HDPVR Support on the Mac (HDPVRCapture) - Page 11

Hello stoth - I came across this thread yesterday...and am sure glad I stumbled upon it.

First of all - simply outstanding work, stoth! Thank you very much for your efforts!

I downloaded the demo version of HDPVRCapture (1.3.1) and gave it a try on my MacBook. I have made many recordings successfully at various bitrates. The one snag I have run into is that I just cannot get the IR blaster to change channels on my Comcast box. I am able to change channels from the Windows IR app that ships with the HD-PVR (i.e. BlastCfg). A resulting sample output when I run the HDPVRCapture command is shown below. Any help on why I cannot get the IR blaster to change channels would be much appreciated. Thanks!

abhansal-mac01:bin abhansal$ ./HDPVRCapture -t 00:00:10 -A SPDIF -V COMPONENT -a AC3 -b 5500000 -p 6000000 -f -o /Volumes/Untitled\\ 1/test14.ts -Z "North America,Cable Box,Comcast,85,759,3,0,100"

HDPVRCapture v1.3.1 (Dec 28 2008 @ 20:04:06)
Downloads are available from [removed]
Copyright 2008, Steven Toth.
Demo: restricted to 120 seconds capture

Output filename: /Volumes/Untitled 1/test14.ts
Duration: 00:00:10 (10 seconds)
Monitor via VLC: No (default)
Bitrate : 5500000 bps
Peak Bitrate: 6000000 bps
Device: 0 (default)
Audio Boost: Disabled (default)
Audio Encode: AC3
Audio Input Mux: SPDIF
Video Input Mux: COMPONENT
Bitrate Mode: AVG (default)
GOP Mode: SIMPLE (default)
Lights: OFF (default)
Ir Blaster:
Region: North America
Device: Cable Box
Vendor: Comcast
Codeset: 85
Channel#: 759
Min digits to send: 3
Needs Enter: No (default)
Wait State: 0 (Abort Record (default))
Searching for HDPVR devices, vendor ID=0x2040 product ID=0x4900,0x4901

Found HDPVR, serial number = 00A20856
Captured: 2834432 bytes, success.

Just got my HDPVR and HDPVRCapture is very impressive. I have the box hooked up to a core duo mac mini. The captures look great.

I'm messing around with starting the program from an iCal script, but for some reason the HDPVRCapture only captures for the default 120 seconds even if I put in a longer time parameter. The script is taking 120 secs as the input time; the event reports count down from 120 seconds. (Longer captures are fine if I execute from terminal). Is there some reason why the script would fail to read the license key?

thanks!

ps. here is the script:

tell application "iCal"
with timeout of 7200 seconds
tell (last event of calendar "HDCapture" whose start date is less than (current date))
with timeout of 7200 seconds
do shell script "/Users/afung/bin/HDPVRCapture -o /Volumes/Apollo/hdcapture/" & (summary as string) & ".ts -t 00:09:00 -A SPDIF -a AC3 -b 8000000 -v 1 -f"
end timeout
end tell
end timeout
end tell

stoth - yes, I am using the exact same values as in BlastCfg. And, no, the blaster light does not flash when using HDPVRCapture; it does flash when using BlastCfg. Any suggestions on what I can do? Thanks!

stoth - just tried your command line exactly as is. Still no luck. Also noticed that i do not get the following lines in the output which others seem to be getting:
Loading ir.xml
Booting IR Blaster
Sending channel change information

Also, I don't believe it is a cable problem, since it continues to work from a Windows XP machine using BlastCfg...just verified it.

Stoth - got it, thanks for the clarification re the demo version limitations. At this stage, I will order the full version under the assumption that the IR blaster will work in the full version. Keep up the great work!

Hi Steve,

Thanks a ton for the immediate response. Your fix:


Did the trick.

For those interested in scheduling via iCal launched script, I've improved the script from edalzell. This one takes the filename from the event title, but then takes the record time from the duration of the event as well. Also, I put in a long manual timeout because iCal was aborting my script.

Here it is (presumes that your recording events are in a calendar called "HDCapture"):

Stoth - the blaster now works with the registered version. However, the bitrate falls down to 0 in a few seconds after the channel is changed and recording begins. Any ideas what could be going on? thanks!

stoth - When the IR blaster is used, it is an intermittent problem. When the IR blaster is not used, it never seems to happen. The exact command line args are as follows:

./HDPVRCapture -t 00:03:00 -A SPDIF -V COMPONENT -a AC3 -b 5500000 -p 6000000 -f -o /Volumes/Untitled1/ChasingCars.ts -Z "North America,Cable Box,Comcast,85,754,3,0,100"

stoth - removing -p 6000000 had no effect. What I am finding is that if the blaster actually changes the channel, then the bitrate goes down close to zero as part of the recording. If the blaster is used, but the box is already on the desired channel such that the channel does not actually change, then the problem does not occur...and the recording is successfully carried out.

My STB is fixed at 720p for all channels...so don't believe this is the problem.

My workaround for now is to set up a very short recording which executes the channel change, resulting in o recording. And then proceed with the real recording without the channel change. This works every single time.

I am wondering whether I have a defective HD-PVR unit?

Steve - what value do you suggest I try for the time to wait after blasting before the encoder starts in v1.3.2?

900ms works...I have tested it a few times...v1.3.2 seems to have done the trick. Thanks for all your help in getting this issue sorted out! Very much appreciated.

Hi Steve,

I'm experiencing an issue in which the HDPVR stops recording (the record lights go off) after some period of time (between say 5 and 70 minutes). I haven't ever been able to get a full 2 hour recording.

The HDPVRCapture program keeps recording the stream until the set time runs out, but the application isn't receiving any data.

Anyone else run into this? Any thoughts?

Hello Steve,

I just tried using HDPVRCapture to capture analog video/audio from a Hi8 camcorder connected directly to the HD-PVR via the front composite video and RCA audio inputs. The command I am using to capture is as follows:

./HDPVRCapture -t 00:02:30 -V COMPOSITE -A RCA -a AAC test.ts

When I play back the file using VLC on my MacBook, I am able to playback the video fine, but I get no audio. My VLC player works fine with other AAC audio files.

Just to be sure, I then connected the Hi8 camcorder directly to my TV using the same cables I was using to connect to the HD-PVR...and the audio worked fine.

Any ideas why I would not be capturing audio with the HD-PVR?

Thanks!

Steve - yes, the rear RCA jacks work. Thanks!