Mailing List Archive: MythTV: Users

PVR 350, record from VCR

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jesse at wingnet

Aug 19, 2005, 8:09 AM

Post #1 of 12 (2259 views)
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PVR 350, record from VCR

Hello,

I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
their quality over time.

I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
LiveTV interface?

Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.

Any ideas?

--
Jesse Guardiani
Programmer/Sys Admin
jesse [at] wingnet

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knowledgejunkie at gmail

Aug 19, 2005, 8:17 AM

Post #2 of 12 (2185 views)
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Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
> reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
> disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
> their quality over time.
>
> I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
> to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
> LiveTV interface?
>
> Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
> section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
> decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
> for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
> make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
> somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
>
> Any ideas?

You could setup a manual recording for the duration of the tape. I
would recommend using SVideo or composite to record from the tape
instead of the tuner as I've had better experiences of doing this.
Temporarily swap the SVideo/audio input from the cable box to the VCR,
and then schedule a manual recording starting in the next few minutes.
Cue up the VCR on the TV, then as soon as the recording starts, press
play on the VCR and the tape should be recorded through the SVid
connection from the VCR to the PVR350.

It's quite straightforward and this way you should be able to keep the
video in MythTV's recordings list allowing you to assign it to a
group. You also get to name the recording to whatever you want from
the manual recording interface which sounds like what you are wanting
to do.

Nick
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jesse at wingnet

Aug 19, 2005, 8:35 AM

Post #3 of 12 (2189 views)
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Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

Nick wrote:

>On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
>
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
>>reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
>>disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
>>their quality over time.
>>
>>I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
>>to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
>>LiveTV interface?
>>
>>Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
>>section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
>>decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
>>for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
>>make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
>>somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
>>
>>Any ideas?
>>
>>
>
>You could setup a manual recording for the duration of the tape. I
>would recommend using SVideo or composite to record from the tape
>instead of the tuner as I've had better experiences of doing this.
>
>

Care to elaborate? I'm already using the svid input on my PVR 350, so
unless I degrade the
input quality by inserting an A/V switch, it makes the most sense to
just hard wire the VCR
to my tuner input. Was the quality bad for you, or was it more of a pain
to get working,
or what?

>Temporarily swap the SVideo/audio input from the cable box to the VCR,
>and then schedule a manual recording starting in the next few minutes.
>Cue up the VCR on the TV, then as soon as the recording starts, press
>play on the VCR and the tape should be recorded through the SVid
>connection from the VCR to the PVR350.
>
>It's quite straightforward and this way you should be able to keep the
>video in MythTV's recordings list allowing you to assign it to a
>group. You also get to name the recording to whatever you want from
>the manual recording interface which sounds like what you are wanting
>to do.
>
>

This sounds perfect. Thanks!

--
Jesse Guardiani
Programmer/Sys Admin
jesse [at] wingnet

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knowledgejunkie at gmail

Aug 19, 2005, 8:51 AM

Post #4 of 12 (2185 views)
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Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> Nick wrote:
>
> >On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Hello,
> >>
> >>I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
> >>reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
> >>disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
> >>their quality over time.
> >>
> >>I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
> >>to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
> >>LiveTV interface?
> >>
> >>Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
> >>section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
> >>decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
> >>for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
> >>make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
> >>somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
> >>
> >>Any ideas?
> >>
> >>
> >
> >You could setup a manual recording for the duration of the tape. I
> >would recommend using SVideo or composite to record from the tape
> >instead of the tuner as I've had better experiences of doing this.
> >
> >
>
> Care to elaborate? I'm already using the svid input on my PVR 350, so
> unless I degrade the
> input quality by inserting an A/V switch, it makes the most sense to
> just hard wire the VCR
> to my tuner input. Was the quality bad for you, or was it more of a pain
> to get working,
> or what?

I find that the quality is considerably better on SVideo/Compositve
than on the tuner (less noise and interference for one). It's why you
get a better picture when you connect your VCR to your TV with a SCART
or SVideo cable than with the RF tuner (at least in my experience.)

If it's something that you want to setup once and then not have to
worry about (and the quality is OK for you) then using the tuner is a
good option. You can still only use one of the inputs at any one time
though (the 350 can only record one stream at once) which is why I'd
go for swapping them over (i.e. not using an AV switch for the 2
SVideo inputs). You could hardwire a Composite video connection from
the VCR, but then you will still need to swap over the audio signals.

A third option could be to plumb the cable box though the VCR and then
output it using SVideo in the 350. Loss of quality shouldn't be that
bad, and means you'd only need a single hardwired connection.

Setting up the tuner is a little extra work (esp if it's not already
setup) in MythTV. You just need to make sure the correct video channel
is being used. Apart from that, it should also just work.

Nick
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mythtv at edsons

Aug 19, 2005, 9:04 AM

Post #5 of 12 (2197 views)
Permalink

Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

Jesse Guardiani wrote:

> Nick wrote:
>
>> On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
>>> reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
>>> disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
>>> their quality over time.
>>>
>>> I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
>>> to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
>>> LiveTV interface?
>>>
>>> Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
>>> section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
>>> decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
>>> for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
>>> make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
>>> somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>>
>>
>> You could setup a manual recording for the duration of the tape. I
>> would recommend using SVideo or composite to record from the tape
>> instead of the tuner as I've had better experiences of doing this.
>>
>>
>
> Care to elaborate? I'm already using the svid input on my PVR 350, so
> unless I degrade the
> input quality by inserting an A/V switch, it makes the most sense to
> just hard wire the VCR
> to my tuner input. Was the quality bad for you, or was it more of a
> pain to get working,
> or what?
>
That way you are using the re-modulator of the VCR, which has the worst
quality signal of those it has available. Thats about all.

Rudy
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pettersen at gmail

Aug 19, 2005, 10:29 AM

Post #6 of 12 (2192 views)
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Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

I 2nd the use svideo/composite over coax line of thinking (even if it
means swapping back and forth with your DTV STB cables each time)

I've got think you'll have an easier time doing this with some sort of
simple command line capture tool to the desired directory than trying
to do it within MythTV (as a manual recording), but i'm not trying to
promote hereasy =P It's probably 6 to one 1/2 dozen to the other
*shrug*

e.
--
http://www.byopvr.com

On 8/19/05, Rudy Zijlstra <mythtv [at] edsons> wrote:
> Jesse Guardiani wrote:
>
> > Nick wrote:
> >
> >> On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> Hello,
> >>>
> >>> I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
> >>> reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
> >>> disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
> >>> their quality over time.
> >>>
> >>> I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
> >>> to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
> >>> LiveTV interface?
> >>>
> >>> Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
> >>> section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
> >>> decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
> >>> for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
> >>> make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
> >>> somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
> >>>
> >>> Any ideas?
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> You could setup a manual recording for the duration of the tape. I
> >> would recommend using SVideo or composite to record from the tape
> >> instead of the tuner as I've had better experiences of doing this.
> >>
> >>
> >
> > Care to elaborate? I'm already using the svid input on my PVR 350, so
> > unless I degrade the
> > input quality by inserting an A/V switch, it makes the most sense to
> > just hard wire the VCR
> > to my tuner input. Was the quality bad for you, or was it more of a
> > pain to get working,
> > or what?
> >
> That way you are using the re-modulator of the VCR, which has the worst
> quality signal of those it has available. Thats about all.
>
> Rudy
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
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fsquires at gmail

Aug 19, 2005, 2:37 PM

Post #7 of 12 (2170 views)
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Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

On 8/19/05, Erik Pettersen <pettersen [at] gmail> wrote:
> I 2nd the use svideo/composite over coax line of thinking (even if it
> means swapping back and forth with your DTV STB cables each time)
>
> I've got think you'll have an easier time doing this with some sort of
> simple command line capture tool to the desired directory than trying
> to do it within MythTV (as a manual recording), but i'm not trying to
> promote hereasy =P It's probably 6 to one 1/2 dozen to the other
> *shrug*

I did this with some old VHS tapes I have.
Just connect your vcr to the composite (most VCRs don't have svid) and
audio input on the capture card. Then use ivtvctl to setup the
capture card, and then just use cat to dump the tape to a file.

--
I probably still have a few (well, now a whole bunch) gmail invites.
Drop me a line (off list) if you'd like an account.
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knowledgejunkie at gmail

Aug 19, 2005, 8:17 PM

Post #8 of 12 (2175 views)
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Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

jesse at wingnet

Aug 21, 2005, 1:28 PM

Post #9 of 12 (2173 views)
Permalink

Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

On Sat, 2005-08-20 at 04:17 +0100, Nick wrote:
> On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> > Nick wrote:
> >
> > >On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>Hello,
> > >>
> > >>I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
> > >>reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
> > >>disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
> > >>their quality over time.
> > >>
> > >>I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
> > >>to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
> > >>LiveTV interface?
> > >>
> > >>Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
> > >>section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
> > >>decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
> > >>for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
> > >>make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
> > >>somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
> > >>
> > >>Any ideas?
> > >>
>
> Jesse,
>
> >From Erik's reply to another thread, this might be exactly what you're after:
>
> http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/hardware1.asp#av_cable
>
> It would allow both devices to be hardwired separately to SVideo
> inputs and the changing of the input can be controlled via software.

Yeah, that's cool. But does MythTV really support this sort of thing?

The input extender card and tuner0 (coax) are basically the same thing
to MythTV: a different input. The only difference is the quality and
the input name.

How do I schedule a manual recording on an input that doesn't have
a channel lineup associated with it?

The MythTV -> Manage Recordings -> Schedule Recordings -> Manual
Schedule doesn't seem to have any concept of Inputs. It only cares
about channels. So how do I make it record on an input that doesn't
have any channels?

Also, I've mapped the yellow button on my Hauppauge remote to the 'C'
key so I can cycle through inputs while watching LiveTV. But since
my tuner0 doesn't have a lineup associated with it, I can't change
inputs to it. Pushing the yellow button just freezes the screen and
shows me the same Input over and over.

Is there a way to fix this? If so, then that addon board would be
perfect. Thanks!

--
Jesse Guardiani
Programmer/Sys Admin
jesse [at] wingnet

knowledgejunkie at gmail

Aug 21, 2005, 2:14 PM

Post #10 of 12 (2160 views)
Permalink

Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

On 8/21/05, Jesse D. Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> On Sat, 2005-08-20 at 04:17 +0100, Nick wrote:
> > On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> > > Nick wrote:
> > >
> > > >On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >>Hello,
> > > >>
> > > >>I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
> > > >>reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
> > > >>disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
> > > >>their quality over time.
> > > >>
> > > >>I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
> > > >>to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
> > > >>LiveTV interface?
> > > >>
> > > >>Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
> > > >>section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
> > > >>decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
> > > >>for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
> > > >>make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
> > > >>somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
> > > >>
> > > >>Any ideas?
> > > >>
> >
> > Jesse,
> >
> > >From Erik's reply to another thread, this might be exactly what you're after:
> >
> > http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/hardware1.asp#av_cable
> >
> > It would allow both devices to be hardwired separately to SVideo
> > inputs and the changing of the input can be controlled via software.
>
> Yeah, that's cool. But does MythTV really support this sort of thing?
>
> The input extender card and tuner0 (coax) are basically the same thing
> to MythTV: a different input. The only difference is the quality and
> the input name.
>
> How do I schedule a manual recording on an input that doesn't have
> a channel lineup associated with it?

Create a dummy source (perhaps one channel only) for that input and
then connect them together in mythtvsetup.

>
> The MythTV -> Manage Recordings -> Schedule Recordings -> Manual
> Schedule doesn't seem to have any concept of Inputs. It only cares
> about channels. So how do I make it record on an input that doesn't
> have any channels?

See above.

>
> Also, I've mapped the yellow button on my Hauppauge remote to the 'C'
> key so I can cycle through inputs while watching LiveTV. But since
> my tuner0 doesn't have a lineup associated with it, I can't change
> inputs to it. Pushing the yellow button just freezes the screen and
> shows me the same Input over and over.

AFAIUI, you need a working tuner source (i.e. tuneable channels) so
that MythTV can successfully tune to it. Also, the starting channel
for each of the inputs need to be an existing channel.

>
> Is there a way to fix this? If so, then that addon board would be
> perfect. Thanks!

Creating a dummy source and connecting it to the new SVideo connection
would seem the way to go.

Nick
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mtdean at thirdcontact

Aug 21, 2005, 2:18 PM

Post #11 of 12 (2178 views)
Permalink

Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

On 08/21/05 16:28, Jesse D. Guardiani wrote:

>On Sat, 2005-08-20 at 04:17 +0100, Nick wrote:
>
>
>>>From Erik's reply to another thread, this might be exactly what you're after:
>>
>>http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/hardware1.asp#av_cable
>>
>>It would allow both devices to be hardwired separately to SVideo
>>inputs and the changing of the input can be controlled via software.
>>
>>
>Yeah, that's cool. But does MythTV really support this sort of thing?
>
>The input extender card and tuner0 (coax) are basically the same thing
>to MythTV: a different input. The only difference is the quality and
>the input name.
>
>How do I schedule a manual recording on an input that doesn't have
>a channel lineup associated with it?
>
>The MythTV -> Manage Recordings -> Schedule Recordings -> Manual
>Schedule doesn't seem to have any concept of Inputs. It only cares
>about channels. So how do I make it record on an input that doesn't
>have any channels?
>
>Also, I've mapped the yellow button on my Hauppauge remote to the 'C'
>key so I can cycle through inputs while watching LiveTV. But since
>my tuner0 doesn't have a lineup associated with it, I can't change
>inputs to it. Pushing the yellow button just freezes the screen and
>shows me the same Input over and over.
>
>Is there a way to fix this? If so, then that addon board would be
>perfect. Thanks!
>
>
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/132511#132511

Mike
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jesse at wingnet

Oct 5, 2005, 6:23 PM

Post #12 of 12 (2143 views)
Permalink

Re: PVR 350, record from VCR [In reply to]

On Friday 19 August 2005 11:17 pm, Nick wrote:
> On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> > Nick wrote:
> >
> > >On 8/19/05, Jesse Guardiani <jesse [at] wingnet> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>Hello,
> > >>
> > >>I have a PVR 350. Normally it's primary input is SVideo from my Dish
> > >>reciever. However, I'd like to record some of my old VHS tapes to
> > >>disk via the tuner input so I can throw away the old tapes and preserve
> > >>their quality over time.
> > >>
> > >>I know I can switch inputs on the 350 via 'C', but what is the best way
> > >>to go about recording a 2 hr VHS tape? Is this even possible from the
> > >>LiveTV interface?
> > >>
> > >>Ultimately, I'd like these recorded tapes to show up under the video
> > >>section, but my CPU is way underpowered right now and I can't
> > >>decode mpeg in real time using software mplayer, so it would be better
> > >>for them to show up in the TV section for now (this way Myth will
> > >>make use of the 350's hardware decoder). But I'll need to label them
> > >>somehow and preferably put them all under a specific category/show.
> > >>
> > >>Any ideas?
> > >>
>
> Jesse,
>
> >From Erik's reply to another thread, this might be exactly what you're after:
>
> http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/hardware1.asp#av_cable
>
> It would allow both devices to be hardwired separately to SVideo
> inputs and the changing of the input can be controlled via software.
>
> *Thanks Erik*

I bought one of those and shelved it for a while. I finally got around
to testing it out a few days ago, and the video input works GREAT, but
the audio inputs don't show up in `ivtvctl -A`:

# ivtvctl -A
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUMAUDIO
Input : 0
Name : Tuner Audio In

Input : 1
Name : Audio Line In

I'm running ivtv 0.3.8. Seeing as how someone here suggested that I
buy one of these addon av_cables, I thought it would surely work!

Does anyone have one of these working properly for audio input using
ivtv? What version of ivtv are you running? And what card type do you
have (i.e. 150/250/350/etc)?

Thanks!

--
Jesse Guardiani
Programmer/Sys Admin
jesse [at] wingnet
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