- September 19, 2012
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Makes perfect sense. Thank you kindly for the quick and helpful response. I figured I was set, but that CPU minimum requirement had me worried. Thanks again!
Hauppauge HD-PVR & Colossus Support (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter WileECoyote
- Start date
Don't worry. As said by mm1352000, once you have a GPU that is able to decode H264, your CPU can be a lot less powerful. Right now, one of my XBMC client is running on an Atom processor with ION2 chipset. The Atom by itself would not be able to play HD H264 but as the ION chipset is able to handle the load, the CPU is merely used.
Have fun!
ehfortin
Have fun!
ehfortin
- September 19, 2012
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Thank you both a bunch. This confidence has allowed me the decision to pick one of these up tomorrow (hopefully haha. Never know how late I'll have to stay at work.)
Addendum question: It would seem that locating an actual set of PS3 Component cables could be a challenge. Has there been any reports of 'off-brand' difficulties? In particular I believe an employee is going to attempt to sell me a Mad Catz universal cable set (what it sounded like over the phone). Checked it out online and it appears that it should do the trick, but man I wish I could find the actual Sony PS3 set.
Addendum question: It would seem that locating an actual set of PS3 Component cables could be a challenge. Has there been any reports of 'off-brand' difficulties? In particular I believe an employee is going to attempt to sell me a Mad Catz universal cable set (what it sounded like over the phone). Checked it out online and it appears that it should do the trick, but man I wish I could find the actual Sony PS3 set.
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- September 19, 2012
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Hello again, I have another question, more of an issue this time.
Short background story: Hauppauge is purchased and set up - had no problems there. I am attempting to record footage off of my PS3.
Here's the issue. When using the PS3 option(top) the output is a format of .M2TS (and also, when selecting the PC option(middle) the output format is .TS, and the 360 option(bottom) is .MP4).
Now, MP4 would be preferred, except that these files will NOT play back correctly once recorded. I couldn't begin to explain why, they are choppy and definitely unwatchable. The other two formats present no problems, except they are first off, smaller resolution sizes. A bigger problem still is that it seems almost impossible to convert them. I did so with third-party software that has formerly never failed me, and the videos were once again choppy. Using the converter that comes with the Hauppauge is like being punched in the face - the files don't have sound and have an incredibly small resolution.
Another strange issue I'm noticing, and don't understand at all, is that me ArcSoft media seems to be a different version, or out of date, compared to videos I watch on youtube. My options aren't listed as PS3, PC, and Xbox, so I am actually guessing at the names currently.
Any ideas?
Short background story: Hauppauge is purchased and set up - had no problems there. I am attempting to record footage off of my PS3.
Here's the issue. When using the PS3 option(top) the output is a format of .M2TS (and also, when selecting the PC option(middle) the output format is .TS, and the 360 option(bottom) is .MP4).
Now, MP4 would be preferred, except that these files will NOT play back correctly once recorded. I couldn't begin to explain why, they are choppy and definitely unwatchable. The other two formats present no problems, except they are first off, smaller resolution sizes. A bigger problem still is that it seems almost impossible to convert them. I did so with third-party software that has formerly never failed me, and the videos were once again choppy. Using the converter that comes with the Hauppauge is like being punched in the face - the files don't have sound and have an incredibly small resolution.
Another strange issue I'm noticing, and don't understand at all, is that me ArcSoft media seems to be a different version, or out of date, compared to videos I watch on youtube. My options aren't listed as PS3, PC, and Xbox, so I am actually guessing at the names currently.
Any ideas?
- September 1, 2008
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Hello again HazelrahFiver
Are you aware that M2TS, TS and MP4 are just container formats?
So this comment...
Off the top of my head, I think the HD-PVR is capable of encoding between 1 and 13 Mbps. Somebody will correct me I'm sure. It may also be possible to specify the video resolution, audio format, audio bitrate - I know that the Colossus and new HD-PVR support some of these things. All that is to say that I thought there were specific settings for quality control (eg. a slider for bitrate, options for resolution) in the Arcsoft software.
What software are you using to test playback, and what software for converting?
mm
Are you aware that M2TS, TS and MP4 are just container formats?
So this comment...
...doesn't make sense unless what you're selecting are encoder quality profiles, not just file formats.
Off the top of my head, I think the HD-PVR is capable of encoding between 1 and 13 Mbps. Somebody will correct me I'm sure. It may also be possible to specify the video resolution, audio format, audio bitrate - I know that the Colossus and new HD-PVR support some of these things. All that is to say that I thought there were specific settings for quality control (eg. a slider for bitrate, options for resolution) in the Arcsoft software.
What software are you using to test playback, and what software for converting?
mm
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That's the main problem right there, and I am becoming increasingly concerned that I've purchased some ?old? version of the PVR from Best Buy (I would think they only had the latest stuff, but...). I don't, flat out don't, have options in my Arcsoft recorder program. There is only 'capture'. Nothing else.
That said, what I mean is I suppose that the default resolutions when selecting the TS and MSTS formats is smaller than the MP4, and it is not something I have the option to change (I get what you mean, I phrased it that way because I am limited in changing it. I think this is the real problem.)
As for converting, I have tried numerous programs now, including the ArcSoft that came with the Hauppauge hardware. The others I can list if you want, but most (all probably) are freeware.
For testing the playback, again ArcSoft, but also Windows Media Player, WinAmp, QuickTime, and the video editor I use called Camtasia. Same results all around. I've spent the last two hours attempting to convert files over and over again, in different formats with different options, to no success.
- September 19, 2012
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The problem may have been with the Video output setting of my PS3 from the start, but I am unfortunately out of time now that I have discovered this lol. I'll ask in the meantime until I can attempt to get my device and videos working properly - could not going into the Display Setting and manually changing them to 1080i (PS3 is normally played on HDMi) cause the videos not to record/transfer/convert/whatever correctly? Seems like the PS3 should have changed the settings automatically with new cables attached, and the power button held, but perhaps that is an important step I skipped?
Edit: That was in fact the problem. I feel silly now. Changed my PS3's output setting and now my MP4s record properly. Can only get 420p so far, but I'm sure I'll figure out how to up that in time.
Edit: That was in fact the problem. I feel silly now. Changed my PS3's output setting and now my MP4s record properly. Can only get 420p so far, but I'm sure I'll figure out how to up that in time.
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Hi,
Any development since that post? I've not seen anything about it but I may have missed it since I was starting to browse quickly over the last 4-5 pages. Just read the whole thread and that's a beast...
Right now, I'm still using Arcsoft to adjust the recording settings but I would like to be able to use those that are part of TVServer.
I have two additionnal questions. First one is about volume. I'm recording from SPDIF and volume is very low. I've recorded both with Colossus and HD-PVR and the volume is not at the same level. Is there anything I can do to increase "artificially" the volume a bit? I hate having to increase volume on the ampli has it also increase the background noise on non HI-FI systems.
The second question was asked a few weeks ago but I didn't get an answer. Can we force a few seconds delay between the channel changing and the actual recording? My recording are showing the channel changing so I often have recording that start in SD and then change to HD depending on which channel the STB was previously to the new recording. That kind of screw the beginning of the .TS file and I have to fix most of them with VideoRedo in order for those to be fully playable with WMP
Thank you.
ehfortin
Any development since that post? I've not seen anything about it but I may have missed it since I was starting to browse quickly over the last 4-5 pages. Just read the whole thread and that's a beast...
Right now, I'm still using Arcsoft to adjust the recording settings but I would like to be able to use those that are part of TVServer.
I have two additionnal questions. First one is about volume. I'm recording from SPDIF and volume is very low. I've recorded both with Colossus and HD-PVR and the volume is not at the same level. Is there anything I can do to increase "artificially" the volume a bit? I hate having to increase volume on the ampli has it also increase the background noise on non HI-FI systems.
The second question was asked a few weeks ago but I didn't get an answer. Can we force a few seconds delay between the channel changing and the actual recording? My recording are showing the channel changing so I often have recording that start in SD and then change to HD depending on which channel the STB was previously to the new recording. That kind of screw the beginning of the .TS file and I have to fix most of them with VideoRedo in order for those to be fully playable with WMP
Thank you.
ehfortin
- September 1, 2008
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Hello ehfortin
After that beta driver, the people that PM'd me tested and confirmed it didn't work within a matter of a day or so.
I relayed this information to my contact immediately, but despite repeated emails I didn't get any useful response until September 4.
Given the delay, I had to put this on the back burner and focus on other things.
Now that I have the information I'm completely snowed under with work and other things so I don't have a lot of time to do anything with it.
I'll see what I can do in the next few weeks, but no promises I'm sorry - I'm just too busy at present....
Is your STB doing audio decoding to LPCM, or is it streaming DD audio?
Does the Colossus have any kind of Windows sound control (maybe go digging through the audio settings in control panel)?
What about your STB: can you adjust the volume on there... or do you have both the Colossus and HD-PVR hooked up to it?
[Edit: could the Colossus be downmixing to stereo or something - you could check the settings in Arcsoft ShowBiz]
From our perspective it is a little counter intuitive to slow down the channel changes because they're slow enough as they are.
The delay is entirely dependent on the STB control mechanism, the STB itself, and the type of channel (HD changes are slower).
Further, although we aim to be compatible with other software, compatibility with WMP would entirely depend on the codecs and splitters installed on your system. There is nothing that is technically non-compliant about the recordings unless it is a non-compliance caused by the encoding... which is out of our control. In other words, if MP can handle the stream WMP should be able to as well.
Regards,
mm
Hauppauge have been quite slow to respond to my requests for information.
After that beta driver, the people that PM'd me tested and confirmed it didn't work within a matter of a day or so.
I relayed this information to my contact immediately, but despite repeated emails I didn't get any useful response until September 4.
Given the delay, I had to put this on the back burner and focus on other things.
Now that I have the information I'm completely snowed under with work and other things so I don't have a lot of time to do anything with it.
I'll see what I can do in the next few weeks, but no promises I'm sorry - I'm just too busy at present....
There is no volume control mechanism provided by the Colossus that I am aware of.
Is your STB doing audio decoding to LPCM, or is it streaming DD audio?
Does the Colossus have any kind of Windows sound control (maybe go digging through the audio settings in control panel)?
What about your STB: can you adjust the volume on there... or do you have both the Colossus and HD-PVR hooked up to it?
[Edit: could the Colossus be downmixing to stereo or something - you could check the settings in Arcsoft ShowBiz]
No, there is no way that I'm aware of to do that at present.
From our perspective it is a little counter intuitive to slow down the channel changes because they're slow enough as they are.
The delay is entirely dependent on the STB control mechanism, the STB itself, and the type of channel (HD changes are slower).
Further, although we aim to be compatible with other software, compatibility with WMP would entirely depend on the codecs and splitters installed on your system. There is nothing that is technically non-compliant about the recordings unless it is a non-compliance caused by the encoding... which is out of our control. In other words, if MP can handle the stream WMP should be able to as well.
Regards,
mm
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Thank you mm. It is not a priority to have the quality working, there is a workaround and everybody seems to be using it.
Regarding the volume, I think I just found what cause this. I'm recording DD5.1 so... when I play it on my PC with only 2.1, it may make sense that the conversion to put the dialog (usually on the center channel) on both speaker is having to respect the volume of those two speakers. I'm not sure that my explanation make sense but... I just saw that if I record a station that is stereo (PCM), the volume is an order of magniture louder so... It probably is the way it is. It is just strange that the HD-PVR would record a little "louder" then the Colossus with the exact same source. (One after the other, not both connected to the same source at once).
For the last part, I think my question was not clear even if your answer will probably to be the same. I'm not looking to slow down/delay the channel changer. I would like the recording to start a few second after the channel changer is taking place. So, tune station 123, wait 2 sec, start recording. Right now, I'm seeing the channel changing in the recording so... it seems that the Colossus is starting it's job pretty close to the channel changing operation.
Just for clarification, the TS file generated are working but the first second or so is full of "junk" because of the resolution/audio changes. Some player don't like this and will stutter or sometime just stop playing. That said, you can start the same file with the same player just after killing it first and it may work. After doing a quickstream fix with VideoRedo, the files are cleaner and the player usually behave without stuttering or other problem.
Thanks again for your assistance in this forum and thank you to the team for this software.
ehfortin
Regarding the volume, I think I just found what cause this. I'm recording DD5.1 so... when I play it on my PC with only 2.1, it may make sense that the conversion to put the dialog (usually on the center channel) on both speaker is having to respect the volume of those two speakers. I'm not sure that my explanation make sense but... I just saw that if I record a station that is stereo (PCM), the volume is an order of magniture louder so... It probably is the way it is. It is just strange that the HD-PVR would record a little "louder" then the Colossus with the exact same source. (One after the other, not both connected to the same source at once).
For the last part, I think my question was not clear even if your answer will probably to be the same. I'm not looking to slow down/delay the channel changer. I would like the recording to start a few second after the channel changer is taking place. So, tune station 123, wait 2 sec, start recording. Right now, I'm seeing the channel changing in the recording so... it seems that the Colossus is starting it's job pretty close to the channel changing operation.
Just for clarification, the TS file generated are working but the first second or so is full of "junk" because of the resolution/audio changes. Some player don't like this and will stutter or sometime just stop playing. That said, you can start the same file with the same player just after killing it first and it may work. After doing a quickstream fix with VideoRedo, the files are cleaner and the player usually behave without stuttering or other problem.
Thanks again for your assistance in this forum and thank you to the team for this software.
ehfortin