[mythtv] Video Processing/Audio Synch issues

[Boyd II, Willy]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: George & Kim Lopez [mailto:gklopez at metacrawler.com] 
>Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 1:55 PM
>To: mythtv-dev at mythtv.org
>Subject: [mythtv] Video Processing/Audio Synch issues
>
>
>I have started the ground work for building a 
>PVR.  I installed a Hauppauge PVR 250 this 
>weekend (P4 2.4 Ghz, 256 RAM).  Got the files I 
>wanted off of my computer and onto CDs.  Then I 
>tested my capture card under Win XP to make sure 
>the card worked.  I had a couple of issues and 
>was wondering if anyone could tell me if MythTV 
>addresses them.
>
>1.  The SW that came with the card searched for 
>channels 1-125 and identified the typical prime-
>time channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc).  However, if 
>I change the channel on the computer to channel 
>3, I get my satellite channels.  I have to use 
>my satellite remote to change these channels 
> from the History Channel to Foxnews, etc.  How 
>does MythTV deal with this situation?

MythTV deals with this by calling an external program that switches channels
on the external box.  This is accomplished with either a) a serial
connection to
the external satellite box, if such a port is on your box, or b) using an IR
transmitter
that basically acts like a remote and changes the channels for you.  The PVR
card
is not capable of tuning satellite channels.  I'm assuming you have Directv
or Dish Network?  Outside the US there are some standardized, tunable
satellite systems and DVB cards which can tune them (of this I know little
about...)

Anyway, if this is the route you're going to take I suggest using the
S-Video or Composite outputs, if equipped, of your satellite box for the
best picture possible.  Don't forget the audio cables though.

>
>2.  I captured a 30 minute vcr tape into an MPEG 
>format.  No problems there (800Mb).  However, I 
>wanted to be able to see this on my DVD player 
>in the living room so I made a VCD (~280Mb). 
>    A.  It took about 40 minutes just to 
>convert from MPEG to VCD.  Will every 30 minutes 
>of record time require 40-45 minutes of VCD 
>processing time in MythTV as well?
>    B.  By the end of the VCD, the sound was 
>about 2-4 seconds faster than the video.  How 
>does Myth, or any other program deal with 
>this?
>    C.  I could not cut the file size down from 
>800Mb to something smaller so I could burn the 
>original MPEG file minus ~75Mb onto a CD.  Is 
>this even possible?

Possible, yes.  You could record at a slightly lower bitrate (with Myth), or
re-encode with some 3rd party app to a lower bitrate.  

>
>And so my investigation continues.  I will say 
>my wife was not very impressed with my efforts. 
>She said something to the effect of "All this 
>time and you don't even have the Linux thing 
>loaded yet?"

Ahh, the pressure's on... :-)

>
>Appreciate any help you can give.
>
>Thanks,
>George
>
>
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