HD-PVR recording advice

[Skykid]

I'm thinking of getting this:

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/7791395/H ... oduct.html

It accepts composite, component and S-video and supports recording in native resolutions (so Xbox 360 at 720 or even 1080i).

I'm happy that this records great footage from HD consoles (seen it in action), but it's squeezing something out of my upscaler I want to know about. I had a chat with Icarus last night regarding hooking up my XRGB2+ to this and I need someone to clarify that this will work:

SD console -> via RGB into XRGB2+ -> output by VGA into Component adapter lead -> HD-PVR component

Does anyone know if this will get me decent upscaled footage on the box? I know it has an S-video and composite input, but urgh to both of those. (Why they can't add RGB sockets on these devices anymore is bewildering.)

Thanks for the help, hoping someone here might have some experience with this device.

[Fudoh]

Won't work, sorry - at least not in general.

Problem is that both the Hauppauge HD-PVR and other HD capture units (like from Blackmagic) need timings very close the broadcast standards, e.g. 15khz at 59.94Hz. Especially the XRGB has problems with that. Also the HD-PVR won't record 240p, so you can't just go SOURCE -> RGB2YUV -> HDPVR.

In order to use the HD-PVR for recording 240p signals you need a processor that unlocks the output refresh rate from the input (in other words: no matter what comes in, 59.94Hz are output). I usually recommend an iScan HD or HD+ for this.

[Skykid]

Back to the drawing board.

Thanks Fudoh.

[Ghegs]

Well, since Skykid's original question got resolved quickly, I'll hijack the thread for a moment...

That thing looks pretty good and I have been looking for a way to record HD footage from my 360. How much input lag would be introduced if I used that device in-between my console and TV? Or would be it a safer bet to just split the component signal from the 360 to the TV and the device?

[Fudoh]

the HD-PVR has a component pass-through output which is lagfree. No worries there.

You can't play on your PC monitor though. The encoding plus USB transfer takes it's time and the preview windows on the software is really for preview purposes only.

The Hauppage is really nice for recording 720p with live encoding into h.264. For editing (and saving WITHOUT rendering again) I suggest Smart Cutter. About the only software to handle the HD-PVR files and allow editing with just rendering the frames neccessary. Very nice.

[Skykid]

Well, since Skykid's original question got resolved quickly, I'll hijack the thread for a moment...

That thing looks pretty good and I have been looking for a way to record HD footage from my 360. How much input lag would be introduced if I used that device in-between my console and TV? Or would be it a safer bet to just split the component signal from the 360 to the TV and the device?

I did plenty of searching and this looks great for lag free recording - the only delay is on the PC/Laptop image as Fudoh mentioned, but that won't matter if you're playing on the TV source.

[Ghegs]

Oh, nice. Now the only problem would be the computer, the desktop is in another room and there's only a less-than-stellar laptop in the living room. Do you know how much power the recording software requires? And hard drive space, the laptop has basically none...or is it possible to record directly to an external drive?

[Fudoh]

The connection to the PC is just USB, so you can roll out a long cable, no problem.

The data rate is adjustable from 1 to 13mbit (0.1 to 1.8 MB/sec). all the encoding is done in hardware in the box. The software just needs a little power to show the preview, the recording itself hardly uses any CPU.

[dieKatze88]

The connection to the PC is just USB, so you can roll out a long cable, no problem.

The data rate is adjustable from 1 to 13mbit (0.1 to 1.8 MB/sec). all the encoding is done in hardware in the box. The software just needs a little power to show the preview, the recording itself hardly uses any CPU.

Its also pretty easy to get high end Component cables if your computer is NOT that far away. My computer and my TV sit right next to eachother, but I use a different capture solution, so I do split and bring the signal back to the TV with a set of 15ft long component cables, nice ones from a Fios Install.

[akumajo]

there is also the new Hauppauge HD-PVR Colossus

i used a lot the original HD-PVR and wasted a lot of time ... Fudoh is right about everything, you will need something to unlock framerate or you will have a nice NO SIGNAL message.
i only recommand it if you want's to record 720p for current gen console and some older like's gamecube or xbox 1. For retro forget it...

another device is H264 pro recorder from blackmagic which is supposed to come in march (it's always delayed, i hope it will really come in march...)

[dieKatze88]

there is also the new Hauppauge HD-PVR Colossus

i used a lot the original HD-PVR and wasted a lot of time ... Fudoh is right about everything, you will need something to unlock framerate or you will have a nice NO SIGNAL message.
i only recommand it if you want's to record 720p for current gen console and some older like's gamecube or xbox 1. For retro forget it...

another device is H264 pro recorder from blackmagic which is supposed to come in march (it's always delayed, i hope it will really come in march...)

Oh I just looked that card up. I think I want to replace my Avermedia HDPVR with one of those if the reviews come back good. The onboard H.264 will be worth it if the quality is good. If they screw that up I'll stick with my Avermedia HDPVR though.

[Skykid]

there is also the new Hauppauge HD-PVR Colossus

Just to clarify, this is an internal capture card for the PC - not the same as the external HD-PVR box?

[Fudoh]

it is and it adds HDMI inputs.

[dieKatze88]

I want to know WHEN its coming however. the onboard H.264 means it can do something my Avermedia HDPVR can't, record 1080i without a quad core 3ghz processor. I want that functionality XD.