WinTV PVR-150 MCE

[anonymez]

The original VHS capture files that are still on my harddrive

what format are you capturing to? what are you encoding -->dvd with?

Capturing from vhs(analogue) involves some quality loss already?

yup. unless capturing through dvi/hdmi

dunno what bitrate he's capturing at, so file size may be normal. CBR needs higher bitrates

[MikeyBK]

@ Anonymez,
VideoReDo is fantastic and will work perfect for my TV captures as well.
Turned out a great video quality and allowed me to split into two DVD5 discs. Perfect!!

Thanks mate! Exactly what I was looking for> cheers

[toomanycats]

I used Ulead Video/Movie studio too make the files the right size. Then burned conventionally. Movie Studio lets you add intros and stuff like that. I also used Pinnacle Studio 7 which blows. I never compressed the video once it was made as the quality is low (300 television lines on VHS) so I would just burn 1 to 1 and let the size fall however it did. I ended up with bigger files, but better quality.

[MikeyBK]

Hey guys, one last question.

It seems that I am not able to capture my Disney VHS tapes because of macrovision. I really would like to save my nearly 50 Disney VHSs by backing them up to DVD before I lose them altogether.
I was under the impression that this WinTV would bypass the macrovision without a problem. That's why I got this card.
Anything I can do to overcome this issue?

Thanks >

[BR7]

@MBK
Is there a capture card that picks up 5.1 surround sound that would be a big plus for me especially for my HBO shows. Do they work well with Satellite?

[toomanycats]

Pre 1990 vcr's usually will not pass macrovision signals. If you can get your hands on one it would be the easiest route to go. Don't worry about video quality the older machines were usually better.

[MikeyBK]

@BR7,
I'm not sure, but I would guess that most capture cards would capture the audio as is. I'm pretty new to this, learning as I go. I do remember a thread where we discussed a digital tuner card as opposed to analog, I think? But my main reason for getting this card was so that I could back-up my VHS tapes to DVDs and also to use it to record some TV programs now and then.

@Toomanycats,
I doubt that I'll be able to get my hands on one of those older VCRs, but thanks for the suggestion, I'll keep it in mind.

[moonrocks]

I think the source of the Macrovision problem is Windows Media Center Edition. Windows MCE is very DRM and Macrovision friendly. Hauppauge cards outside of Windows MCE are Macrovision free. But, it's possible that the MCE versions of the Hauppauge cards support Macrovision just to be compliant with Windows MCE.

You could try putting a video stabilizer between your VCR and your PC. I'd shy away from some of the older or cheaper stabilizers you might find on ebay because they may not handle some of the later versions of Macrovision. Try something like:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=product&id=1074788270290

If it doesn't work for your Disney tapes at least Best Buy has good return policy so you won't lose anything.

[MikeyBK]

Thanks moonrocks,
I had already researched out the Dimax Red Pro last year and thought about getting it along with a capture card but then heard of the WinTV PVRs and thought, great no need for the Red Pro. Wrong!!

I just have to decide whether it will be worth another $70 - $80 bucks to back up those Disney tapes. I may just purchase the DVDs for those when Disney puts them out for limited release.

[toomanycats]

I could never understand Disney's attitude with movie releases. I think by limiting their releases they are getting copied/bootlegged a lot. If they didn't want huge releases they could offer them for sale directly to the consumer, then they would know who had them. They would really satisfy their gestapo mentality. Disney, Zeig Heil!! All bow to Disney.

[MikeyBK]

Macrovision is starting to PISS ME OFF!
I just tried to capture the Titanic VHS and again this macro-crap!!!
There's gotta be a way that I can bypass this without having to buy more hardware devices???

OK, I feel much better now that I ranted a bit. Gonna try a couple more things and then I'll decide where to from then.

[moonrocks]

Well, I wouldn't be optimistic, but without spending money, and as desperation measures, I'd try the coax connection from your VCR to your 150 card instead of the composite or S-video. Can't imagine it would work, but I'd try it anyway.

Also, with 3rd party software such as Sage, Sonic, GB-PVR or WinTV200, first shut off Windows MCE services before launching the software, either through the task manager, or from a command prompt:

net stop ehrecvr
net stop ehsched

Last thing I'd try, I'm not sure if you're encountering problems straightaway during the recording of your VHS tape or later when trying to burn the captured file to DVD. If the latter then you could try loading the captured file into an mpeg editor that can import DVR-MS files. Then save it before burning. This should save it without MCE's protective wrapper around the mpeg file. VideoRedo Plus can open MCE's DVR-MS files.

Dealing with Macrovision is frustrating to be sure. It's like being in quicksand where every move you make takes you further from where you want to be. Sometimes, for sanity's sake, you have to open up the wallet just to get outta there

[MikeyBK]

I tried standard coaxial connection, composite, and even composite from VCR to TV and then TV out composite to the WinTV PVR 150, all a no go.

Once I capture the video, no problems getting it to DVD (thanks anonymez), it's just that I can't get macrovision-laden video from the VHS to the harddrive.

I'll try disabling MCE and see if that helps. Thanks moonrocks

[soup]

I think you are going to need the stabilizer from the vcr because that's the original source. If you get one that is battery operated, I would suggest getting it wired so that you can plug it in instead of relying on batteries.

[MikeyBK]

I think you are going to need the stabilizer from the vcr because that's the original source. If you get one that is battery operated, I would suggest getting it wired so that you can plug it in instead of relying on batteries.

Yeah, I might just break down and get the Dimax DVDRedPro w/the A/C plug.

Not sure yet though.