Capturing multiple video sources

[mgy999a]

At work, I have a requirement to record multiple camera video signals to a PC. The video must be in DVD quality (720 X 480) MPEG2 format. The video will NOT be edited, authored or burned to a DVD but will be transferred as mpg files over Ethernet to a central server.

At home I do all my recording to DVDs via desktop recorders (JVC and Pioneer) and I get good results.

For the application at work, I purchased 2 Hauppauge PVR-150 cards installed in a Dell Optiplex GX620 PC running Windows XP SP2. For capture software, I installed GBPVR.

The results are disappointing. The video is “washed-out”: weak colors, loss of contrast, video blurred.

I have tried to research this problem on the card. I have tried 4 different versions of the driver, I tried all 3 inputs (composite, S-video, and tuner), I have tried different video sources (cameras, VCRs), I tried the Hauppauge tweaker tool, different decoders, and a line amplifier. Nothing that I have tried has had a significant impact.

I am not committed to this card or software. If anyone can recommend better hardware/software, please do so. I would like to stick to a hardware MPEG2 encoder to avoid any possibility of audio/video sync issues and also to keep the CPU utilization low. I also need to record at least 2 video signals to harddrive simultaneously. A tuner is not really required. Remote control is also not required.

Thanks in advance. :wink:
Mgy999a

[edDV]

Try BeyondTV demo. It is well tuned for multiple Hauppauge PVR cards.

http://www.snapstream.com/products/

[ddpool58]

You might also want to try the Hauppauge Tweaker that will let you change some settings for your cards:

http://www.cask-of-amontillado.com/pvr_reg.html

[mgy999a]

edDV: I forgot to mention that I got the same blurry video in both WinTV and GBPVR. However, I will download the demo version of BeyondTV on Monday and give that a try. Thanks.

ddpool58: The Hauppauge Tweaker had a small but noticeable effect. I set the sharpness and saturation to max levels. Still not a very good picture.

BTW, the version of the card I am using is the MCE. One of my colleagues uses the non-MCE version at home and gets good results. He suggests that the MCE version might possibly be the problem. Anyone had that experience?

[prouton]

Send a sample video file home with your co-worker, and have him view it on his system in the same way that he views his own recordings. This will tell you if the captured video is actually different from his, or if your work computer (display) is simply not adjusted properly. As in all computer-based color graphic work, the monitor plays an enormous part in color fidelity.

As for blurry, what bitrate are you recording at, and have you viewed the result on a television (as you would at home)? Lower bitrates can look terrible on computer monitors, but perfectly acceptable on SD televisions.

[mgy999a]

prouton: I like your suggestion about sending a clip home with my co-worker. I'll arrange for that on Monday.

The computer monitor is a Dell with multiple inputs including a composite input. I have paralleled the raw video to the monitor composite input. That way I can do a direct comparison of the raw video signal and the Hauppauge card output on the same monitor screen. Yes, NTSC video on a computer monitor is not great but there is a big difference between what is going into the 150 cards versus what is coming out.

I have varied the bit rate without changing the blurry, washed-out effect. It is currently set to 9 Mbps average, peak of 12 Mbps (definite overkill).

I am also researching other capture cards as an alternative but not finding any that are universally liked. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

[olyteddy]

prouton: I like your suggestion about sending a clip home with my co-worker. I'll arrange for that on Monday.

The computer monitor is a Dell with multiple inputs including a composite input. I have paralleled the raw video to the monitor composite input. That way I can do a direct comparison of the raw video signal and the Hauppauge card output on the same monitor screen. Yes, NTSC video on a computer monitor is not great but there is a big difference between what is going into the 150 cards versus what is coming out.

I have varied the bit rate without changing the blurry, washed-out effect. It is currently set to 9 Mbps average, peak of 12 Mbps (definite overkill).

I am also researching other capture cards as an alternative but not finding any that are universally liked. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

That may be your problem right there. If you use a simple 'Y' cable to connect the video to two separate inputs each one will only see half the video. You can get away with a 'Y' for audio (high impedance), but video inputs are terminated at precisely 75 ohms (low impedance). Connect the video only to the card or only to the monitor and your picture will be fine. If you need to connect a video source to more than one place you can use a distribution amplifier.

[mgy999a]

olyteddy: I agree that impedance mis-match can create problems. However, I had the 'washed-out' video problem before I paralleled the signal. I also had the problem using the RF and S-video inputs of the cards when I could not parallel the signal to the video monitor composite input.

One website I read yesterday suggested that too high a signal level can create problems and recommended an attenuator. I don't have one on hand but I'll try to find one and test it. I don't see how that can be the problem, though, not when I have tried outputs from multiple sources, including VCRs.

(sigh) Maybe the 10% rule is in effect (i.e., I need to be at least 10% as smart as the device I am trying to operate or it doesn't work).

[Bablorub]

Thanx to everybody for ya linx and advices, cool yo!