Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

WinTV PVR-150 MCE

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • MikeyBK
    Digital Video Maniac
    • Feb 2006
    • 1131

    WinTV PVR-150 MCE

    I just got the Happauge WinTV PVR 150 Media Center Edition and am going to use it to convert our VHS collection to DVD and also to watch and record TV to my PC.
    Any suggestions and/or tips from those that have installed and used this PVR? I have heard that it might be better to download drivers from the Happauge website rather than to use the CD that came with it, any truth to that? Also, what companion software would you recommend to capture and convert my VHS tapes to DVD?

    Cheers
    MBK

    Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
    Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
    ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
    Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
    XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
    Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
    Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

    *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
    *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
    *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R
  • anonymez
    Super Moderator
    • Mar 2004
    • 5525

    #2
    Hi mikey,

    it might be better to download drivers from the Happauge website rather than to use the CD that came with it, any truth to that?
    that's true for every device
    "What were the things in Gremlins called?" - Karl Pilkington

    Comment

    • MikeyBK
      Digital Video Maniac
      • Feb 2006
      • 1131

      #3
      Thanks Anonymez, You got a point there, I suppose your right about that>
      MBK

      Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
      Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
      ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
      Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
      XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
      Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
      Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

      *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
      *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
      *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R

      Comment

      • MikeyBK
        Digital Video Maniac
        • Feb 2006
        • 1131

        #4
        Well I got the WinTV PVR card in my PC and am a little disappointed with the video quality.
        The TV on Media Center looks pretty 'blocky' and the volume has to be turned all the way up to hear much. I don't think that Media Center can capture VHS, well at least I haven't figured it out if it even can (I don't think so though).

        I was able to get better TV video and audio using Sonic MyDVD Plus. I haven't tried to record and put to disc any TV programs yet but it does look and sound much better using Sonic. I was able to test capture part of a VHS using Sonic but the quality is very grainy, It just might be the tapes already deteriorating to that point though.

        I also was under the impression that the Hauppage WinTVs could by-pass all the Macrovision encryption but it couldn't capture one of the Disney tapes I was trying to test capture.

        Anyways, Any suggestions from anyone , tricks or better capturing soft-wares etc...., would be most welcome. Cheers
        MBK

        Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
        Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
        ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
        Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
        XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
        Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
        Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

        *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
        *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
        *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R

        Comment

        • moonrocks
          Gold Member
          Gold Member
          • Jul 2005
          • 142

          #5
          I use the PVR-150 on a regular Windows XP machine and the quality is excellent. I'm not familiar with Windows Media Center Edition so I don't know how good its software is for capturing video. Try tweaking your capture settings. Use a variable bitrate and set the average to around 5000 or so.

          GB-PVR is free pvr software that I've read good reviews on, and it's compatible with the PVR-150 MCE.
          http://www.gbpvr.com/

          As far as Macrovision, the PVR-150, using Hauppauge software on a regular Windows machine is completely free of Macrovision. I don't know for sure, but since you're using Windows Media Center to capture, I would suspect it's the Windows MCE drivers that are activating the Macrovision.

          "Det blåser også her." - Erik den røde

          Comment

          • toomanycats
            Digital Video Expert
            Digital Video Expert
            • Apr 2005
            • 595

            #6
            I didn't like the PVR video quality either. I tried to tweak it but ended up returning it. I purchased a PCI K-World card that was about $60 U.S. and it had much better quality. I found the software with the win card I had kept locking up and the DVR funtion was difficult to use. Make sure you are using the RCA or S-video input as the RF connection blows. If you are just going to convert VHS tapes I think you would do better with a straight capture card, less software and hardware problems.
            Last edited by toomanycats; 19 Jun 2006, 11:40 PM.

            Comment

            • MikeyBK
              Digital Video Maniac
              • Feb 2006
              • 1131

              #7
              Thanks for your input Moonrocks & Toomanycats,

              I was able to get Media Center tweaked and it is now pretty decent, both video and audio-wise. I completed the first VHS convertion over-night with Sonic's MyDVD+ and it has been converted to DVD format, so will burn to disc and see what the final quality looks like.
              I will give a look into the GB-PVR program.

              Thanks
              MBK

              Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
              Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
              ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
              Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
              XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
              Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
              Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

              *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
              *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
              *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R

              Comment

              • MikeyBK
                Digital Video Maniac
                • Feb 2006
                • 1131

                #8
                Well the VHS that was captured to hardrdive and then converted to DVD ended up being too deteriorated by the time it got to the disc, totally disappointed by the output.
                The original VHS capture files that are still on my harddrive is acceptable in quality if not converted to DVD format and I wanted to ask if anyone knew of a program that could split this mpeg file into two so that I could put them onto two DVD5 discs or will I need to keep it at it's original size and burn it to a DL disc?

                Anyone providing any help/suggestion would be most appreciated.
                MBK

                Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
                Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
                ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
                Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
                XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
                Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
                Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

                *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
                *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
                *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R

                Comment

                • ed klein
                  Banned
                  • Mar 2004
                  • 880

                  #9
                  TMPGEnc Plus (mpeg2) can join and split mpeg files, if the bitrates and all the other variables are the same.

                  TMPGEnc Basic (mpeg1) can join and split mpeg files, if the bitrates and all the other variables are the same.


                  If they are real small video clips you could also put them on a 700 mb CD-R disk, like CD (mpeg1) or SVCD (mpeg2)
                  Last edited by ed klein; 24 Jun 2006, 07:27 PM.

                  Comment

                  • MikeyBK
                    Digital Video Maniac
                    • Feb 2006
                    • 1131

                    #10
                    Originally Posted by ed klein
                    TMPGEnc Plus (mpeg2) can join and split mpeg files, if the bitrates and all the other variables are the same.

                    TMPGEnc Basic (mpeg1) can join and split mpeg files, if the bitrates and all the other variables are the same.
                    Thanks, I tried TMPGEnc DVD author I think, but will try Plus.
                    MBK

                    Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
                    Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
                    ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
                    Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
                    XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
                    Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
                    Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

                    *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
                    *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
                    *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R

                    Comment

                    • anonymez
                      Super Moderator
                      • Mar 2004
                      • 5525

                      #11
                      if anyone knew of a program that could split this mpeg file into two so that I could put them onto two DVD5 discs
                      cuttermaran, mpeg2schnitt, projectX or videoredo
                      "What were the things in Gremlins called?" - Karl Pilkington

                      Comment

                      • MikeyBK
                        Digital Video Maniac
                        • Feb 2006
                        • 1131

                        #12
                        Originally Posted by anonymez
                        cuttermaran, mpeg2schnitt, projectX or videoredo
                        Cool!
                        Now I got several programs to try out and see which produces the results I am hoping for.
                        MBK

                        Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
                        Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
                        ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
                        Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
                        XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
                        Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
                        Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

                        *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
                        *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
                        *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R

                        Comment

                        • anonymez
                          Super Moderator
                          • Mar 2004
                          • 5525

                          #13
                          the first 3 are freeware, of which i prefer cuttermaran; videoredo is not freeware (has a trial version) but is a huge timesaver if you do this thing often

                          btw for cuttermaran you need to demux first, use tmpgenc's mpeg tools for that
                          "What were the things in Gremlins called?" - Karl Pilkington

                          Comment

                          • Chewy
                            Super Moderator
                            • Nov 2003
                            • 18971

                            #14
                            Making the filesize that large isn't going to improve quality is it?
                            Capturing from vhs(analog) involves some quality loss already?

                            Comment

                            • MikeyBK
                              Digital Video Maniac
                              • Feb 2006
                              • 1131

                              #15
                              Originally Posted by Chewy
                              Making the filesize that large isn't going to improve quality is it?
                              Capturing from vhs(analogue) involves some quality loss already?
                              Yeah you're right, the VHS is nothing near the quality of DVDs but the capture turned out decent (for VHS), but when converted to DVD format (w/ DivxToDVD or TMPGEnc, or others) it lost a bit more quality and then even using DVD Rebuilder could not keep it from losing even more when encoding down to DVD5.
                              So if I can keep it in the original capture quality by splitting it into two DVD5s, that would be cool. I don't feel it would be worth putting it onto a DVD9, I'd rather buy a DVD version of the VHS. Unfortunately some of the VHS is not available in DVDs.

                              Thanks guys >
                              MBK

                              Antec 900 ATX Mid Tower
                              Antec True Power Trio 650W PSU
                              ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel Motherboard
                              Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz CPU (Overclocking @ 2.9GHz)
                              XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Video Card
                              Patriot eXtreme Performance (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM
                              Seagate Barracuda(Perpendicular Recording) 320GB SATA 3.0Gb

                              *SAMSUNG 18X LightScribe SATA SH-S183L DVD±R
                              *Sony DRU-810A IDE DVD±R
                              *BenQ LS DW1655 IDE DVD±R

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              😀
                              🥰
                              🤢
                              😎
                              😡
                              👍
                              👎