Flickering Problem using HD PVR

[Xela-D]

Hello everyone.
This is my first post and so, first of all, I'd like to thank in advance who is going to try to help me by replying to this thread, hopefully I can finally fix this problem.
As title, I am having a problem using Hauppage HD pvr, recording from my PS3 with component cables. When I set the resolution at 720 or 1080i, the whole video on the screen has very bad flickering problems; if I set it lower at 576, instead, it works ok.
Total Media Extreme even detects the right resolution used on the PS3 too, but it starts having that flicker problem at 720 or 1080i.

The weirdest fact is that it works perfectly fine if I'm using my laptop, but when I try to record on my new pc, I'm having this issue.

I tried so many stuff already, I updated every driver, uninstalled them and installed again (since the pc is basically new too), I tried to change the resolution of the whole pc, I unplugged everything from my Tv but the component cables needed for recording and I already installed all the needed drivers for HD pvr for Windows 7.

I tried more or less to do all the things that I found on the web about this problem, but, unfortunately, I can't get rid of it.

I am guessing it's something about my new pc, but I can't understand what it could be.
Every kind of help will be very appreciated, because right now, I'm out of ideas and I feel kinda hopeless in fixing this.

I'm writing that computer's details, in case they are needed to know:
Windows 7, Intel Core i7 3,4 Ghz, 16GB RAM, 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce Gtx 660 ti

Thanks a lot in advance again.

[jagabo]

What about video files it captures? Do they flicker on playback too? With all players or just Total Media's player?

[Xela-D]

Yeah, the captured files flicker as well. I tried to use different players too, but the flicker is still there.
I even tried to upload it on YouTube to be sure if it was the file itself or the player, but the flicker was there too.

[jagabo]

It sounds like the problem is in the HD PVR. Can you upload a small sample here?

[jman98]

I'm not saying that these will fix your problem, but I have 2 suggestions.
1) Try using different cables.
2) What format are you recording to? MKV is really best with Hauppauge's HD PVR and Colossus family of products. Weird things happen if you try to record in MP4 format. In theory the cards in the family of products support MP4 but in reality it doesn't work very well. If for some reason you cannot deal with MKV then try M2TS but MKV is the best format to record in on your card.

[Xela-D]

It sounds like the problem is in the HD PVR. Can you upload a small sample here?

I thought it could be the HD PVR as well, but I can't understand then why it works fine on the laptop and it's only flickering on the pc.
Unfortunately I don't have any sample right now, but if it can help, I found on YouTube a small sample posted by another person with the same problem, and I can say it looks exactly like mine, if it can help.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO71TECBVng

I'm not saying that these will fix your problem, but I have 2 suggestions.
1) Try using different cables.
2) What format are you recording to? MKV is really best with Hauppauge's HD PVR and Colossus family of products. Weird things happen if you try to record in MP4 format. In theory the cards in the family of products support MP4 but in reality it doesn't work very well. If for some reason you cannot deal with MKV then try M2TS but MKV is the best format to record in on your card.

Thanks for the suggestions, but if there's something wrong with the cables, it shouldn't work on the laptop too, should it?
The format I'm using is indeed M2TS, too.

[jman98]

Thanks for the suggestions, but if there's something wrong with the cables, it shouldn't work on the laptop too, should it?
The format I'm using is indeed M2TS, too.

You need suggestions. Try changing the cables. Humor me. Really, how long is it going to take to try? If it inexplicably solves your problem, will that not satisfy you?

Try MKV instead and see if it makes a difference if changing the cable doesn't work.

Do your laptop and PC run different versions of Windows? If so then in terms of drivers you may not be comparing apples to apples.

[Xela-D]

You need suggestions. Try changing the cables. Humor me. Really, how long is it going to take to try? If it inexplicably solves your problem, will that not satisfy you?

Try MKV instead and see if it makes a difference if changing the cable doesn't work.

Do your laptop and PC run different versions of Windows? If so then in terms of drivers you may not be comparing apples to apples.

I'm sorry, mine was not any irony or humor. I actually meant to thank you for your reply with your own suggestions, which I need badly right now, indeed.

I might try, in fact, to change the cables as well, just to be sure, but I can't right now because I don't have any other ones. If that will fix the problem eventually, I'll be more than satisfied ahah.

As for my pc and laptop, yeah they have the same version of Windows 7 Home Premium. Although, I wonder if it could be still a drivers problem, even if I'm kinda sure that I did everything properly.
Is there actually a way to test if any driver is messed up?

EDIT: I forgot to add that, unfortunately, changing format is not helping either, even because the flicker is always there even at the preview window of Total Media Extreme.

[jagabo]

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO71TECBVng

That's not what I was expecting from your earlier description. That looks like a noise issue. Maybe noise from the computer leaking into the HD PVR and interfering with the analog section. Bad grounding maybe?

[Xela-D]

That's not what I was expecting from your earlier description. That looks like a noise issue. Maybe noise from the computer leaking into the HD PVR and interfering with the analog section. Bad grounding maybe?

Oh, I'm sorry but, what do you mean that noise comes from the computer leaking into the HD PVR and interfering with the analog section?
What does it cause this issue?
I really can't understand why it works at 576p but as soon as I switch to 720 or 1080, it starts showing that issue.
Is there anything else I should try to do for it, or at least to be sure that is the pc doing that?


Thanks a lot to you all for your kind patience and help!

[sanlyn]

How anyone could analyze the problem with utube video is beyond me. The utube vid isn't Xela-D's and has problems that go beyond flicker.

[Xela-D]

I linked that video because it exactly looked alike mine and I had no sample to show, unfortunately. To avoid confusion and doubts, I will record, upload and post here later a link of my video showing my problem, to be sure. I hope it will help more.

[jagabo]

Look at standard ground loop solutions. Plug all devices into the same power outlet. Try a different outlet. Try better component cables (with ferrite beads). Make sure all the outlets are properly wired and grounded.

Try recording another HD component video source. A cable box, satellite box, DVD player, etc.

[sanlyn]

I linked that video because it exactly looked alike mine and I had no sample to show, unfortunately. To avoid confusion and doubts, I will record, upload and post here later a link of my video showing my problem, to be sure. I hope it will help more.

Yes, we know where you're coming from. My comment refers to typical uTube frequently-less-than-ideal uTube display quality (and that's as gentle as I can get), not to mention their horrible vid player. Thus is it becomes difficult to discriminate between the problem at hand and, well, all the other problems.

You can use any of several free editors to cut a few seconds of your current project and upload here. No need to make an entirely new recording.

[jagabo]

A google search shows that some people fixed similar problems by uninstalling all the Hauppuage software then reinstalling. Hauppauge also has a cleanup utility. I would try using that after uninstalling.

[mail2tom]

You also might want to try another USB port.

[Xela-D]

I tried to use different USB ports, but, unfortunately, nothing changed. I tried to record from a different console too, but that didn't work either. I even uninstalled and installed back Hauppage almost 6 times, and I always made sure to delete all its temp files and its stuff in the regedit/folders, as I read on the web too, but nothing; I tried different versions of drivers as well.

Cables and outlets are all plugged in correctly and, like I said, they do work fine on the laptop but, as soon as I conncet the HD PVR to the PC, it starts to flicker in Total Media Extreme.

I want to try now new different component cables, but first I have to get them because I don't have any new.

I'm not home right now, when I'll be back, I will post you guys the sample video of the problem.

Thanks a lot again to you all.

[jagabo]

Are there firmware updates for the HD PVR?

One possible reason you are seeing the problem with HD caps but no SD caps is that the video frequencies with SD are much lower. So high frequency noise may not show up there.

[Xela-D]

My HD PVR is updated at all
Tomorrow I should get new component cables, hoping it will fix the problem...
Anyway, here's a small sample of the problem. I hope it can help out:
2012_12_21_14_16_49.M2TS

Also, I have been told that it could be the Wlan card bugging in that way. I tried to disable it but it didn't change anything, even if they suggested me after that to actually remove it completely. What do you guys think about this?

[jagabo]

That's definitely some kind of noise problem. It wouldn't hurt to remove the wireless LAN device (and any other devices you can live without) as a test.

[sanlyn]

I don't really know what causes the the noise is in your sample, but there's heavy banding (it moves, too) and moire that changes in every frame, and the "flicker" is really a vague darkening, downward horizontal rolling pattern taking up 1/3 of the image with each frame, sometimes persisting for another frame or two across the bottom. So it's less of a flicker and more of a downward rolling horizontal bar. It bould possibly be a bad ground in a cable's plug. But that won't explain why it isn't disturbing on your laptop.

[jagabo]

It bould possibly be a bad ground in a cable's plug. But that won't explain why it isn't disturbing on your laptop.

Because the laptop isn't plugged into the power mains. Or it's sufficiently isolated by the AC/DC converter brick.

[Xela-D]

I just tried today with new component cables but, unfortunately, the result was the same of before. I don't know if this can tell much but I think then it's something about the PC at all.

I guess I have to run that test without Wlan card and some other devies =(

[SHS]

Is any chance of posting a video some where?.
Base on everything you posted so far it sound like it my be ground loop problem.

[jagabo]

He uploaded a sample in post 19. And a ground loop problem was already suggested.

[SHS]

He uploaded a sample in post 19. And a ground loop problem was already suggested.

Oh I see dran it no underline link that why ask

[SHS]

Yes that the high speed ground loop most like being case by PC Fan, Video Card Fan, or PC Power supply it self or Fan with in the Power supply.
Xela-D what kind system is it Home build or OEM build Desktop?
When was the last time you clean out the system? you blow out all dust.
Open the case see who make that power supply.

[Xela-D]

Sorry for the late reply guys, I didn't have Internet last days...
Anyway, I doubt it can be a problem cause by dust or cleaning because the pc is totally new, and the case was totally clean inside =/

The power supply is called Antec High Current Gamer HCG-520, while the mainboard is ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP.

Also, if it's a ground loop problem at all, what else shall I do?

I really don't know what to do anymore, I paid this pc so much and I can't still fix this problem at all...

The system I'm currently using is Windows 7 Home Premium but it's still the 30 days trial one, because I bought the original full version with the key but I didn't recive it yet.

[jagabo]

Try recording from a different device?

[SHS]

Yup as jagabo said try something else