maximum input and output resolutions. If I’m working with 4K or even 1080p footage, I make sure the converter can handle that resolution without downscaling it, unless I specifically want it to. The bitrate is a huge deal, too; a higher bitrate generally means better quality, so I look for a converter that gives me control over that setting.
Next, I think about connectivity. What ports do I need now, and what might I need in the future? Most modern ATI converters will have HDMI, but if I’m dealing with older equipment, I might need component or composite inputs. On the output side, I confirm it has the right connection for my recording device or computer. I also consider the build quality. Since this is a piece of hardware I’ll likely be using frequently, I want something that feels solid and well-made, not a flimsy plastic box that might break after a few months of use.
Software and ease of use are massive factors for me. Some converters are basically plug-and-play, while others require specific software to function. I prefer ones that work with popular recording and streaming software like OBS Studio right out of the box. I don’t want to spend hours troubleshooting driver issues. The best ATI performance converter review for high-quality video will often mention how straightforward the setup process is, and I take that feedback seriously. I also look for any extra features, like built-in scaling, audio embedding, or passthrough capabilities, which can save me a step in my workflow.
Finally, I always read user reviews to see how the converter performs in real-world scenarios. Specs on a box are one thing, but hearing from other video editors and streamers about their experience with latency, reliability, and customer support is invaluable. My budget is a consideration, but I view a good converter as a long-term investment in my video quality. I’d rather spend a bit more on a reliable unit from a reputable brand than constantly fight with a cheaper, unstable alternative. This careful approach has helped me find gear that just works, letting me focus on creating content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main advantage of using an ATI performance converter over a generic brand?
The biggest advantage, in my experience, comes down to reliability and consistent video quality. ATI (now part of AMD) has a long history in graphics technology, and their hardware encoders are often optimized for a balance of performance and image fidelity. While a generic converter might look good on paper, I’ve found that ATI-based units tend to have better driver support, less latency, and handle high-bitrate video more reliably. This means fewer dropped frames and a cleaner final product, which is crucial when I’m working on a professional project.
Can I use an ATI performance converter for live streaming?
Absolutely, that’s one of their primary uses. I use mine for streaming all the time. These converters take the video signal from my camera or gaming console and convert it into a format my computer can understand. Then, I can use software like OBS Studio to add overlays, mix audio, and broadcast the feed to platforms like Twitch or YouTube. The key is to ensure the converter has a low enough latency so that what I’m seeing on my preview is almost real-time, preventing any awkward delays between my actions and what the audience sees.
Do I need a powerful computer to use one of these converters?
This is a great question, and the answer is generally no, which is a huge benefit. The heavy lifting of encoding the video is done by the converter itself, not your computer’s CPU or GPU. This is called hardware encoding. So, even if you have an older or less powerful computer, you can still capture and stream high-quality video because the ATI performance converter is handling all the processing. This frees up your computer’s resources for other tasks, like running game software or video editing applications.
What’s the difference between a capture card and a converter?
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there’s a technical difference I always look for. A converter simply changes the signal from one format to another, like HDMI to USB. A capture card, however, does that conversion and records or captures the video data to a file. Many devices marketed as “converters” for high-quality video actually have capture functionality built-in. When I’m shopping, I check the product description carefully to see if it includes recording software or can be used as a video source in recording applications, which confirms it’s a true capture device.
I’m having issues with audio and video being out of sync. How can I fix this?
Audio sync issues are frustrating, but I’ve dealt with them before. The first thing I do is check all my cables and ensure they are securely connected. Then, I look at the settings in my recording or streaming software. There’s often an “audio sync offset” or similar setting that lets me manually delay the audio or video track to realign them. This delay can be introduced by the processing inside the converter. Sometimes, using a different USB port on my computer, preferably a USB 3.0 or higher port, can also resolve timing problems by providing a more consistent data flow.
Are there any specific settings I should use for the best video quality?
For the best results from your 8 best ATI performance converter review for high-quality video, I always start by setting the output resolution to match my source. If I’m capturing a 1080p signal, I set the converter to 1080p. Next, I maximize the bitrate within the limits of my storage and the capabilities of my system. A higher bitrate preserves more detail. I also make sure the color space is set correctly (usually YUV 4:2:0 is standard for recording) and that any “auto” features, like contrast or brightness, are turned off so I have full manual control for a consistent look.