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Do you have Eye TV?
- Thread starter Jen5678
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Cybix
macrumors 6502a
I have an EyeTV for DTT.
Recording a 1080i broadcast really soaks up hdd space! hehe.
Wondering if anyone could provide some tips on moving recordings to DVD to watch on a widescreen TV (not HDTV)..
I have toast 7.0.1 which unfortunately isnt a universal binary (i have a macbook pro)..
I exported a recording to a file for iMovie HD (720). then when I went into iMovie to import it, it wanted to convert the file again, it was taking a billion years so I stopped the process.
One I successfully converted to video CD using toast took AGES to encode/convert, like 4 or 5 hours.
I'm thinking I should get a newer version of toast? (universal binary?)
The reason I wanted to use iMovie was so I could have say two 2 soccer games on one DVD, and have a DVD menu (title), etc... do a bit of authoring.
Otherwise, the DTT is great, qual is excellent... even the included mini-antenna works pretty damn well!
Recording a 1080i broadcast really soaks up hdd space! hehe.
Wondering if anyone could provide some tips on moving recordings to DVD to watch on a widescreen TV (not HDTV)..
I have toast 7.0.1 which unfortunately isnt a universal binary (i have a macbook pro)..
I exported a recording to a file for iMovie HD (720). then when I went into iMovie to import it, it wanted to convert the file again, it was taking a billion years so I stopped the process.
One I successfully converted to video CD using toast took AGES to encode/convert, like 4 or 5 hours.
I'm thinking I should get a newer version of toast? (universal binary?)
The reason I wanted to use iMovie was so I could have say two 2 soccer games on one DVD, and have a DVD menu (title), etc... do a bit of authoring.
Otherwise, the DTT is great, qual is excellent... even the included mini-antenna works pretty damn well!
anyway to watch HDTV on my 23" cinema?
ok, I'm pretty mac savvy, but I am really at a loss here.
My goal is to be able to WATCH HDTV on my 23" cinema display which is in my bedroom. Recording it on my mac would be a bonus.
I currently have a a PCI card on my g5
http://www.miglia.com/products/video/alchemytvdvr/index.html
which is "adequate" BUT has 2 main draw backs
1. no HD (obviously)
2. limited channel through cable without a cable box (Comcast limits bare cable to about 20 channels...about 6 of which i have interest in)
so, my first thought was
get an HD box from Comcast, DVI out of the cable box into the cinema (I'd get a KVM if it it worked to switch between TV and the mac) and I should get a HD video signal from the box right? - NO PICTURE
even replaced the cable box, thought it was a faulty DVI out, same result.
second discovery - FireWire out of the cable box (Motorola 6200)
found all sorts of crazy developer apps and forums that are supposed to let you pull the HD signal right from firewire. Followed them all to a T, no dice. My mac recognizes the cable box but I cannot view any signal (aduio or video) via firewire.
third option - considering an eyetv 500, however, I read all sorts of conflicting reports, only works with over the air HD, doesn't work with cable boxes (see above Comcast let's nothing be viewed without a box), etc.
so my head is spinning. basically is there any way to view an HD signal on my 23" cinema display (short of using the eyetv 500 and a terrestrial antenna)?
thanks in advance 😀
td
philadelphia
ok, I'm pretty mac savvy, but I am really at a loss here.
My goal is to be able to WATCH HDTV on my 23" cinema display which is in my bedroom. Recording it on my mac would be a bonus.
I currently have a a PCI card on my g5
http://www.miglia.com/products/video/alchemytvdvr/index.html
which is "adequate" BUT has 2 main draw backs
1. no HD (obviously)
2. limited channel through cable without a cable box (Comcast limits bare cable to about 20 channels...about 6 of which i have interest in)
so, my first thought was
get an HD box from Comcast, DVI out of the cable box into the cinema (I'd get a KVM if it it worked to switch between TV and the mac) and I should get a HD video signal from the box right? - NO PICTURE
even replaced the cable box, thought it was a faulty DVI out, same result.
second discovery - FireWire out of the cable box (Motorola 6200)
found all sorts of crazy developer apps and forums that are supposed to let you pull the HD signal right from firewire. Followed them all to a T, no dice. My mac recognizes the cable box but I cannot view any signal (aduio or video) via firewire.
third option - considering an eyetv 500, however, I read all sorts of conflicting reports, only works with over the air HD, doesn't work with cable boxes (see above Comcast let's nothing be viewed without a box), etc.
so my head is spinning. basically is there any way to view an HD signal on my 23" cinema display (short of using the eyetv 500 and a terrestrial antenna)?
thanks in advance 😀
td
philadelphia
iKwick7
macrumors 65816
Anyone have any luck recording HBO or the like? All I really would record is a couple of HBO shows and some Comedy Central shows. I used to have a pci dvr on my pc (gasp!) that would allow me to record hbo if i plugged the cable box into the pc. Any such luck here? I am looking into getting the El Gato eyetv 250.
Can you record directly onto a Firewire HDD?
Can you view the recorded video in Front Row for example?
Does the TVMini support interactive TV?
Can you view the recorded video in Front Row for example?
Does the TVMini support interactive TV?
one problem at least explained
apparently, the DVI on the cinema display will not "handshake" with the cable box due to something called HDCP.
anyone ever hear of this?
if you have anyone think this thing would be a solution?
http://www.copperbox.com/lite/popinfo.php?lc_code=1332&uneek=101740959
apparently, the DVI on the cinema display will not "handshake" with the cable box due to something called HDCP.
anyone ever hear of this?
if you have anyone think this thing would be a solution?
http://www.copperbox.com/lite/popinfo.php?lc_code=1332&uneek=101740959
Yes that is true. They usually only/may output at SD resolution if they do not 'hand shake'. The same will be with Bluray and HD-DVD.nittany4 said:
PC users think they will be able to run HD through a HTPC to a TV, however the version of HDCP is not the same and they will not play such formats. ATi and NVIDIA advertise it has HDCP, but it's an outdated version and not the same as a dedicated player.
Cybix
macrumors 6502a
toast encoding damn slow
I recorded some world cup last night... (macbook pro, eyeTV DTT)
1:42, took about 5.6 Gig (Mpeg-2, 720x576 / 50fps, Mpeg-1 audio 48kHz)
(after compacting out the unwanted half-time drib drab)...
I clicked on my recording in eyetv, and clicked on "TOAST". toast opened, with the file, ready to burn to dvd... I left all the settings on auto, reset the name of the vid file in the "edit" (settings), and hit record.
It's just started the 'encoding' process.. (in toast).
IT TAKES AGES. and I mean HOURS and HOURS.
I'm running Toast 7.0.1 on my MBP (which isnt a universal app, it's using rosetta)..
Do you think it's taking such a long time to encode because it's not an intel app? It's seriously painful.. 🙁
Any advice is appreciated.. perhaps I need to buy Toast 7.0.2 ?
James
I recorded some world cup last night... (macbook pro, eyeTV DTT)
1:42, took about 5.6 Gig (Mpeg-2, 720x576 / 50fps, Mpeg-1 audio 48kHz)
(after compacting out the unwanted half-time drib drab)...
I clicked on my recording in eyetv, and clicked on "TOAST". toast opened, with the file, ready to burn to dvd... I left all the settings on auto, reset the name of the vid file in the "edit" (settings), and hit record.
It's just started the 'encoding' process.. (in toast).
IT TAKES AGES. and I mean HOURS and HOURS.
I'm running Toast 7.0.1 on my MBP (which isnt a universal app, it's using rosetta)..
Do you think it's taking such a long time to encode because it's not an intel app? It's seriously painful.. 🙁
Any advice is appreciated.. perhaps I need to buy Toast 7.0.2 ?
James
nittany4 said:
i think you have correctly identified the problem. i dont know the solution. hdcp is one of the reasons i recently chose the dell 2407 over the acd 23 since the dell supports. i get my hd cable box next week so will see how it works.
i asked comcast to bring me a firewire capable box, but they said it was some number other than the moto 6200, so i hope it works as well for hd recording (not that i plan to use that much)
sorry i am not actually any help, but at least you know what problem to search for.
good luck
Have a quickish PC with Windows?Cybix said:
Windows can encode video far faster than OS X, even with the same hardware. Some consumer 3D cards also do video encoding and can encode very quickly. OS X with awful video card driver support misses out.
Miglia TV Mini and missing ITV channels
I am in the same position as Gareth. I'm using a roof aerial providing a 100% strength signal, and also purchased an attenuator as recommended in the FAQ on the Elegato support page. The following FAQ from the Digital Spy website appears to provide an explanation - but no new satisfactory solution.
**Try this: Run the Set Up Assistant and re-tune with the attenuator, and then re-tune again without the attenuator. I'm now receiving ITV1 and other channels in the group for the first time as I write this!**
Good luck.
Tony
"If you have this problem then the channels normally affected are either Five, QVC, Bid-Up and TVTravelShop or ITV1, ITV2, ITV News and C4. (If you have difficulties receiving any other channels please see 'How do I know if I can get DTT and do I need to upgrade my existing aerial?')
"Both of these sets of channels fit into a single multiplex. A multiplex is a set of channels that only use up one frequency -- on analogue (normal) television you can only have one channel, whereas you can have 4 or 6 in the same space on digital.
"Both of these multiplexes use a different way of transmitting the signal compared to the other channels on Freeview. These channels use the QAM64 mode instead of QAM16.
"The trouble with sending a large amount of bits in one go (as is the case with QAM64) is that noise from power switches, cars or even just the distance between the aerial and transmitter can confuse the receiving box. If the box is confused into thinking that it is receiving something it isnt, it classes it as an error. If there are lots of errors then the picture will break up, or, in extreme circumstances, not be picked up by the DTT box at all.
"QAM64 falls into precisely this problem. It has a greater bandwidth (6 channels instead of 4) but is more susceptible to noise. So, if you are not close enough to the transmitter, these channels will look worse than the others.
"QAM16 has less points than QAM64, so noise isnt as much of a problem -- there is far more tolerance for errors but there is less bandwidth (space) so you get less channels."
Gareth56 said:
I am in the same position as Gareth. I'm using a roof aerial providing a 100% strength signal, and also purchased an attenuator as recommended in the FAQ on the Elegato support page. The following FAQ from the Digital Spy website appears to provide an explanation - but no new satisfactory solution.
**Try this: Run the Set Up Assistant and re-tune with the attenuator, and then re-tune again without the attenuator. I'm now receiving ITV1 and other channels in the group for the first time as I write this!**
Good luck.
Tony
"If you have this problem then the channels normally affected are either Five, QVC, Bid-Up and TVTravelShop or ITV1, ITV2, ITV News and C4. (If you have difficulties receiving any other channels please see 'How do I know if I can get DTT and do I need to upgrade my existing aerial?')
"Both of these sets of channels fit into a single multiplex. A multiplex is a set of channels that only use up one frequency -- on analogue (normal) television you can only have one channel, whereas you can have 4 or 6 in the same space on digital.
"Both of these multiplexes use a different way of transmitting the signal compared to the other channels on Freeview. These channels use the QAM64 mode instead of QAM16.
"The trouble with sending a large amount of bits in one go (as is the case with QAM64) is that noise from power switches, cars or even just the distance between the aerial and transmitter can confuse the receiving box. If the box is confused into thinking that it is receiving something it isnt, it classes it as an error. If there are lots of errors then the picture will break up, or, in extreme circumstances, not be picked up by the DTT box at all.
"QAM64 falls into precisely this problem. It has a greater bandwidth (6 channels instead of 4) but is more susceptible to noise. So, if you are not close enough to the transmitter, these channels will look worse than the others.
"QAM16 has less points than QAM64, so noise isnt as much of a problem -- there is far more tolerance for errors but there is less bandwidth (space) so you get less channels."
Gareth56 said:
Make sure that the attenuator is connected directly to the Miglia, and then connect the co-axial cable to the attenuator...
Bad Signal w/ Miglia TV MAC tuner
I have a G4 Dual 1ghz Powermac and I installed Miglia TV MAX tuner and it works okay when there is signal. Every time I turn my Miglia on, it keeps saying no signal on the screen. I would have to open a recorded show and then open a new live tv screen and it will work, 80% of the time. I know my cable signal is good because I dont have a bad signal problem when I plugged it directly to the TV. The second problem that I have is that the remote that came with this tuner card doesnt really work smoothly like it should. Half of the buttons doesnt do anything, including a few number buttons, like 0. Sometimes it work and sometimes it doesnt and I aim my remote control directly at the TV tuner box. I even made sure to install fresh batteries. Does anyone have this problem or do I have a bad tuner? Please help?-2yet
I have a G4 Dual 1ghz Powermac and I installed Miglia TV MAX tuner and it works okay when there is signal. Every time I turn my Miglia on, it keeps saying no signal on the screen. I would have to open a recorded show and then open a new live tv screen and it will work, 80% of the time. I know my cable signal is good because I dont have a bad signal problem when I plugged it directly to the TV. The second problem that I have is that the remote that came with this tuner card doesnt really work smoothly like it should. Half of the buttons doesnt do anything, including a few number buttons, like 0. Sometimes it work and sometimes it doesnt and I aim my remote control directly at the TV tuner box. I even made sure to install fresh batteries. Does anyone have this problem or do I have a bad tuner? Please help?-2yet
TheSpaz
macrumors 604
I figured I'd chime in.
I used to have an EyeTV 250 but, it stopped working after only a month (no power getting to it at all) so I am in the process of returning it to Elgato Systems and they are sending me the Hybrid in place of it (upon my request). So that should be pretty cool. I have a Mac Pro so the Hybrid can use up a whole core if it desires and I'll still have 3 left. Anyways, I cannot get any OTA HD channels in my area (which really sucks but, who knows about where I'll be in the future) and it's always good to have the extra feature just in case I can use it some day. Maybe with everyone switching to HD soon, HD will become kind of a standard. I wonder if it can record HD signals using s-video hooked up to some sort of HD Digital Receiver.
I used to have an EyeTV 250 but, it stopped working after only a month (no power getting to it at all) so I am in the process of returning it to Elgato Systems and they are sending me the Hybrid in place of it (upon my request). So that should be pretty cool. I have a Mac Pro so the Hybrid can use up a whole core if it desires and I'll still have 3 left. Anyways, I cannot get any OTA HD channels in my area (which really sucks but, who knows about where I'll be in the future) and it's always good to have the extra feature just in case I can use it some day. Maybe with everyone switching to HD soon, HD will become kind of a standard. I wonder if it can record HD signals using s-video hooked up to some sort of HD Digital Receiver.
TheSpaz
macrumors 604
I have a question! Will I get digital quality if I hook my EyeTV Hybrid to my Digital Cable Receiver box? If so, what sort of connection should I use.... Composite or S-Video? Elgato Systems states that digital channels come in without being converted, so therefore it would record in the original broadcast quality set by the cable provider.
I am definitely considering getting a EyeTV Hybrid, I just need to sell my Slingbox AV. I bought the Av thinking it would be a good purchase for my needs, but I ended up not using it very much and it is just sitting on top of my cable box. I might as well sell it and buy the Hybrid so I can record Heroes in HD.
risc
macrumors 68030
I replaced my EyeTV 400 with a DTT and it's nice enough. IMHO the FW400 devices handle digital TV much better than USB. Stuff that would play perfectly on the FW400 EyeTV 400 lags and stutters and just plain doesn't work sometimes on the DTT.
Multimedia
macrumors 603
Somebody With A Hybrid Please Report If Digital - Cable (Clear QAM) Is Available?
You're going to have to experiment. My USA EyeTV 500 has a Cable (Clear QAM) tuner in it so unscrambled digital channels in cable (I don't subscribe to cable) get added to your digital channels list. Have you tried hooking the cable directly from the wall (no vendor box) to the Hybrid and then tried auto tuning with the
Service: "Digital - Cable (Clear QAM)" popup yet?
Try that first please. Even not hooked to the cable, is this one of your options in the Channels Service Popup Menu? Thank you very much for letting us know. I don't have cable. I am strictly off air.
I need to know if you even see that option with a Hybrid. I have the old digital 500 AND the Hybrid hooked to my Quad G5 and I don't want to disconnect my 500 'cause getting it back can be a lot of work due to a FW address bug that can sometimes require a full shut down of everything including all the 12 drives I have hanging off this puppy before I can get the 500 tuner to work again.
UPDATE: Spoke with COMCAST rep. Supervisor says they will support QAM tuners "eventually" but they don't know when. What I am asking is for you to hook your cables up to hybrid directly and try to auto tune on the digital side and see if you get anything. Using EyeTV to record analog TV is like trying to put out a fire with a garden hose. Plus the picture is going to blow no matter what you do.
You will be much better served reverting to an off air digital antennae folks. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but Off-Air Digital HD is superior to Cable HD. Why? 'Cause the cable operators are messing with your signals. They are crushing the pristine HD that's in the air and selling you it's bastard son all mangled and mutilated.
So can I get a witness? I am only asking you to look in your Channels Pane for the Digital Cable (Clear QAM) popup option. Is it that hard for one of you to find?
Not from the box. From the WALL. The box outpus analog except out the HDMI connector - if you have a modern HDTV. What kind of TV do you have? Where are you? USA? What City? Have you called your provider to ask them if they deliver any Clear QAM digital channels through the cable?
You're going to have to experiment. My USA EyeTV 500 has a Cable (Clear QAM) tuner in it so unscrambled digital channels in cable (I don't subscribe to cable) get added to your digital channels list. Have you tried hooking the cable directly from the wall (no vendor box) to the Hybrid and then tried auto tuning with the
Service: "Digital - Cable (Clear QAM)" popup yet?
Try that first please. Even not hooked to the cable, is this one of your options in the Channels Service Popup Menu? Thank you very much for letting us know. I don't have cable. I am strictly off air.
I need to know if you even see that option with a Hybrid. I have the old digital 500 AND the Hybrid hooked to my Quad G5 and I don't want to disconnect my 500 'cause getting it back can be a lot of work due to a FW address bug that can sometimes require a full shut down of everything including all the 12 drives I have hanging off this puppy before I can get the 500 tuner to work again.
UPDATE: Spoke with COMCAST rep. Supervisor says they will support QAM tuners "eventually" but they don't know when. What I am asking is for you to hook your cables up to hybrid directly and try to auto tune on the digital side and see if you get anything. Using EyeTV to record analog TV is like trying to put out a fire with a garden hose. Plus the picture is going to blow no matter what you do.
You will be much better served reverting to an off air digital antennae folks. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but Off-Air Digital HD is superior to Cable HD. Why? 'Cause the cable operators are messing with your signals. They are crushing the pristine HD that's in the air and selling you it's bastard son all mangled and mutilated.
So can I get a witness? I am only asking you to look in your Channels Pane for the Digital Cable (Clear QAM) popup option. Is it that hard for one of you to find?