Better CODEC Then DiVX?

[happydog500]

I have an old Compro, VideoMate TV Gold+, TV Tuner Card, I put back into my computer (originally bought about 10 years a go).

After reading the User Guide, I see I can use third party CODEC's. The book suggests MPEG-4, from divx.com. This is an old analog card, so not sure what will work, but I was wondering what other CODEC might be better then MPEG-4 from divx.com?

I use it to watch TV shows without having to pay for a DVR. It's kind of hard now since I'm watching HD and this is SD Recordings. Also, the 720x480 slid over to my 1920x1080 is smaller then I'd like. Oh, well, at least I get to watch the Motocross.

Thank you,
Chris.

[Cornucopia]

I could be wrong since I am not familiar with that card, but I would expect a 10 year old card to not be capable of receiving/decoding ATSC/QAM broadcasts and since there hasn't been any NTSC broadcasting since 2009, it doesn't strike me as a particularly useful card.

Scott

[newpball]

Someone will come along recommending putting a digital to analogue converter in between so his 10 year old card will still work

[happydog500]

Already put in in and works great!!
My cable company has 1-99, then has some of the same channels in HD from 78-526 to 118-512. I can watch no matter what kind of TV.
An analog TV tuner, 1-99. A new HD-TV, 78-526 to 118-512.

I've seen some mpeg-4 video that was pretty good. I was going to use it, to see if it's an improvement over the stock encoder. Since the manual is 10 years old, Just wondering if there was a better codec then the one that's in the book.

Chris.

[usually_quiet]

Already put in in and works great!!
My cable company has 1-99, then has some of the same channels in HD from 78-526 to 118-512. I can watch no matter what kind of TV.
An analog TV tuner, 1-99. A new HD-TV, 78-526 to 118-512.

I've seen some mpeg-4 video that was pretty good. I was going to use it, to see if it's an improvement over the stock encoder. Since the manual is 10 years old, Just wondering if there was a better codec then the one that's in the book.

Chris.

The hardware and the capture or PVR software that you are using determines which encoders you can use while recording. If you are using the manufacturer's bundled software, then that software may only allow using the encoders supplied with it.

Be prepared for your analog channels to go away at some point. An all-digital system offers a service provider some significant advantages, including the opportunity to encrypt all channels to discourage theft of service. Verizon is all-digital. Comcast is all-digital. Cablevision is too, I think. Time-Warner, Charter and Cox are in the process of converting to all-digital now.

[newpball]

Be prepared for your analog channels to go away at some point.

I think it is high time to decommission all SD channels, analog and digital.

Of course when we realize the government mandates is it will be another 50 years....

[usually_quiet]

Be prepared for your analog channels to go away at some point.

I think it is high time to decommission all SD channels, analog and digital.

Of course when we realize the government mandates is it will be another 50 years....

The government does not regulate the resolution that cable providers must use to deliver anything other than OTA broadcast channels. Those are required to be delivered in the same resolution in which they are broadcast OTA, barring an agreement with the local broadcaster or its parent company to do something different.

[newpball]

Be prepared for your analog channels to go away at some point.

I think it is high time to decommission all SD channels, analog and digital.

Of course when we realize the government mandates is it will be another 50 years....

The government does not regulate the resolution that cable providers must use to deliver anything other than OTA broadcast channels. Those are required to be delivered in the same resolution in which they are broadcast OTA, barring an agreement with the local broadcaster or its parent company to do something different.

I am glad you agree with the fact that the government is mandating things here!

[usually_quiet]

Be prepared for your analog channels to go away at some point.

I think it is high time to decommission all SD channels, analog and digital.

Of course when we realize the government mandates is it will be another 50 years....

The government does not regulate the resolution that cable providers must use to deliver anything other than OTA broadcast channels. Those are required to be delivered in the same resolution in which they are broadcast OTA, barring an agreement with the local broadcaster or its parent company to do something different.

I am glad you agree with the fact that the government is mandating things here!

No, I don't agree. The regulation only applies to a small fraction of what a cable service provider typically carries, and cable TV providers have a convenient loophole available should they choose to make use of it. Mine does. A few channels here that are only broadcast locally in SD are available in HD from my cable provider.

[newpball]

No, I don't agree. The regulation only applies to a small fraction of what a cable service provider typically carries, and cable TV providers have a convenient loophole available should they choose to make use of it.

I see, it's like only being a little bit pregnant as opposed to the full fledged thing



Here is an interesting article on the consequences of government mandated standards:

http://www.insidesources.com/how-a-mandated-tv-standard-leads-to-market-abuse/

[Cornucopia]

I think it is high time to decommission trolls.

Back on topic: h.264/AVC is a "better" (read: more efficient) encoder than divx/xvid/mpeg4. Whether your capture app can use any flavor of AVC encoder is another matter. But usually_quiet is right - you will soon encounter problems with the continuing (and nearly complete) transition to all digital cablecasting.

Scott

[usually_quiet]

x264vfw might work for this, but only way to know for sure would be to install it and try to use it with the software.

[happydog500]

[/QUOTE]

The hardware and the capture or PVR software that you are using determines which encoders you can use while recording. If you are using the manufacturer's bundled software, then that software may only allow using the encoders supplied with it.

Be prepared for your analog channels to go away at some point. An all-digital system offers a service provider some significant advantages, including the opportunity to encrypt all channels to discourage theft of service. Verizon is all-digital. Comcast is all-digital. Cablevision is too, I think. Time-Warner, Charter and Cox are in the process of converting to all-digital now.[/QUOTE]

Here is what the book says.
"CODEC
CODECs encode to and decode from video files, usually with a compression scheme, examples include, MPEG-4 and DiVX CODECs. In addition to the CODEC supplied by Compro, ComproPVR can use third-party CODECs that are already installed on your system. Select "Use Custom Encoder" in other to use third-party CODECs. You will then see the dialog as shown below."
Note
IF you would like to record video in MPEG-4 format, you must supply your own MGEG-4 CODEC. You can download MPEG-4 CODECs from......

Chris.

[newpball]

I think it is high time to decommission trolls.

Relax Scott and eat some duck soup:

[usually_quiet]

The hardware and the capture or PVR software that you are using determines which encoders you can use while recording. If you are using the manufacturer's bundled software, then that software may only allow using the encoders supplied with it.

Be prepared for your analog channels to go away at some point. An all-digital system offers a service provider some significant advantages, including the opportunity to encrypt all channels to discourage theft of service. Verizon is all-digital. Comcast is all-digital. Cablevision is too, I think. Time-Warner, Charter and Cox are in the process of converting to all-digital now.

Here is what the book says.
"CODEC
CODECs encode to and decode from video files, usually with a compression scheme, examples include, MPEG-4 and DiVX CODECs. In addition to the CODEC supplied by Compro, ComproPVR can use third-party CODECs that are already installed on your system. Select "Use Custom Encoder" in other to use third-party CODECs. You will then see the dialog as shown below."
Note
IF you would like to record video in MPEG-4 format, you must supply your own MGEG-4 CODEC. You can download MPEG-4 CODECs from......

Chris.

Then, download and install x264vfw to see if your software can use it. It is derived from x264, a fairly well-known H.264 encoder and free for personal use. Various video capture programs installed on my system which allow the use of third-party codecs could find and use it. You can uninstall it without difficulty in the event that you find you don't need it.

[happydog500]

Not sure I can do it. Not sure how to point the codec to the software.

Chris.

[usually_quiet]

Not sure I can do it. Not sure how to point the codec to the software.

Chris.

You have the TV card, the ComproPVR software, and the manual. I don't. Read the manual and find out how to select and use a custom codec. Windows maintains an internal list of DirectShow compatible encoders (a.k.a. video compressors). x264/x264vfw will be on the list. If the ComproPVR software can't find the x264/x264vfw codec by itself, I doubt that there is any way for you to tell it where to look.