Backing up Blu-ray with Hauppauge PVR

[Doc S]

I picked up a Hauppauge PVR a couple months ago, and it's worked great for recording my HD content off my Time Warner DVR.

From what I've read, I should also be able to output from my Blu-ray player. I'd really like to be able to backup some of my disks in case one of the kids scratches one up.
I connected the component outputs to the PVR, then output from the PVR to my receiver, then there is HDMI to the TV.
The output appears just fine to the TV, but I don't see anything at all on my computer capture screen.

Any advice? The Blu-ray is a Sony BDP N-460.

Thanks!

[fritzi93]

Tried setting the Sony's output to 1080i?

[EDIT] And welcome to the forum.

[jagabo]

And try disconnecting the HDMI output to the TV. Many devices won't output both HDMI and component video at the same time.

[Doc S]

I'd already tried multiple settings on the Sony component output (1080i, 720p, etc...) without any luck.

But jagabo's recommendation of disconnecting the HDMI did the trick! I hadn't expected that since I was definitely getting output through the component. But apparently disconnecting the HDMI must have turned off the encryption?... I don't get it, but I'm happy it's working.

Now I just have to see if the digital optical audio will work. Shame to use RCAs for the sound on an HD movie!

Thanks very much for your help! I'll let you know about the optical audio, but it'll take a couple days before I have time.

[flashandpan007]

get AnyDVD HD to rip your Blu-rays

[jagabo]

And keep in mind that some discs may use the Image Constraint Token to force lower resolution at the analog outputs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_Constraint_Token
http://gear.ign.com/articles/709/709653p1.html

[fritzi93]

get AnyDVD HD to rip your Blu-rays

Yeah, I was tempted to say that before but wanted to stay on topic. Backing them up on one's computer is easier and you keep 1080p.

[flashandpan007]

Hi,
I forgot to write that the Hauppauge PVR is a very good choice for consumers to create HD-files from PS3, ... via component, but for Blu-rays, as I already wrote, you should get AnyDVD HD. Download a trial and you can test the prog.

[Doc S]

Thanks for the tips. I'll think about the AnyDVD HD, although it looks pretty expensive, and it's just for backing up my disks.

I hooked up my optical output to the Sony Blu-ray. It was a pain because I had to switch the audio settings from DTS to downmix PCM. Bummer that the PVR doesn't support DTS. But it does work now.

Does anyone know of a simple calculator that will help me figure out how high a bitrate I can select for a certain length of film? e.g. the manual says you can fit 110 minutes with a 5 mbps bitrate. But what if the film is 2:15 or 1:30?

Thanks!

[jagabo]

the manual says you can fit 110 minutes with a 5 mbps bitrate. But what if the film is 2:15 or 1:30?

2:15 is 135 minutes:
5 * 110 / 135 = 3.26

1:30 is 90 minutes:
5 * 110 / 90 = 6.11

Or:

550 / minutes = bitrate

[Doc S]

Okay, sure, I guess you can do it that way.

Thanks

[fritzi93]

Thanks for the tips. I'll think about the AnyDVD HD, although it looks pretty expensive, and it's just for backing up my disks.

You can use the free portion of DVDFab (DVDFabHDDecrypter) to rip the disc to hard drive. From there you can fit it to a single layer Blu-Ray blank (BD25) with, for instance, BDRB. Full disc or main movie, as you like. Oftentimes, a disc will fit a BD25 without re-encoding if you deselect unwanted audio tracks, especially if you do movie-only without extras. But even if a re-encode is necessary, your computer could probably do it in 4-5 hrs, using BD25 high-speed option. And you won't have to calculate capture bitrate.

Good luck.