How-To: MacOS X Firewire HDTV recording [Text View] - Page 7

ibglowin

10-11-06, 11:51 AM

I think my problem was I just pointed to the EyeTV recording and didn't open up the package and move the MPG file to another folder and then point to that file by itself.

I recorded Pirates and Star Wars a month ago when they were on during sweeps month and I would love to archive them to DVHS (until the new Apple iTV comes out) :p

Your questions prodded me into hooking one of my stockpiled 30K's to my main computer, a project I had been procrastinating on for some time.

I moved the .mpg file from the package contents into another directory, launched DVHSCAP (SDK22) and sent it right over to the 30K. It worked great. I would guess that your problem is either:

1) The wrong input was selected on the 30K. It should be "I-X", where X is a number and corresponds to your computer if you have more than one device in your firewire chain; or

2) As you suspect, maybe you just need the newer version SDK.

I did purchase the Quicktime Pro upgrade in the past, but I doubt if that was a factor.

Good luck.

MateoCA

10-11-06, 09:17 PM

Buenos dias people.... I've got a Mac question for the resident Mac guru. Here goes...

I have a Motorola DVR 6412 with some movies already recorded on the hd. I want to "copy" these files to my Mac (Power PC dual G5) without having to capture them in real time using DVHS. I've already done that and got the M2T to play in VLC by changing the extension to mpg. The problem is, I can't watch something else while recording a second program. I'd rather copy and paste using the firewire connection.

-Is there anyway to "see" and copy these files by using DVHS or another program?

- (unrelated) Is there a way to make the inputs on the Motorola DVR work?

I appreciate any reply and a big thanks for all the advice so far!!!!!!!!
-M

gakon

10-11-06, 11:52 PM

Both of those items were covered on much earlier posts, and neither one was possible. I don't know if anything has changed in the 20 or 30 pages since then, but no one has discussed it.

MateoCA

10-12-06, 01:39 AM

hey c'mon, anything's possible...

wilsonsoohoo

10-12-06, 02:30 AM

It was a timely question for me, though, because I broke down and got cable service and they installed a 6412 VIII today! I was debating whether to get the old G4 out of the box . . .

My plan would be to dump stuff from the DVR to the G4, which would serve as the storage device, then transfer to my Dual core G5 and archive to dVHS using that.

MateoCA

10-12-06, 01:00 PM

Exactly. There has to be a way to access the Mpg's on the DVR. If I had a TiVo would it be easier?

wilsonsoohoo

10-12-06, 01:51 PM

nightowl

10-12-06, 05:01 PM

For pretty much every commercial DVR it's not possible to just copy a file. The file has to be streamed to the target device. I just hope that the 6214 will shut both itself off and stop the target device without me being around so I can do the transfers when I'm asleep or at work. The LG 3410a does that very well.

The 6412 will complete the transmission, however the firewire port is always active. So, once the recording is done, your capture device will continue recording whatever is being sent out until either the capture media is full or you manually stop recording.

I'm not sure if there's a better piece of software out there than the SDK, but that is true of VirtualDVHS as well as an actual DVHS recorder.

wilsonsoohoo

10-12-06, 05:04 PM

Thanks for the warning, nightowl.

weldon

10-12-06, 08:58 PM

You can set the recording time with the Apple tools so it will stop when the playback is over. I typically set it for a few minutes long just to be sure.

efranzen

10-13-06, 04:07 PM

How do I uninstall a Firewire SDK package? I was using version 20 and I just installed version 22. Now I can no longer attach to my external Maxtor Firewire 800 drive.

ibglowin

10-16-06, 01:22 PM

Help!

I spent hours this weekend trying to dump an EyeTV file to my JVC 3000u D-VHS with no luck. I downloaded and installed SDK22 and now have DVHSCap ver1.3. Everything seems to be functioning OK from the Mac end. I opened up the EyeTV package and took out the large .mpg file out of the package and left it on my external Video drive. I then lauchned DVHSCap which immediately saw the JVC unit and powered it on when i hit the switch. I pointed to the .mpg file. I deselected Export Preview Mode (what does this do anyway) and it started capturing to the JVC or so it seemed. I saw MPEG2 packets going across and bitrate numbers being updated constantly. It shut it self off at the end of the file even. I checked and rechecked to make sure I was on input I. I even tried the Front input F with no luck. No picture, no sound.

I don't have the JVC hooked up to a monitor when I am trying this, as I have a 23" Apple display with no other inputs so I have to try this and then unhook everything and hook back up to my TV.

I am not getting any picture or sound. I have tried another Firewire cable as well. What the heck am I doing wrong. Playback of old tapes made from a PC seems to wrok OK but I am just not getting s sgnal into the JVC (or so it seems)

Any help here would be very much appreciated.

gaderson

10-16-06, 05:42 PM

Help!

I spent hours this weekend trying to dump an EyeTV file to my JVC 3000u D-VHS with no luck. I downloaded and installed SDK22 and now have DVHSCap ver1.3. Everything seems to be functioning OK from the Mac end. I opened up the EyeTV package and took out the large .mpg file out of the package and left it on my external Video drive. I then lauchned DVHSCap which immediately saw the JVC unit and powered it on when i hit the switch. I pointed to the .mpg file. I deselected Export Preview Mode (what does this do anyway) and it started capturing to the JVC or so it seemed. I saw MPEG2 packets going across and bitrate numbers being updated constantly. It shut it self off at the end of the file even. I checked and rechecked to make sure I was on input I. I even tried the Front input F with no luck. No picture, no sound.

I don't have the JVC hooked up to a monitor when I am trying this, as I am have a 23" Apple display with no other inputs so I have to try this and then unhook everything and hook back up to my TV.

I am not getting any picture or sound. I have tried another Firewire cable as well. What the heck am I doing wrong. Playback of old tapes made from a PC seems to wrok OK but I am just not getting s sgnal into the JVC (or so it seems)

Any help here would be very much appreciated.

Might be an obvious question--I don't see it in your notes--but, did you hit the 'record' on the JVC deck? All VirtualDVHS does is start the file streaming out from your Mac, but, unlike the 'import' option it doesn't seem to control the deck during an export. Doing a manual record works just fine for me. Though I do like to do the incremental record, i.e. hold down the record button, until it shows '0:00', release, then hit the record button, and each time it will add 30 minutes to the record time.

FriarWyer

10-17-06, 01:51 PM

I spent hours this weekend trying to dump an EyeTV file to my JVC 3000u D-VHS with no luck.

Have you selected HS mode on your 30K (using the HS/STD/LS3 button)?

ibglowin

10-18-06, 10:59 AM

Update on my efforts to dump some of my EyeTV files. Thanks for the replies so far. The read out on the front seems to be a rotating Auto/STD. I think I tried to switch it to HS a few times but not sure if it made the switch or not. Is it supposed to be saying HS??

I even tried pushing the file over to my old Dell with MyHD tuner card and then renaming the file and using DVHSTool with no luck. The file will play in MyHD and everything is working in DVHSTool but still no picture.

I tried uisng the JVC DVHS cleaning tape with no luck as well.

I just get a grey screen that keeps giving this message "wait a minutes, calibrating...

So either its a setting on the JVC or this thing is toast as far as recording goes. Playback seems fine. This unit was bought off ebay a year or so ago and was refurbed by JVC. It was in perfect working condition the last time I messed with it but that has been about a year now. It still looks brand new!

gaderson

10-18-06, 05:48 PM

Update on my efforts to dump some of my EyeTV files. Thanks for the replies so far. The read out on the front seems to be a rotating Auto/STD. I think I tried to switch it to HS a few times but not sure if it made the switch or not. Is it supposed to be saying HS??

When recording it should show HS at some point. I haven't dumped to tape in a while but, that's certainly what happens when recording OTA (STB).

I tried uisng the JVC DVHS cleaning tape with no luck as well.

I just get a grey screen that keeps giving this message "wait a minutes, calibrating...

So either its a setting on the JVC or this thing is toast as far as recording goes. Playback seems fine. This unit was bought off ebay a year or so ago and was refurbed by JVC. It was in perfect working condition the last time I messed with it but that has been about a year now. It still looks brand new!

The cleaning tape is for if you're getting 'breakups' and macro-blocking when playing a tape. The grey screen was when trying to play a captured tape, after using the cleaning tape? The cleaning tape has nothing recorded on it so you'll always see something like "wait a minute..." when using it.
I think you'll need to have the deck hooked up to a monitor when doing the dump to get a better idea. Then you can determine if it's the transfer (no signal at all) or the deck (signal but nothing on the tape). I don't think you need to press record to see the stream, but, you need to be on the right channel (aka I-# that says 'Macintosh' with the deck).

gaderson

10-18-06, 06:03 PM

When recording it should show HS at some point. I haven't dumped to tape in a while but, that's certainly what happens when recording OTA (STB).

Ok, just did a quick capture and no problems, all worked fine. Here's the basic process.

Already had DVHSCap open, so just popped a tape into my deck, and switched my LCD monitor to component out to watch the process.

1. Hit 'Export to D-VHS' (left 'Export Preview Mode' checked), and waited for file dialog box.
2. Chose file to export (a .TS file from a previous 'Capture').
3. Hit 'OK'.
4. Monitor showed stream, 'Auto HD' was shown momentarily. (on channel I-3*)
4a. JVC display: can see audio VU meters moving, 'DVHS' lit.
5. Hit 'record' on DVHSCap, and deck started up.
6. JVC display: audio still going, also Aut/HS is cycling, with the timer counting up (depending on what setting you have--need to dig out the remote to check menu setting).
7. Waited over a minute, then hit 'Stop Export'.
8. JVC 'monitor' goes blank/grey.
9. Tried to change channel and realize it's still recording so hit stop on JVC.
10. rewind and play capture (using DVHSCap), and all looks fine.

* note, yours may not have the same channel, but, I've had several other things connected hence the '-3' (also is labeled 'AVX1...' due to my having used the 169time system). Probably need to dig out the remote and clear 'iLink devices'.

Slewstoo

10-29-06, 12:41 PM

MacHound

11-04-06, 11:18 AM

Does anybody know what's different in Firewire SDK 23? (http://developer.apple.com/sdk/) Apple's Readme file is pretty cryptic, but v.23 seems to be a Leopard feature preview. I'm not sure how that affects present day reliability.

I've used DVHSCap from v.22 to grab HDV recordings from my Sony HDR-HC3 1080i camcorder with excellent results. I'm always a bit reluctant to upgrade a workflow that works until I know what's different.

ctwelsh

11-05-06, 09:40 PM

I am having trouble playing .m2t files after recording them. I can play short clips but not long.
Here is what I have and what I'm doing: I have a Dual 1GHz double mirrored drive Mac with 1.5 GB ram recording on an external FW800 350GB drive. The STB is a Motorola DCT3416. Curiously, AVCVideoCap reports it as DCT-3412 and lists the stream format as "Other/Unknown." What I'm noticing is that if I do a short recording, lets say 10 minutes or so, I can play it using VLC. But, when I try to record a full movie VLC doesn't play the file. I also tried ffmpegx and it will recognize the file as an mpeg-ts but the longer files it just unrecognized format. Can anyone explain what is going on here and how to correct this problem?

whoami

11-06-06, 12:04 PM

you may be trying to play copy-once streams....

on a different note, are any of you guys converting the m2t's to DVD?
i've been having grief getting my HD m2t's into dvd studio pro. without audio sync probs etc...
anyone up for writing a tutorial? :)

MacHound

11-06-06, 10:10 PM

To follow-up, I installed SDK 23 on my CoreDuo Mini and it works perfectly for HDV capture. I feel safe to install it on my other machines knowing I have a proven workflow on the Mini. (I'll leave this thread now since HDV capture really isn't the topic here.)

raywysocki

11-08-06, 10:22 AM

I've been using this software to backup my DVR archives for nearly 3 years now without any problem. I recently moved and got an upgraded DVR (Motorola DCT6412 III) and have started having some recording problems.

I upgraded to the SDK 22 package and here's what's happening:

The recording process is working just fine, but I'm unable to watch playback MPEG Streamclip like I used to. The audio plays but I don't have any video whatsoever. Also, when I try to open up the newly created .m2t file the program lags while trying to look through the menus.
So, I'm noticing the differences in the audio/video tracks but I don't have a clue what to do about it. The new file opens in VLC, but I really like the export features of Streamclip so I would like to continue using it.

Any idea what the problem is?

I have a similar problem and a solution(well workaround)
I am still using AVCVideoCap from FireWireSDK20 to record from a Motorola 6412 (it works so why change it)
I have only record a few shows, and they have all worked fine, except this one channel(or show) I tested other shows/channels and they still work fine.
I recently recorded a few shows on another digital channel (not HD, just digital) and had the problem you are experiencing. MPEG Streamclip just plays sound no video, but VLC plays it fine.

My solution was to use VLC to export it. The settings are not real easy to figure out, but work

You select "open file" from the VLC menu, browse to the file you want to fix, click advance output(new version says Streaming/Saving), click settings, Output Options=file(click browse to select save location and name)
Encapsulation method MPEG TS.
Select Video and mp2v I set Bitrate at 2048 (it made the file about the same size as original)
I left Audio unchecked, it will just copy/use the existing audio that works fine.

Here is what MPEG StreamClip says about the original and new files.
ORIGINAL
Stream: Arizona.m2t
Type: MPEG transport stream
Duration: 0:59:57
Data Size: 1.15 GB
Bit Rate: 2.75 Mbps
Video Tracks:
2112 MPEG-2, 528 × 480, 4:3, 29.97 fps, 15.00 Mbps, upper field first
Audio Tracks:
2113 AC3 2/0, 48 kHz, 128 kbps
Stream Files: Arizona.m2t (1.15 GB)

NEW
Stream: Arizona.ts
Type: MPEG transport stream
Duration: 0:59:56
Data Size: 960.19 MB
Bit Rate: 2.24 Mbps
Video Tracks:
69 MPEG-2, 528 × 480, 4:3, 29.97 fps, 104.86 Mbps, progressive
Audio Tracks:
68 AC3 2/0, 48 kHz, 128 kbps
Stream Files: Arizona.ts (960.19 MB)

The file is almost the same as the original, it does change the specs some, but looks the same to me.

Hope that helps

proroc

11-08-06, 07:48 PM

hello,

can anyone tell me if recording with firewire on a mac bypasses the 5c encryption? Or will it be exactally the same as capturing on a pc?

thanks!

MickeyDora

11-08-06, 08:39 PM

hello,

can anyone tell me if recording with firewire on a mac bypasses the 5c encryption? Or will it be exactally the same as capturing on a pc?

thanks!

You cannot capture any content that is 5c protected...not even on the PC. Copy-free is the only thing that you can capture.

tom_hayden99

11-10-06, 03:24 AM

I am not sure where to put this post, here or Westinghouse thread. Since the problem I am seeing is related to MAC HDTV recording, I am posting it here with the hope that someone might know the answer.

I have my core-duo hooked up to comcast 6200, and I am using sdk 20's avcVidCap to change channels and record shows. Everything works as expected, except when I play back the streams using VLC, I see black sidebands on either side of the screen. Kind of sidebands that you see when they show a non-HD program on a HD channel?? Is this normal/expected...I know that when the programs are shown on tv they cover the full screen?? I tried chaning aspect ratio in VLC but that didn't seem to fix it??? What should be the aspect ratio?? I have kept it at default...

Thx,
Tom

coops97

11-10-06, 05:02 PM

MickeyDora

11-10-06, 07:48 PM

Does anyone know if its possible to record from On Demand? I've used iRecord to record from my moto 3412, but haven't been able to record something while playing it from On Demand, iRecord says its recording, but nothing plays on VLC.
Also does anyone know of software that makes it easy to make DVDs from the transport streams without having to use multiple programs to convert them, or even record and author the DVDs all in one?

OnDemand is always copy-never (or copy-once if you are lucky) so the answer is no. iRecord and VirtualDVHS will show that its recording but then nothing will playback the stream due to the encryption.

Joseph S

11-11-06, 07:32 AM

Is there a newer iRecord version than 0.4? I remember testing an Intel compatible version this past Spring, but it has been a while.

MickeyDora

11-11-06, 12:17 PM

Is there a newer iRecord version than 0.4? I remember testing an Intel compatible version this past Spring, but it has been a while.

That would be iRecord 0.5.0e pre-release. Its got a few bugs though and I don't think there is any future work planned.

airdrummer

11-12-06, 07:34 PM

airdrummer

11-12-06, 08:00 PM

That would be iRecord 0.5.0e pre-release. Its got a few bugs though and I don't think there is any future work planned.

i've got v0.5f, dated 30apr06, which has the optional applescript functionality, but it doesn't work so well with my set-up (samsung t165, controlled via iRed/applescript, since it can't be tuned via firewire) i've been in touch w/patrick, but haven't heard from him in months, so apparently he's dropped it:-(

i had issues with reliably recognizing/configuring my tuner...i insist on turning it off when i'm not recording (htat sucka's HOT;-) so when irecord tries to fire an event, it sees it as a new device, which isn't configured to use applescript:-( chicken/egg problem, apparently...

anyway, titantv's recent un-encription of their tvpi files inspired me to write code to make crontab entries, using osascript to call my sammy scripts for tuning, and of course vDVHS is scriptable:-)

so i've now got 1-click scheduling, & iRed enables me to use my remote: gotta luv that 30sec ffwd;-);-);-) who needs tivo's $800 hd box;-)

anyone interested in my scripts (& iRed commands) can find them
@ wiblesDOTwebhopDOTnetSLASHtoms/DVHS

comments/suggestions welcomed...i'm just learning applescript;-P

airdrummer

11-12-06, 08:17 PM

any Mac with internal firewire should be fine. I'm using a 6 year old beige G3 266MHz that can be bought used for about $100. As a guideline, any G3 or better should work

i swear i've successfully recorded on my 366mHz G3 clamshell, but that was some time ago, and now it locks up completely (requiring a hard reboot) anywhere from 17secs - 2mins into a recording.

i'm using the f/w sdk22 version of virtualDVHS on 10.4.8, writing to the local drive (i usually use an nfs mount to the 250gB hdd on my linux box in the basement...via ethernet of course)

has there been a change in the sdk making g3's un-useable?

Linux23

11-14-06, 01:44 PM

Squished Squirre

11-14-06, 03:30 PM

i swear i've successfully recorded on my 366mHz G3 clamshell, but that was some time ago, and now it locks up completely (requiring a hard reboot) anywhere from 17secs - 2mins into a recording.

i'm using the f/w sdk22 version of virtualDVHS on 10.4.8, writing to the local drive (i usually use an nfs mount to the 250gB hdd on my linux box in the basement...via ethernet of course)

has there been a change in the sdk making g3's un-useable?

Are you sure that coincided with the SDK install? I noticed mine crap out too, but I'm not sure if it was an OS update or SDK that did it. This was on a 500Mhz G4 laptop... it can no longer pull shows reliably past about the 5 minute mark.

MacHound

11-15-06, 12:45 AM

Does anyone have a link to SDK 23? Yep: Apple SDK Downloads (http://developer.apple.com/sdk/). You'll need an ADC password to get it, but that's a free one-time registration which is well worth the effort.

I notice there's an updated OxfordSemiconductor.kext component v. 1.5.0 and Leopard preview Firewire drivers for Intel and PPC. The docs state:

"New to version 1.5.0 are additional vendor specific tunings intended to maximize performance. These gains are accomplished by setting the maximum transfer size per transaction to 128K bytes. Inspection of the IORegistry IOService plane will display a string stating that both the "IOMaximumBlockCountWrite" and "IOMaximumBlockCountRead" are set to 256 for devices which utilize this optimizations."

I haven't installed any of this stuff out of fear of the unknown. It only works with OS 10.4.8. Anyone here brave enough to try it?

sdhager

11-17-06, 03:09 AM

I am a Comcast subscriber in Portland, OR with a 3412 DVR. Sometime within the last week the 5C flags on my NBC HD and PBS HD channels changed from COPY FREELY to COPY ONCE. Of course I didn't notice until I wanted to record and couldn't.

I thought Cable Companies were required by FCC rules to mark all broadcast channels copy freely.

What can I do about this? Specifically whom should I contact at Comcast, clearly not a CSR.

kaadray

11-17-06, 10:34 AM

Sorry I missed the earlier question about iRecord versions.

There isn't anything newer than 0.4 other than the pre-release, which tends to be ok for Comcast boxes, but has tuning issues with other devices. I no longer have a FireWire cable box and am somewhat blocked from meaningful fixes/improvements at the moment. I have been providing the source to people interested in pursuing their own fixes/changes/and updates (contact me at the email on the iRecord website, not through PM here - I'll see the email sooner), but at this point you might be better off working from the AVCVideoCap code base, since I have not updated my code for 2 (I think) SDK revs.

jaydillyo

11-18-06, 02:50 AM

I admit that I haven't read through this entire thread yet. I'm in the process...

My setup:
HP LC2600N, MacBook Pro (Mac mini soon), Firewire SDK 23

I am successfully recording from my TV. I have to use AVCBrowser to open my TV as a device then I can record successfully in VirtualDVHS on channel 0.

Now, I would like to be able to playback to my TV. My mac doesn't show up in the i.Link menu on the TV. So, I don't think this is going to work. The manual for my TV specifically states that it doesn't support computers. I guess I'm lucky to get the recording working.

My MBP can definitely handle the playback of these files, but I would like to just stream the file to the TV if possible. I guess this isn't completely necessary though... If anybody has any suggestions or has had success playing back to this particular TV (or a Sharp, they are very similar), please let me know.

I also have an eyeTV Hybrid. I plan on using both so I can record 2 programs simultaneously.

Update: I just used AVCVideoCap..must easier. Just have to hit record and it has built in timers.

Update2: I don't know what I did, but I hit the i.Link button again and my computer showed up. I was able to playback over firewire! Great sucess! High Five!

-- jaydillyo

dreadnought

11-24-06, 03:27 PM

stanj

11-26-06, 04:56 PM

Hello,

I used AVCVideoCap v1.05b today and tried to capture video from both of the FireWire ports on my Comcast DCT3412 I box, but the .m2t files don't seem to play in anything including VLC. AVCVideoCap shows EMI as "Copy Freely" and Stream Format as "Other/Unknown."

I just tried my third channel (WGBH HD) with these settings for 1 minute (looks like approx. 100mb per minute) and it played in VLC.

I'm a new Mac user (MacBook Pro) but am pretty sure I'm doing everything right. Is there something going on with Comcast or the Motorola box itself which would result in unplayable .m2t files even though the "EMI" shows up as "Copy Freely?"

Thanks for the advice!

After being able to record without problem on all broadcast stations, I ran into the same issue on some of my channels. Looks like a recent firmware update on the Comcast box has enabled CCI copy protection, which is set by the broadcaster. I can no longer record via Firewire any of the CBS (both local and network) programs and any of the Fox network programs (but I can record local programming on the Fox affiliate).

So if you're having issues with one or two channels, then it's not anything you're doing wrong, it's probably the CCI copy protection.

speedemonV12

11-27-06, 03:04 PM

does the method described on the first post in this topic work with Verizon Fios service and a Motorola QIP6416 box?

operaguy

11-27-06, 03:36 PM

Anyone know if Charter Communications, Alhambra CA, has CCI copy protection on their stream? I'd like to take a shot at capturing the stream, but don't want to bother if they have blocked it.

Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000HD
My service is in Pasadena, CA 91101

speedemonV12

11-27-06, 07:08 PM

hey guys... this is what i have right now up..

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1/dothedew89/Picture1.png

i have set up my motorola 64146 box with my macbookpro via firewire, but i cannot connect, i was able to record directly from the tv, but with terrible quality, via AVCVideoCap, but i restarted, and now i cannot even do that... is there anything that i need to to do that you can see from the pic of my setup?

Flyinace2000

11-30-06, 09:10 AM

I jsut got a new computer to act as a fileserver (G4 500hz powermac). Besides it hosting my three FW hard drives i want to know if i can make this comptuer my HD recording box. I currently use iRecord. As far as i know, the campture of the MPEG2 stream is not CPU intensize, but the playback is. So Would a 500mhz G4 w/ 512mb ram, be able to handle the recording of HD?

MickeyDora

11-30-06, 10:29 AM

So Would a 500mhz G4 w/ 512mb ram, be able to handle the recording of HD?

Without any problems. I use 450 & 500mhz iMac G3's to record with no problems.

Flyinace2000

12-01-06, 12:39 AM

Without any problems. I use 450 & 500mhz iMac G3's to record with no problems.

Thats such great news, now i can more all my external Hard Drives AND cable box to the basement and just browse over the network.

THANKS

WiFi-Spy

12-01-06, 07:00 AM

Does anyone know if its possible to record from On Demand? I've used iRecord to record from my moto 3412, but haven't been able to record something while playing it from On Demand, iRecord says its recording, but nothing plays on VLC.
Also does anyone know of software that makes it easy to make DVDs from the transport streams without having to use multiple programs to convert them, or even record and author the DVDs all in one?

You can hijack ondemand shows if you have a QAM tuner (hint: start a new channel scan while watching your ondemand program, when you find your show with QAM tuner just rewind to the begining with your remote and start capturing with your QAM tuner)

The above method worked like 6 months ago (before I got a new TV without a QAM tuner/1394 connection)

DaveFi

12-04-06, 09:21 PM

jimg

12-05-06, 08:43 AM

Check the local computer shows and save the shipping costs. I got a couple from the Marlboro & Rockingham Park shows. Note: Best to get a G4 tower that is the "gigabit" or later models. (ie. will be 566MHz not the earlier "sawtooth" 400MHz models.)

I further added the Sonnet Trio card to handle large disks as well as give USB 2.0 ports and extra firewire ports. The USB 2.0 very useful for external drives!

Networks great with XP and Roku. I do the editing on my XP, and use the Mac as the video server. (Since I use MAC-formatted external drives, I have the MacDrive6 utility so they can be used on the XP. You can get cheap when buying a drive from www.macsales.com).

DaveFi

12-05-06, 12:14 PM

I'm a PC guy and have no idea about half the stuff you just said.:confused:

xlurkr

12-05-06, 01:25 PM

Check the local computer shows and save the shipping costs.
You might also try craigslist.
I further added the Sonnet Trio card to handle large disks as well as give USB 2.0 ports and extra firewire ports. The USB 2.0 very useful for external drives!
Actually, many cheap USB or combo cards work with a Mac. At my local Fry's, they often go for less than 10 clams after rebate.

vemulasri

12-07-06, 11:08 AM

Is there anyway we can Watch Live TV with Firewire setup?

Here is my setup:

Apple 20: IMAC (new Intel processor)
CableVision HD Box with Firewire port.

Recording works fine. But, is there anyway we can just watch live instead of recording?

-TIA

seldenpat

12-08-06, 10:53 PM

So, anyone want suggest a Mac/Firewire setup to purchase for my old JVC 30K? I'm sick and tired of my XP and want to make good backups, and know that old Macs can be had for virtually nothing on eBay now.

Dave, I have an old G4 with 256MB RAM and 10GB HD that I got off eBay for $125. With Firewire SDK 21, I now have over 500 HD recordings. This is where it gets expensive...Each HD movie depending on length and provider bitrate ranges from 8GB to 25GB+. I have added a 3x300GB, 3x400GB, 2x500GB, 2x750GB, and a single 500GB drive via firewire and it plays back perfectly either through the firewire input on my Sony RPTV or a JVC via component to the same TV. I can also record the streams to DVHS tape to either the 5U or a Mitsu 2000U if I need to.

I also have a 400GB drive that I use to move network HD shows from the Mac to a PC upstairs to strip commercials using HDTVtoMPEG2. Then I move the commercial free files back downstairs to the Mac. However, for that, you need $50 software that will allow the XP system to read and write to the Mac formatted drive.

Hope this helps...I have seriously converted half of my DVHS library to Mac and have lessened my playback issues immensely.

Let me know if I can be any more help. I was a total Mac idiot before this, and I'm still a Mac idiot, but I know how to do the one thing I need to do!!!

Regards,
Patrick

Edit: BTW, I do the transfers via Hard Drive because 1. I could not easily run a network connection to the XP computer and 2. Had no desire to try to make it work if I made the effort to run the connection.

nightowl

12-09-06, 02:23 PM

So, anyone want suggest a Mac/Firewire setup to purchase for my old JVC 30K? I'm sick and tired of my XP and want to make good backups, and know that old Macs can be had for virtually nothing on eBay now.

The only problem you will have with using a Mac versus a DVHS, is the lack of 5C on the Mac. I just finsihed transferring my DVHS collection over to my Mac, and there were a number of movies I had recorded that won't transfer over due to copy protection. Otherwise, the Mac will work great!

rezzy

12-09-06, 03:11 PM

seldenpat

12-09-06, 04:54 PM

What, may I ask, is the processor speed of your G4?

You may!

450MHz and 100MHz bus. Not recommended for multi-tasking, but for dedicated recording it works perfectly.

rezzy

12-09-06, 06:54 PM

Sweet. Think I'll bump up my old B&W G3 with a 600MHz G4 card (maybe overclock it a bit, also). Then perhaps my recordings can actually play in real time.

seldenpat

12-09-06, 08:34 PM

Sweet. Think I'll bump up my old B&W G3 with a 600MHz G4 card (maybe overclock it a bit, also). Then perhaps my recordings can actually play in real time.

You're going to play back through the firewire connection, right? I do not play back through the video card using some MPEG software. The setup I have would never be able to do the trick for that. Right now, the Mac is purely a bit bucket, just storing MPEG transport stream bits and then for playback, sending them out to an A/V compontent that has a MPEG decoder (in my case the JVC 5U D-VHS or the Sony RPTV with firewire).

jaydillyo

12-09-06, 08:48 PM

Sweet. Think I'll bump up my old B&W G3 with a 600MHz G4 card (maybe overclock it a bit, also). Then perhaps my recordings can actually play in real time.

Don't waste your $ doing that. 600 MHz G4 won't even come close to playing back any HD in real-time. If you're serious about playing back with a Mac I'd suggest a new Mac mini. Otherwise do as seldenpat suggest and playback over the firewire if your device supports it.

-- jaydillyo

Fazookus

12-11-06, 06:00 PM

i too have recently started having playback problems, but it's my tuner that's started rebooting at the drop of a...whatever;-)

just last friday i played all the shows i'd recorded the past week, no problem. then yesterday my samsung t165 started rebooting as soon as i tried to play anything (recording still works fine, luckily:-)

it's gotten better today (no h/w or s/w changes...wtf???) but i frequently have to power it down before it will take the input...anybody have any ideas?

i'm using virtualDVHS from the f/w sdk22, connected directly to the t165 (longish cable...i'm using my 1.25 Al powerbook until i can pick up a minimac...perhaps the cable is the problem?)

I had rebooting problems, turned out that my roaring-twenties era building electrical system had 'issues' with grounds. Firewire can produce a fair amound of voltage, in fact not only did my PVR reboot on me I fried a couple of them.

Grounding everything and getting an electrician in fixed things completely.

rezzy

12-11-06, 07:18 PM

You're going to play back through the firewire connection, right? I do not play back through the video card using some MPEG software. The setup I have would never be able to do the trick for that. Right now, the Mac is purely a bit bucket, just storing MPEG transport stream bits and then for playback, sending them out to an A/V compontent that has a MPEG decoder (in my case the JVC 5U D-VHS or the Sony RPTV with firewire).Gotcha. Though editing is a problem right now. Unable to use Streamclip or Mpegitor. Not sure if I need a bump in speed, or an increase in memory, or both. I want to remove commercials from some MPEG'd TV-shows before archiving to DVD, and am having no success.

jcsmithmachine

12-13-06, 11:58 PM

OK, short and sweet...I just bought a brand new 24inch imac (pc user for 13 years) (the imac is unreal). I was going to buy the elgato tv hybrid, but i accidently (or i call it fate) happened upon several notions of the recording of tv through firewire. My million dollar noob questions (and if it has been posted i truly am sorry) is....is there anyway to just plain old watch tv on my gorgeous imac screen with this fire wire method? i want to watch my HD channels and enjoy them. I dont want to record anything, just strictly watch. If there isnt, i guess i will be stuck with the elgato thingy.....

I beg for your guidance!!!!

WiFi-Spy

12-14-06, 06:18 AM

ibglowin

12-14-06, 09:34 AM

I have a bunch of HDTV programs on a PC that are Transport Stream (.ts) files recorded using a MyHD tuner card. I found out how to import them into EyeTV properly (much easier to work with and play over my home netowork) but here is my big problem.

The MyHD files are split up into multiple files for a single program. Sometimes as many as four or five smaller files. For the life of me, I can't find out any way to join them together in MyHD or EyeTV so I end up with one nice EyeTV file that can be easily edited or played back on any of my netowrked Macs. I end up with the program pieces in EyeTV. It doesn't appear you can select more than one file at a time to import into EyeTV and when you get to the end of a file it just starts over until you manually stop the import.

Any help here would be MUCH appreciated!

Dave, I have an old G4 with 256MB RAM and 10GB HD that I got off eBay for $125. With Firewire SDK 21, I now have over 500 HD recordings. This is where it gets expensive...Each HD movie depending on length and provider bitrate ranges from 8GB to 25GB+. I have added a 3x300GB, 3x400GB, 2x500GB, 2x750GB, and a single 500GB drive via firewire and it plays back perfectly either through the firewire input on my Sony RPTV or a JVC via component to the same TV. I can also record the streams to DVHS tape to either the 5U or a Mitsu 2000U if I need to.

I also have a 400GB drive that I use to move network HD shows from the Mac to a PC upstairs to strip commercials using HDTVtoMPEG2. Then I move the commercial free files back downstairs to the Mac. However, for that, you need $50 software that will allow the XP system to read and write to the Mac formatted drive.

Hope this helps...I have seriously converted half of my DVHS library to Mac and have lessened my playback issues immensely.

Let me know if I can be any more help. I was a total Mac idiot before this, and I'm still a Mac idiot, but I know how to do the one thing I need to do!!!

Regards,
Patrick

Edit: BTW, I do the transfers via Hard Drive because 1. I could not easily run a network connection to the XP computer and 2. Had no desire to try to make it work if I made the effort to run the connection.

lpfactor

12-14-06, 10:10 AM

I beieve MPEGStreamclip might help in assembling the pieces.
http://www.squared5.com/

ibglowin

12-14-06, 11:12 AM

I just fired off an email to them to see if it would indeed work. Looks promising as long as you have the Apple MPEG2 Quicktime component installed ($20).

I beieve MPEGStreamclip might help in assembling the pieces.
http://www.squared5.com/

jcsmithmachine

12-14-06, 11:32 PM

It sounds like it could be a simple hack with the apple firewire SDK and VLC player....

So most people here are just looking to record the show, but not watch live TV? What is the firewire SDK and VLC player? Sorry to be such a noob, but i really think this would be cool to be able to do.

seldenpat

12-15-06, 12:13 AM

I just fired off an email to them to see if it would indeed work. Looks promising as long as you have the Apple MPEG2 Quicktime component installed ($20).

Keep the multiple .ts files on your PC and then download HDTV2MPEG2 (a search here on AVS will give you the link to the most recent version). Its sole purpose is to strip ts files of commercials AND combine multiple ts files into one large file. Cris hasn't supported the conversion to MPEG for multiple iterations.

I process all of my ts files on the PC since this is the easiest and best way, but record and play back using the Mac via firewire. Transfers between the two machines are accomplished using a Mac formatted external firewire hard drive and having Mediafour's Macdrive software installed on my PC so that my PC can read and write Mac drives. If you are only going from PC to Mac (which you may at first, but will want to go both ways soon), you don't need it since the Mac can read NTFS drives, but can't write to them. You could also connect them via your home network and you wouldn't need the external drive. I haven't done that, but would save you the $50 for the Macdrive software. I don't have that option.

H2M is freeware. I just started using it a couple of months ago, but I'm going to throw him a donation because the software is that good.

I am total Mac newb, but I have become adept at understanding how to make the whole HD thing work using this method. I have just started downloading from Usenet and I've grabbed about 10 HD movies in the past week and have been watching them on the Mac.

Practical example: I just recorded The Wizard of Oz from TNT-HD on Monday to the external Mac Hard Drive. Dismounted it when I was done, brought it upstairs to the PC and used HDTV2MPEG2 to strip out the commercials...all done on the external drive. Ejected the drive from the PC when I was done, and reconnected it to the Mac and was able to watch the transport stream through my Sony RPTV.

lpfactor

12-15-06, 12:43 AM

seldenpat

12-15-06, 06:12 AM

seldenpat: a very sensible and inexpensive way to deal with HD, indeed. I noted in your previous post that you are using component into your JVC. If I understood your comment, you are taking the FW output from the Mac to the JVC by component. If this is what you meant, how did you get to component?
This is important for me because I do have a network connecting the PC and a Mac(G4) with the Mac near a plasma with component or VGA inputs only (sorry). Thanks for any advice.

Nope. FW to FW from mac to the JVC, then using the JVC's compontent out into my display. Get any old JVC D-VHS, as long as the MPEG decoder is in working order, you're golden. You will however need a 6 pin to 4 pin firewire cable or converter, as the JVC only accepts 4 pin whereas the Mac's firewire connections are 6 pin.

ibglowin

12-15-06, 09:31 AM

I have used HDTV2MPEG2 in the past to dump some of these files to DVHS. I will give that a try once again. Thanks for the all the help!

Keep the multiple .ts files on your PC and then download HDTV2MPEG2 (a search here on AVS will give you the link to the most recent version). Its sole purpose is to strip ts files of commercials AND combine multiple ts files into one large file. Cris hasn't supported the conversion to MPEG for multiple iterations.

I process all of my ts files on the PC since this is the easiest and best way, but record and play back using the Mac via firewire. Transfers between the two machines are accomplished using a Mac formatted external firewire hard drive and having Mediafour's Macdrive software installed on my PC so that my PC can read and write Mac drives. If you are only going from PC to Mac (which you may at first, but will want to go both ways soon), you don't need it since the Mac can read NTFS drives, but can't write to them. You could also connect them via your home network and you wouldn't need the external drive. I haven't done that, but would save you the $50 for the Macdrive software. I don't have that option.

H2M is freeware. I just started using it a couple of months ago, but I'm going to throw him a donation because the software is that good.

I am total Mac newb, but I have become adept at understanding how to make the whole HD thing work using this method. I have just started downloading from Usenet and I've grabbed about 10 HD movies in the past week and have been watching them on the Mac.

Practical example: I just recorded The Wizard of Oz from TNT-HD on Monday to the external Mac Hard Drive. Dismounted it when I was done, brought it upstairs to the PC and used HDTV2MPEG2 to strip out the commercials...all done on the external drive. Ejected the drive from the PC when I was done, and reconnected it to the Mac and was able to watch the transport stream through my Sony RPTV.

ibglowin

12-15-06, 10:08 AM

Which Usenet group are you getting movies from?

I have just started downloading from Usenet and I've grabbed about 10 HD movies in the past week and have been watching them on the Mac.

kaadray

12-15-06, 11:36 AM

So most people here are just looking to record the show, but not watch live TV? What is the firewire SDK and VLC player? Sorry to be such a noob, but i really think this would be cool to be able to do.

I would phrase it as, most people have decided to deal with starting a recording, watching it as it records, and then deleting the recorded file when you finish viewing. So it is "live minus 10 seconds" instead of truly live :) Many people want what you want - "Can I watch live" was the most common feature request I heard with iRecord.

VLC is a media player on the Mac. The FireWire SDK is a set of libraries and code developers use to write FireWire applications. Hooking the live stream into VLC using that code and libraries is possible, but getting it working perfectly has been more work than anyone is willing to do (that I am aware of) given the above solution. I played with it back when vlc was at 0.7 and had it working for standard def channels, but it needed some optimization/work for HD (was getting chopped up audio).

seldenpat

12-15-06, 01:30 PM

Which Usenet group are you getting movies from?
a.b.hdtv

ibglowin

12-15-06, 05:00 PM

I opened up HDTV to MPEG2 and set the file size to 20GB. I then basically saved the multiple .ts files as ONE BIG .ts file. Then transferred the single file from the PC to my Dual G5. I use Timbuktu Pro. Opened the file in EyeTV and recorded the file into the EyeTV Archive.

Worked Perfect! Now I can open the file up and playback through EyeTV and Front Row.

Thanks for the help!

nightowl

12-15-06, 05:32 PM

Worked Perfect! Now I can open the file up and playback through EyeTV and Front Row.

What was the keystroke used to add the file to EyeTV? I remember reading about this before, but I'll be darned if I can remember or find the answer.

Thanks!

ibglowin

12-15-06, 10:04 PM

Hold down the "Control" Key

Then File/Open Quicktime Movie

Point to your file and it will start playing but you have to hit the record button to start to save it in your EyeTV Archive. You akso have to stop recording at the end of the file!

What was the keystroke used to add the file to EyeTV? I remember reading about this before, but I'll be darned if I can remember or find the answer.

Thanks!

gaderson

12-16-06, 08:58 PM

Hold down the "Control" Key

Then File/Open Quicktime Movie

Point to your file and it will start playing but you have to hit the record button to start to save it in your EyeTV Archive. You akso have to stop recording at the end of the file!

Actually you don't really have to hit stop. You can if you're willing to wait around, but, I usually just set the recording length in the Info windows.
i.e. 1. select the recording program in the 'Recordings' list. (aka click once on the recording)
2. 'Get Info' from menu, or key combination (command + i)
3. click 'Edit Info...' button
4. adjust recording time, using slider, or directly keying in time to stop

I usually give a couple minutes to pad it, as starting these recordings don't usually happen directly on the hour. And, you can double the time, as the stream/file will start over when it reaches the end, so watch out when editing that you do have the correct start and ending.

DaveFi

12-18-06, 10:12 PM

Dave, I have an old G4 with 256MB RAM and 10GB HD that I got off eBay for $125. With Firewire SDK 21, I now have over 500 HD recordings. This is where it gets expensive...Each HD movie depending on length and provider bitrate ranges from 8GB to 25GB+. I have added a 3x300GB, 3x400GB, 2x500GB, 2x750GB, and a single 500GB drive via firewire and it plays back perfectly either through the firewire input on my Sony RPTV or a JVC via component to the same TV. I can also record the streams to DVHS tape to either the 5U or a Mitsu 2000U if I need to.

I also have a 400GB drive that I use to move network HD shows from the Mac to a PC upstairs to strip commercials using HDTVtoMPEG2. Then I move the commercial free files back downstairs to the Mac. However, for that, you need $50 software that will allow the XP system to read and write to the Mac formatted drive.

Hope this helps...I have seriously converted half of my DVHS library to Mac and have lessened my playback issues immensely.

Let me know if I can be any more help. I was a total Mac idiot before this, and I'm still a Mac idiot, but I know how to do the one thing I need to do!!!

Regards,
Patrick

Edit: BTW, I do the transfers via Hard Drive because 1. I could not easily run a network connection to the XP computer and 2. Had no desire to try to make it work if I made the effort to run the connection.Actually, that's a pretty helpfull post and I think I'll invest the small amount of money required to do this. I also have a PS3 now, and it supports external USB 2.0 harddrives (that apparently only reads FAT32) , so here's where it gets interesting.

I not only have the JVC 30K DVHS but a Firewire equipped Samsung HDTV so I could watch it directly to my HDTV, something I never thought of because XP is so glitchy it's unusable.

So are people saying all I need to do is invest in a low-end Beige Mac off eBay with OSX 10 and I'll be good to go? My monitor has 2 inputs so I'm all set there, I can switch realtime between my PC and the Mac.

I'd rather get a low-cost notebook though to save space. What's the cheapest Mac notebook that I'd need going for?

airdrummer

12-19-06, 07:07 PM

i've played back hd m2t files (7gb/hr) with virtualDVHS on my 366mMHz clamshell iBook...i've seen those go for <$200 on eBay...but i've had trouble recording.

gaderson

12-19-06, 08:20 PM

Actually, that's a pretty helpfull post and I think I'll invest the small amount of money required to do this. I also have a PS3 now, and it supports external USB 2.0 harddrives (that apparently only reads FAT32) , so here's where it gets interesting.

I not only have the JVC 30K DVHS but a Firewire equipped Samsung HDTV so I could watch it directly to my HDTV, something I never thought of because XP is so glitchy it's unusable.

So are people saying all I need to do is invest in a low-end Beige Mac off eBay with OSX 10 and I'll be good to go? My monitor has 2 inputs so I'm all set there, I can switch realtime between my PC and the Mac.

I'd rather get a low-cost notebook though to save space. What's the cheapest Mac notebook that I'd need going for?

As noted, much earlier in this thread, you'll want something with native Firewire. i.e. Beige, or even a RevA B&W G3 are probably best left alone. I'm currently trying to work with an old iMac to play around with.

The trick is that you'll have to figure out how useful and user friendly the interface is from you TV. VirtualDVHS is just a list of files, so you'll need to load up the files you'll want to use, then use your Sammy to search through them. I've only used a small number of files with DVHS and my Samsung 'T165 ( the ATSC tuner with Firewire). Which was workable, but, if you're recording shows and then trying to play them back I'm not even sure of the naming scheme. You'll probably need to slowly search back through this enormous thread for some ideas.

P.S. I've been slowly working on a 'Mac FAQ' so hopefully I'll get a set of links that we can have at the top, and some shorter FAQs for the more critical stuff.

DaveFi

12-19-06, 08:46 PM

As noted, much earlier in this thread, you'll want something with native Firewire. i.e. Beige, or even a RevA B&W G3 are probably best left alone. I'm currently trying to work with an old iMac to play around with.I don't understand that statement at all. I thought earlier in the thread it said a Beige powermac would work? What's a RevA B&W?

iMacs I can find but take up way too much space. I don't have anywhere to put an iMac's bulk.

ibglowin

12-20-06, 09:35 AM

PowerMac G3 (Blue&White) Was a pretty cool looking machine for its time. Had translucent panels on the side where the word G3 could be seen. I still own one myself.

What's a RevA B&W?

DaveFi

12-20-06, 12:09 PM

PowerMac G3 (Blue&White) Was a pretty cool looking machine for its time. Had translucent panels on the side where the word G3 could be seen. I still own one myself.I know what a Blue and White one is, it just says in the first post it won't work. If it does work for Firewire with OS X 10.3 then I'll pick one up, as they are cheaper and easier to find than Beige ones.

Here's what one guy is selling for $75:

G3 Powermac B&W upgraded to G4

Selling my G3 Powermac B&W

The Stats:
Upgraded 400Mhz G4 CPU
512Mb RAM
40 Gb HD
DVD-ROM drive
Working Zip 100 drive
Keyboard and puck mouse
OS X panther installed - No disks includedWill that work? Is it a good deal?

seldenpat

12-20-06, 04:47 PM

I know what a Blue and White one is, it just says in the first post it won't work. If it does work for Firewire with OS X 10.3 then I'll pick one up, as they are cheaper and easier to find than Beige ones.

Here's what one guy is selling for $75:

Will that work? Is it a good deal?

I wouldn't trust any G3 Flourescent B&W to work. I had one at first and every time I loaded VirtrualDVHS the machine would just CRASH! Only way out of it was resetting. Get the Gray and White G4. Trust me.

Here's the auction number of one that I would look at: 170062851971

DaveFi

12-20-06, 05:28 PM

I wouldn't trust any G3 Flourescent B&W to work. I had one at first and every time I loaded VirtrualDVHS the machine would just CRASH! Only way out of it was resetting. Get the Gray and White G4. Trust me.

Here's the auction number of one that I would look at: 170062851971Yeah, I've been following those auctions and they usually end up >$200.

So that guy's B&W for $75 wouldn't be any good even though he upgraded it to a G4?

rezzy

12-20-06, 06:03 PM

Will that work? Is it a good deal?From wikipedia:

"Early blue and white G3s ("Revision 1" units) had IDE controller problems related to the ATA/33 hard drive controller that made it impossible to connect two hard drives and prevented the use of newer drives. Using newer ATA drives in those units resulted in overwhelming data transmission errors, if the drives were connected to the on-board ATA/33 controller. This resulted in many users seeking remedies to solve this issue, including replacing their motherboards and employing the use of SCSI, Ultra ATA or SATA PCI controller cards as a workaround. Hard disk use on the secondary ATA channel was found to be impractical as the computer did not provide for hard disk booting via that channel and there was only a constrained unventilated space available for a hard disk connected to that channel which is unsuitable to many newer hard disks due to heat issues."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Macintosh_G3_(Blue_&_White)

I have a Rev A B&W G3 and it works very well, but I wouldn't suggest you get one unless there was a way to verify it was a Rev. 2 model. The only problem I ever had with my own was when connecting 2 hard drives at once. I don't (yet) have a HDD controller card, but I still successfully replaced the original (12 gig) with a more modern and bigger drive (80 gig Seagate).

rezzy

12-20-06, 06:10 PM

So that guy's B&W for $75 wouldn't be any good even though he upgraded it to a G4?The problem in the Rev. A units is with the controller chip on the logic board. IF there's any trouble, it would still exist even with a G4 processor upgrade card.

DaveFi

12-20-06, 07:27 PM

OK, so what I'm looking for is a G4 Tower revision M5183? What's the most I should spend on it, including shipping?

seldenpat

12-20-06, 09:59 PM

OK, so what I'm looking for is a G4 Tower revision M5183? What's the most I should spend on it, including shipping?

Like I said earlier, I got mine for $125 buy it now but $40 shipping. It was advertised with 128MB RAM, but was delivered with 256 (you can't count on that happening to you). Mine only had a 10GB HD, but did include the USB keyboard and mouse. USB keyboard was a necessity for me, since all of my spare keyboards were PS2 and I didn't want to spend another $40 on a new keyboard.

I don't want to spend your money, but knowing what I know now, if I had to replace my Mac, I would pay up to $200 total for the same system (256MB RAM). I saw some others with buy it nows for around $179, unsure what the shipping was.

seldenpat

12-20-06, 10:05 PM

Also Dave,

If you go with external Firewire Hard Drives, stay away from the Seagate stackable ones that you see in Best Buy and all over ebay. While they work fine, I have made the annoying discovery that these drive automatically go to sleep after 5 minutes. There is no way to turn it off, either. So there are times where there is a start recording delay of 5 to 10 seconds while these damn things spin themselves up. Once they're running, though, they don't go to sleep until another 5 minute period of inactivity.

Find one that does not sleep automatically.

warr

12-21-06, 09:40 AM

Question, if you see the packets or streaming being recorded onto the hard drive but are unabel to ploay it back with vlc, does that mean there is copy protection or is there something else wrong? I have the motorola 6412 dvr.

Thanks

DaveFi

12-21-06, 10:57 AM

I wouldn't go for an external firewire drive exclusively. It would have to have USB 2.0 as well because I have a Playstation 3.

airdrummer

12-21-06, 02:34 PM

> VirtualDVHS is just a list of files, so you'll need to load up the files you'll want to use, then use your Sammy to search through them

huh? the sammy doesn't hae a useable interface:-P i've been working on some applescript apps to both schedule recordings (via titantv's tvpi & crontab) & play them back, using the info in the tvpis...they're my 1st a/s & are a work-in-progress;-) but any feedback appreciated...can't seem to post a URL but u can try scripts of DVHS of toms of wibles webhop net

airdrummer

12-21-06, 02:35 PM

> VirtualDVHS is just a list of files, so you'll need to load up the files you'll want to use, then use your Sammy to search through them

huh? the sammy doesn't have a usable interface:-P i've been working on some applescript apps to both schedule recordings (via titantv's tvpi & crontab) & play them back, using the info in the tvpis...they're my 1st a/s & are a work-in-progress;-) but any feedback appreciated...can't seem to post a URL but u can try scripts of DVHS of toms of wibles webhop net

gaderson

12-21-06, 05:25 PM

DaveFi

12-21-06, 06:03 PM

seldenpat

12-21-06, 11:30 PM

OK, the guy who had that G3 modified to a G4 has a G4 M5183 for sale as well.

How's this $200?:

G4 450 Mhz
AGP graphics
1 Gig RAM
20 GB HD
Firewire,USB,ethernet
OS X Panther

I might be able to get him down $25 or so. I have a Bluetooth dongle w/Keys and mouse so that should be suitable. Is this OK?

Perfect...not sure what effect the extra RAM would have on recording or playback, but it couldn't hurt ;) . I would jump on that if I needed one, or you could negotiate $50 savings and he can keep 512MB of RAM.

DaveFi

12-22-06, 12:13 AM

Perfect...not sure what effect the extra RAM would have on recording or playback, but it couldn't hurt ;) . I would jump on that if I needed one, or you could negotiate $50 savings and he can keep 512MB of RAM.Thanks for all the help.

I got him to come down $25, so I might as well keep the extra ram. Speaking of which, does it take pc133 sdram? I read somewhere it's limited to 1.5MB? So this is what, 3 slots? I have 2gb of ram lying around (4 512mb sticks) so I might as well use them if I can.

chefklc

12-22-06, 08:48 AM

Allow me to butt in with a slightly different point of view, a view that tries to balance both a bare bones budget with a little more thought toward the future. Keep in mind that:

1) The old G4 mini keeps driving real-world prices down for used PowerMac G4s;
2) that RAM you have, 4 x 512 PC133, is actually more valuable than some of these early PowerMacs themselves;
3) one of your goals should be getting something with gigabit, so you can eventually put it on your home network--especially since you can get a G4 PM with gigabit for close to this price. Long term, you'll be happier in terms of workflow and performance if you get away from moving externals, about physically plugging and unplugging them and carrying them around the house. That's where you can get into trouble--especially if you try to mount and unmount drives in a multiple Mac and PC household.

So, I think your $$ will be much better spent with something newer than a Sawtooth: in many cases you'll get bigger hard drives and better hard drive interfaces, and you'll get gigabit. I've seen Quicksilvers go for around $200, then there's another big value jump from Quicksilvers to MDD models, and plenty of MDD deals can be had, too: I've seen several dual 867 MDD w/ 1GB RAM lately go for $300. Prices for these models will just continue to drop, on my local Craigslist I see very good Powermacs go very reasonably--for significantly less than on eBay.

Why else might you want to step up to a faster processor and gigabit right now?

4) Say you get tired of the Firewire SDK and VirtualDVHS method, and want something a little more elegant: with a slightly faster G4 CPU you'd still be able to use it later to record high def with EyeTV 500 devices, with that 450 MHz you wouldn't. And with gigabit these files could be sent relatively quickly anywhere around the house to be edited, played back, etc.

does it take pc133 sdram? I read somewhere it's limited to 1.5MB? So this is what, 3 slots?

133 steps down to 100. The digital audio and quicksilvers have 3 ram slots, max 1.5; the earlier sawtooths have 4 slots and can take 2GB.

So, if I were you, I'd look no lower on the PowerMac depth chart than the barest bones 2002 Quicksilver and stick 3 of those PC133 512s in there or step up to the cheapest MDD you can find, which opens up other doors that down the road you'll be happy you have, like a faster ATA bus and the ability to stick 4 big hard drives in there.

DaveFi

12-22-06, 09:21 AM

1. No way am I going to invest more than $200. I've been checking eBay, and as already mentioned, those units you're talking about, after shipping, go for well >$300, closer to $400 more likey.

2. I don't really care much whether it has gigabit or not since I'm placing it next to my PC/HDTV anyways. I could easily just invest in a PCI USB 2.0 card for $10 or set up a Firewire network directly from my PC. Yes, a little slower, but I don't care.

3. I don't want EyeTV, I will never own a HD tuner on the MAC, just want to use it for DVHS and to dump from my PC.

chefklc

12-22-06, 10:37 AM

Yeah, I figured as much, just took the opportunity to help others who might be reading this think a little differently--especially those who don't already have a house full of PCs, aren't already vested with Windows and/or might have more of an open mind toward value and toward the future. The last thing some of us would ever want is a PowerMac right next to our HDTV, let alone a PowerMac AND a PC tower. But goals, budgets and predilections will always vary.

I've been checking eBay, and as already mentioned, those units you're talking about, after shipping, go for well >$300, closer to $400 more likey

Well, I've been tracking both for a while as well, looking to pick up an old G4 PM for my nephew as an upgrade from his G3 iBook. Sure, folks over-pay, but even on eBay, here's a dual 867 Quicksilver (item #150068345268) that on December 11th went for $300 and here's a dual 867 MDD with a gig of RAM (item #250059100046) that went for $301.

Add another $30 or so for shipping--those are damn nice Macs for the price--again, for someone else who doesn't already have your mindset, for someone who isn't so single-task-minded. Reasonable people can disagree whether $300 or so for those machines represent better value than $200 or so for a circa 1999 machine. And, Craigslist can offer several advantages over eBay, even better real-world pricing, better protection and no shipping, hence even better value. Of course, everyone's local community will rate differently, and I may just be lucky to live in a very Mac rich area.

I don't really care much whether it has gigabit or not since I'm placing it next to my PC/HDTV anyways.

Right, but for most reading within this Mac home theater forum, who might want to dabble with VirtualDVHS on a Mac, gigabit is worth caring about--has been for a while actually, it's the backbone of many of our networks right now even if we have mixed devices. If someone already has or is thinking about plugging a quiet, small core duo mini (with gigabit) right next to their HDTV and using it as a media extender--as they should be--that old G4 PowerMac with gigabit tucked away in a closet or in the basement would continue to pay dividends for years.

I don't want EyeTV, I will never own a HD tuner on the MAC

Understood, but I suspect you may just be in the minority: of those dropping in this Mac-not-MAC forum, willing to explore this method, I'd bet a good number give up after a while for any number of reasons, it can be prickly and difficult, there's a big learning curve, it isn't as seamless or elegant as it might be, WAF, etc.

But, I do hope things work out for you...

DaveFi

12-22-06, 10:44 AM

Well, I've been scouring my local Craigslist and the best I could find was some guy selling his G4 733 for $250 (Quicksilver I assume), and that's with no keyboard/mouse and probably w/CD-Rom (waiting for him to get back). If I can get him down a little I might go for that one instead.

Those you have mentioned on eBay are the exception, and $30 shipping is cheap. Some of the theives on there are charging ~$80 shipping (even without the monitor), driving the price up. If you see any more like that please post them.

What's "MDD"?

druber

12-22-06, 10:56 AM

MDD is "mirrored drive doors"--an easy way to visually identify the last G4 PowerMac models Apple released before moving to the G5.

Just my personal experience speaking, but my 1.25Ghz MDD was loud and never wanted to stay asleep. On the flip side, with three internal hard drives installed, it chugged along like a champ. It'd make a great server if you had a good place to hide it.

chefklc

12-22-06, 11:35 AM

Dave--it can be confusing to keep all the differences between Power Macs straight. A pretty good site which breaks down the evolution, posts the specs, attempts to explain the differences and why that might matter, is Low End Mac:

http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/index.shtml

You'll see the tipping points between models, single to dual, 100 to gigabit, 48 bit addressing, etc, and then can figure out whether that matters to you.

Those you have mentioned on eBay are the exception, and $30 shipping is cheap.

True, but like anything else, shipping is just another factor in a bid or TCO and my larger point was better bargains can be had, even now, and the price to value ratio is just going to continue to tilt toward us. With the 2GB of 133 RAM you already have, and with your needs, you're in a pretty good position no matter which way you go. One could go with the cheapest model which met this specific need and be happy; one could also go with a slightly more expensive gigabit model, which would meet that need but also carry with it a lot more functionality, options and (probably) resale value down the road. Win-win.

DaveFi

12-22-06, 12:10 PM

Well, if I can get the 733 model for not too much more I'll probably go for that. I'm monitoring the dual 867 auctions but they all seem to be going for close to $400. I pretty much have a good idea on the differences of the models now.

Most of my money is invested in my PC setup, and the Mac will just be for glitch free transfer to my DVHS. I doubt I'll use it for much more than that. It's really quite a shame Microsoft didn't bother working the bugs out for Vista 64X as they provide JVC DVHS drivers OOTB. It's quite possible someone else will work it out, but in 32bit emulation mode it's glitchy as hell.

Edit: I bid and won a 733 already on eBay. Wasn't too hard and wasn't much more than what I was going to spend for the 450. Auction #120065588838
Check it out. Not bad for ~$235 all told.

ianchan1970

12-22-06, 06:04 PM

gakon

12-22-06, 08:26 PM

Not in your area, but in Denver our local NBC station is encrypted/blocked. I think CBS might be, no idea about ABC.

DaveFi

12-22-06, 08:37 PM

rezzy

12-22-06, 10:15 PM

Oh crap! I didn't notice the machine I won has a DVD-RAM drive and not a ROM drive. Will this still read DVD-ROMs? I have a spare CD-RW sitting around, should I remove the DVD-RAM and install it instead?Try checking the database over at xlr8. It can possibly tell if either drive is disc bootable--which is important in case you need to do a clean OS install.

http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/drivedb/search.drivedb.lasso

gaderson

12-23-06, 01:51 AM

I tried recording some channels on my Mac through the Comcast 64xx DVR & VirtualDVHS.
Most broadcast channels worked except for CBS (KPIX in the Bay Area). VLC would not play the CBS recordings, so it is as if CBS is encrypted (like ESPN-HD)!
Letterman was playing; I haven't tried other CBS programs.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Check the San Francisco Comcast thread in the 'Local HDTV' threads, it's been a problem for a while, note the recent post from dr1394 about the root cause. It also seems to be somewhat sporadic in the Bay Area, and KTVU (ch 2-702) is one that has problems too. Something about what they do during Primetime. I don't record any CBS shows off my cable box, so haven't noticed the problem.

DaveFi

12-23-06, 10:28 PM

Now that I've commited and purchased the G4 733 I'm conflicted. Do I want to save up for bigger USB hard drives, or should I buy more blank SVHS tapes for my JVC 30K?

Oh, when will afordable recordable BD devices (and media) be available that will solve all our problems?:(

Derek87

12-24-06, 12:56 AM

yes, from my rather limited understanding, KPIX and KTVU in the Bay Area are transmitted with the "copy once" 5c flag. since a computer is a nonauthorized device, it can't copy these at all. these flags appear to be set for network broadcasts (but not for local shows).

this wasn't issue until Comcast updated the firmware of their Motorola boxes.

i've since given up taping this way and bought the Miglia MiniTV HD box...it works quite well for the unencrypted channels, but of course requires a Dual Core or a dual G5 since the Miglia box does no processing on its own...

Check the San Francisco Comcast thread in the 'Local HDTV' threads, it's been a problem for a while, note the recent post from dr1394 about the root cause. It also seems to be somewhat sporadic in the Bay Area, and KTVU (ch 2-702) is one that has problems too. Something about what they do during Primetime. I don't record any CBS shows off my cable box, so haven't noticed the problem.

sponjireggae

01-04-07, 09:02 AM

Jay,

I have the same tv and I'm thinking about recording to the Mac Mini I have hooked to it. I'm running the TV with a cablecard. Are you? So - are you going thru the i.link directly to the firewire port on the mac?

Thanks.

Tom D.

DaveFi

01-10-07, 01:59 AM

OK, I got everything going on my Powemac G4 733 but playback is glitchy to my Samsung's Firewire input. I'm getting dropouts, stalls, etc. I turned off sleep in the control panel settings, etc. Any suggestions?

The only thing I know I'm having a problem with is unequal file sizes in file transfers from PC to Mac over PC but that shouldn't be a huge issue.

I also have a weird problem with my eBay purchased 733. It appears my SATA drive dissapears on a restart. I have to do a total shutdown to get it to reappear. I'm not going to return it at this point because it's working, but what the hell is that about?

R8ders2K

01-10-07, 04:46 AM

Oh crap! I didn't notice the machine I won has a DVD-RAM drive and not a ROM drive. Will this still read DVD-ROMs? I have a spare CD-RW sitting around, should I remove the DVD-RAM and install it instead?

PS- I just gave in and picked up a gigabit switch off Newegg. I figured, might as well go whole hog at this point if I'm dealing with HD files.

FWIW, the DVD-RAM drive will read regular DVDs. I've had two version (with and without drive tray) of Apple's DVD-RAM drives and never had a problem reading DVDs.

DaveFi

01-10-07, 10:57 AM

Yeah, I figured out about the DVD-RAM, thanks.

As far as the glitchyness goes, I also can't seem to just feed the Samsung without the Motorola DCT-3412 tuner. When I try and play something from VirtualDVHS from the D-Net selections it lists Apple Computer, Inc. UNCONTROLABLE. Any way to fix this?

EDIT: Nevermind, figured that one out too. I have to have VirtualDVHS actually running when I plug my Firewire cable into my MAC and it will identify it as a DVHS deck and not as the computer.

Now if I can only get the files to play back glitch free! ARGH. I wonder what could be the problem?

Haloplaya

01-17-07, 12:36 AM

This is very random I know...
But the disney channel is being broadcasted in digital and analog on the same "Channel" 51 in my area... ITS GOT 5C encrpytion copy once!
I never would have thought that standard stations like that could be locked?!?!

BTW, I am getting a very annoying 544x480 res on my SD caps now, and I think it has to do with the latest firmware upgrade to the dct's.. This new firmware has a lot of kinks, crashing my many boxes, and causing these strange resolutions. I have tryed to block downstream, but that doesnt seem to work AT ALL!

If anyone knows about rolling back firmware and or ways to block downstream, please message me....

Haloplaya

DaveFi

01-18-07, 08:15 PM

MickeyDora

01-18-07, 08:36 PM

Dave,

I don't think too many will argue with the playback on the Mac. The Macs are great (actually, super great) at recording. But the playback has always been troublesome at best.

DaveFi

01-18-07, 08:51 PM

Wait? Now you're saying Firewire playback isn't glitch free?!?! ****. Then why did I even bother? That was the whole point of me purchasing one.

DaveFi

01-18-07, 08:54 PM

MickeyDora

01-18-07, 08:57 PM

Wait? Now you're saying Firewire playback isn't glitch free?!?! ****. Then why did I even bother? That was the whole point of me purchasing one.

"Glitch free" no. Close to it, yes. Glitch free recording, yes.

if you have a fast Mac G5 or Intel then you can have pretty much perfect playback of all mpeg2 HD files. But anything slower you will have a hard time at glitch free.

MickeyDora

01-18-07, 08:59 PM

N/M. I'm just disgusted with the whole thing. You read this thread you get the impression the Mac is just peaches and cream with Firewire and DVHS, and now I'm getting the impression it's not that way at all.

Dave,

Look at the thread title. Mac Firewire Recording. The people that use the Macs for playback are not used to the flawless playback on the PC side.

gaderson

01-18-07, 09:00 PM

Guys, the Mac has been a complete waste of money! I've channeled in well over $300 into it and I cannot get glitch free Firewire playback out of it at all! I've followed all the directions, I've turned off all the powersaving stuff, got everything up and running and all I get in VirtualDVHS is stop and starts.

I feel like it's close to $400 down the tubes.:(

What do you mean by 'glitch'? Go through the sequence to playing a file.

I've been playing with a similar combo recently.
e.g.:
Setup: iMac (G3 400MHz, 384MB RAM), capturing to external drive (Wiebetech combo dock) in one FW port, other FW to Samsung STB (SIR-T165), that's linked to JVC DH40kU DVHS deck, that's linked to my Motorola DCT-6412.

iMac--FW HD
|
T165--DVHS--6412

1. Start-up iMac, then VirtualDVHS (SDK v23).
2. Turn on Samsung (mine is the ATSC tuner STB).
3. Load file using 'Load File' button, create index file if asked.
4. Use 'Firewire' menu to select 'Apple Computer' (labeled as DVHS5)
5. Navigate to 'Play' and select.
6. Wait a few seconds for things to start, then enjoy program.

Now, I have had some weird problems and usually I've had to unplug the FW cable from my iMac to the Sammy, then reboot/restart. And, I recently had problems with a captured file, but, need to further work on that.
I'll need to watch longer programs to determine, and maybe try the old process where you select a whole directory.

Recording is different, from the 6412 that is. I need to free up more space to do more recording for experience.

airdrummer

01-20-07, 10:36 AM

i've written an applescript library to control my sammy t165(whatever;-) via iRed/IRtrans. it works quite well, given the fact that there's no way of directly knowing the sammy's state...i use signal files;-)

i've also written an a/s app to read titan.tv's .tvpi files & generate crontab events to record from the sammy using vDVHS...

i've even been able to playback on an old 366mHz g3 clamshell ibook, but vDVHS playback is not glitch-free, even on my minimac duo, but i think it's probably due to storing my recordings on my linux box in the basement;-)

and on my minimac, i'm able to view an in-progress recording in vlc, so i have no complaints;-)

MrWeasley

01-20-07, 12:56 PM

"i've also written an a/s app to read titan.tv's .tvpi files"
Would you share this a/s with us. I would like one to read and interact with the motorola DCT 64xx.
(if this has been done, please excuse and point me - I confess I have not read all 55 pages of this thread)
Lewis

seldenpat

01-21-07, 12:05 PM

airdrummer

01-21-07, 09:02 PM

i've put my a/s up on http://wibles.webhop.net/toms/DVHS/scripts

sammylib controls the tuner via iRed/IRtrans

tvpi2crontab parses the tvpi & creates crontab entries (which call sammylib via osascript)

playRec displays a list of recordings, matched to tvpi, plays them either thru vDVHS->firewire->sammy, or if the sammy's busy recording, plays in VLC

i started on this to learn a/s, but it's dun growed (as s/w is wont2;-) unfortunately i'm running into applescript issues: any a/s gurus care 2 clue me in on modularizing it?-)

shanewalker

01-22-07, 04:36 PM

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but while I'm aware of the CPU-taxing aspect of software decoding for playback on one's screen of these MPEG-2 files, I'm wondering, is it as much of a concern when dumping .TS to D-VHS tape? In other words, is it simply a transport/data-transfer function then, ala recording, as the D-VHS deck's hardware is used for the decoding?

I ask this because that is what I want to use my trusty ole' Mac laptop (667mhz G4 DVI TiBook) for...I have R5000-HD recorded .TS files that I want to put to tape. I don't care about watching the movies (I'll watch them off the much newer/faster PC laptop or streamed to my Xbox 360). I simply want to archive my transport streams to D-VHS (which I would then use for tradional set-top playback).

wilsonsoohoo

01-22-07, 05:53 PM

shanewalker

01-22-07, 11:11 PM

Your TiBook should work just fine. It won't play them back, but that's what you have all the other equipment for. You might even be able to play them back on your dVHS machine, depending on which one it is.

Thanks for the info/vote of confidence. I just finished my first successful test record/dump from my TiBook to my D-VHS deck. Took a couple of minutes to figure out the exact setup (was initially using VirtualDVHS for Tiger, but VirtualDVHS2 seemed to work better, etc.), but in the end, went great.

I'm extremely pleased. I feel now that I FINALLY have a bona fide full-fledged system in place (and, just as importantly, properly configured) for the purpose of building a library of HD content...whew! Now I can really take advantage of all that content I've been paying E* for.

Now, if only Apple would release the uber-machine I've been waiting for (see Mac Mini HD thread in this forum)...

wilsonsoohoo

01-23-07, 12:48 AM

dVHScap works pretty well, too.

Congratulations on the transfer. With regards to the hard drive, you could use Macdrive (I have it and it works great!), but if your transfers are going to go one way only, you could just use a NTFS-formatted drive. Mac OS can read it fine but not write to it. Another solution would be to use an NAS drive, but I don't have a hard-wired network and can't get mine to work acceptably fast, even for file transfers.

shanewalker

01-23-07, 12:29 PM

I have MacDrive on my PC laptop and will be using that to move files on/off the Mac-formatted 1TB Maxtor I have for storing all these .TS files (originally purchased for archiving DVR recordings via Dish Networks perpetually-delayed 'USB backup' they've been promising for their 622 receivers, but as of now I'm repurposing).

I'll probably entertain either a NAS drive solution or a HTPC 'hub' w/ beefy internal storage (Mac Mini HD anyone?) sometime down the line.

woodie

01-28-07, 02:07 PM

I have the specifications, if someone is seriously interested in this, contact me I guess.

I'd like to take a crack at this. I have a Samsung SIR-T165 (with only a tuner subunit).

jvandrew

01-28-07, 02:14 PM

MitsuHelp

01-29-07, 02:00 PM

gaderson

01-30-07, 07:28 PM

I am sort of a newbie at this so I apologize. I have a mac, firewire, and I have downloaded the apple package with avc browser and the virtual dvhs. I have a comcast motorola 6200 box. I am interested in timed recording. From this thread, it seems like this is possible with iCal and applescripts. (Much) Earlier in this thread, there was an applescript to change channels on the 6200, but it required a modified avcbrowser created by kaadray. All of the links to this modified browser software are dead. Where can I download it?

I"ve got a 6400, and did get the iRecord program only to find in the Readme that it only works with the 3400 series. You have to use AVCVideoCap to capture from other STBs. There is a 'delay' option in the program, but, I haven't figured out if it works or not. Otherwise you'll need to get good at apple scripting, and hope your box is tuned to the correct channel.

shamusom

02-01-07, 08:45 PM

Has anyone here successfully been able to record off a Scientific Atlantic 8300HD using iRecord on a macbook pro? I can't seem to get iRecord out of it's "pending" state.

Part two to this question is: does anyone here record off of Rogers HD? Does anyone know of what channels are encrypted/unencrypted?

thanks in advance...

wtaymore

02-02-07, 09:37 PM

Has anyone figured out how to pull HD content that has already been recorded to the DVR. I have one of the Motorola 6412's.

MacBook Pro, 10.4.8

gakon

02-03-07, 12:16 AM

Has anyone figured out how to pull HD content that has already been recorded to the DVR. I have one of the Motorola 6412's.

MacBook Pro, 10.4.8
You'll need to go back a little to find the steps. I posted some instructions - search on my user name in this thread and you should find it, plus a few others who did so around the same time. It had to be a year ago, and while the software versions may have changed, it's still the same basic process. Remember that you cannot replay content that is protected - in some cases you may be able to copy a file, but it won't play. In most areas, premium and even cable channels (like ESPN and Discovery) are proctected - in my area even some of the local channels have copy protection (not sure if it's legal, but I'm not that concerned).

jcgantner

02-03-07, 10:32 AM

OK, My Sony's screen went blank the other day while putting in a DVD for my son to watch. Pulled out the old RCA (89' vintage) and have it hooked up for now. Now it's time to get a new TV before the RCA gives out. I've been looking at some TV's and found this thread in doing some reasearch. I have Time Warner cable, and from what I've read can request a box with a FW port active. I'm trying to weigh the features that I can get in a TV such as 1080 vs 720 and a FW port for possibly hooking up one of my older Macs. Would appreciate any advice in making these decisions that comes my way.

Thanks

spyderx

02-04-07, 12:22 PM

For those looking to record based on time, checkout iRecord. It basically eliminates the need for the Apple FW dev kit.

I've got this working 100% on Charter with a Moxi box (they pushed the 3.2 firmware update in Nov last year that enabled all the firewire goodness). Works perfectly. Can record and playback any HD content, including that recorded on the DVR already.

Intel macmini handles the streams and playback perfectly. My G5 cannot playback full HD recordings w/o dropping frames. Mini works great.

GDMeyer

02-04-07, 12:42 PM

You can record high-definition (transport stream) programs on your Sharp LC-37D90U TV (or another TV with firewire) and your Mac Mini (or other Mac connected to input 5 on this TV) using a large external HFS formatted hard drive.

1) Connect a firewire cable between your TV and your Mac.
2) Download the "FireWireSDK22" directory (developer/Development_Kits/FireWireSDK22.dmg) from the Apple ftp site then open the free "Virtual DVHS" video recorder application that's included.
3) Open the bottom door of your remote control and press the iLink button.
4) Add the "Apple Computer" video recorder item to the list of devices.

Now you can use either the Mac's "Virtual DVHS" video recorder or the TV's "Apple Computer" video recorder (i.link button on remote) to record, play, stop, fast forward, or rewind. Make sure you set the recording path in the "Virtual DVHS" video recorder to your large external hard drive since this records up to 9 GB per hour.

Use AppleScripts in iCal on your Mac at home or remotely from anywhere to automatically turn on the TV, record programs, change sound volume, turn off TV, etc. using the ASCII remote control codes on pages 71 and 72 of the TV's owner's manual. You really don't need to use your remote control anymore when sending ASCII remote control codes to the RS-232 port on the TV from your Mac.

1) Change the power "Standby Mode" to "Mode1" on the TV.
2) Open "AppleScript Utility.app" and check-mark "Enable GUI Scripting" on your Mac.
3) Install a "Prolific USB to RS-232 Serial DB9 adapter" cable on your Mac using the installation files on their website, not the old files on the installation CD, making sure you see "cu.usbserial" in the "/dev" directory on your Mac.
4) Connect a "DB9 Male to DB9 Female null modem adapter" plus a "DB9 Female to Female DB9 RS-232C cable" (ex. Radio Shack) to the "Prolific USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter" cable and then attach all this between one of your Mac's USB ports and the RS-232 port on the TV.

Create a new sample AppleScript file below named "Record Channel 4.1 for 30 minutes.scpt" to use in iCal. Read and understand the comments (--) in the sample AppleScript file below before using:

-- Schedule iCal (start time should also be stop time) to “run script” in "alarm" drop down box "1 minute before" program starts. If you want to record the whole season of a program, set "repeat every week" and "end on date 5/25/07". Delaying 38 seconds is to compensate for preparation time before recording actually begins.
delay 38
-- Access USB to RS232 serial device in UNIX screen utility.
tell application "Terminal"
activate
do script "screen /dev/cu.usbserial"
end tell
delay 3
-- Turn on TV power from standby mode 1 only, go to computer (input 5), and temporarily detach UNIX screen utility.
tell application "System Events"
keystroke "POWR1 " & return
delay 1
keystroke "IAVD5 " & return
delay 1
keystroke "a" using control down
delay 1
keystroke "d" using control down
end tell
delay 1
-- Activate VirtualDVHS HD recorder.
tell application "VirtualDVHS" to activate
delay 1
-- Make sure HD recorder is already stopped if currently playing.
tell application "System Events"
tell application process "VirtualDVHS"
click button 11 of window "VirtualDVHS - Version 2.15"
end tell
end tell
delay 1
-- Re-attach UNIX screen utility, show TV HD recorder, change to Channel 4.1, set volume level to 20, and temporarily detach UNIX screen utility.
tell application "Terminal"
activate
do script "screen -r"
end tell
delay 2
tell application "System Events"
keystroke "LINK1 " & return
delay 1
keystroke "DA2P0401" & return
delay 6
keystroke "VOLM20 " & return
delay 1
keystroke "a" using control down
delay 1
keystroke "d" using control down
end tell
delay 1
-- Start recording on channel 4.1 for 30 minute program.
tell application "System Events"
tell application process "VirtualDVHS"
click button 12 of window "VirtualDVHS - Version 2.15"
end tell
end tell
delay 1730
-- Stop recording on channel 4.1 after 30 minute program.
tell application "System Events"
tell application process "VirtualDVHS"
click button 11 of window "VirtualDVHS - Version 2.15"
end tell
end tell
delay 1
-- Re-attach UNIX screen utility, reset TV HD recorder, go to computer (input 5), turn off TV power from standby 1 mode, and quit UNIX screen utility.
tell application "Terminal"
activate
do script "screen -r"
end tell
delay 2
tell application "System Events"
keystroke "LINK1 " & return
delay 1
keystroke "IAVD5 " & return
delay 1
keystroke "POWR0 " & return
delay 1
keystroke "a" using control down
keystroke "ky"
end tell
delay 1
quit application "Terminal"
-- iCal is "locked-out" for the 30 minute program.

jcgantner

02-10-07, 01:01 PM

Duplicate post, sorry.

jcgantner

02-10-07, 01:02 PM

dreadnought

02-10-07, 08:26 PM

I just ran through some quick tests with AVCVideoCap v1.0 (FireWireSDK23) and my Comcast DCT-3412 and found that I don't get sound from any of my DVR recordings after they've been captured by AVCVideoCap.

As a test I went to a show that was currently playing and ran AVCVideoCap and *did* get sound when I played the .m2t file in VLC. I went back into my DVR recordings, tried to capture again, and still didn't get any sound when playing the resulting .m2t in VLC.

Any ideas why I would get sound from shows currently playing but not those I've recorded on my DVR? In all my testing today, AVCVideoCap showed "Copy Freely" and the video looked fine. My DCT-3412 s/w ver is 74.53 - 3321.

Thanks!

gaderson

02-11-07, 12:32 AM

I've been playing around with trying to get this set up. I have a Samsung HDTV with a firewire port. Connecting it to a Mac and launching the AVC browser shows the TV but shows the connections as 0. The TV recognizes the Mac as an uncontrollable device. I have tried downloading the various developer kits from 18-22 and non of them appear to make a difference. The Apple is running 10.3.9 if that makes a difference. Any hints or thoughts?

You want VirtualDVHS. AVCbrowser just shows what's going on over the Firewire bus. With VirtualDVHS your Sammy should see your Mac and control it like a DVHS deck. You should it your iLink/Firewire button/menu with your Samsung, and should see 'Apple Computer' (or something like that) listed. Then use that to record from your TV to the Mac. Look earlier in the thread for how I setup with my Samsung SIR-T165 OTA HD tuner (setup recording directory, etc.).

stanj

02-11-07, 03:01 AM

dreadnought

02-11-07, 10:05 AM

Did you try playing the file back through another program?

I've been having sound problems with VLC since I switched to a MacBook Pro. On my system, the same files that have no sound in VLC play w/ sound in MPEG Streamclip.

That worked! Strangely, I upgraded to the latest VLC last night and things appeared to get worse - when I captured recorded video VLC gave me solid black and no sound during playback. When I open the same file in MPEG Streamclip, the video and audio are fine!

Maybe there's something wrong with VLC?

stanj

02-11-07, 06:04 PM

That worked! Strangely, I upgraded to the latest VLC last night and things appeared to get worse - when I captured recorded video VLC gave me solid black and no sound during playback. When I open the same file in MPEG Streamclip, the video and audio are fine!

Maybe there's something wrong with VLC?

Yeah, I don't know what's up with VLC. It used to be rock solid, but lately it seems very flaky. I just tried capturing recorded video and played it back on VLC--I got the black screen and no sound also.

MPlayer seems to play the files back without problem, so there must be something in VLC that is messed up.

jdryyz

02-13-07, 07:50 PM

Like many other posts before me, I too have been looking for the best way to take my .ts / .m2t files and convert them to DVD. Mind you, I prefer to play them back in their original state but without a practical means of moving the native content around, DVD is the best solution.

I've tried three methods so far with different results:

1) m2t files converted to MPEG2 wrapper using MPEG Streamclip-- very fast and when the resulting file is played back using Quicktime, there's no noticeable difference that I can see. the file is then dumped to Toast 7.

2) used EyeTV 2.x to open .m2t files and then sent them directly to Toast.

3) converted .m2t to Apple Intermediate Codec (long encoding process) and them imported into iMovie HD.

I appear to have the same quality DVD output using the first two methods, but as others have also mentioned, I am seeing these strange artifacts cropping up, especially visible with the color red. they remind me of some type interlace problem. the DVDs were tested on two different players and displays with similar results. something to due with Toast's encoding perhaps.

The last method seemed to get through the encoding process okay (longer waits, of course), but the DVD created using iDVD 6 didn't look too good. there's a lot of visible compression artifacts. for my 22 min test footage, there's plenty of disc space and my project was set to the maximum quality, so I shouldn't be seeing this. for comparison, I also import video from old video tapes into iMovie and the DVDs created look identical to the source tape.

I hate to say it, but I'm willing to hear recommendations on PC software if the results could be better. It seems to me that having an HDTV stream as source material would yield better downconverted output using the simple tools available. Are my expectations just too high? Do I need to consider using Pro software from Apple?

ibglowin

02-14-07, 09:44 AM

Are you trying to make a DVD that plays on a normal DVD player? I have excellent results using Toast burn to true DVD right out of EyeTV. Absolutley perfect and it retains Dolby 5.1. Couldn't be happier. If you want to keep it in true HD I use Toast as well to archive the episode (after removing commercials) as an EyeTV file. You get a data file DVD that you can play back using the EyeTV player. This is a great way to keep and or back up HD shows and HD movies (using a dual layer burner) and keep them as HD.

jdryyz

02-14-07, 12:04 PM

Yes, and it does play in a normal player. There are just these annoying artifacts. I did another test yesterday sending the converted files to iMovie, then iDVD and I must say I can certainly rule out using this method in the future. While taking the shortest path to Toast isn't perfect, its much better than using iDVD in this case.

Perhaps you can share your Toast encoding settings with me. I believe I have mine set for the highest quality possible and the picture does look great for the most part. I just wanna figure out how to eliminate this artifacting. In some cases, it even appears that frames jump.

I'm doing all of this on a PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8GHz machine, by the way. Lack of horsepower is not a factor.

Good tip on archiving the HD files!

Are you trying to make a DVD that plays on a normal DVD player? I have excellent results using Toast burn to true DVD right out of EyeTV. Absolutley perfect and it retains Dolby 5.1. Couldn't be happier. If you want to keep it in true HD I use Toast as well to archive the episode (after removing commercials) as an EyeTV file. You get a data file DVD that you can play back using the EyeTV player. This is a great way to keep and or back up HD shows and HD movies (using a dual layer burner) and keep them as HD.

MitsuHelp

02-14-07, 12:25 PM

weldon

02-14-07, 12:38 PM

(I could not find my answer in the postings.)

I have a G3 500 with 256Mb (tried 640MB also). I downloaded a 1080i file and when I stream it to the TV, it becomes jerky and pixelated when there is alot of movement. The file was on an external firewire drive, so I have not checked the bitrate (at work now). Does anyone know the max bitrate for streaming from this MAC is? Is there something else that could be causing this.

The file plays fine on my PC. I have also streamed from my SA box to the MAC 1080i content and it plays back fine.
I'll try to help, but let me make sure I understand what's going on...

you downloaded a 1080i file from off the internet
it plays back smoothly on the PC
it does NOT play back smoothly on your Mac
recordings that you make on the Mac from your SA box work fine
it's only this one downloaded file that won't play back smoothly on the Mac

If so, I have the following questions...

where did you get the file?
what codec is being used? is it a .ts or .m2t file?

Here's what I'm thinking, if this is file is encoded with WWV, H.264, Divx, etc. then your mac probably doesn't have the horsepower to decode it smoothly. If it's an HD MPEG-2 file, then we have another problem.
Is that all right?

ibglowin

02-14-07, 12:49 PM

Crank up the Bit rate to the max all the way. Motion Estimation set to "best".

I use an entire DVD for (1) episode of Lost (HD). If the orignal HD file would fit on a single layer DVD all by itself then downrezing it to 480 lines of resolution shouldn't effect it with motion artifacts.

I was doing the iMovie/iDvd thing last year as well. Took forever (got nice pretty menus and cool background music) but lost my 5.1 audio and PQ was not all that great.

Much happier these days exporting right out to Toast with the custom video settings and 5.1 audio.

Yes, and it does play in a normal player. There are just these annoying artifacts. I did another test yesterday sending the converted files to iMovie, then iDVD and I must say I can certainly rule out using this method in the future. While taking the shortest path to Toast isn't perfect, its much better than using iDVD in this case.

Perhaps you can share your Toast encoding settings with me. I believe I have mine set for the highest quality possible and the picture does look great for the most part. I just wanna figure out how to eliminate this artifacting. In some cases, in even appears that frames jump.

I'm doing all of this on a PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8GHz machine, by the way. Lack of horsepower is not a factor.

Good tip on archiving the HD files!

MitsuHelp

02-14-07, 03:14 PM

I'll try to help, but let me make sure I understand what's going on...

you downloaded a 1080i file from off the internet
it plays back smoothly on the PC
it does NOT play back smoothly on your Mac
recordings that you make on the Mac from your SA box work fine
it's only this one downloaded file that won't play back smoothly on the Mac

If so, I have the following questions...

where did you get the file?
what codec is being used? is it a .ts or .m2t file?

Here's what I'm thinking, if this is file is encoded with WWV, H.264, Divx, etc. then your mac probably doesn't have the horsepower to decode it smoothly. If it's an HD MPEG-2 file, then we have another problem.
Is that all right?

First off.....Thanks for the reply!

And yes, this is just a Mpeg2 Ts and navi even runs (which it will not on a H.264 but I may be thinking of a H.264 Mpeg4 which I have tried). Since this one is just mpeg2 ts I thought it should run fine....that's why I was thinking that there may be a limit to the bitrate. I know that most of my recordings have been <20mb and I have not checked this one.

Any thoughts?

jdryyz

02-14-07, 04:09 PM

Thanks for the info. The Motion Estimation setting sounds interesting. I don't recall coming across that before.

Concerning iDVD, yeah, I forgot about the other downside of losing 5.1 audio! That definitely rules it out.

Crank up the Bit rate to the max all the way. Motion Estimation set to "best".

I use an entire DVD for (1) episode of Lost (HD). If the orignal HD file would fit on a single layer DVD all by itself then downrezing it to 480 lines of resolution shouldn't effect it with motion artifacts.

I was doing the iMovie/iDvd thing last year as well. Took forever (got nice pretty menus and cool background music) but lost my 5.1 audio and PQ was not all that great.

Much happier these days exporting right out to Toast with the custom video settings and 5.1 audio.

weldon

02-14-07, 05:40 PM

Any thoughts?
I'm stumped.

BTW, what do you mean when you say navi even runs?

Derek87

02-14-07, 06:16 PM

coming to this discussion late, but i think the basic answer is your G3 doesn't have the horsepower to decode the m2t files. i ran into the same thing with my old G4 powerbook (800 mhz G4 probably was giving me 15-20 fps)...it could record files properly, but can't play them back at a high enough frame rate.

however, if your TV supports firewire input, it should be able to play back things smoothly since all of the overhead should be handled by the TV decoding things.
(i think)

First off.....Thanks for the reply!

And yes, this is just a Mpeg2 Ts and navi even runs (which it will not on a H.264 but I may be thinking of a H.264 Mpeg4 which I have tried). Since this one is just mpeg2 ts I thought it should run fine....that's why I was thinking that there may be a limit to the bitrate. I know that most of my recordings have been <20mb and I have not checked this one.

Any thoughts?

MitsuHelp

02-15-07, 12:01 PM

I'm stumped.

BTW, what do you mean when you say navi even runs?

I can't remember the exact process but when you first try to stream a new file, it asks do you want to run naviSomthing. When I run that process I feel that the Mac and read it and stream it (1394).

jdryyz

02-15-07, 04:47 PM

Well, there was room for improvement on the bit rate (although no noticeable effect on playback) but the Motion Estimation was already set to Best and I'm still seeing the ocassional weird lines. This appears to be the quickest, cleanest, and least expensive method of getting HD to DVD on the Mac though.

I'll check out the available PC software next.

Crank up the Bit rate to the max all the way. Motion Estimation set to "best".

I use an entire DVD for (1) episode of Lost (HD). If the orignal HD file would fit on a single layer DVD all by itself then downrezing it to 480 lines of resolution shouldn't effect it with motion artifacts.

I was doing the iMovie/iDvd thing last year as well. Took forever (got nice pretty menus and cool background music) but lost my 5.1 audio and PQ was not all that great.

Much happier these days exporting right out to Toast with the custom video settings and 5.1 audio.

druber

02-16-07, 12:00 PM

I have a Mac Mini hooked up to an HP LC2600N with i.Link. Using i.Link to play back directly through the TV was generally unsuccessful. Was, that is, until I used AVC Video Cap to try to record directly from the TV (which worked fine). Somehow that made the i.Link connection that other methods had missed. Does anyone know what AVC Video Cap does to initiate a recording that might be making this connection? I'd love to use i.Link for playback without initiating a recording first.

jdryyz

02-19-07, 03:36 PM

Well, I had an opportunity to test Ahead's Nero Vision 4 to handle the transcoding. I hate to have to report this on a Mac OS related thread, but this Nero software does a much better job than the EyeTV / Toast combo. I have none of the anomalies experienced using the Mac software. It looks just a hair below professional DVD output.

The processing time is about twice as long on my 3.0GHz P4, however. The PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz has the advantage here.

Guess its time to consider upgrades for my PC. It was due anyway.

the duke

02-19-07, 04:18 PM

rstewar

02-19-07, 04:29 PM

Hi,

With the help of this forum, I'm able to transfer previously-recorded material from my Moto 6412 DVR, via Firewire, into my Mac, and then make a DVD out of it.

The thing that bothers me is that the transfer from the DVR to the Mac must occur in realtime, even if the material is already completely on the DVR's HD. It would be great if the Firewire port could theoretically be used at its maximum transfer rate for faster-than-realtime transfer. In that case, I could transfer a 1-hour show in a few minutes.

Is there any way to accomplish this? I realize the DVR would have to implement some kind of Firewire disk emulation, so it looks like a hard drive to the host Mac.

Thanks,

Adam

No, there isn't any good way to do this, AFAIK. To be honest, we're lucky to have any method of taking video off of the box. The only reason why it is there is due to FCC regulation allowing people to hook up DVHS decks to their televisions. Cable companies and content providers have been conspiring against recording television since the VCR was invented.

I'm somewhat surprised that firewire recording extended to DVR boxes given that in theory, they are accomplishing the same (or at least similar) activity.

Another solution to this problem is to buy an EyeTV product and forgo the 6412 altogether. Of course, you lose all the upper range channels when you do this.

Cheers,
Randy Stewart

weldon

02-19-07, 04:37 PM

Is there any way to accomplish this? I realize the DVR would have to implement some kind of Firewire disk emulation, so it looks like a hard drive to the host Mac.
No. The simplest way to understand this is to imagine that the firewire port is connected to the video out subsystem, not the disk controller.

It's possible that motorola could change this, but I don't expect that to happen.

zeker00

02-19-07, 07:42 PM

I have a Mac-mini Intel duo, OSX 10.4.8, Firewire SDK23, and a COMCAST Motorola DCT6412-III. Using AVCBrowser 2.1 I can detect the DCT, and change channels on the STB from the AV/C Device Control Panel {panel tab}. When I launch VirtualDVHS ver 2.15 I use the {Set Recording Path} tab to 'open' my storage folder. However, I have stepped thru all 64 {Broadcast Record Channels} and attempted to record (little red dot in circle) each channel - all result in zero. No change in bitrate.

My first challenge is to record onto Mac what I had previously recorded to the DVR - non-protected channels (no premiums or anything). Or just record 'anything' from the DVR. I am not a developer, but not a novice either. I find a lot of information for SDK18 and from previous years, but could REALLY use some current assistance. :o

Appreciate any assistance!

zeker00

zeker00

02-23-07, 11:19 PM

Update: I now have AVCVideoCap 1.05b loaded and working. Records from DCT-6412 just fine. I also now have VLC 0.8.6a-intel loaded and running. First I captured about 2 minutes of stream from 6412 (approx 38MB .m2t file), then used VLC to view it, and then Streaming/ExportWizard to transform the .m2t file into a ,mp4 file. This file burned to DVD direct via TOAST and also thru iMOVIE > iDVD. Both media played fine in 'normal' DVD player to TV. That;s the good news.

The bad news: I then captured a full hour from the 6412 (approx 1.15GB .m2t file), then used VLC to view it. OK so far. But attempting to use Streaming/ExportWizard (exact same settings) and I consistently have the application terminate after a few minutes processing - approx 61MB output file written to disk. I have the error debug listing if that would help any.

Monitored cpu & disk. Using approx 107% of dual processors, 125MB RAM used and 750MB 'inactive', no other applications to conflict, over 300GB of disk space free.

Any guesses/thoughts/suggestions???

Thanks in advance! Personal email welcomed. zeker00

warunek

02-26-07, 04:20 PM

Having similar problems using VLC for anything other than viewing. For several weeks, I've been using Streamclip (converting m2t to mpeg 2) with AVC VideoCap and works with 7-8gb files (copy freely of course).

torifile

03-13-07, 10:36 PM

A quick search of this thread doesn't give much info on the 8300HD. The only 2 posts with 8300 in them aren't too promising. Any ideas?

ejonesss

03-19-07, 04:22 PM

i was wondering would the importer software that comes with today's dvd and mpeg based video cameras work to import.

or is there any 3rd party software that would work too.

also i noticed some of the links at the beginning are broken

anonymouser

03-19-07, 08:32 PM

I have AVCVideoCap working, but I would like to get a script or write
a script to initiate a recording. For some reason VirtualDVHS does not
record well, and iRecord is unreliable and saves files as .0 . If
anyone could tell me where to get a script or program to initiate a
recording that would be great. If not, I need the specifics for GUI
scripting on AVCVideoCap so I can write the script. This would be my
first, so if possible even an outlined script would be great. Thanks.

seldenpat

03-19-07, 08:34 PM

A quick search of this thread doesn't give much info on the 8300HD. The only 2 posts with 8300 in them aren't too promising. Any ideas?

What do you need to know? I am recording perfectly with my 8300HD to a Mac, both live content and timeshifted from the Hard Drive.

kaadray

03-20-07, 07:45 PM

... and iRecord is unreliable and saves files as .0.

This won't help with the reliability issue, but instructions for fixing the .0 and .1 extensions issue can be found here (http://forums.ammesset.com/viewtopic.php?t=8).

snowjay

03-21-07, 09:12 AM

Maybe this was covered in the 55 prior pages but I don't have that kind of time or attention span. ;)

How well can I get my Mini to integrate as a full function DVR? I know I can record shows via firewire off my cable box but the programming/scheduling seems a bit kludgy to me, or I've just not researched it enough. My 8300HD program guide leaves a lot to be desired and I'm unwilling to shell out $800 for a Tivo Series 3, so the Mini I already own becomes the next likely choice.

I really just want to be able to pull up an on-screen guide with the touch of a button from my Harmony and go about my business like I do now but hopefully with a better experience than my current 8300HD guide. It looks like EyeTV would do this but I see it bundled with hardware most of the time, but will it also work with just a Firewire connection to the cable box?

zim2dive

03-21-07, 10:24 AM

What do you need to know? I am recording perfectly with my 8300HD to a Mac, both live content and timeshifted from the Hard Drive.

How do you get live content out? (who is your cable provider). So far as I have seen so far, TWC customers are only able to get stored material (which means only the "copy freely" b/c storing the material on the DVR counts as the "once" in "copy once")

Mike

seldenpat

03-21-07, 11:41 PM

How do you get live content out? (who is your cable provider). So far as I have seen so far, TWC customers are only able to get stored material (which means only the "copy freely" b/c storing the material on the DVR counts as the "once" in "copy once")

Mike

Cablevision. All of my HD stations are set to copy freely, so I can't help you with a way to do it if your flags are set to copy once. I am able to copy both live and recorded content to the Mac via firewire. Allowed me to totally eliminate DVHS tapes from my vocabulary.

Carlos_E

03-23-07, 08:15 PM

Cablevision. All of my HD stations are set to copy freely, so I can't help you with a way to do it if your flags are set to copy once. I am able to copy both live and recorded content to the Mac via firewire. Allowed me to totally eliminate DVHS tapes from my vocabulary.
I'm also on cable vision and I have a MacBook Pro. Can you describe the steps how you're recording live content. Also what format are you converting to Also are you burning to DVDs? As much detail as possible is appreciated.

Thanks!

seldenpat

03-24-07, 08:58 PM

I'm also on cable vision and I have a MacBook Pro. Can you describe the steps how you're recording live content. Also what format are you converting to Also are you burning to DVDs? As much detail as possible is appreciated.

Thanks!

Follow all of the steps detailed in this thread to make sure you have the proper software loaded.
Connect SA8300HD to Mac via Firewire cable. You will need 6 pin to 6 pin.
Open AVCBrowser included in Firewire SDK. Note the channel that the Mac gives to the SA8300HD.
Open VirtualDVHS and change the input channel to the one that AVCBrowser has said that the SA8300HD was using.
Tune to channel you want to record (701 - 780)
Press record on VirtualDVHS.

I am keeping the files as transport streams as I have a firewire display that I use VirtualDVHS to play back to.

pgershon

03-25-07, 10:12 AM

Is there an easy way to control my cable box from my mac? I want to be able to change channels on the STB - either an 8300 HD or an SA 3250 HD. Firewire recording is great, but who wants to need to "touch" two boxes (the mac and the STB). My guess is that sending an IR signal from the Mac is all that is necessary, but would need software and hardware to do this. Does something pretty simple exist already? This seems like a key component to Mac Home Theater when trying to view encrypted cable QAM.

kaadray

03-27-07, 05:31 PM

You should be able to tune the 3250 over FireWire, using AVCVideoCap or iRecord (http://www.ammesset.com/irecord) . I don't think the 8300 supports it.

The current beta of the next version of iRecord supports executing an AppleScript in place of sending a channel tuning command over FireWire. So if you have one of the ir blasters w/software that can be controlled from a Mac (I think there is one called ired or something), you could use those together to tune the 8300 before recording.

Steve247

03-30-07, 01:31 PM

I used iRecord to turn on my SA 3250 and record a show from Rogers Digital in Toronto. How do I automate the process of turning the 3250 off?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

kaadray

03-30-07, 01:39 PM

iRecord doesn't turn devices off after recordings, just on if it needs to/can. It might not be too hard to add that. I'll post after the weekend if there is an update.

pgershon

03-31-07, 12:26 AM

Can iRecord access TitanTV to schedule recordings, like EyeTV can? Alternatively, can iRecord and EyeTV work together? I am trying to mimic true DVR compability with my Mac and my SA3250HD STB.

kaadray

03-31-07, 10:33 AM

Guide integration doesn't exist in any form currently. I am working on a couple of things so that external programs - like guide programs - can more easily add and manipulate events in iRecord. There is nothing in the current version or the beta at the moment, though.

rmbracalente

03-31-07, 01:40 PM

Carlos_E

04-02-07, 11:41 AM

Wow, after 4 years this thread could sure use a sticky "FAQ" post with some links to specific messages.

I have a SA8300 and I'm trying to figure out how to get time-shifted content from it onto my Mac. I have the FW SDK(23) installed, and it appears I can communicate with the 8300. But after getting that far, what I need to do next is a little fuzzy. I've searched the thread for about an hour trying to find how to do this, but I came up empty.
Posted above:

Connect SA8300HD to Mac via Firewire cable. You will need 6 pin to 6 pin.
Open AVCBrowser included in Firewire SDK. Note the channel that the Mac gives to the SA8300HD.
Open VirtualDVHS and change the input channel to the one that AVCBrowser has said that the SA8300HD was using.
Tune to channel you want to record (701 - 780)
Press record on VirtualDVHS.

Carlos_E

04-02-07, 11:43 AM

The above worked on my Mac. :-) I could play the recording in VLC.

uncertainty

04-02-07, 01:47 PM

The above worked on my Mac. :-) I could play the recording in VLC.

What version of VLC are you currently runnning? My 8.6rev seems to constantly crash when trying to view any of the MT2 streams I capture.

whines83

04-02-07, 10:34 PM

can my mac record an playback non hdtv programs or shows captured at standard dvd resolution.....?

here are the specs on the powermac g4...

400mhz
512mb ram
40 gig hdd 5400rpm
ati rage 128 16mb
10.4 tiger

will it work? or do i need a gig or more of ram to succesfully record and playback NON hdtv programming i just wanna use the mac as a dvd recorder..

rmbracalente

04-03-07, 04:48 PM

Thanks for the reply Clarlos, but what I'm really looking for is how to capture content that's already been recorded and stored on the 8300HD, not how to capture "live" programming in real-time.

Posted above:

Connect SA8300HD to Mac via Firewire cable. You will need 6 pin to 6 pin.
Open AVCBrowser included in Firewire SDK. Note the channel that the Mac gives to the SA8300HD.
Open VirtualDVHS and change the input channel to the one that AVCBrowser has said that the SA8300HD was using.
Tune to channel you want to record (701 - 780)
Press record on VirtualDVHS.

kaadray

04-03-07, 05:05 PM

The procedure is the same for live or recorded content. Use VDVHS, AVCVideoCap, iRecord, etc... to capture what is currently playing - a 'live' channel or a recording that you are playing back.

In the past I had reports of some firmware versions on some boxes encrypting playback of streams from channels that were otherwise clear when live, or not enabling FW output at all during playback, but it wasn't often and I haven't heard it recently. It may have just been user error.

kaadray

04-03-07, 05:06 PM

I used iRecord to turn on my SA 3250 and record a show from Rogers Digital in Toronto. How do I automate the process of turning the 3250 off?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

If anyone else was looking for this feature it is available in the latest build and appears to be working.

esoterica

04-03-07, 09:32 PM

Does anyone know if it's possible to capture any channels over Cox cable in the Phoenix area using FireWire/1394?

I have an 8300HD with SARA version 1.89.x, and VirtualDVHS won't capture anything. AVCVideoCap will capture to what it claims it a .m2t file, but neither VLC nor MPEG StreamClip will open it (AVCVideoClip lists "Unknown/Other" under Stream Format).

Does this mean that my channels are all "5C" encrypted? I don't get usable files even when I try to rip PBS-HD. I don't have a non-DVR HD cable box to try this with so I was wondering if anyone else on the Cox phoenix system is having any success, and if so which box you're using and/or if you have any suggestions.

FWIW, my primary intent is to capture the Planet Earth series off Discovery HD Theater.

TIA

MickeyDora

04-03-07, 11:31 PM

Carlos_E

04-04-07, 02:24 AM

Only the networks are recordable on the Mac and on the 8300 it is buggy as hell with the current software.
I've recorded Rome on HBO HD on a MacBook Pro from an 8300.

rmbracalente

04-04-07, 08:31 PM

The procedure is the same for live or recorded content. Use VDVHS, AVCVideoCap, iRecord, etc... to capture what is currently playing - a 'live' channel or a recording that you are playing back.

OK, That's the part I was missing...I need to be ~watching~ the time-shifted show to transfer it. I thought that there was a way I could browse reocrded content and transfer it asynchronously. Thanks!

Haloplaya

04-09-07, 11:51 PM

dawgnsc

04-10-07, 12:25 PM

I am new to Apple, so that may be part of my problem. I have also searched the forum and that has been helpful to me so far.

I am running a Mac with 2.16 core duo with 2 GB Memory with 250 GB of hard drive. I have a JVC 30K and a SA 8300HD.

I have final cut express HD, which recognizes the JVC (It will start the tape and stop it) but will not actaully record anything.

DVHSCap is the same way. I can't acatully pull the HD signal from the tapes. I am pulling my hair out here. I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but I am certain it's me.

I know the Mac is talking with the JVC, so there are no problems there. Also, I am using a copy of a game from CBS, a network, so there should be no copy restrictions there.

I need someone's simple soultion to my problem. I am certain I am doing something wrong...

Thanks in advance...

cableric

04-10-07, 07:16 PM

I have noticed that all of my HD channels have no 5c encryption for the past month, and I really love it!

I believe that Comcast is now switching some of their service to some type of IP based xfer, because I see new menu's within the diagnostic page...

Does anyone know of a way to block the downstream of a box so It cannot be hit by the local Cable Company?

Thanks,
Haloplaya

CCI level is not set by a "hit" to the box in the OOB, it's embedded in the QAM for that specific channel or mux. You can certainly notch out that frequency but that won't exactly help you much.

cableric

twelvepbrs

04-13-07, 01:59 PM

i've already got a good recording setup (HDHomerun into GBPVR on a PC), but im still trying to find a good way to playback HD transport streams to my HDTV over 1394, tried firebus on the pc and it's pretty useless, if i'm only interested in playback over 1394 can anyone recomend the mac hardware specs i might need (or recommend any other playback over 1394 to tv methods?), i 'd like to have the box stream the HD TS from another computer over 100 MBps ethernet and then back out the 1394 to my tv,
thanks,
-j

SnakeEyes

04-15-07, 02:38 AM

Just hooked up my mini to my Motorola 6412 from Mediacom in Des Moines. Ran through all channels to see what was flagged "copy once". Kinda odd results IMO. Most of analog was "freely copy" except for ESPN Classic, ESPN2, History, TV Land, Versus, and TBN. The digital sports tier, in the upper 100s, was all "freely copy" but then from 200 and up was "copy once" except for ESPN News. All of my HD locals, except for PBS, were "copy once" as were everything in the HD tier except for ESPN2 and INHD.

Strange to see ESPNHD locked down but not in analog, while ESPN2HD was not locked down and the analog station was. And I thought all local channels were supposed to be "freely copy". If this is true who do I contact?

twelvepbrs

04-15-07, 02:45 AM

the ESPN2 analog station was locked as copy once/never? is the station encrypted-analog? that's just looney

SnakeEyes

04-15-07, 03:04 AM

Yes, ESPN Classic, ESPN2, History Channel, TV Land, Versus, and TBN (WTF?) were "copy once".

twelvepbrs

04-15-07, 12:40 PM

Yes, ESPN Classic, ESPN2, History Channel, TV Land, Versus, and TBN (WTF?) were "copy once".
and you are sure that they are analog? are they encrypted? if you just plug them into a crappy tv straight through coax, can they be tuned?

SnakeEyes

04-15-07, 02:21 PM

Yeah, I only have one TV in the house that has a cable box.

twelvepbrs

04-15-07, 02:44 PM

Yeah, I only have one TV in the house that has a cable box.
so they can be tuned by just a regular old tv without a box? if this is the case it's very strange that you can't record them through the box, considering that you could record them with a vcr, or any tv-tuner card in a pc

SnakeEyes

04-15-07, 02:46 PM

That is the case.

zim2dive

04-15-07, 09:40 PM

so they can be tuned by just a regular old tv without a box? if this is the case it's very strange that you can't record them through the box, considering that you could record them with a vcr, or any tv-tuner card in a pc

Some cable systems are simulcasting analog and digital versions of the same channels, partly as a half-step towards switched digital video. So the cable box might be picking up a digital (SD) version of the channel, vs the TV tuning an analog version.

not saying this is for sure the case where you are, but it is a possibility.

twelvepbrs

04-16-07, 12:13 AM

Some cable systems are simulcasting analog and digital versions of the same channels, partly as a half-step towards switched digital video. So the cable box might be picking up a digital (SD) version of the channel, vs the TV tuning an analog version.

not saying this is for sure the case where you are, but it is a possibility.
if that's the case you should check the diagnostic info in the box to see the tuning frequency and program #

dannyv@cybernex.

04-16-07, 11:22 AM

Hi all,

I Just want to report on my first attempt with the mac g4 450MHZ sawtooth with an 80 gig drive and 1gig memory that I setup with the very latest osx10 tiger. I am very new to the MAC so please bare with me.

I captured a 1 hour HD program on a network cable channel and a 1 hour HBO HD show and both captured perfectly with no frame dropouts. I had some microblocking and audio dropout which was on the 8300hd original recording. I noticed that after the microblocking and audio dropout on the HBO show. The audio went out of sync for about 5 minutes on the capture. There was no audio sync problem on the original source. On the network show (the program 24 on fox) the microblocking and audio dropouts on the origional recording (8300hd) were present on the capture but did not make the audio go out of sync. The microblocking and audio dropouts were not excessive (once every 20mins or so). I noticed that these dropouts are more frequent since I installed an external 320gb drive on the STB. I used mpeg2repair on these streams but this did not help. If anyone has any ideas or hints on how to repair the stream please let me know

I used avcdvhs from the firesdk23 development kit to capture and did not need to use avcbrowser to detect the stb. One problem I had was I had to open and close avcdvhs many times before it let me capture anything (capture button remained grayed out). This problem exists whether or not I use avsbrowser to detect the STB. If anyone has a solution or explination as whats happening with avcdvhs it would be greatly appreciated.

I copied the stream from the Mac G4 to my PC and used nero vision express 7.0 to convert the stream to DVD and this worked perfectly and resulted in DVD quality video and 5.1 digital audio. Nero also recoginized the stream (.m2t) from the mac and did not need converting to another format.

dawgnsc

04-17-07, 02:57 PM

I can't seem to capture from my JVC 30K. I am new to Apple, so that may be part of my problem. I have also searched the forum and that has been helpful to me so far.

I am running a Mac with 2.16 core duo with 2 GB Memory with 250 GB of hard drive. I have a JVC 30K and a SA 8300HD.

I have final cut express HD, which recognizes the JVC (It will start the tape and stop it) but will not actaully record anything.

DVHSCap is the same way. I can't acatully pull the HD signal from the tapes. I am pulling my hair out here. I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but I am certain it's me.

I know the Mac is talking with the JVC, so there are no problems there. Also, I am using a copy of a game from CBS, a network, so there should be no copy restrictions there.

I need someone's simple soultion to my problem. I am certain I am doing something wrong...

Any help would be great. I am not sure what I am doing wrong.

WiFi-Spy

04-17-07, 04:58 PM

is the content on your tapes protected by 5c copy once ?

dawgnsc

04-17-07, 05:29 PM

It was taped on CBS. From what I understand those are not restricted.

How would I know for sure that I am not using a copy-once tape?

drho2004

04-18-07, 12:56 PM

Hello, im attempting this myself, and wow this is an old thread! ha
anyways i hook up my motorola DCT6200 from Timewarner via firewire, under system profiler it shows as unknown device 400mb/s max. im on a P4 running osx 10.4.8, 1gb of ram, 160gb sata, 400gb sata, 200gbata drives. im currently running sdk18 which is not intel ready. were can i get the newer sdk23 ?

WiFi-Spy

04-18-07, 02:15 PM

SnakeEyes

04-22-07, 10:57 PM

So are these local channels being set to copy once a cable company issue? Do I contact them?

stguitar

04-23-07, 03:47 PM

Ive been looking at this thread for a few days and its so big its hard to find the answer i am needing.

i am new to this particular stuff, but not new to macs. so heres my setup.

mb pro
motorola 6208 (i think is the model) STB from comcast in little rock arkansas.
VLC 0.8.6b

anyway, i use AVCVideoCap to record, and am able to do that on all the SD channels. there are only a few HD channels that the program shows as "Copy Freely". Most of them are "Copy Once" and i cannot play the result file in anything. i understand this is normal. my main question is this. i have some of these HD channels that are indeed "copy freely" but when i try to play back the file created, i get nothing but color scrambled up on the screen. not snow, but a letterbox strip of where the image should be. two of the HD channels that are "Copy Freely" record beautifully so i know its not the firewire/mac side of things.

i guess i was wondering whats going on... is it 5c encryption? or something else i can actually fix?

i was also curious about how to record the local HD broadcasts over the air if my tv doesnt have a firewire port... do i connect my hd antenna to my STB?

i also realize my answers are probably in this thread somewhere, i just cannot find them.

thanks in advance for the help!

powertowerpro

05-05-07, 12:26 PM

iRecord doesn't turn devices off after recordings, just on if it needs to/can. It might not be too hard to add that. I'll post after the weekend if there is an update.

Wow, this is great the creator of iRecord! Thanks for putting out this software. I second the request for Titan TV integration. I have an email into elgato about making their eyeTV software compatible with cable boxes such as Scientific Atlanta's Explorer 3250HD receiver, but I think the chances are unlikely as it would cannibalize their eyeTV hardware sales.

QUESTION for my fellow AVers. What if I simply want to watch live TV via firewire on my mac? Does anyone know of any software that will display the current stream?

Thanks,

PtP

FriarWyer

05-05-07, 08:16 PM

QUESTION for my fellow AVers. What if I simply want to watch live TV via firewire on my mac? Does anyone know of any software that will display the current stream?

Try the following modified version of AVCBrowser (http://www.yanoweb.com/AVCBrowser_2_2.zip) in conjunction with VLC.

Get a copy of VLC and copy it to your Applications folder.
Run AVCBrowser.
Find the source device in the AVCBrowser window, and open the device control panel.
"Open" the device using the upper-right button in the device control window.
Select the "Panel" tab on the device control window.
Push the "Start Viewer" button.
Watch TV.
You can use the other Panel control buttons to change the channel on the source device, etc.

What AVCBrowser does is:
Launch VLC and have it listen on a particlar UDP port.
Makes a connection to the source device's firewire output, and starts receiving a stream.
Opens an IP socket on the local-node/port.
Streams the data over to VLC.

cavalierlwt

05-06-07, 10:20 AM

powertowerpro

05-06-07, 12:56 PM

Try the following modified version of AVCBrowser (http://www.yanoweb.com/AVCBrowser_2_2.zip) in conjunction with VLC.

Get a copy of VLC and copy it to your Applications folder.
Run AVCBrowser.
Find the source device in the AVCBrowser window, and open the device control panel.
"Open" the device using the upper-right button in the device control window.
Select the "Panel" tab on the device control window.
Push the "Start Viewer" button.
Watch TV.
You can use the other Panel control buttons to change the channel on the source device, etc.

What AVCBrowser does is:
Launch VLC and have it listen on a particlar UDP port.
Makes a connection to the source device's firewire output, and starts receiving a stream.
Opens an IP socket on the local-node/port.
Streams the data over to VLC.

Thank you this is exactly what I wanted! Perfect!

warunek

05-09-07, 11:14 AM

dannyv@cybernex.

05-09-07, 01:59 PM

Saved videos on an Explorer 8300HD have been firewire captured (copy freely) with AVC VideoCap. The resulting m2t files played back with Streamclip or Streamclip converted/exported to any format such as MPEG 2, MPEG 4, DV etc. show a sawtooth pattern around fast moving objects-really looks bad on a larger eg. 40" display. Saved videos from analog transfer such as Eye TV do not show this. Anyone have any suggestions?

Sounds like a deinterlacing problem. If your converting the video set the deinterlacing to auto or off. You should not be using deinterlacing unless you are sure the video source is interlaced.

powertowerpro

05-09-07, 10:11 PM

Sounds like a deinterlacing problem. If your converting the video set the deinterlacing to auto or off. You should not be using deinterlacing unless you are sure the video source is interlaced.

Watching the NBA playoffs on TNT HD live via VLC i get the sawtooth pattern around fast moving object too. Unfortunately it is to the point where it is unwatchable. How can i set the de-interlacing options. . I am using the set up recommended by FriarWyer with the hacked version of AVCBrowser which streams the clip to VLC. Note that I am not recording the show, I am streaming it live.

I am wondering if this problem is specific to 1080i, I don't seem to see the problem in 720p. Any help on "smoothing" the playback would be great.

Note: I am using a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250HD receiver

Thanks,

kiragirl

05-11-07, 12:53 AM

Okay. I've been trying to get this to work for months, and it just doesn't seem to want to work.

Reading through this thread, I have downloaded the AVCBrowser linked on this page. For the first time, I saw video coming through from my television! This is the only device that has allowed me to do so.

Naturally, I wanted to SAVE this stream, and followed the wizard in VLC. Every time I do, however, the image is pixelated and studders. I've tried several encoding methods with no improvement. When I select the Tape tab and hit record, it seems like nothing happens.

Can someone assist? I feel I am so close and would love to get this to work. Link me to the proper post if applicable.

Thanks!

Kira

(Specs. MacBook Intel 2GHz. Motorola 6412. Streaming safe channels. Using the AVCBrowser linked here and VLC.)

FriarWyer

05-11-07, 01:17 AM

If AVCBrowser is working for you, then you should be able to record using AVCVideoCap. They both use the same underlying firewire code.

WiFi-Spy

05-11-07, 07:01 AM

Watching the NBA playoffs on TNT HD live via VLC i get the sawtooth pattern around fast moving object too. Unfortunately it is to the point where it is unwatchable. How can i set the de-interlacing options. . I am using the set up recommended by FriarWyer with the hacked version of AVCBrowser which streams the clip to VLC. Note that I am not recording the show, I am streaming it live.

I am wondering if this problem is specific to 1080i, I don't seem to see the problem in 720p. Any help on "smoothing" the playback would be great.

Note: I am using a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250HD receiver

Thanks,

set VLC's de-interlacing to blend or bob.

Buk

05-13-07, 12:23 PM

Hi,

After hooking and removing and sometimes during the hook up of my MacBook Pro to our Motorola 6416, the Motorola goes in to a sort of lock up mode. When using the remote fast forwarding, fast reverse cease to function. I have to disconnect power from the 6416 completely, wait a bit, power back up and everything starts to work.

When using VirturalDVHS it sometimes don't get a valid recording. If you look at the stats window while recording, they say NO navigation instead of YES, H-RES and V-RES both say zero instead of appropriate readings, packets and bitrate seem to have valid numbers. The resulting recording shows up on the hard drive with gigs of space used, but I can't open the file with any software. A complete power off of the 6416 fixes the problems for maybe one recording before another lock up.

Is this a common problem and how can you avoid it?

Thanks,

Buk

powertowerpro

05-15-07, 03:30 AM

Ladd

05-15-07, 07:22 AM

After hooking and removing and sometimes during the hook up of my MacBook Pro to our Motorola 6416, the Motorola goes in to a sort of lock up mode. When using the remote fast forwarding, fast reverse cease to function. I have to disconnect power from the 6416 completely, wait a bit, power back up and everything starts to work.I have never had the Motorola 6412 Phase III problem you describe DURING a recording to my Mac (via AVCvideocap), but it ALWAYS happens after I'm finished with a recording session and have disconnected the Firewire cable.

As you have experienced, the 6412 is essentially unusable until restarted.

Pulling the plug to restart the 6412 would be only a minor annoyance if it kept the programming guide on disk a la Tivo -- unfortunately it doesn't, so all the data must be re-downloaded and for my unit/cable system that takes more than two days to fully re-populate.

warunek

05-16-07, 12:22 PM

If this is not the best thread to ask this please redirect me.

Now that we have successfully got a system to record shows on the mac, what is the best way to get this HD video out to our HDTV?

My HDTV does not have Firewire inputs, and the quality I have seen from AppleTV is dismal. Anyone have any best practices they can share?

How about cable from DVI video port on mac to HDMI port on HDTV?

seldenpat

05-19-07, 06:23 PM

If this is not the best thread to ask this please redirect me.

Now that we have successfully got a system to record shows on the mac, what is the best way to get this HD video out to our HDTV?

My HDTV does not have Firewire inputs, and the quality I have seen from AppleTV is dismal. Anyone have any best practices they can share?

Firewire out from the Mac to a JVC DVHS deck to your HDTV. The 5U has both component and HDMI outputs. The 40k and 30k only have component out.

mac_video

05-31-07, 02:47 PM

Hi there.

I've got an iBook G4 w/ OS 10.4, an SA8300HD, and Time Warner Cable. Some people have had success recording from this kind of STB with AVCVideoCap on "copy freely" channels but I've got a strange problem.

All my channels are set to "copy freely" but the m2t files I record with AVCVideoCap don't play in VLC and MPEG Streamclip can't open them. I've recorded SD and HD from live and recorded broadcasts but I can't open the m2t files.

I tried simply watching TV with the modified version of AVCBrowser but that didn't work. It would detect my STB and open it successfully but when VLC opened it would display the UDP port but I didn't show any image.

Should I assume everything that goes through this box gets 5c encrypted and is therefore useless to me? I'd like to know if I should consider investing in a USB based video card system that will accept the signal directly without me having to go through the STB.

Thanks in advance and thanks for this great forum.

Try the following modified version of AVCBrowser in conjunction with VLC.

Get a copy of VLC and copy it to your Applications folder.
Run AVCBrowser.
Find the source device in the AVCBrowser window, and open the device control panel.
"Open" the device using the upper-right button in the device control window.
Select the "Panel" tab on the device control window.
Push the "Start Viewer" button.
Watch TV.
You can use the other Panel control buttons to change the channel on the source device, etc.

What AVCBrowser does is:
Launch VLC and have it listen on a particlar UDP port.
Makes a connection to the source device's firewire output, and starts receiving a stream.
Opens an IP socket on the local-node/port.
Streams the data over to VLC.

mac_video

05-31-07, 08:07 PM

OK, so I've read that it's possible to record from VirtualDVHS if I use the channel that AVCBrowser tells me my STB is using. Where do I check for this? I can't find the channel.

img516.imageshack.us/img516/9642/picture1po8.png

dannyv@cybernex.

06-01-07, 09:43 AM

Does anyone have a working link or can provide me with a copy of the modified avcbrowser. All the links I could find are dead.

mac_video

06-01-07, 01:33 PM

Here's the link. It works just fine for me.
yanoweb.c0m/AVCBrowser_2_2.zip

dannyv@cybernex.

06-01-07, 03:54 PM

Here's the link. It works just fine for me.
yanoweb.c0m/AVCBrowser_2_2.zip

Link works great

You just made my day.

Thanks

I would like to try to address your problem. I use a G4 with avcbrowser and avcvideocap and am able to capture the stream but like you I can not play it back on the MAC. What I've done was map my MAC to my windows PC and capture the stream to my PC via the mapped drive. Then in windows I open videoredo, edit out what I want then save it as a standard MPG file. It displays fine in videoredo and VLC for windows.
I also use the 8300HD box from cablevision and can definitly tell you the box does not 5C the content, its up to the cable company to send the 5C flag in the stream to the box. All my channels are also Copy freely.
When you capture are your frame counts going up?, do you get any buffer underrun or dropped frame errors?
I don't think investing in a USB based video card will do much for you. I think the G4 is just not powerful enough to play back the HD stream. I found that converting the stream to DIVX or DVD format allowed the G4 to play it back. I also took the raw .M2t file directly from the G4 and copied it to my MVIX media control center http://mvixusa.com/product.php?product=mx760 and it played back the stream with no problem.
I will experiment with this new avcbrowser and VLC on my mac and if I come up with any solutions I'll followup with you.

mac_video

06-10-07, 06:34 PM

Thanks for your response. I'm confused about something.

What I've done was map my MAC to my windows PC and capture the stream to my PC via the mapped drive. Are you saying that you turn your internal mac hard drive into an external hard drive for your PC? Can you explain how to do the mapping?

Also, would it be easier just to cap directly to PC and then transfer to mac via external hard drive? If you're familiar with capping to PC, can you tell me about that too?

Thanks again.

dannyv@cybernex.

06-11-07, 09:03 AM

Thanks for your response. I'm confused about something.
Are you saying that you turn your internal mac hard drive into an external hard drive for your PC? Can you explain how to do the mapping?

Also, would it be easier just to cap directly to PC and then transfer to mac via external hard drive? If you're familiar with capping to PC, can you tell me about that too?

Thanks again.

You did mis-understand me. Let me explain. What I do is create a network connection (share) to my PC from the mac (Map a network drive from the mac to the PC). Then when I capture using the MAC it saves the file to the hard drive on the windows PC. Then I do the editing and converting on the windows PC. The reason I don't capture directly to the windows PC is the windows PC firewire drivers don't work well for firewire capture. The windows PC captures with a lot of dropped frames making the capture pretty well useless (this is a well documented problem you can read about in other threads on this forum). So the MAC is used only as the capturing device (kind of like a very big capture card). I don't edit, view or process on the MAC.