HELP! Connecting cable box to computer for HD Recording

[wickedwheels]

Here's what I'm looking to do...
I'd like to record HBO-type channels on my computer.

Will the following work?
Connecting the cable box to a video card such as an 8800GTX via DVI and then sending this signal out to the 50" 720p plasma via the other DVI.

If the HBO signal is encrypted, shouldn't it be decrypted once it passes through the cable box? If the video card and the TV are both HDCP-compatible will there be a problem?

I don't mind using the cable box to change the channel. I'm not looking to replace it (hence to tuner card). If this will not work does anyone have anything that works?

[Bjs]

Welcome wickedwheels

Sorry, but you have Digital Video Interface confused , its output, not an input, so no, what you thought you could do will not work.

You need to install a capture device in order to record.

There was a device which allowed passthrough of such signals, but I dont recall it by name just right now.

[jagabo]

Hollywood is working very hard to make sure you can't record digital HD signals.

Among HD HDMI recorders is the Black Magic Intensity card.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

I'm pretty sure it will only record unencrypted HDMI signals (local broadcast channels). The Intensity Pro adds the ability to record HD component video.

The new Hauppauge HD PVR can record HD component.

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html

[wickedwheels]

Hollywood is working very hard to make sure you can't record digital HD signals.

Among HD HDMI recorders is the Black Magic Intensity card.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

I'm pretty sure it will only record unencrypted HDMI signals (local broadcast channels). The Intensity Pro adds the ability to record HD component video.

The new Hauppauge HD PVR can record HD component.

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html

Can I use the Black Magic as a pass-through? Can I use it to record HDCP-encrypted channels since it has already passed through the cable box (afterall, the TV can display them)

[jagabo]

HDCP encryption is used between the cable box and HDTV when using an HDMI cable. Part of the HDCP rules is not to ever pass the unecrypted digital data to any other device after decryption. The whole point of HDMI was to provide this secure data path for digital data.

This is different than the encryption used by cable companies when broadcasting. Yes, your cable box removes that encryption, but the video is reencrypted with HDCP for transmission from the cable box to the TV.

[jpoey2]

I bought the intensity hdmi card and tried it out the other night. My question is when I had it hooked up to my directtv it would only output to my tv in 480i mode. Is this due to copy protection? I have a bunch of games I've recorded that I would like to backup in high def but now that I've done some research it looks like the media Nazi's have us by the nuts when it comes to making backups of what we watch on tv.

[jagabo]

I bought the intensity hdmi card and tried it out the other night. My question is when I had it hooked up to my directtv it would only output to my tv in 480i mode. Is this due to copy protection?

I'm not sure what's hooked up how here but, yes, it sounds like HDMI restrictions. You are running HDMI from DirecTV to the intensity? What is the TV connected to? Via what type of cable? Are you saying the Intensity is only recording 480i or the TV is only displaying 480i? Or both?

it looks like the media Nazi's have us by the nuts

Yes.

[jpoey2]

jagabo,

I'm running hdmi in to my pc and out to my aquos. I get a blank screen under 720 and 1080 but get picture in 480 on both the pc and aquos

[jagabo]

The BlackMagic Intensity does not implement HDCP. All consumer HDMI devices do and will not send HD video to a non-HDCP device. So the DirecTV box is doing what it is supposed to -- downsamping to SD before sending to a non-HDCP HDMI device.

Keep an eye out for the forthcoming Hauppauge HD PVR. It looks like it will be able to record HD component video. That's not as good as getting the unadulterated MPEG stream right from the source but should be much better than having it downscaled to SD.

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic345063.html

[jpoey2]

The blackmagic intensity pro has that already. I did not get the Pro but it comes with the hdmi in/out and component as well.

I was hoping to save a few hockey games I recorded in HD but for the Pro to capture using the component I will need to set up a RAID which isn't something im interested in doing. Looks like I'll rebay the card.

[Nelson37]

So the file size captured by the Intensity is different depending on whether you use the HDMI or Component? I thought you got the same monstrous file either way?

[Plarocks]

Hey jpoey2,

I actually need a video card to downsample HD content from my Fios HD DVR Box so I can author the content as anamorphic widescreen DVD's.

Does the Blackmagic Intensity card work with the consumer version of XP? Or do I have to upgrade to XP pro for the card to work?

Peter

[Dr_Layne]

An easier solution would be to use the firwire output of the cable set top box. Drivers can be found on the internet that will allow the use of CapDVHS software to save the .ts stream directly to your hard drive. This will not work on Pay Per View shows or encrypted shows however.

[Plarocks]

Hey Dr_Layne,

OK, I am still a novice when it come to capturing and editing video on my PC. I can get a basic PCI IEEE 1394 input PCI card for my PC. However, I only have a single core Celeron PC with 2 gigs of DDR RAM. (This is the maximum this motherboard will utilize)

Where can I find the driver to use the CapDVHS software on my PC? What format does the stream get saved into?

Can I still "capture" a Hi Def video stream through firewire with this slow of a PC. Or, do I have to get a new PC to even consider capture anything in Hi Def to then downconvert it for DVD-R?

Sadly, I can't use the Blackmagic Intensity cards. I don't even have a PCI Express port cause my computer is so old.

Any information is appreciated, thanks.

Peter

P.S. Please note I do not have a D-VHS deck at this time. Do I need one to use "CapDVHS"?

[edDV]

I bought the intensity hdmi card and tried it out the other night. My question is when I had it hooked up to my directtv it would only output to my tv in 480i mode. Is this due to copy protection? ...

The DirectTV box is operating per design. When it doesn't get a valid HDCP handshake, it drops output resolution to 480i/480p.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection

[Plarocks]

At least you can make a 16:9 format DVD from the 480i output resolution. That is what I am trying to get out of my Fios box. I have yet to accomplish this. (I had no problems when I was using Direct TV!)

[jagabo]

Where can I find the driver to use the CapDVHS software on my PC?

Try here: http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/stbfirewire/

What format does the stream get saved into?

MPEG 2 transport stream.

Can I still "capture" a Hi Def video stream through firewire with this slow of a PC.

Capturing the TS is no problem. Your computer just receives data from the firewire port and saves it into a file. Not much CPU power is required.

Or, do I have to get a new PC to even consider capture anything in Hi Def to then downconvert it for DVD-R?

Converting HD to DVD compatible MPEG 2 will be time consuming.

P.S. Please note I do not have a D-VHS deck at this time. Do I need one to use "CapDVHS"?

You don't have to use CapDVHS. I've used GraphEdit to build a simple graph and save to a file.

Note that many cable boxes don't output to the IEEE port. And much of the content might be encrypted. My PVR won't output live video. I have to record a show on the PVR then play it back to get successful caps via firewire.