HDPVR Support on the Mac (HDPVRCapture) - Page 37

I actually noticed that when I put the raw feed into after effects, it got all pixelated before I even rendered. So why would the raw footage look fine by itself, but get all messed up in after effects?

No experience with After Effects, but does it transcode the raw footage in some way to allow ease of editing? If so, the transcoding is the problem...

Well it might need to transcode the video to provide the RAM preview. I'll have to look into it.

I'm a complete newbie to scripting or coding of any kind. What do I need to change in this script to get it working on my own machine. I figure it's afung, but I can't seem to get the rest.

Thoughts?

Is there a more complete guide out there to iCal scripting with HDPVR Capture?

Thanks,
John

Okay perhaps you know this already and if so then please forgive my comment and don't take any offense from it.. none was intended.

The way I read that Applescript here is how it seems to works. (to me anyway)

1 - Copy that text and past it into the AppleScript Editor
2 - Compile the script to make sure no errors exist and save the script to the desktop (for easy access).
3 - Create an event in iCal
4 - Set the TIME AND DATE AND DURATION of whatever it is u want to record.
5 - Under the 'alarm' pulldown choose 'RUN SCRIPT"
6 - A file dialog box will open and navigate to the desktop
7 - Select the script you just saved and click okay
8 - Close/Save the event

The premiss I take is that when the day and time come the event will run/fire the applescript, the script will in turn begin recording for the duration.

I don't use any of this stuff personally but this is how I'd expect something like the script quoted above to would behave. Perhaps certain 'things' need to be passed from iCal to the Applescript... but that would need to be done via iCal itself... So if iCal doesn't ask if you want to pass anything special to the script I'm guessing you can't.

Okay .. yes it seems that SCRIPT ask iCal for all the information it needs... notes these two lines.. .'theEvent' is an iCal variable and 'summary' is the event summary (whatever you chose to call it) and 'duration' is determined but the iCal event 'start date' and 'end date' its actually created by subtracting (end date of theEvent) from (start date of theEvent).

set filename to summary of theEvent
set duration to (end date of theEvent) - (start date of theEvent)

Hope this helps some... but PLEASE read it quick because its quite possible that someone will yell at me for posting about something that doesn't have anything to do with the HDPVR application and I'll likely be told to remove this information.

Steven sent me this reply yesterday, but I'm still in the dark as to how to get iCal working with HDPVRCapture.

It looks like that script uses HDPVRCapture v1.x, are you sure you want to do this?

HDPVRCapture v2.x has native support for iCal and thus remote scheduling via mobileme. It's got it's fair share of bugs so it's not perfect but this might be just exactly what you need. Have you looked into the v2.x scheduling features?

If someone can provide a min-guide on getting it working, that'd be awesome.

I'm having some problems with files being out of sync in iTunes, but not in VLC. Also, in using Air Video, the AC3 audio don't seem to playback. Am I missing something?

Dennis

Need a server for streaming your captured movies to your PS3? I have a QNAP TS-209 II pro connected using Gb network. HDPVRCapture records directly to the QNAP NAS. TwonkyMedia (QNAP has this onboard) automatically adds the movie to the database. Voila! Oh, the PS3 has native support for the Twonky server. Just search for "media server" and you're cleared to go.

Why not use a PC/MAC? They draw anywhere from 50-400 watts of power. The QNAP draws only 13 watts. It will save you a lot if you run it 24/7/365.

HDVCapture rocks. Keep it up Steven.

There is now a 2nd component HD device available now. It will be interesting to compare the two.

It appears that the Elgato device can capture in both HD and in an iPod/iPad compatible format at the same time. ("EyeTV HD features a unique dual-format capture mode and can record in both the iPad and iPhone formats at the same time. This feature supports super-fast exports to iTunes from EyeTV, and facilitates the streaming of live and recorded TV to an iPhone or iPad using the optional EyeTV app.")

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/main...ews1005EyeTVHD

However, it appears that there is only analog audio input and no digital audio input. If so, this is a serious mistep ("It captures video in the H.264 video format, using SD and HD resolutions. Audio can be AAC only."):

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/main...oduct3.en.html

Also noticed that EyeTV HD did not record DD 5.1, only analog stereo. For me that is a none starter. But here's the conflict. If I use the S/PDIF connection on the Hauppauge 1212 when making a recording, the HDPVR will frequently momentarily lose sync. This results in lost of a few frames of video and associated audio. The more drastic case is when sync is lost for over a second. The blue blink light goes out and long stretches of video are lost until the system reacquires sync. When you program eyeTV 3.4 (latest) in Setup Assistant for Digital Audio, sync is dependent on the S/PDIF connection (pull the optical cable and you immediately lose sync). If you chose Analog Audio, no audio required, not even a cable has to be connected. Is there a reason why digital audio has to control the sync?

My problem is that I have excellent audio in and out of the HD PVR but the recording in eyeTV has hiccups (loss of audio and video). Why? Sounds like a software/firmware problem. For testing the audio and connections, I used a Tone Generator to create a 1 KHz steady signal. I burned it onto a CD. Optical output of DVD player was 262mV as measured with a Spectrum Analyzer. Input and Output of Hauppauge was also 262mV. But in eyeTV I could actually hear the 1 KHz tone momentarily cutting in and out and at times, completely absent (blink light going out). What is happening in the processing?

I am wondering if my firmware is up to date. It is "1.15 Mar 11 2009 06:03:02". On the Hauppauge web site, it offers HD PVR driver version 1.5.6.1 but "This is a Windows driver only." So is 1.15 the latest if you are using a Mac?

I'm a Verizon FIOS customer. I'm feeding the component output from a FIOS Motorola 7100 box to a Hauppauge HD PVR. The Hauppauge HD PVR connects to a USB port on an iMac running the ElGato EyeTV software. The iMac analog output connects to a pair of powered speakers. I'm feeding the analog audio signal from the Motorola 7100 to the Hauppauge but would prefer to use the digital SPDIF audio to eliminate some hum in the audio.

I would like to move from analog sound to digital sound using the SPIDF connector on the Motorola 7100 routing the audio through the HD PVR or directly to the iMac digital audio in, but don't seem to be able to get sound to work.

It appears that the Motorola 7100 is sending out a raw AC-3 digital stream. If I feed this stream into the iMac, it just gets passed along to the powered speakers as high frequency static.

Has someone figured out a way to take the live audio feed from a Motorola 7100, feed this to the digital audio in on the Mac, and have the Mac decode the AC-3 stream into two channel stereo and feed to the audio out on the iMac?

If I connect the SPDIF audio out on the 7100 to the SD PVR SPDIF audio in, should the AC-3 audio be converted into stereo and incorporated into the h.264 signal on the USB cable to the iMac? Is there a way to get the Hauppauge to do this conversion?

Please, if anyone has figured out the way to get digital audio to pass from the 7100 to an iMac, either directly or through the HD PVR, please share how you did it.

I'm going to see if I can install the Perian codecs that include AC3 downsampling and see if I can get something to work with this codec. I'm just not sure how to get the audio path from the Motorola 7100 to the iMac on to the powered speakers set up correctly.

I could put an AV receiver in between the speakers and the iMac to do the AC3 decode, but I'd like to not have another box in the mix

Thanks so much.

Has someone figured out a way to take the live audio feed from a Motorola 7100, feed this to the digital audio in on the Mac, and have the Mac decode the AC-3 stream into two channel stereo and feed to the audio out on the iMac?
No, you do not want to run the digital audio out on the Motorola 7100 to the iMac. You should connect the SPDIF audio out on the 7100 to the HD PVR SPDIF audio in. Then the digital audio will be passed along with the video over the USB connection to your IMAC. Then it becomes a matter of setting up the ElGato EyeTV software so it looks for audio on the HD PVR's SPDIF/OPT input.

While that is indeed displayed, according to Hauppauge support, there is actually NO way to tell what firmware is on the box. You should update the firmware to the latest, but you need a Windows machine to do so. After you update, it will still report the same version as before.

The download runs on Windows, but updates the Hauppauge firmware.

I connected the optical out on the STB to the optical in on the Hauppauge box. Have USB to the iMac.

If I set the EyeTV to Analog audio, the audio works just fine. If I set the EyeTV to optical, then the video window shows the video for a fraction of a second then freezes. There is no audio at all.

Anyone have a clue what is happening here? How to debug/troubleshoot this without having two Hauppauge boxes, two iMacs, two STBs?

I realize this doesn't help you, but this thread doesn't have anything to do with EyeTV software: it's about completely different software called HDPVRCapture.

My mistake.... sorry. I thought this forum was for discussions related to using the Hauppauge HDPVR on the Mac and not just for the HDPVR Capture software.

I use EyeTV with Elgato's Hybrid hardware to record OTA digital broadcasts. I purchased the HD PVR and HDPVRCapture to record from my Comcast box. EyeTV seems to take over the HD PVR and keep the HDPVRCapture software from using it. I have found that if you open HDPVRCapture first, hit the record button and then while recording open the EyeTV software, the two programs will play nicely with one another. You can shut down HDPVRCapture and start it up again later and everything will still work. If you shut down the EyeTV program, then you must go through the procedure again to make both programs work at the same time. I leave my EyeTV on 24/7 so it is a painless fix.

Thanks to Steve for working through this fix with me.

I am trying to set up a recording iCal session using ZAP2it. In the HDPVRCapture FAQ is says:

"It's a simple drag'n'drop action. In HDPVRCapture switch to the iCal view. In Firefox or Safari navigate to the zap2it tvlistings grid. Drag and drop the show name into the hdpvrcapture ical view. HDPVRCapture will confirm the details with you, simply click OK to schedule the recording."

When I drag the show name, I get the "plus" icon, but when I release it in the HDPVRCapture window, I get no confirming message or anything in the schedule window. Suggestions?

Hi Steve, I'm one of your new customers.


I'm using the Hauppauge HD-PVR to record gameplay from a PS3/360 console. My setup looks like this:
Attachment 183743

I'm recording on a 13" unibody macbook pro at 720p.

The only issue that I have run into is one that several other people have also reported where the pvr will stop recording for a few seconds at random intervals. In my case it's just during gameplay so I doubt it would be from a sudden change in the source's audio or anything. I saw that another user traced it back to using an external drive that couldn't keep up. I'm recording to the internal HDD, but perhaps with the preview window running in VLC it's all getting a bit too much for it to handle at once. I'll do some more testing tonight when I get home with the activity monitor open while it's recording and lowering the bitrate or something.

I do have a question though. I saw some talk of updating the pvr's drivers and firmware... Is that something that can only be done on a Windows box? (EDIT: Just found the bit in the FAQ saying you have to do it on Windows)

And an interesting side note: I bought the pvr at the same time as a friend and he couldn't get HDPVRCapture to recognise the pvr when it was attached until he installed EyeTV.

I'm loving HDPVRCapture so far. It's so simple to use

Well I scrounged up a windows pc so that I could update the pvr's firmware and I've tested recording without the vlc preview window open and different bitrates... The random dropouts are still happening

The CPU sits at about 12%, I've got about 2.2GB of ram free, the disc isn't doing much... So I don't think it's my laptop that's to blame.

I've done some more googling and this doesn't seem to be an isolated incident - nor does it seem to be mac specific. Let's have a look at the top threads on the UK Hauppauge forum:
* hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=20906
* hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=20938
* hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=20805
* hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=18478
* hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=20917

One of those threads is full of people who are convinced it's dodgy power sockets that are to blame, so I even tried plugging the pvr into a different power socket...

Anyway it's a bit of a worry when 25% of the issues on the front page are all about the same unresolved issue. Perhaps I've just bought a dud product.

In postings 1059 and 1060 I ran into similar issues with TitanTV. I've been in contact with Steve who fixed some stability issues in 2.7.0, but this version still has issues such as you describe above. Steve has identified multiple bugs and is currently working on fixes. I recommend patience and watch for the next update from Steve. My issues were with HDPVRCapture on OS X 10.6, is this what you are running?

i use a
iMac I5
HDPVR version 2, may 7th firmware
HDPVRCapture 2.7
VHS VCR connect to front composite and RCA audio
running Mac OS 10.6.4,
Perian 1.2.1

Latest mac updates

When i play the VCR and record using HDPVRCapture its fine for about 20 minutes then the video is ripped and torn and mirrored.

When watching at the same time on a tv there is no problem.

Any one else with problem.

any suggestions on a fix.

thanks all

Never had any problems with the HDCapture software.

Two updates in one week!

Now with 2.8.1 I get the message: Video Signal Detection: No Hardware detected or another application is using it!

I have no other application and I have never had this message (unless, of course, I forgot to power up the HD-PVR).

Just when I needed it to digitize something to; and I do not know how to downgrade...

[UPDATE]: I found version 2.8 in the trash and it works.

I encountered the same problem with 2.8.1 (Doesn't see the PVR). Author said it will be addressed in the next update.

In my case, power cycling the pvr with 2.8.1 already running would bring it back to life.

I see 2.8.2 has been released, but I have not installed it yet.

SOME ADVICE PLEASE:

Normally I digitize at 720p at 6 mpbs.

However, I want to experiment at 1080i for possible use in my new 2nd Gen AppleTV (it is rated for 720p, but 1080 may not be recommended due to many users using wireless for its internet connection. I use a wired connection.)

What bit rate should I use for 1080i? Thanks

I have always used the max of 13.5 mbps at the constant bit rate. First (6/08) with a PC and now with a Mac Pro. Reason is that it maintains the resolution of the source material based upon comparison to HDNet test patterns and storage is CHEAP. All my captures are on external HDs.

hi guys just installed HDPVR capture and having a few problems

1:the capture window doesnt show what im recording,it shows the cable set up
and audio set up windows

2 : if i want to close the programme there is no close button next to the minimize button is this normal?

3: i pressed record and yes it did record but as you all know it records in.m2ts files which i normally, used sony vegas to view edit etc, what are my option now that sony vegas isnt compatible with MAC

4: Is there a refund facility if i cannot get this to work????????

regards
JAY

3. There is the ability to convert the file from the m2ts container to an mp4 container:

In the CONVERSION tab, add the file and do a right click (Option-Click) on it and select CONVERT.

This makes the file a bit more MAC friendly. It will actually play in quicktime with the Perian component added.