TV Cable box -> HDMI -> PC program for capturing (TS Capture!)

[再び第二は大冒険]

Pretty much the title, there is one on google that is $30, is there no FOSS alternative and is this the best one to use?

TS CAPTURE NOT SCREEN RECORDING

[usually_quiet]

There is a lot of information missing from your post. Such as, what is this software on Google and which OS is running on the PC. Also, how do you plan on getting HDMI out from your cable box into your computer? That normally requires a compatible HDMI capture device as well as software. Do you already have a capture device for your PC? If so, what is it?

If you can use a streaming video app on your PC to watch the video via an Internet connection maybe you can record the PC screen and avoid the need for a capture device. While I don't use screen recording myself, other members here might have some suggestions for appropriate screen recording software.

[再び第二は大冒険]

There is a lot of information missing from your post. Such as, what is this software on Google and which OS is running on the PC. Also, how do you plan on getting HDMI out from your cable box into your computer? That normally requires a compatible HDMI capture device as well as software. Do you already have a capture device for your PC? If so, what is it?

If you can use a streaming video app on your PC to watch the video via an Internet connection maybe you can record the PC screen and avoid the need for a capture device. While I don't use screen recording myself, other members here might have some suggestions for appropriate screen recording software.

Not really sure what you're on about, I want a TS capture not a screen recording!!!

The cable box has an HDMI input, if I need a capture device for TS let me know but it should be doable with just HDMI from cable box to my pc's hdmi port and the proper program for TS capping I assume. I do not want a screen recording!

The OS is Windows 10 and I don't have a clue how my "version of google" could be useful for this post, but it is indeed chrome presumably as up to date as possible but again I am not screen recording and I am not accessing my cable through the browser....unless you can somehow get a TS capture from that

[再び第二は大冒険]

I thought it was pretty obvious by the title, but I guess not so I have edited for clarity

[usually_quiet]

In 2014 and 2015, I actually did regularly capture video from my cable box's HDMl out using my PC, so I do know what I am talking about. The requirements and technical hurdles for doing that have not changed.

Fun fact: HDMI connections are always one-way for video, either out or in, but not both. The HDMI connections on displays (monitors and TVs) are always HDMI-in. The HDMI connections on your Windows PC provided by a GPU are always HDMI-out. The only PC-connected devices that can provide an HDMI-in connection to deliver video to a PC are video capture devices.

[Edit]There is more you should know. Since HDMI delivers a form of uncompressed video and not the original video from your cable provider's transport stream for that channel, either the capture device or the capture software is responsible for encoding the video sent via HDMI and multiplexing it with the audio. Audio may be provided via the cable box's HDMI-out in either 2-channel uncompressed form (2-channel LPCM) or the original compressed form (5.1-channel AC3, in the case of US cable). Audio is usually re-encoded by either the capture device or the capture software. However, there are/were a few Hauppauge capture devices that allowed capturing the original 5.1-channel AC3 audio from HDMI. Most capture devices either re-encode any audio they receive as 2-channel AAC or deliver 2-channel PCM to the capture software.

There is one other complication: the HDMI-out signal from a cable box invariably contains HDCP which acts as a form of copy protection. Only a small percentage of capture devices ignore HDCP. Most capture devices reject an HDCP-protected HDMI signal, as is required by HDMI's licensing. A few HDMI splitter models have a design defect that removes HDCP as a side effect. You'll need to find one to record the HDMI output from a cable box using a capture device that obeys the rules.

[Tom Saurus]

You have some good advice from usually_quiet. I hope you track down one of those HDMI splitters than can do what you need.

[ProWo]

Use dvbviewer pro as software and read his faq/forum for capture devices.

[再び第二は大冒険]

In 2014 and 2015, I actually did regularly capture video from my cable box's HDMl out using my PC, so I do know what I am talking about. The requirements and technical hurdles for doing that have not changed.

Fun fact: HDMI connections are always one-way for video, either out or in, but not both. The HDMI connections on displays (monitors and TVs) are always HDMI-in. The HDMI connections on your Windows PC provided by a GPU are always HDMI-out. The only PC-connected devices that can provide an HDMI-in connection to deliver video to a PC are video capture devices.

[Edit]There is more you should know. Since HDMI delivers a form of uncompressed video and not the original video from your cable provider's transport stream for that channel, either the capture device or the capture software is responsible for encoding the video sent via HDMI and multiplexing it with the audio. Audio may be provided via the cable box's HDMI-out in either 2-channel uncompressed form (2-channel LPCM) or the original compressed form (5.1-channel AC3, in the case of US cable). Audio is usually re-encoded by either the capture device or the capture software. However, there are/were a few Hauppauge capture devices that allowed capturing the original 5.1-channel AC3 audio from HDMI. Most capture devices either re-encode any audio they receive as 2-channel AAC or deliver 2-channel PCM to the capture software.

There is one other complication: the HDMI-out signal from a cable box invariably contains HDCP which acts as a form of copy protection. Only a small percentage of capture devices ignore HDCP. Most capture devices reject an HDCP-protected HDMI signal, as is required by HDMI's licensing. A few HDMI splitter models have a design defect that removes HDCP as a side effect. You'll need to find one to record the HDMI output from a cable box using a capture device that obeys the rules.

How come you cant give me the info for this in DMs? How the hell is a total noob supposed to find that defect info? Are you hoarding the info?

[usually_quiet]

Use dvbviewer pro as software and read his faq/forum for capture devices.

I looked for capture devices but only found PC TV tuner cards. US cable providers normally encrypt all channels now so an ATSC PC TV tuner that can tune clear QAM will typically not detect and tune any channels.

At present it's necessary to rent a CableCARD (a type of smart card) from your cable provider and buy a SiliconDust HDHomerun CableCARD tuner to use a PC as a PVR to record the transport stream from US cable channels. However, PVR software only allows channels marked as "copy freely" to be recorded. Channels that a US cable providers mark "copy once" or "copy never" won't be recorded. Comcast Xfinity cable (which I have) and Verizon FiOS are possibly the only cable providers that have enough "copy freely" channels to make a CableCARD tuner worthwhile. I use this method with NextPVR as my PVR for recording cable. Kodi would also work. I never tried DVBViewer for recording cable.

I had a Hauppauge HDMI capture card that Windows Media Center detected as a tuner if special Windows 7 drivers from Hauppauge were installed. It was possible to do this with two or three Hauppauge capture devices that had on-board video and audio encoders and output a transport stream. I used to record from my cable box using this method. Perhaps DVBViewer and NextPVR also worked but I don't know for certain. I'm not sure this is still a viable option using third-party PVR software under Windows 10 or Windows 11.

[再び第二は大冒険]

Sorry for my previous hoarding speculation. Seems like you're not that kind of guy. I am currently saving up, if this equipemnt is under $1,000 I could afford it soon. I'll reply to this thread or message usually_quiet as I gain the time to look deeper into this. Thank you for the info.

[usually_quiet]

In 2014 and 2015, I actually did regularly capture video from my cable box's HDMl out using my PC, so I do know what I am talking about. The requirements and technical hurdles for doing that have not changed.

Fun fact: HDMI connections are always one-way for video, either out or in, but not both. The HDMI connections on displays (monitors and TVs) are always HDMI-in. The HDMI connections on your Windows PC provided by a GPU are always HDMI-out. The only PC-connected devices that can provide an HDMI-in connection to deliver video to a PC are video capture devices.

[Edit]There is more you should know. Since HDMI delivers a form of uncompressed video and not the original video from your cable provider's transport stream for that channel, either the capture device or the capture software is responsible for encoding the video sent via HDMI and multiplexing it with the audio. Audio may be provided via the cable box's HDMI-out in either 2-channel uncompressed form (2-channel LPCM) or the original compressed form (5.1-channel AC3, in the case of US cable). Audio is usually re-encoded by either the capture device or the capture software. However, there are/were a few Hauppauge capture devices that allowed capturing the original 5.1-channel AC3 audio from HDMI. Most capture devices either re-encode any audio they receive as 2-channel AAC or deliver 2-channel PCM to the capture software.

There is one other complication: the HDMI-out signal from a cable box invariably contains HDCP which acts as a form of copy protection. Only a small percentage of capture devices ignore HDCP. Most capture devices reject an HDCP-protected HDMI signal, as is required by HDMI's licensing. A few HDMI splitter models have a design defect that removes HDCP as a side effect. You'll need to find one to record the HDMI output from a cable box using a capture device that obeys the rules.

How come you cant give me the info for this in DMs? How the hell is a total noob supposed to find that defect info? Are you hoarding the info?

I am not hoarding information. The current version of the splitter that I used in 2014 and 2015 has been revised by the manufacturer and the current version no longer removes HDCP. For that reason, I can't give you a personal recommendation.

The only ways to find a suitable splitter aside from a personal recommendation is to do an Internet search for clues, or search reviews for HDMI splitters on Amazon looking for "HDCP". I thought that someone who knows how to use Google might be able to figure that out on their own. Apparently, I was wrong.

[usually_quiet]

Sorry for my previous hoarding speculation. Seems like you're not that kind of guy. I am currently saving up, if this equipemnt is under $1,000 I could afford it soon. I'll reply to this thread or message usually_quiet as I gain the time to look deeper into this. Thank you for the info.

Please post on VideoHelp. I turned off PM because I prefer to contribute my answers on this forum.

[usually_quiet]

I forgot to mention what kinds of things will or won't be watchable or recordable using a Silicondust HDHomerun Prime CableCARD tuner and PVR software with Xfinity or Verizon FIOS service.

Local channels and regular cable-only channels in your subscription will probably be watchable and recordable. (There could be a few channels that you'd expect to fall under this category that you can't record for some reason if one has Xfinity service. I remember reading somewhere that channels owned by FOX can't be recorded if someone has Verizon FIOS.)

Premium content like HBO or Starz won't be recordable. (...and maybe not watchable either but I don't subscribe to those so I can't say for certain.) On-demand content won't be watchable or recordable. Of course, since Xfinity Flex is delivered via streaming, watching or recording via a CableCARD tuner is not possible.

Also, if you don't want to set timers for recording with PVR software and prefer using a program guide instead to make recording easier, program guide service can be obtained from Schedules Direct for $35/year. Their program information is not as likely to be updated with recent scheduling changes as the program guide from a cable service provider but it is otherwise quite good.