Tuner with MPEG capture?

[salt]

Hi!

I have had this card for about 8 months now, and have found many workarounds for bugs that are in it.

First, yes we all know that it outputs non-standard MPEG-2. This is because it has been built to resemble a TiVO unit. It uses the hard drive the same way, breaks up the files the same way, uses 32khz sound the same way. The only thing missing is linux ( =) )

You can use the utility to convert the video to MPEG-2 but it's still not 100% compliant. This is because the card analyzes the signal coming in from your source, and uses the best mode to encode that specific segment. For example. Every few seconds it will switch from 29.97fps to 23.976fps. Sometimes it will change the deinterlacing mode. It does this in the same way a TiVO would to produce the best quality video. (Also make note note it records in VBR, but you can hack the ini file to make it CBR)

I have found a suitable workaround for all issues with this card as far as compatibility goes. What I have been doing for months is:

1) capture video in highest quality mode
2) convert to MPEG-2 using creative's utility
3) load the video in TMPGEnc
4) convert to standard SVCD
5) cut out commercials, etc
6) burn to SVCD (having chapters where each chapter is a segment between commercials
7) play in APEX DVD player with no problems. (Also 100% PERFECT SYNC - IMPORTANT!!!)

Now I know that this method still retains the 32khz sound. I'm not too concerned because the APEX eats 32khz sound anyway and the videos I make are usually for myself or someone else that has an apex-type unit (any of those DVD players that do MP3's will most likely play at this sample rate). Now if you want to have 44.1khz sound, there is an excellent utility I found that is an add-on for TMPGEnc that will convert the sound 1000times better that TMPGEnc's internal conversion will do. The only drawback to this is the time it will take to convert (kinda slow).

Anyhow, I use this card mostly to record TV shows off the cable (same as a VCR) and to use as a suitable replacement for my VCR (VHS is like 8track to me, unacceptable these days)

My suggestion to all of you reading this:

-Don't buy this card if your focus is on capturing ONLY.
-Don't buy this card if you're overly concerned about tuner quality (although I personally thing it's awesome)
-Don't buy this card if you aren't too concerned about having a TiVO for the computer
-Don't buy this card to rip from DVD or copyrighted VHS as it hates macrovision.

-DO buy this card if you use your computer regularly to watch TV
-DO buy this card if you like to record scheduled TV shows and watch them later with the possiblity of saving them on CD-R/DVD-R
-DO buy this card if your computer is too slow to do realtime MPEG-2 encoding (it does it all on the chip using about 2-4% of your CPU)
-It's only $100 for what it does it's impressive


Any questions, EMAIL ME! lotsosalt@yahoo.com

[salt]

Also, if someone could do me a huge favor. Could someone who owns a retail version of this card mail me a copy of the driver CD, or upload it to my FTP? I have a really old test version of the drivers and I want to see if there's any differences in them compared to the retail drivers. Also if you'd like I can send you my test drivers in exchange for retail ones. Creative labs are being idiots and telling me that there's no drivers available except the ones that come with the card, and also that there's no way to obtain new ones.

Email me to work something out. lotsosalt@yahoo.com

Thanks!

[ofbarea]

A Cheap option is the Kworld DVD maker TV or the Provideo 256T.

You can get the latest drivers from the Provideo web site at http://www.provideo.com.tw Once you get there download the 256T drivers.

if you have a Kwolrd DVD maker TV card use Provideo 256T drivers for better results.

For reviews go to http://www.iln.com.au/pv256.html

If you need help try visitting http://www.iln.com.au/forum/index.php 256T forum.

Another option is the a very symilar card made by Aviosys (DVD PLUS 3020). Take a look at it at http://www.aviosys.com/3020e.htm