unaccelerated PVR Performance

[tjcinnamon]

The PVR program I'm using is Hauppauges WinTV2000, and the screen recorder software I am using is SnagIt 8 (a slim down version of camtasia), I also bought an independent developers software called ScreenVirtuoso (a slimed down version of Mr. Captor).

The problem is:

I am running a TV Card into my computer and then into some PVR software. I then use a screen recorder utility to record the PVR output (I want to record data from the timeshift, which no PVR software supports).

The problem is all PVR software uses a video overlay to display the graphics. When an overlay is used the desktop recorder records the blank space created by the desktop which is used to accept the data from the graphics card. If I turn off hardware acceleration (and in turn the overlay) off then an overlay is not used and I can record.

The problem with the disabled hardware acceleration is the video quality is not good, and the play back is choppy.

I want to somehow turn off the overlay (so I can record) but still have a quality image.

I'm not sure whether a 2d card would help or not.

Thanks, JOe K.

 

[XMan]

Why not just record with WinTV 2000 and convert the files to the format of your choice?

 

[GregGreen]

Yea, i do not understand what you mean by "record data from the timeshift"

 

[tjcinnamon]

I am trying to collect a bunch of cool video samples from DVD's to make film collages (they could range from 5 seconds to 2 minutes).

With PVR software you can't rewind and then record what you rewound to. You can only record what is going into the card at that moment. So if I rewind (timeshift) a minute backwards and then hit record it will not record what I am seeing on my computer screen, it will record what is coming from the cable box (essentially 1 minute ahead of the output on the computer screen).

I have a set up where I have my DVD player run to my computer and TV (via composite splitter) and then I have a monitor next to my TV. I have the TV play the DVD, and then I have the PVR play the output of the DVD but about 60 to 90 seconds behind the DVD player.

The reason for this is: If I see a clip that is cool I then have time to decide if I want to record it and I can just press record. The other option would be to rewind the DVD and then press record, which would take me out of the film as well as piss off my girlfriend. It's a lazy mans way to collect video clips.

 

[tjcinnamon]

Never the less, after months of searching I have found a solution to accommodate my incredibly specific needs. Perhaps someone may find this useful. I tried everything I could think of in XP with no solid results. The best that happened was I got choppy DVD footage that look slightly off but was actually quite disorientating

Here goes:

Vista uses something similar to video overlays but not video overlays. I was able to capture while using hardware acceleration (you have to if you are running Aero) but I was getting artifacts. Apparently screen recorders have problems getting any kind of data from the graphics card.

I installed Fraps, which is a program designed to capture Direct3D video (mainly in-game video). It worked in XP but it worked incredibly choppily (if thats a word). Fraps has the ability to do desktop screen captures if you have Aero running (quite well I might say). So I ran my PVR software at full screen and captured using Fraps. Timeshifted Full DVD Quality with no artifacts being able to be editted in premier! All of my wildest fantasies were realized!

So my consolidated solution to recording timeshifted video:

Install Vista
Install your PVR software
Maximize your PVR output screen
Install Fraps (the developer is a nice guy)
Record till your hearts content.

Good Luck,
JOe K.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

my dvr cable box records up to 2 hours back on 2 tuners. are you saying this is impossible with PC equipment, no matter how much horsepower you throw at it?