WinTV PVR-250 not working...

[magicmycote]

Here are two files from the WinTV PVR-250 card:

http://steve.kittelsen.com/pvr250/PVR_250_VCD.mpg
http://steve.kittelsen.com/pvr250/PVR_250_SVCD.mpg

(right-click and select "save target as")

Are these files raw from the PVR-250? I burned the SVCD clip with Nero (had to turn off compliance), and it would not play on either my Apex1500 or Pioneer DVC-503 (which plays everything I've tried so far)

*edit*
I cannot even load the SVCD clip into VCDImager, it calls it an elementary stream and that "a multiplexed program stream is required". How are you burning the straight SVCD captures? Which player do you use? TIA

-------------------
SHS: Nice comparision, it's exactly what I was looking for. Too bad the 250 doesn't do raw AVI, I guess I'll just have to get a 2nd card for that (or maybe not if the 250 caps are good enough).

[Anonymous65]

The SVCD stream is non-standard, something they need to fix. However, the files play fine on my Apex-660.

WinTV has a bunch of stream types, but not all the ones that are needed. They have:

System
Transport
Mpeg-1
DVD
VCD

System and transport is not used in any video format used for VCD, SVCD or DVD creation. Mpeg-1 is used for non-standard VCD (XVCD). DVD and VCD seems to work. But, they are missing SVCD stream type. I use DVD stream type to capture SVCD. Selecting System, and it will not play in my DVD player. Win TV should change their settings to:

System
DVD
SVCD
VCD
VCD non-standard (XVCD)

[magicmycote]

Well crap... This card appears to be the one I want, but if the output won't play on either of my DVD standalones, what good are they to me... I suppose I'll go with the PV256 after all.

[Anonymous65]

SHS, was the bit rate the video only, or total stream bit rate?
Did it say anything about average bit rate? The file was captured at 2500Kb/sec in CBR mode. In VBR mode, there is a max bit rate and a (target) bit rate. I prefere to capture video in CBR mode, it gives more consistent and better video quality in my view. Also, I can (should) be able to control file size.

[Anonymous65]

A fast and simple remux in Tmpgenc will fix the stream header. But, I don't understand why Hauppauge can't get the stream header correct in the first place? Someone with inside connection to Hauppauge might mentioned the wrong SVCD stream header issue.

The stream header information is a common problem with ALL capture devices. The PV-256 has wrong VCD stream header. Why is it so difficult to get this stream header correct? It's a simple line of data that is specified by the DVD (VCD and SVCD) standard. Tmpgenc has gotten it correct, why can't everybody else also get it correct. Hauppaue should analyze the streams from Tmpgenc and make their streams *the same*. That would solve all problems with the stream header for good!

Also, Nero should have a stream header stripper and insert new data for files that have a wrong header, it's a simple and fast process.

Please correct me if I'm wrong... (Hauppague?)

[SHS]

skittelsen use the BitrateView
There no Hardware SVCD capture like there is with VCD did you forgot about the packsize which the same as VCD but with MPEG2 that will mess up all other MPEG2 recording setting.
With MPEG1 it no longer dose standard MPEG1 format it dose real VCD with the rigth packsize all you need to do drag & drop in nero boom ready to burn.
SVCD not real a standard but it has gotting a lot support over the yrs.
Hardware Engineering are doing there best founding way to work around the problem but this eazyer said then done you know, I'am ref to thoses Engineering that make MPEG chip.
Dose a 30sec to 2min Mux or Remultiplex going kill you?.
I don't know of any HW capture card that can do SVCD rigth without Mux or Remultiplex it first.

[Anonymous65]

As far as I know, the PV-256 makes compliant SVCD records without any remuxing. Also, I would assume Dazzle DVC-II does the same?

The problem is most likely the way the hardware encoder chip is outputting the stream, but writing software to repack the stream on the fly should be possible. Or at least, have a small utility that will convert a system stream into compliant VCD, SVCD and DVD streams. With a fast hard drive, it only takes seconds. However, it is an extra step that should not be needed.

It could also be a feature in the editor, the nanocosmos editor, where you can select the stream type when editing (cutting and resaving). And as I first suggested, Nero should fix the system stream making it compliant. That way the capture card could simply output a plain mpeg system stream that always have to be "fixed" before burning by the burning application. That would also make editors simpler since they don't have to be able to cut VCD and SVCD files without making the files non-compliant after editing. But, you will NEVER get the video capture hardware makes, video editors, and burning software makes to agree on ONE way of doing things...

[magicmycote]

I tried de then re-muxxing it first, it was still invalid in Nero and VCDimager. On top of that, tmpgenc wouldn't even open it in the Video input box....

[magicmycote]

I believe there is something wrong with the stream in the file pvr250-svcd.mpg (this is a different SVCD sample, from the IP address). When using tmpgenc to de/remux it gives the error:

6 packets cause buffer underflow
The MPG file might cause error when played

That remuxed file will not load in Nero either.


When using TSCV the resulting .mpv file is OVER 1 GIGABYTE!! WTF!!

[SHS]

Look in the new mpeg edit the very latest one 2.1.3 in fact you find in my guide on How to Use it under WinTV-PVR link, yes it and extra step that should not be needed that I agree with on. Nope you assume wrong the Dazzle DVC-II can't must be run thur MovieStar first.

[Anonymous65]

The clips listed at steve.kittelsen.com/pvr250 are raw records from the PVR. The clips listed on the IP page are all trimmed in nanocosmos.

I don't know why Tmpgenc will not open the mpeg-2 file. Ulead DVD Moviefactory will open it just fine. I can try to make a record selecting the system stream instead of the DVD stream type and see if that makes a difference.

[SHS]

Tmpgenc can't open hardlee any of other hardware base mpeg capture file and some software base mpeg capture so that not new news that why I just love Womble Multimedia MPEG2VCR.
Ulead is using directshow

[magicmycote]

That still doesn't change the fact that I could not play them in two very well known DVD players renowned for playing a myriad of bitrates/cdrs

Let me get this straight, If I get a pvr250 I'll need to remux them in a program (at this point womble?) before I burn them to disc. If I get a 256, they will burn str8t to disc with no muxxing, but quality may be slightly worse....does that sound accurate?

[Anonymous65]

In your case, yes.

[SHS]

NO magicmycote remux or remultiplex dosen't change the quality
The newer nanocosmos mpeg editor on hauppauge web site has the remultiplex for svcd build in
I use womble becaues I bough it all most 2yrs ago before there any mpeg editor for WinTV-PVR

[magicmycote]

I meant less quality for the pv256 because Steve said the encodes were slightly better with the pvr250, not that remuxxing would increase the quality

[Anonymous65]

More news about SVCD files.

I can simple-remux the file from the PVR-250 in Tmpgenc just fine, and Nero will see the file as fully SVCD compliant.
ALSO, for some reason I don't know why, the file gets 10% smaller AFTER remuxing. So, the file size after recording is missleading, it's bigger than it should be. I might have to revise the above bit rate to get the correct SVCD settings. It could be related to I'm using the DVD stream. I'll give the program stream a try...

[Anonymous65]

Yes, selecting program stream instead of DVD stream type made the file 10% smaller. My DVD player will not play the file directly, but after remuxing in Tmpgenc, it works fine.
So, I should now be able to increase the bit rate by about 10% and still be within the SVCD limit. A CBR of 2400 should work for SVCD captures using Program stream and remuxing in Tmpgenc.
I do not know what the DVD stream type does, and why it adds 10% to the file size.

[magicmycote]

More news about SVCD files.

I can simple-remux the file from the PVR-250 in Tmpgenc just fine.

Are you referring to the exact same file I could not load or a new capture? Specifically which file were you able to load and remux (filename,location etc).

Could you tell me what priority you have your tmpgenc plugins/filters at? Thanks

[Anonymous65]

I can load a file made directly by the PVR-250, and a file that has been cut by nanocosmos, they will all remux. I cannot open a file for re-encoding in Tmpgenc, but remuxing is no problem. As for the priority settings, I have not changed anything since I installed Tmpgenc.

[magicmycote]

Gotcha. I found that to be the case as well, with tmpgenc. With TSCV's multiplex tool it produced a GB+ mpv file when split for some reason. The tmpgenc-remuxed file would not load into Nero without turning off compliance however.

[Anonymous65]

I have captured two new files, a VCD and a SVCD file with the PVR-250. Both files were trimmed in nanocosmos, and then simple remuxed in Tmpgenc. Both files are fully Nero compliant on my PC.

http://steve.kittelsen.com/pvr250

[magicmycote]

These new files load and burn properly in both Nero and VCDImager, and play perfect in my standalones. Perhaps my downloads of the previous files were corrupted....


ps..what the hell was that clip lol? It looked like a cross between gay porn and a Mexican soap opera

[Anonymous65]

Pet Shop Boys music video... from a DVD.

[Satan's Cheerleader]

anybody have a problem with with their 250 overheating and messing up captures? i read a post at the forums linked to SHS's site and it was resolved by having to have a fan blowing directly onto the card. has this issue been dealt with by hauppauge yet?

[SHS]

that was first PVR

[magicmycote]

May I ask what driver versions you guys are running? (Steve, SHS) You mentioned updating to the latest solved several problems for you, but can you list the v. #?

[Anonymous65]

The PVR-250 has a heat sink on the encoder chip, so there should not be any heat problems.

Also, thanks to Brent Spencer, he found out what number to change in the profile string to change the GOP. I tried a GOP of 30 for VCD captures, which works fine, but it did not improve the performance like it does for the PV-231 encoder card. So, there is not much need for more than the 6 and 15 frame GOP settings already available in the software for the PVR-250.

I believe there are 4 versions available for the driver, the original on the CD-ROM that comes with the card (20109) and then 20172, 20175, 20179. For me, all but the one on the CD-ROM works fine.

There are 2 versions of the mpeg decoder available, 01 and 02. 01 on the CD-ROM is slow, while the 02 version is fast and works fine for me.

There are also a few updates of the WinTV2000 capture application, but I have seen or noticed no differences between the versions.

So, upgrade at least one step up from the CD-ROM that comes with the card, and you should be fine. (worked for me)

[Anonymous65]

I forgot one question.

Does anybody know how to change the audio record level in the registry? Mine is too low, I need to increase the record level.

[Barnabas]

Steve,

These are the only audio keys I have found in the registry:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Hauppauge\hcwtvdlg\aud iocontrols]
"Scart1_Volume"=dword:0000007d
"Scart1_Out_Mode"=dword:00000001
"PreferedAudio"=dword:00000002
"DefMixerName"="Wave"
"Standard_M"=dword:00000000
"MixerId"=dword:0000000f

I have the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB, not the 250, but I would think that the keys would be in the same place.