Hello MB users and authors.
I, like everyone, am looking for the best way to capture subscriber content from my STB(s). I'm looking for "full capture", meaning 1080p support with full surround sound. I will be using either firewire or component video + optical audio; no HDMI, to avoid all the HDCP issues.
I'm seeing three options here, and have some questions about each one.
1. STB control and capture via firewire. If the STB is supported (I am picking it up Monday, I turned in the crummy Pace RNG-110 today after fighting unsuccessfully with drivers all night last night). do you get full "premium" content via firewire, on whatever channel the STB is on?
2. Hauppauge Colossus. This is a popular choice and seems to do almost everything. My concern with it is that it won't capture 1080p, which is actually pretty common on CATV here. Most of the premium HD channels (like Discovery Theater HD or HBO) are 1080p, as is all the "on-demand" (PPV) content like movies. If I can't tell the cable box to downconvert 1080p to 1080i, will the Colossus just "give up" when presented with a 1080p signal via component video input?
3. Blackmagic Intensity Pro. This supports 1080p capture, but only stereo audio. Can I configure MP to use the video from one source (the black magic), and the audio from another (optical input on motherboard)?
Lots of questions, and my HTPC is already built based around a WinTV 2250 on an AMD Athlon II 640, with component + optical video out to my receiver, but it's time to get the HD subscriber content into it and ditch the crummy Comcast DVR.
I, like everyone, am looking for the best way to capture subscriber content from my STB(s). I'm looking for "full capture", meaning 1080p support with full surround sound. I will be using either firewire or component video + optical audio; no HDMI, to avoid all the HDCP issues.
I'm seeing three options here, and have some questions about each one.
1. STB control and capture via firewire. If the STB is supported (I am picking it up Monday, I turned in the crummy Pace RNG-110 today after fighting unsuccessfully with drivers all night last night). do you get full "premium" content via firewire, on whatever channel the STB is on?
2. Hauppauge Colossus. This is a popular choice and seems to do almost everything. My concern with it is that it won't capture 1080p, which is actually pretty common on CATV here. Most of the premium HD channels (like Discovery Theater HD or HBO) are 1080p, as is all the "on-demand" (PPV) content like movies. If I can't tell the cable box to downconvert 1080p to 1080i, will the Colossus just "give up" when presented with a 1080p signal via component video input?
3. Blackmagic Intensity Pro. This supports 1080p capture, but only stereo audio. Can I configure MP to use the video from one source (the black magic), and the audio from another (optical input on motherboard)?
Lots of questions, and my HTPC is already built based around a WinTV 2250 on an AMD Athlon II 640, with component + optical video out to my receiver, but it's time to get the HD subscriber content into it and ditch the crummy Comcast DVR.