WinTV PRV USB

[RM01]

I hooked up my capture card to my video using a scart to 3 phono lead, the scart bit at the back of the video, the left and right white/red audio phonos and the yellow video phono to the capture card. When I load up the supplied WinTV2000 software ready to capture video the screen is blank even when video is playing.

Should I use s-video instead, but my video only has RF and Scart inputs.

Thanks for any help.

[Barnabas]

No, you just need to go to suite and add the composite video before it will work. Also be sure to get the new beta drivers as the sound is MUCH better with them.

[RM01]

I added a ext. channel in the suite, I then press record in the wintv2000 and press play on the vcr but the screne is still black. Is there a detailed guide to solve this problem.

Thanks.

(P.S:- Do you have to scan for tv channels and hook up a tv arial, as I dont have a tv near my pc at all.)

[Barnabas]

Hi,

It was late when I typed that and forgot 1 other step you need. From Suite, select "input sources" then select "composite". Then select "Add" and give it a number. I made mine 200. Then click "ok" and you should have it set. As I recall, I did have it scan for channels once, but don't think you need to do that. After you are done and are back at the WinTV2000 main, you should see "200" in orange in the tab to the left of the "TV" tab. If you still don't see your source, close down the application. BTW, any time you get an error message about "can't find IVAC driver", unplug the power from the Hauppauge for about 10 seconds and plug back in. Don't worry, it took me a few times to get the video working too. You only have to press record to record, not just to view what's being fed into the unit.

[RM01]

So do you capture video then. Do you have to play a tape in the VCR then press record on wintv2000 to capture video.

My video is about 4 years old. It only has 1 RF output and 1 SCART output. I brought a S-Vhs adapter which I then pluged a S-Vhs lead from that to the S-Video input on the capture card but i still just get a black screen.

Is there a way around this or should I buy a S-Vhs VCR which has S-Vhs output along with A/V output.

Thanks for any help.

The S-Vhs adapter has an in-out switch at the back of it, which shoud I switch it to?

Should I connect the cable which came with the video from the RF output to the TV connector on the capture card?

[Barnabas]

Yes, I bought the unit to capture MPEG2 (SVCD), which it does pretty well with some registry tweaks. Press "OTR" to start recording. I am not sure what "SCART" is, but if your VCR has an "RF" output, you can use the tuner if you need to and set the tuner to channel to 3 or 4 on the PVR unit. If you use the S-Video connection, you will also have to change the input from "Suite" again.

The default brightness and contrast settings are WAY, WAY off on the PVR USB, but I will be posting a reg file that will set brightness and contrast correctly, as well as changing the defaults so that when you click the default button, the defaults will be correct.

[RM01]

Would these reg. files you talk about be able to improve the capture quality to mpeg2 or not?

I live in England and the tv format is PAL I but on in wintv2000 it only has PAL M, PAL N or PAL NCOMBO, which one is the best to use and what is the best size to capture at.

Thanks.

[Barnabas]

The .reg file will simply set your capturing brightness and contrast to what's correct, as well as fixing the default brightness and contrast settings. It should not matter that you are in "PAL-Land" or not. Not sure which PAL setting would be best but in the US, in NTSC-Land, I think I chose NTSC-M.

I can send you the REG file by email if you like. Be sure to get the new beta drivers for the product, as the sounds is bad with the old ones, at least here.

[RM01]

My e-mail address is rossmitchell1@aol.com.

The drivers I have are version 1.3 19213. would the reg files work with these or should I download the latest beta drivers.

Thanks again.

[Barnabas]

The .reg file will work with both sets of drivers, as it is only adjusting the Brightness and Contrast for both the default settings and the slider settings. I will send you the reg file in a few minutes. Hauppauge has a known bug with the drivers in that certain settings like a contrast of 133, 134 or 135, (which of course happens to be in the range you need) won't be held by the unit once you hit the ok key, so using this .reg file (or editing the same place in the registry) is the only way to get these settings. The PCI model does not have this same bug, or so says Hauppauge.

Were you able to get the unit working?