HD Picture Problems with Live TV (pixelation) - HD Homerun

[whurlston]

Live TV uses the following decoders:

Code:

2008-06-04 23:37:49.437    VERBOSE     - [B][color=Red]ffdshow Audio Decoder[/color][/B]
2008-06-04 23:37:49.437    VERBOSE     - ffdshow Video Decoder

Recordings playback uses:

Code:

2008-06-04 23:39:02.640    VERBOSE     - ffdshow Video Decoder
2008-06-04 23:39:02.640    VERBOSE     - [B][color=red]AC3Filter[/color][/B]

Try setting your prefered MPEG2 audio decoder to AC3Filter. The ffdshow may have a clock issue.

[dmanindfw]

Thanks so much whurlston, I will try this tonight.

I also wanted to ask you if you could share your configuration with me. It seems like you have been a user for quite some time and wanted to pick your brain about what worked best for you regarding decoders, decoder config, interlacing settings, etc. to get the best video. I understand that what works well for one, won't necessarily work well for another, but with a wife and newborn demanding my attention, I just need a really good starting place to get my box into production. I know that you have a HD Homerun box, but are you also using any Hauppauge 150's or other SD tuner cards? Secondly, nvidia or ati graphics cards?

I've been browsing and searching the forums for awhile, but there are just soooo many settings, decoders, etc. to play with that it all gets confusing after awhile. With that being said, I would appreciate any insights as to what worked well for you to get the best picture quality. Thanks for dealing with my ignorance and for helping me out so much.

[whurlston]

Right now, I have 2 HDHRs, a VistaView Saber and a Theater 550 Pro on my main machine. I just added an HD PVR and I'm still playing with that one.

Lately I've been trying to decide between the Arcsoft and Cyberlink video decoders. Nvidia is the best for XP but doesn't work so well on Vista. As for Audio decoders, I settled on AC3Filter long ago.

I'm running an Nvidia 9600GT for BD/HDDVD playback.

[dmanindfw]

Right now, I have 2 HDHRs, a VistaView Saber and a Theater 550 Pro on my main machine. I just added an HD PVR and I'm still playing with that one.

Lately I've been trying to decide between the Arcsoft and Cyberlink video decoders. Nvidia is the best for XP but doesn't work so well on Vista. As for Audio decoders, I settled on AC3Filter long ago.

I'm running an Nvidia 9600GT for BD/HDDVD playback.

Wow, an impressive list of tuners you have there! Are there any good comprehensive guides that you know of that would help me to set up the cyberlink decoder and nvidia settings without me going through a ton of trial and error? All the info I found is scattered amongst forums and not structure as a guide, which make them difficult to get the pertinent info from.

[whurlston]

I'll write a tutorial for the Cyberlink decoders tonight. There are some reg entries that need to be modified in order for the settings entered through Config to be used by PVRx2. I posted somewhere about them previously on the forum (I think the hardware section).

[dmanindfw]

Try setting your prefered MPEG2 audio decoder to AC3Filter. The ffdshow may have a clock issue.

You were spot on. Changed the audio to AC3 and it works great. I just don't get it though, I had changed both vid and audio decoders several times trying to find a workable combination without luck. What you said worked great though. Now I just need to play around with the 150's to get a little bit better picture. Thank you so much for all your help!!!

[dmanindfw]

I would use the DVRMS mux after sorting out the streaming issue until you find decoders that handle the deinterlacing properly.

I tried the DVRMS mux, but the TS MUX seemed to work a bit better. Regarding de-interlacing, I have my gbpvr config set as pass through but regarding the decoders, is it better to de-interlace through the software decoder or have this handled through my nvidia card?

[whurlston]

That's a tough call. I would try them both to see which gives you better results. I think that your video card may be a little underpowered for the job so handling it with the software decoders may give you better results. Your CPU is certainly enough to do it.

[dmanindfw]

well I spoke too soon. I am still getting stuttering video AND audio. The stutter on video is very slightly but noticeable, but with audio it is VERY noticeable. Additionally, the audio isn't synced up with video which is probably a muxer problem. Right now I have 3 muxer options showing up in config...TS MUX, Cyberlink (I think), and DVR-ms muxer. When I change to any of the 3, I still get the same problems. Any thoughts as to why I still get this problem and what I can do to fix?

Whurlston, did you ever put together a tutorial on the cyberlink decoders?

[whurlston]

Not yet, I've been dealing with a corrupted exchange server database (not fun). I did post some info on the video decoders at http://forums.gbpvr.com/showpost.php?p=2...stcount=11