What software for Pinnacle PCTV HD?

[tomreedtoon]

Everyone says that the software Pinnacle provides is crap. So what do you use? Is there some freeware/shareware/payware program that will capture HD video off the USB stick? On a timed schedule? My intention is to get the video off air, save it in an editable MPEG-2 format, and eventually record it to DVD.

NOTE: I don't have the Pinnacle USB device yet. Your answers will tell me which one I should buy, ought to buy, or give up and wait until something better comes along.

[jagabo]

Nevermind, wrong device.

[Ozzyjim]

Gday, I have the Pinnacle twin HD Pci tuner card and I am happy with the software for it. The only thing I have done is to download the latest version (TV Center Pro 4.9.4) so it supports recording to .TS format. I have found the software to be more stable than most freeware available and the only other paid software I have tried it with is BlazeVideo that only records to mpg. If you want I can post some screenshots tomorrow showing options etc.

James.

[tomreedtoon]

Thanks, James. Anything you can do would help. Mind you, the device I'm using is the PCTV USB stick. I just got it, but haven't tried to do anything with it yet.

[Ozzyjim]

Gday,

I wil get the images posted in the next few hours, I'm just doing a complete re-install of windows etc on that pc. My device (and software) has been working flawlessly ever since I purchased it and have used it to record over 8 hours straight of HD footage to *.TS format. From memory though it does need (XP) SP2 Installed before it will let you install the viewing software.

James.

[edDV]

When you buy a proprietary device like this, you are committing to the supplied software. Back in the Win98 days every app needed to write a driver to the most popular devices. Now a device driver is either is written for DirectShow or for proprietary software.

Most USB2 capture devices are proprietary.

You may find this device supported by SageTV, BeyondTV, GBPVR, MythTV or MCE. Check the supported hardware list. Somebody has to write the driver.

[Ozzyjim]

Gday edDV,

I have used other software for this tuner that did work, I am sure that it was done using BDA drivers ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_Driver_Architecture ) or by selecting it as a Generic BDA device. I will have a play over the next few days to test out the 3rd party software again on the new setup. hopefully the 3rd party software will work now for my other devices too.

James

[T-Fish]

i have an usb pinnacle card, not HD!
the software that came with it was the biggest pile of dung i ever installed.

i use virtualdub to capture. with it, i can capture as huffyuv or mjpeg or DV.
afterwards encode the material to mpeg4-asp (xvid).

[edDV]

Normally one would check for specific application hardware support before buying the hardware. Hauppauge is more universally supported. Expect differing versions of the PCTV.

Here is an example
http://www.gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Hardware/DetailedCaptureCardList

[Ozzyjim]

Gday,

I have just found another update for the software (682MB) download. I am in the process of downloading this so will give an updatewhen finished. What is the actual model number of your USB tuner (I can check compatability). It looks like Pinnacle has sold parts of it's operation to Hauppage so that may be interesting to see what the future brings.

T-Fish, what was wrong with the software supplied?, how long ago was the device purchased and did you try to update it?.

I will try and upload the pics in a min, they were caps taken a while back but is the same software as I am using now.

James.

[Ozzyjim]

Gday,

An update on the updated drivers (5.???), the server will not let me download the complete file only about 220-230 MB (twice). I am near the end of my broadband limit and will try again in a few days when it resets.

James.