HDPVR Support on the Mac (HDPVRCapture) - Page 30

I searched this thread and didnt see anything so maybe someone can help.

When I try to upload the files I recorded to YouTube, the video looks fine but there is no sound. Anyone know whats going on? The only work around ive found is to re-encode the videos using MPEG Streamclip but it's very tedious to do that.

-Neidel

I've seen (er, heard) the same thing. AC3 recording in my case, YouTube didn't like it. I've forgotten already what I used to reencode it so the audio would work.

Hi Steve,
Finally got my Mini and set everything up. Just placed an order for the software, can't wait to try it out. Decided to ditch the HDHomerun for now, and just go with the HDPVR. It should be enough to suit my needs. Thanks again for your help!

Loving the Mini setup. Still have an older 2005 Panny plasma, so no 1080p yet, but maybe that upgrade will come next year. :-)

Forgive me if this is discussed somewhere in this thread, but I was wondering if there is a "best practice" for settings on the HDPVR?

For example, if I want the best possible quality, do I just jack the bitrate to the highest setting, or somewhere 3/4 of the way up until it hits "Crazy" level?

Under Video Controls, I believe you can set the picture calibration. Are people changing these settings from default, maybe based on their preference?

Just wondering if these things have been discussed here, or if anyone has any input based on their experiences? Love the Capture product Steve!

Edit: Sorry, forgot one more thing. Is it possible to use some type of Freeware for program guides? I have been reading up on TitanTV, but am not sure ho to integrate it with the HDPVR device? Is it even free?

Thanks very much for the info Steve. Will look into these guide options tonight.

In some cases my test recordings are choppy or frames are skipped. If I posted the recording log, could that tell you anything as to why it might be happening. I was also getting odd issues where the HDPVR lost connection to my DVR.

I know on the Happauge site, there is a firmware update. I assume in using OS X, that this isn't necessary? At work now, but could give more info tonight if I am still having issues.

Thanks again for your input!

So still having issues. Hopefully it is OK to post the log of the short recording. I quit after about 10 seconds as it wasn't stable.

FFmpeg version SVN-r17665, Copyright (c) 2000-2009 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-static --enable-libfaac --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl
libavutil 49.15. 0 / 49.15. 0
libavcodec 52.20. 0 / 52.20. 0
libavformat 52.30. 1 / 52.30. 1
libavdevice 52. 1. 0 / 52. 1. 0
built on Feb 28 2009 14:25:53, gcc: 4.0.1 (Apple Inc. build 5484)
HDPVRCapture build on Feb 28 2009 at 14:25:53

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 119.88 (120000/1001) -> 59.94 (60000/1001)
Input #0, mpegts, from '/Users/free_kick_spec1alist/Movies/20090715_180216.m2ts':
Duration: 00:00:12.16, start: 0.387044, bitrate: 10665 kb/s
Program 1
Stream #0.0[0x1011], 1/90000: Video: h264, yuv420p, 1280x720 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 1001/120000, 59.94 tbr, 90k tbn, 119.88 tbc
Stream #0.1[0x1100], 1/90000: Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 125 kb/s
Output #0, mov, to '/Users/free_kick_spec1alist/Movies/20090715_180216.m2ts.mp4':
Stream #0.0, 1/90000: Video: libx264, yuv420p, 1280x720 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 1001/60000, q=2-31, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Stream #0.1, 1/90000: Audio: libfaac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 128 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0.0 -> #0.0
Stream #0.1 -> #0.1
[mov @ 0x1053800]WARNING codec timebase is very high. If duration is too long,
file may not be playable by quicktime. Specify a shorter timebase
or choose different container.
Press [q] to stop encoding
frame= 257 fps= 0 q=-1.0 size= 5585kB time=4.22 bitrate=10831.6kbits/s dup=0 drop=0
timestamp discontinuity -4387716, new offset= 4000672
timestamp discontinuity -3403394, new offset= 7404066
frame= 527 fps=526 q=-1.0 size= 11978kB time=8.70 bitrate=11273.2kbits/s dup=0 drop=0
[NULL @ 0x1006000]missing picture in access unit
frame= 670 fps=518 q=-1.0 Lsize= 15344kB time=11.07 bitrate=11352.7kbits/s dup=0 drop=0
video:15156kB audio:172kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead 0.109698%

When this initial skip happens, VLC shuts down and no longer shows me the recording. I did update VLC the other day to the latest version. Any advice would be great.

I find a bitrate right around 10K for 720p to be the sweet spot for Mac Mini (Intel 2.0GHz, old video card) playback. I haven't touched any of the other video controls.

Thanks Will, will try this suggestion out.


Thanks Steve, will try this tonight when I get home. Will let you know what happens. Appreciate the support you are giving me!

Hmm same thing happens. Starts recording, then seems to glitch and drop frames a couple seconds after starting. This kills VLC at this point.

Once I stop the recording, the HDPVR app becomes unstable. It doesn't seem to be taking up large amounts of CPU from what I can see, but it is in Force Quit stage. Also will show an error in the source detection area, saying it cannot detect anything. I might try to reset my cable HD DVR to see what happens.

Hi Steve. Sorry for the noob question, do you mean go from component to analog cables when connecting the HDPVR to my set top box? If so I will try sometime this weekend, and let you know what occurs. Thanks again!! :-)

Thanks Steve. I have been using analog audio connection the whole time, never optical.

Still having issues. When recording it just seems to play back too fast, and VLC always dies at about 5 or 6 MB into the start of a recording. That is when the first frame drop or some other issue occurs.

From the beginning of my time using this product, I would always get some skips/drops, but VLC never died like it does. I believe version 1.0 recently came out, or maybe on my Mini I still had 0.96, so not sure if that upgrade has caused issue. Are there any VLC specific settings I have to be using.

In HDPVR capture I am using these settings:

Inputs

Compnent HD Video, Rear Analog RCA Jacks

Video:

Constant Bitrate 10156, GOP Mode: Advanced

Audio Encoder:

2 Channel AAC (only option that produces sound in my recordings), Yes to all other options besides iTunes processing.

Video Controls: Untouched

I have IR blaster settings, but don't have it fully mounted to the infrared input on my cable box as the provided two side tape isn't good enough to stick to it. I have a Scientific Atlanta Explorer HDC 8300 from Time Warner cable. In the options I have chosen Sci Atlanta 8300 HD as I think that is the closest option. No HDC option. Other option is Sci Atlanta 8000.

Under Misc, I have the default options applied.

Here is the last recording log from video I captured this morning:


FFmpeg version SVN-r17665, Copyright (c) 2000-2009 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-static --enable-libfaac --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl
libavutil 49.15. 0 / 49.15. 0
libavcodec 52.20. 0 / 52.20. 0
libavformat 52.30. 1 / 52.30. 1
libavdevice 52. 1. 0 / 52. 1. 0
built on Feb 28 2009 14:25:53, gcc: 4.0.1 (Apple Inc. build 5484)
HDPVRCapture build on Feb 28 2009 at 14:25:53

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 119.88 (120000/1001) -> 59.94 (60000/1001)
Input #0, mpegts, from '/Users/free_kick_spec1alist/Movies/20090719_095515.m2ts':
Duration: 00:00:10.96, start: 0.387044, bitrate: 9681 kb/s
Program 1
Stream #0.0[0x1011], 1/90000: Video: h264, yuv420p, 1280x720 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 1001/120000, 59.94 tbr, 90k tbn, 119.88 tbc
Stream #0.1[0x1100], 1/90000: Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 125 kb/s
Output #0, mov, to '/Users/free_kick_spec1alist/Movies/20090719_095515.m2ts.mp4':
Stream #0.0, 1/90000: Video: libx264, yuv420p, 1280x720 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 1001/60000, q=2-31, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Stream #0.1, 1/90000: Audio: libfaac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 128 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0.0 -> #0.0
Stream #0.1 -> #0.1
[mov @ 0x10a3a00]WARNING codec timebase is very high. If duration is too long,
file may not be playable by quicktime. Specify a shorter timebase
or choose different container.
Press [q] to stop encoding
frame= 171 fps= 0 q=-1.0 size= 3611kB time=2.79 bitrate=10586.1kbits/s dup=0 drop=0
timestamp discontinuity -4771427, new offset= 4384383
frame= 352 fps=351 q=-1.0 size= 7432kB time=5.85 bitrate=10415.1kbits/s dup=0 drop=0
frame= 507 fps=335 q=-1.0 size= 10798kB time=8.43 bitrate=10496.9kbits/s dup=0 drop=0
timestamp discontinuity -4637961, new offset= 9022344
[NULL @ 0x1006000]missing picture in access unit
frame= 597 fps=329 q=-1.0 Lsize= 12540kB time=9.90 bitrate=10378.3kbits/s dup=0 drop=0
video:12369kB audio:153kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead 0.142907%


Hopefully this information helps. Again, many thanks for sticking with me. I feel I am probably making some kind of error or mistake. I know my Mini is hard wired on my network, and this occurs even with no other network traffic. Frustrating to say the least. :-)

Thanks!


EDIT: Also I am having issues no matter what I record. Been messing around with the British Open this morning, have tried HBO, ESPN, always the same issues. It also doesn't like 480p programming either.

downloaded software last week. Tried recording but was not having any luck.

Finally got my PVR to work on windows so I thought it should work on my mac now.

As soon as the software loads and detects my pvr, it crashes. if i start the software up without the pvr attached, it loads fine but crashes as soon as i plug in my pvr.

Any idea's?

I just installed 2.5 on my Macbook Pro and an Intel Mac Mini and I'm seeing an immediate and consistent crash when I hit the "+" button in the Conversion tab. It seems to happen regardless of whether the HDPVR is connected, and it happens on both my Macbook Pro and a Mac Mini that I use as my HTPC. I've attached the system configuration and crash details from the "report" window that pops up.

You reference dragging and dropping into that area quite a bit, so I wonder if people don't frequently use "+" to add a file...

Thanks for any help,
Rob

 

Archive.zip 8.9013671875k . file

Not sure why but it works fine now. I didn't change anything, even rebooted when it wasn't working but hey, I am just glad it works now.

Hello all-

I would love to hear your opinions on a decision I'd like to make this weekend as to whether I should purchase a Tivo HD or the Hauppauge HDPVR.

My original intent was to use AVCNoodle to record directly via FW to my Mac Mini from my cable co's HD-DVR. Unfortunately, WOW! encrypts all channel signals so I'm stuck there (thanks for the assistance in confirming that, Steve).

So one is to trade the HD-DVR from WOW! for 2 Cable Cards and get Tivo, which has built in decrypting of the recordings from the hard drive. The downside is the additional cost of the Cable Cards (the dvr fees are a wash) as well as the prospect of losing everything already on my dvr (it's 90% full).

Option #2 is to keep the HD-DVR and buy the HDPVR. But I have a couple questions about the HDPVR and HDPVRCapture (I've read 80% of the posts, but I probably forgot some stuff):

1. Can I program the software to change the channel of the STB so I can schedule recordings? How well does this work for you? I'm looking for a solution where I don't have to be sitting in front of the TV to get the recordings over to my Mini.
2. Can I watch programs live using the component output of the HDPVR? Even while the device is recording the feed to the Mini?

Ultimately, I'll probably use Plex to watch the recordings once they're on the Mini, and from what I've read the files created should play there.

Thanks in advance for all your input!

-Jeremy

That makes sense, but I was actually wondering if I can run the component video from the DVR to the PVR then simultaneously output to BOTH the Mini (via USB) and to my TV (via component video out). Can the PVR hardware do that?

Thanks for the input on the other stuff...it's good to know that the IR blasting is reliable!