Any good & relatively cheap hardware MPEG 2 encoders?

[Felix_2000]

Just wondering if there are any good hardware MPEG 2 encoders out there in maybe the under $300 mark. I'd like to be able to encode/ or re-encode stuff to MPEG 2 DVD standard but the 6-12hrs required most of the time is quite annoying.

I see a but of capture cards that will do it, but I would also want to be do encoding from like TMPGenc or similar type of software.

Thanks
-=| Felix |=-

[MikeV]

Check under "Capture Cards" to the left. Kworld DVD Maker and Provideo PV256T are some of the hardware MPEG2 encoders. They are under $200.00

[Felix_2000]

But are those Capure Card only for "Capturing" I'm looking to be able to say have a divx or SVCD MPEG2 file and convert them to the DVD standard MPEG 2.

Checking into the capture cards now.

Thanks
-=| Felix |=-

[Anonymous65]

I have not seen any cards that will convert a file in hardware for under $300. Better get a 2.5Ghz or better CPU and let the PC do the conversion (or even better, get a dual CPU PC).

[Felix_2000]

Got a 2Ghz just was wonder if there was anything out there that could do it... Get 2 PC 1 with TV Out other with a MPEG 2 Capture card... Play on one and record on the other...

-=| Felix |=-

[crahak]

Kinda sounds like my setup. A PC that does the recording (sort of like a Tivo) and a HTPC that plays everything.

[Felix_2000]

crhak how well do you find that works?

-=| Felix |=-

[ofbarea]

I have used this setting:

PC #1: Capture
Capture card: Kworld DVD maker TV (with Provideo 256T 2.16 drivers)
CPU: 1.26 PIII-S (overcloked to 1.33)
Mobo: Asus TUV4X (VIA 694T / 686B) Bios 1006.002 beta

PC #2: Play
Play card: Real Magic Hollywood + (with the just released drivers)
CPU: Celeron 1GHz
Mobo: Soyo SY-7VCA-E (VIA 694X / 686B) Bios 2AA2

The process is simple:

Connect S-Video and audio out in the Real Magic card to S-Video and audio in the Kworld DVD maker.

Start Playing the DVD, SVCD, VCD, DivX (hack) or MPEG file on one PC and record in the other, in real time. Nice for quick captures or for converting from PAL to NTSC without long rendering hours.



In my setup, both PCs have Windows XP SP1 + DX9

The most difficult part of this configuration is to set up the Kworld DVD maker card. This card is not very “Via chipset” friendly. For some people it could be really difficult to configure. Similar to the issues with Soundblaster Audio cards on some Via Based mobos.

[Felix_2000]

Ofberea, so this works well for you? You capture at 720x480 sounds and all? Any issues you've been having with this kind of setup?

If you have a TV out card do you still need that Real Magic Hollywood card?

Thanks
-=| Felix | =-

[ofbarea]

This configuration really works for me.

The Kwold DVD maker (and Provideo 256T) is limited to 704x480 captures. Since this card has a hardware codec, the MPEG2 captured on the fly are great.

I think you could get away with a video card with good video out and a sound card with a line out, instead of using the Hollywood+ card. With ATI cards that provide s-video out you usually will have great video. But If you happen to have an Nvidia based card, the video out may have some noise that may not be so great for capturing. So you will need to do some testing.

I really prefer the Sigma (RealMagic) card because it has a hardware MPEG2 player codec, the quality is good, and you can disable zone limitation, macrovision and will do a very nice PAL to NTSC conversion. Creative also sell this card under the name of DXR3. I think they can be found at eBay at a good price.

The only problem I found with the Kworld DVD maker card, besides the initial configuration problem headache, is that you may have audio sync problems when capturing to VCD, but since this card can capture to separate audio and video files, multiplexing them afterwards is very quick stuff. The reason for the sync problem is that audio is coded in software.

For 704x480 MPEG2 captures I never had a problem.

By the way I bought this card for $130 at Computer Geeks, but they do not carry it anymore.

[paintmodel]

I am now using TMPGenc Plus 2.51 on an XP 2.0 system. The latest version of TMPG has cut about 60% of the encoding time from past versions. I was looking at the same solution as you but with the new program I have rethought my decision.

[SHS]

I done the samething as ofbarea but done with Hollywood+ card and Xcard with WinTV-PVR PCI and new PVR 350

[phalanx]

I use this it cost me $154.00 at Amazon
http://www.adstech.com/products/USB_Instant_DVD/intro/usb700intro.asp?pid=USBAV-700

[Barnabas]

Forget the ADS Instant DVD. It has WAY too many problems to even consider. I had one and not only does cutting the files ALWAYS make the sound go out of sync, the sound is filtered so much, it sounds distorted. It's also an old product in computer years.

SVCD is not good with it, but to be fair, the DVD caps look good enough, but if you need to cut them, forget it!