Just built new 2.8 GHz box: have mpeg-2, mux install qustions

[bdg825]

Hi I have a 2.8 GHz box with a ATI FireGL V3100 video card and XP. I have ordered a FusionHDTV 5 Gold card for HD recording (will receive next week) and have an old Emuzed Maui 2S NTSC card for analog. I am now trying to install GB-PVR and have been reading the installation instruction but have become confused about a couple of things:

The system has a new XP install and the Drivers for the video and tv card.

A. Do I need to get a MPEG-2 decoder? If so, where can I find a list of decoders?
B. Do I need a MUX?
C. Do I need to purchase DVD software such as intervideo?
D. Do I need separate software to record video with the NTSC Card?
E. Will I need to Install Direct X 9.0c separately?
F. Will I have problems with 9.0c and my ATI card?

Thank you,
Ben

[sub]

A. Do I need to get a MPEG-2 decoder?

Yes.

B. Do I need a MUX?

Yes, though you can use the one that comes with Windows XP SP2 and above. If this is a ATSC card, then the Microsoft DVR-MS mux is the recommended one (this is the builtin one).

C. Do I need to purchase DVD software such as intervideo?

No. Though if you want to use these as your DVD playback software, or want to use their MPEG2 decoders, then you might end up doing this. If you're not interested in DVD playback, then you wont need to worry about this.

D. Do I need separate software to record video with the NTSC Card?

I'm not familiar with all the Maui models, but it'll probably work with GB-PVR (given the other Maui models I've encountered have). You might need to add a section to direct.ini if it doesnt use the same filter names as the other Maui cards.

E. Will I need to Install Direct X 9.0c separately?

No.

F. Will I have problems with 9.0c and my ATI card?

Maybe, I dont know. You can sometimes get problems if you use a decoder using hardware accelleration in combination with quartz.dll from 9.0c. Fixes for this are discussed on the forum.

[bdg825]

Thanks for the reply.

I am interested in playing back my DVDs in particular the DVDs that I have copied to my HD. I assume that I will need one of these players then. Correct?

Secondly, any idea where I can get a MPEG-2 decoder?

What about FFDshow? This is something that I should get?

Sub: looks like your in New Zealand! Cool, I cycled around the south island a couple of years ago. Really enjoyed it!!

Cheers.

[sub]

I am interested in playing back my DVDs in particular the DVDs that I have copied to my HD. I assume that I will need one of these players then. Correct?

You need a MPEG2 decoder that can play CSS content. Most typically use either the Cyberlink, Intervideo or nvidia decoders for DVD playback, but there is a several other decoders that will also do it. People most often get these decoders by installing a DVD player app, but they do come from other places too.

Secondly, any idea where I can get a MPEG-2 decoder?

Lots of potential places. Most people either get one by installing the software that came with their capture device, or installing a DVD app like Power DVD, or by downloading one of codec packs from the internet, or using one of the open source ones (gplmpgdec, dscaler etc).

What about FFDshow? This is something that I should get?

It causes problems for lots of users, so I probably wouldnt install it - at least initially. Maybe later when you're happy things are working.

Sub: looks like your in New Zealand! Cool, I cycled around the south island a couple of years ago. Really enjoyed it!!

Thanks. It is a nice place, but a long way from anywhere.