Picture quality via MVP is disappointing :(.

[daviescr1]

With no disrespect to you or anyone else, I've seen this solution before from many audiophiles and videophiles: If there's trouble, get better cables...

Kinda like, "my car doesn't work, better get a new paint job"
Again, I don't mean to be harsh or critical, but rather constructive by suggesting troubleshooting from a different angle...

What you have described is a known issue. THe MVP actually is constructed of inexpensive components and with a possibily wide tolerance for quality control. That said, my supplier has often exchanged whole batches of Hauppauge devices simply by revision number.

Personally, although I know that my MVP/TV combination (using S-Video) is not as good as a High Def Rip downloaded and displayed on my computer screen, the result is much mucj better in quality thatn the VHS system I used to use. Not to mention, all the great abilities GB-PVR brings to my remote...

And with that said, I have heard people say, and even seen for myslef that some MVP just have lousy picture quality.

I have just finished a new feature in my software, Zprocess that will allow people to adjust brightness and saturation in many cases, but it will undoubtedly not be able to correct pixelation or harsh gradation differences...

I guess what I'm saying is: the picture is all relative and according to taste, though I'm sure there are many MVPs out there that have bad picture quality in anybody's book.

I would look at replacing the unit, either through your retailer or Hauppauge directly...

Good luck

Hi, Thank you for your reply. I'm under the impression that it's the two MVPs that I'd bought that are the cause of the poor picture quality. I'll try using an oxygen free gold contacts SCART cable however think that, as you've said the MVP itself is the cause of the problem.

Both of the Media MVPs that I'd bought are out of warranty to the best of my knowledge therefore it's doubtful that Hauppauge would offer a replacement. Hindsight is a wonderful thing knowing the problems that I'm experiencing with these products whilst they were under warranty I'd have asked for them to be replaced.

Is it worth considering the S-Video hack as there is no warranty?.

Do you think that ZProcess is likely to offer any improvement in picture quality in this instance?.

Thank you.

[daviescr1]

I would suggest that if your video looks good played back directly on your computer, then you should stop troublshooting the computer. If there's no grain, or over saturation on the computer monitor, then you should have a very close approximation displayed on your MVP/TV.

BDA multiplexers won't be involved, while using the MVP

In case you are interested in trying ZProcess, I'll help you cut through the start of it... Currently there is no way to tweak the brightness or saturation, etc of an MPG...

ZProcess will take another file type, like divx/xvid avi or wmv and transcode it on the fly into MPG format so that you can watch it on the MVP. This should actually happen in the background, so you won't do anything other than select a avi, and play it.

During THAT transcode on the fly, I'm able to add colour manipulation...

So you will still have trouble viewing content you have recorded in MPG format.

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. If you could give me a basic idea of what needs to be done with ZProcess or suggest a URL for further information on this that'd be appreciated.

I've e-mailed Hauppauge however am almost certain that the two Media MVPs that I'd bought are out of warranty. One might have a few months warranty but the other one is about 6-months older. Perhaps they will replace I'm not sure.

Kind Regards .

[sub]

Thank you for your reply. If you could give me a basic idea of what needs to be done with ZProcess or suggest a URL for further information on this that'd be appreciated.

In case its not clear, these ZProcess alterations will only affect AVI files - not the MPEG2 recordings made by GB-PVR (unless you convert them to AVI files).

When you play an AVI on the MVP, GB-PVR has to run a program in the background to convert this file to an MPEG2 file. What ZProcess is doing is tweaking the settings passed to that conversion program to adjust the colours and/or size of the video.

[SniperDude]

Sub, is there a way to force Zprocess on all media to be played on the the MVP? even if it takes buffering a longer time, I would be more willing to use my MVP if I could watch anything with a better picture...

[sub]

No there isnt. There is significant limitations with having to transcode files so I've not bother doing this (reduced picture quality, no skipping further into the file, no resume of subsequent playback, high CPU usage etc).

[zehd]

No there isnt. There is significant limitations with having to transcode files so I've not bother doing this (reduced picture quality, no skipping further into the file, no resume of subsequent playback, high CPU usage etc).

High CPU usage: tell me about it...

After I got ZProcess up and running in its new stage, I was going to wish/ask you to allow MPGs to also get transcoded on the fly.

During my tests though, I discovered a significant, almost crippling effect when Original MPG was transcoded into picture corrected MPG.

I'd imagine there's going to be much more developement with ZProcess, FFmpeg, MEncoder, and even GB-pvr before that happens...