audio question during Live TV vieiwing

[dzachau]

My setup include: Windows XP with a Hercules Fortissimo sound card and a Hauppauge 350 PVR. the 350 gets the cable signal via composite connection from a digital cable box. All is running well, but audio could be better. Here is my problem: When listening to the music stations via the cable box on the Hauppauge I hear a click every few seconds, and at times it almost sounds like a "skip" in the sound, like a skip in an old LP record. When playing the music stations via the cable box there is, of course, no picture on the screen. Is there any way to eliminate this symptom when listening to music via a cable box through the Hauppauage tv tuner?? It almost sounds as if the tv tuner is trying to sync the sound, causing the symptoms. Perhaps a method that would bypass any encoding would solve the problem? Any ideas??

[R55B]

dzachau:

The sound you hear coming through the box isn't top quality to begin with, because of bandwidth limitations. Since there is a composite-out feature on the cable box, line the two audio cables separate from the video, through a receiver/amp and modify the signal to your liking, before lining into the PVR. That might fix the problem, but perhaps not... I prefer to line all audio directly from my A/V receiver to the sound card, which you can do without the PVR.

Post back with any positive results...

[dzachau]

".... prefer to line all audio directly from my A/V receiver to the sound card, which you can do without the PVR."

Running audio directly into the sound card from the receiver is an idea I will try. However, I have seen other posts on the forum that indicate doing so will invite an audio sync problem?? Have you noticed any sync problems running the composite audio directly to the sound card??

[R55B]

dzachau:

The audio sync issue involves video. If all you want is the audio from cable music, then forget lining through the PVR, and go directly through your sound card. I split off of my vcr that has cable, directly into an A/V receiver. Once there you can send the signal anywhere. But no, both audio and video should not be separated lining in to the PVR for video capture...

[dzachau]

"...I split off of my vcr that has cable, directly into an A/V receiver. Once there you can send the signal anywhere. But no, both audio and video should not be separated lining in to the PVR for video capture..."

Thanks! My ultimate goal is to get quality sound for cable music and to be able to do video capture periodically. So, in your setup, do you have the A/V signal going into the A/V receiver and then to the tuner card?

When I experimented with the audio going directly into the sound card, the sound was perfect! However, being that I will want to use the pvr for video capture, should I now consider running the A/V through a receiver first and then to the tuner card?

Thanks again.

[R55B]

dzachau:

You know, I've only hooked up the audio/video RCA cables for vid capture directly to my Radeon card. Most here and elsewhere prefer using audio software to correct/enhance the captured audio signal. But I think I am going to do some hardware audio experimenting prior to vid capture...

Will message you in the future with results.

[dzachau]

R55B:

Thanks for your responses to my inquiry! I will wait to hear about your experience with a hardware attempt to improve audio!