Analaog Tv quality - is it just me? - Page 2

erik.p · 2007-01-22, 15:07

Thanks for all the hints & tips.
I tried the MCE drivers (although I have XP Pro), but didn't notice much differance.
The signal in is actually quite good. Still the picture is worse than if fed
straight from the cable-tv cable to the tv. But I can live with that.
Again, thanks for taking your time.

diehard2 · 2007-01-22, 20:00

What decoders do you use? If you're using the decoders that come with MP, you will not be getting the best looking picture. I would recommend the nvidia purevideo decoders. Well worth the $20

quiller · 2007-01-22, 21:16

I agree on both sides: the "MCE" drivers (which work fine for XP) make a huge difference, but the biggest improvement came when I switched to the nVidia codec. It's expensive, but well, well worth the investment.

diehard2 · 2007-01-22, 21:41

I wouldn't call $20 expensive. And I don't even make much money

quiller · 2007-01-22, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by diehard2

I wouldn't call $20 expensive. And I don't even make much money

It's expensive to somebody used to open source software replacing commercial alternatives. I suppose I'm saving a bunch of money, normally with better software in the end, to make one purchase acceptable.

Efros · 2007-01-22, 22:11

I use the purevideo decoder and the HTPC quality is noticeably better than the straight analog cable.

erik.p · 2007-01-23, 07:07

Ok, thanks - I'll give them a shot, and see if there is any differance. Funny thing is I hooked the cable-tv signal into the the LCD TV yesterday and then did som Picture in Picture comparison (cable-tv signal vs computer fed signal) and the both looked equal (to me). Of course my gf argued that the signal was worse than before, because I had to use a splitter to feed them simultaneously...oh well...

elconejito · 2007-01-24, 20:27

Just to throw my hat into the ring on this. I've been fiddling with color settings for about a week now. I have a Hauppauge 150MCE and am using onboard video (ATI x200) to a 32" CRT using the default MPV decoder. I've managed to get the color "close" to what I get from straight cable.

I've adjusted settings in the Hauppauge tweaker which usually works right away, but sometimes requires a reboot before I notice a difference. I have adjusted the colors in the ATI Catalyst drivers for TV, and general color settings. I have adjusted the colors in the MPV decoder.

The main issue I have is that very dark and very light colors are crushed like in the image below. I over-exaggerate a little, but hopefully you see what I mean. And further the black isn't really black, more like a dark gray and the white isnt really white, more like an ivory or cream color. Again, its not *that* bad and I would probably not have noticed if I wasn't doing a direct comparison by flipping back and forth between inputs. See pic below, top half is how it it supposed to look, bottom is how it looks onscreen.

I guess I'm mainly wondering what settings people are generally using for Hauppauge, MPV decoder, and ATI catalyst (if applicable). Also, I wonder if I can use the PureVideo decoder even tho I have an ATI video out?

quiller · 2007-01-24, 22:23

Quote:

I guess I'm mainly wondering what settings people are generally using for Hauppauge, MPV decoder, and ATI catalyst (if applicable). Also, I wonder if I can use the PureVideo decoder even tho I have an ATI video out?

Yes. My video card is an ATI Radeon 9550, and the nVidia codec made more of a difference than everything else I've done. No matter how I adjusted the codecs, ffdshow or ATI, I still ended up with (as you said) gray blacks and creamy whites. With the nVidia codec, it's almost as good as my STB.

elconejito · 2007-01-25, 15:03

thats good news, I'll try and download that this weekend and see how it goes

2007-01-22, 22:11	#16 (permalink)
Efros Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 459 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	I use the purevideo decoder and the HTPC quality is noticeably better than the straight analog cable. __________________ "Here's to the electron may it never be of any use to anyone!" Allegedly a toast at the Royal Institute of Physics at the turn of the 20th Century. Current skin: Mepo Green

2007-01-24, 20:27	#18 (permalink)
elconejito Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Springfield, VA Age: 33 Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Just to throw my hat into the ring on this. I've been fiddling with color settings for about a week now. I have a Hauppauge 150MCE and am using onboard video (ATI x200) to a 32" CRT using the default MPV decoder. I've managed to get the color "close" to what I get from straight cable. I've adjusted settings in the Hauppauge tweaker which usually works right away, but sometimes requires a reboot before I notice a difference. I have adjusted the colors in the ATI Catalyst drivers for TV, and general color settings. I have adjusted the colors in the MPV decoder. The main issue I have is that very dark and very light colors are crushed like in the image below. I over-exaggerate a little, but hopefully you see what I mean. And further the black isn't really black, more like a dark gray and the white isnt really white, more like an ivory or cream color. Again, its not that bad and I would probably not have noticed if I wasn't doing a direct comparison by flipping back and forth between inputs. See pic below, top half is how it it supposed to look, bottom is how it looks onscreen. I guess I'm mainly wondering what settings people are generally using for Hauppauge, MPV decoder, and ATI catalyst (if applicable). Also, I wonder if I can use the PureVideo decoder even tho I have an ATI video out? __________________ MP TV Server/Client: Windows XP SP3 :: MP 1.0 RC2 SVN19876 :: 2x Avermedia Combo PCIe (M780) ATSC/NTSC :: Intel Core2Duo E6300 :: 2GB RAM :: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L :: 1x WD2500AAKS, 2x WD3200AAKS :: GIGABYTE 7600GT (heatsink, no fan) :: Onboard Audio :: Output to a 32" CRT.

2007-01-25, 15:03	#20 (permalink)
elconejito Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Springfield, VA Age: 33 Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	thats good news, I'll try and download that this weekend and see how it goes __________________ MP TV Server/Client: Windows XP SP3 :: MP 1.0 RC2 SVN19876 :: 2x Avermedia Combo PCIe (M780) ATSC/NTSC :: Intel Core2Duo E6300 :: 2GB RAM :: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L :: 1x WD2500AAKS, 2x WD3200AAKS :: GIGABYTE 7600GT (heatsink, no fan) :: Onboard Audio :: Output to a 32" CRT.

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2007-01-22, 15:07	#11 (permalink)
erik.p Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	Thanks for all the hints & tips. I tried the MCE drivers (although I have XP Pro), but didn't notice much differance. The signal in is actually quite good. Still the picture is worse than if fed straight from the cable-tv cable to the tv. But I can live with that. Again, thanks for taking your time.

2007-01-22, 20:00	#12 (permalink)
diehard2 Portal Developer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 513 Thanks: 2 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts Country:	What decoders do you use? If you're using the decoders that come with MP, you will not be getting the best looking picture. I would recommend the nvidia purevideo decoders. Well worth the $20

2007-01-22, 21:16	#13 (permalink)
quiller Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nebraska Age: 23 Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	I agree on both sides: the "MCE" drivers (which work fine for XP) make a huge difference, but the biggest improvement came when I switched to the nVidia codec. It's expensive, but well, well worth the investment.

2007-01-22, 21:41	#14 (permalink)
diehard2 Portal Developer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 513 Thanks: 2 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts Country:	I wouldn't call $20 expensive. And I don't even make much money

2007-01-23, 07:07	#17 (permalink)
erik.p Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	Ok, thanks - I'll give them a shot, and see if there is any differance. Funny thing is I hooked the cable-tv signal into the the LCD TV yesterday and then did som Picture in Picture comparison (cable-tv signal vs computer fed signal) and the both looked equal (to me). Of course my gf argued that the signal was worse than before, because I had to use a splitter to feed them simultaneously...oh well...