Switching Cable Systems - Best Way to Connect X800XT to Direct TV DVR
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From: Ken Maltby on 20 Jan 2007 16:02 "jj" <jjj.nosspam(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message news:A6rsh.13296$w91.1866(a)newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net... > My condo building is switching cable companies on March 1, from Comcast to > Direct TV. Have an ATI AIW X800XT, and currently have basic cable with > the cable line going directly into the ATI card. > > On March 1, will have Direct TV with a DVR. Went with the DVR because the > problem I have today with recording TV programs to my hard drive, is that > I use my PC 14-16 hours/day for personal/work reasons, and can't record > while I'm working (not enough CPU/memory for good recordings). > > I'd like to use the DVR to record the programs. But need to know if I can > connect the DVR using some sort of Audio/Video Out. I think the best the > DVR has is S-Video, unless you get the HD option, which I didn't because > no HD-TV yet). > > Is there a way to connect the DVR to my PC/ATI X800XT, and "play back" > programs from the DVR, and record to the PC's hard drive? > > If this is possible, it will allow me to record programs to the PC's hard > drive when not using my PC for business/pleasure. I need to get the video > to the PC hard drive, so I can use the Pinnacle software to edit out the > commercials, and burn the program to DVD. I'm making commercial-free DVD > collections of my favorite programs. > > Just wondered if anyone has a setup like this, using a DVR, and if it can > be configured to do what I just mentioned? If so, what's the best way to > configure it, and connect the DVR's audio/video to the ATI card? > > Thanks for any advice, help, etc. Much appreciated. > > Gary I have been recording shows off a DirecTiVo DVR for a long time now, and find it a great way to collect up the shows I like. There are several ways you could go with this. Probably the method that can create the best possible results is to hack the DVR's software so that you can extract the recorded video on the DVR's hard drive and convert that to standard DVD compliant .mpg in your PC. As I understand it, the DirecTV units don't and won't implement the "TiVo-To-Go" feature to accomplish this without hacking the DVR. Another possible approach would be to use a hard drive equipped DVD Recorder. Then you could save up edited episodes on the recorder's hard drive until you had the number you want for a DVD. This should be possible, but I much prefer doing such things on my computer, for one thing, on the computer I can use a keyboard and run more useful programs to edit and author a DVD. What I've been doing is to use the S-Video analog output, which has been of very good quality, to feed my PCI hardware MPEG capture card. (The card I use is no longer available, but the same reference design which uses the same IC chips is available as the "Snazzi III DVD Creator" PCI card http://www.snazzishop.com http://www.snazzishop.com/vcp.asp http://www.snazzishop.com/cart_dvdcreator_buy.asp) With this approach you have a great deal a control over the process and can setup a quick and easy workflow. Depending on the power of your system and with a good throughput, you could use the AIW and capture to DVD compliant MPEG with software. In any case you will want to have a separate hard drive for your capturing. Once you have DVD compliant MPEG files from your capture process, you can quickly and easily edit out the commercials using www.videoredo.com (This is an essential tool for anyone working with MPEG.) [You should edit the files off one drive and save the results to a different drive. You will see an improvement in processing time and throughput, for many processes using this technique.] You would then feed the edited files to your favorite Authoring Program and create your new DVD. (My favorite is TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 (TDA) but there are other good programs available now, many people like Ulead's Movie Factory, and DVDLab Pro is by far the most cost effective [but is a little complex for many, and for many routine uses.]. You should check out sites like www.videohelp.com www.afterdawn.com www.doom9.org for info on the authoring process. Videohelp.com has listings of hardware and software with user comments, that can be very helpful. I seldom make video DVDs anymore, as I currently am converting everything to AVC/H.264 files on hard drives, (mostly on my NAS), but I still capture and edit out the commercials as I described above. I have setup a system to function as a HTPC for the livingroom. It plays the files off the NAS over my Gigabit LAN, with no problem, so far. ( You can see some of the MMB menus I made to play the files here: http://photos.yahoo.com/kmaltby(a)sbcglobal.net Just click on the pictures at the site, but to see them full size you can download them, they are small <200KB files.) Luck; Ken
From: eventerke on 21 Jan 2007 18:27 Ken Maltby wrote: > "jj" <jjj.nosspam(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message > news:A6rsh.13296$w91.1866(a)newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net... > > My condo building is switching cable companies on March 1, from Comcast to > > Direct TV. Have an ATI AIW X800XT, and currently have basic cable with > > the cable line going directly into the ATI card. > > > > On March 1, will have Direct TV with a DVR. Went with the DVR because the > > problem I have today with recording TV programs to my hard drive, is that > > I use my PC 14-16 hours/day for personal/work reasons, and can't record > > while I'm working (not enough CPU/memory for good recordings). [snip] > I have been recording shows off a DirecTiVo DVR for a long time > now, and find it a great way to collect up the shows I like. > > There are several ways you could go with this. > > Probably the method that can create the best possible results is to > hack the DVR's software so that you can extract the recorded > video on the DVR's hard drive and convert that to standard DVD > compliant .mpg in your PC. As I understand it, the DirecTV units > don't and won't implement the "TiVo-To-Go" feature to accomplish > this without hacking the DVR. [snip] AFAIK, there is *no* way to hack the DirectTV DVR at present. I went on a search to do exactly this, mainly to increase storage space, and it appears the DirectTV DVR's are pretty well locked down - there's a video accesories company that even offered a $20K reward to anyone who figures out how to allow hard drive upgrades. If you've read differently *please* reply - I'd love to get a larger hard drive in mine. Kendt
From: Ken Maltby on 22 Jan 2007 01:02 "eventerke(a)n0spm.h0tmail.com" <Kendt.Eklund(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:1169422022.694901.212940(a)v45g2000cwv.googlegroups.com... > > Ken Maltby wrote: >> "jj" <jjj.nosspam(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message >> news:A6rsh.13296$w91.1866(a)newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net... >> > My condo building is switching cable companies on March 1, from Comcast >> > to >> > Direct TV. Have an ATI AIW X800XT, and currently have basic cable with >> > the cable line going directly into the ATI card. >> > >> > On March 1, will have Direct TV with a DVR. Went with the DVR because >> > the >> > problem I have today with recording TV programs to my hard drive, is >> > that >> > I use my PC 14-16 hours/day for personal/work reasons, and can't record >> > while I'm working (not enough CPU/memory for good recordings). > [snip] >> I have been recording shows off a DirecTiVo DVR for a long time >> now, and find it a great way to collect up the shows I like. >> >> There are several ways you could go with this. >> >> Probably the method that can create the best possible results is to >> hack the DVR's software so that you can extract the recorded >> video on the DVR's hard drive and convert that to standard DVD >> compliant .mpg in your PC. As I understand it, the DirecTV units >> don't and won't implement the "TiVo-To-Go" feature to accomplish >> this without hacking the DVR. > [snip] > > AFAIK, there is *no* way to hack the DirectTV DVR at present. I went > on a search to do exactly this, mainly to increase storage space, and > it appears the DirectTV DVR's are pretty well locked down - there's a > video accesories company that even offered a $20K reward to anyone who > figures out how to allow hard drive upgrades. > If you've read differently *please* reply - I'd love to get a larger > hard drive in mine. > > Kendt > You couldn't be further from reality there. Did you even try Google? If you just need to increase your storage space try: www.weaknees.com I have a 250GB drive due tomorrow, to replace the one in my Philips DSR 7000. To really "hack" one, the "Zipper" disk approach is probably the easiest. Luck; Ken P.S. Where do I pick up that 20k?
From: James Colbert on 28 Jan 2007 12:33 "jj" <jjj.nosspam(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message news:aX_uh.16105$yx6.6884(a)newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net... >I thought the DVR had a "video out" option. If so, couldn't you play back >the recorded video from the DVR's hard drive, and output the play-back via >a Video Out S-Video or composite to the ATI card? > > You could then record the DVR's "play back" to the PC's hard drive. It's > just looking for a video/audio signal, it doesn't care where it comes from > does it, e.g., cable, S-Video, composite, component, etc.? > > Thanks. > jj The way I've done it with a cable STB is pretty similar to what you describe: My STB has: 1) Video out - inferior quality. Worst of the bunch. 2) S-video. A good option with up to DVD quality. Better, in fact, than cable hooked directly to the card. I use this connection to record and to watch live TV. 3) Component out. I connect Component out directly to my 2405fpw with an RCA switch to switch the RCA audio from the STB to the Aux Line-in inputs on the front panel of my xFi platinum sound card. (the other audio input on the switch goes to the ATI 'block' which also accomodates the s-video connection). 4) HDMI - I don't have any HDMI capable components 5) Firewire - Still somewhat new for this purpose and as such requires more effort and processing than the others, although (if FW is enabled on your box), this method enables HiDef content. If you wish to find out more about this process: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695&highlight=firewire My ATI card is the AIW 1800XL, but I have also used this set up on the AIW 800XL. However, this all said, I don;t care much for the recording quality on the ATI. I presented my set up with the ATI card because that is what you are using. I mostly record using a discontinued Navis Pro card, which has very quirky software, but outputs very high quality video. As you said, all you need do is set your input device for the ATI card as s-video, play back what you have recorded on your STB DVR and record via the ATI software (or whatever software you might be using for the card). It will record just fine, aside from the quality issues I mentioned, which you may not mind. James > ========= > Ken Maltby wrote: >> "jj" <jjj.nosspam(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message >> news:A6rsh.13296$w91.1866(a)newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net... >> >>>My condo building is switching cable companies on March 1, from Comcast >>>to Direct TV. Have an ATI AIW X800XT, and currently have basic cable >>>with the cable line going directly into the ATI card. >>> >>>On March 1, will have Direct TV with a DVR. Went with the DVR because >>>the problem I have today with recording TV programs to my hard drive, is >>>that I use my PC 14-16 hours/day for personal/work reasons, and can't >>>record while I'm working (not enough CPU/memory for good recordings). >>> >>>I'd like to use the DVR to record the programs. But need to know if I >>>can connect the DVR using some sort of Audio/Video Out. I think the best >>>the DVR has is S-Video, unless you get the HD option, which I didn't >>>because no HD-TV yet). >>> >>>Is there a way to connect the DVR to my PC/ATI X800XT, and "play back" >>>programs from the DVR, and record to the PC's hard drive? >>> >>>If this is possible, it will allow me to record programs to the PC's hard >>>drive when not using my PC for business/pleasure. I need to get the video >>>to the PC hard drive, so I can use the Pinnacle software to edit out the >>>commercials, and burn the program to DVD. I'm making commercial-free DVD >>>collections of my favorite programs. >>> >>>Just wondered if anyone has a setup like this, using a DVR, and if it can >>>be configured to do what I just mentioned? If so, what's the best way to >>>configure it, and connect the DVR's audio/video to the ATI card? >>> >>>Thanks for any advice, help, etc. Much appreciated. >>> >>>Gary >> >> >> I have been recording shows off a DirecTiVo DVR for a long time >> now, and find it a great way to collect up the shows I like. >> >> There are several ways you could go with this. >> >> Probably the method that can create the best possible results is to >> hack the DVR's software so that you can extract the recorded >> video on the DVR's hard drive and convert that to standard DVD >> compliant .mpg in your PC. As I understand it, the DirecTV units >> don't and won't implement the "TiVo-To-Go" feature to accomplish >> this without hacking the DVR. >> >> Another possible approach would be to use a hard drive equipped >> DVD Recorder. Then you could save up edited episodes on the >> recorder's hard drive until you had the number you want for a DVD. >> This should be possible, but I much prefer doing such things on my >> computer, for one thing, on the computer I can use a keyboard and >> run more useful programs to edit and author a DVD. >> >> >> What I've been doing is to use the S-Video analog output, which >> has been of very good quality, to feed my PCI hardware MPEG >> capture card. (The card I use is no longer available, but the same >> reference design which uses the same IC chips is available as the >> "Snazzi III DVD Creator" PCI card http://www.snazzishop.com >> http://www.snazzishop.com/vcp.asp >> http://www.snazzishop.com/cart_dvdcreator_buy.asp) >> >> With this approach you have a great deal a control over the >> process and can setup a quick and easy workflow. >> >> Depending on the power of your system and with a good >> throughput, you could use the AIW and capture to DVD >> compliant MPEG with software. In any case you will want >> to have a separate hard drive for your capturing. >> >> Once you have DVD compliant MPEG files from your capture >> process, you can quickly and easily edit out the commercials >> using www.videoredo.com (This is an essential tool for anyone >> working with MPEG.) [You should edit the files off one drive >> and save the results to a different drive. You will see an >> improvement in processing time and throughput, for many >> processes using this technique.] >> >> You would then feed the edited files to your favorite Authoring >> Program and create your new DVD. (My favorite is TMPGEnc >> DVD Author 1.6 (TDA) but there are other good programs >> available now, many people like Ulead's Movie Factory, and >> DVDLab Pro is by far the most cost effective [but is a little >> complex for many, and for many routine uses.]. >> >> You should check out sites like www.videohelp.com >> www.afterdawn.com www.doom9.org for info on the authoring >> process. Videohelp.com has listings of hardware and software >> with user comments, that can be very helpful. >> >> I seldom make video DVDs anymore, as I currently am >> converting everything to AVC/H.264 files on hard drives, >> (mostly on my NAS), but I still capture and edit out the >> commercials as I described above. I have setup a system >> to function as a HTPC for the livingroom. It plays the files >> off the NAS over my Gigabit LAN, with no problem, so far. >> >> ( You can see some of the MMB menus I made to play >> the files here: >> http://photos.yahoo.com/kmaltby(a)sbcglobal.net >> >> Just click on the pictures at the site, but to see them full >> size you can download them, they are small <200KB files.) >> >> Luck; >> Ken >>
From: Ken Maltby on 28 Jan 2007 15:54
That approach is also mentioned in my reply. "jj" <jjj.nosspam(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message news:aX_uh.16105$yx6.6884(a)newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net... >I thought the DVR had a "video out" option. If so, couldn't you play back >the recorded video from the DVR's hard drive, and output the play-back via >a Video Out S-Video or composite to the ATI card? > > You could then record the DVR's "play back" to the PC's hard drive. It's > just looking for a video/audio signal, it doesn't care where it comes from > does it, e.g., cable, S-Video, composite, component, etc.? > > Thanks. > > jj > ========= > Ken Maltby wrote: >> "jj" <jjj.nosspam(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message >> news:A6rsh.13296$w91.1866(a)newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net... >> >>>My condo building is switching cable companies on March 1, from Comcast >>>to Direct TV. Have an ATI AIW X800XT, and currently have basic cable >>>with the cable line going directly into the ATI card. >>> >>>On March 1, will have Direct TV with a DVR. Went with the DVR because >>>the problem I have today with recording TV programs to my hard drive, is >>>that I use my PC 14-16 hours/day for personal/work reasons, and can't >>>record while I'm working (not enough CPU/memory for good recordings). >>> >>>I'd like to use the DVR to record the programs. But need to know if I >>>can connect the DVR using some sort of Audio/Video Out. I think the best >>>the DVR has is S-Video, unless you get the HD option, which I didn't >>>because no HD-TV yet). >>> >>>Is there a way to connect the DVR to my PC/ATI X800XT, and "play back" >>>programs from the DVR, and record to the PC's hard drive? >>> >>>If this is possible, it will allow me to record programs to the PC's hard >>>drive when not using my PC for business/pleasure. I need to get the video >>>to the PC hard drive, so I can use the Pinnacle software to edit out the >>>commercials, and burn the program to DVD. I'm making commercial-free DVD >>>collections of my favorite programs. >>> >>>Just wondered if anyone has a setup like this, using a DVR, and if it can >>>be configured to do what I just mentioned? If so, what's the best way to >>>configure it, and connect the DVR's audio/video to the ATI card? >>> >>>Thanks for any advice, help, etc. Much appreciated. >>> >>>Gary >> >> >> I have been recording shows off a DirecTiVo DVR for a long time >> now, and find it a great way to collect up the shows I like. >> >> There are several ways you could go with this. >> >> Probably the method that can create the best possible results is to >> hack the DVR's software so that you can extract the recorded >> video on the DVR's hard drive and convert that to standard DVD >> compliant .mpg in your PC. As I understand it, the DirecTV units >> don't and won't implement the "TiVo-To-Go" feature to accomplish >> this without hacking the DVR. >> >> Another possible approach would be to use a hard drive equipped >> DVD Recorder. Then you could save up edited episodes on the >> recorder's hard drive until you had the number you want for a DVD. >> This should be possible, but I much prefer doing such things on my >> computer, for one thing, on the computer I can use a keyboard and >> run more useful programs to edit and author a DVD. >> >> >> What I've been doing is to use the S-Video analog output, which >> has been of very good quality, to feed my PCI hardware MPEG >> capture card. (The card I use is no longer available, but the same >> reference design which uses the same IC chips is available as the >> "Snazzi III DVD Creator" PCI card http://www.snazzishop.com >> http://www.snazzishop.com/vcp.asp >> http://www.snazzishop.com/cart_dvdcreator_buy.asp) >> >> With this approach you have a great deal a control over the >> process and can setup a quick and easy workflow. >> >> Depending on the power of your system and with a good >> throughput, you could use the AIW and capture to DVD >> compliant MPEG with software. In any case you will want >> to have a separate hard drive for your capturing. >> >> Once you have DVD compliant MPEG files from your capture >> process, you can quickly and easily edit out the commercials >> using www.videoredo.com (This is an essential tool for anyone >> working with MPEG.) [You should edit the files off one drive >> and save the results to a different drive. You will see an >> improvement in processing time and throughput, for many >> processes using this technique.] >> >> You would then feed the edited files to your favorite Authoring >> Program and create your new DVD. (My favorite is TMPGEnc >> DVD Author 1.6 (TDA) but there are other good programs >> available now, many people like Ulead's Movie Factory, and >> DVDLab Pro is by far the most cost effective [but is a little >> complex for many, and for many routine uses.]. >> >> You should check out sites like www.videohelp.com >> www.afterdawn.com www.doom9.org for info on the authoring >> process. Videohelp.com has listings of hardware and software >> with user comments, that can be very helpful. >> >> I seldom make video DVDs anymore, as I currently am >> converting everything to AVC/H.264 files on hard drives, >> (mostly on my NAS), but I still capture and edit out the >> commercials as I described above. I have setup a system >> to function as a HTPC for the livingroom. It plays the files >> off the NAS over my Gigabit LAN, with no problem, so far. >> >> ( You can see some of the MMB menus I made to play >> the files here: >> http://photos.yahoo.com/kmaltby(a)sbcglobal.net >> >> Just click on the pictures at the site, but to see them full >> size you can download them, they are small <200KB files.) >> >> Luck; >> Ken >> |