WDM Recorder using Software Compression

[bentheo]

what's displayed when it crashes? is there any text then?

windows just said that config.exe has encountered a problem. i've attached the text file that windows was going to send with the error report, if that helps. i glanced at it, and i have no idea what to make of it.

[Necro]

I'm having a similar problem as above (quality). On Dscaler things look fine...but when used in GBPVR with this plugin, things don't look well at all. One of the issues I'm noticing is that the EPG seems to take up more 'space' then what is used for the TV.

(So, if you look on your monitor, the TV portion doesnt extend all the way to the edges while the EPG does). This could be a 'shrinking' of the view and it could be the problem. Not sure.

I'm not using the recording at all - I have no MPEG2 encoder, and am just trying to use the view livetv. So...it, hopefully, shouldnt be a problem with that.

If anything, maybe have a way to set the resolution when using thepreview mode to view live tv?

[Necro]

I think I may have figured out what my specific issue is. I THINK (I stress think) that since I have to use the preview mode to view live TV, I'm getting no deinterlacing. So basically I'm send an already interlaced signal back to the TV and it's getting all craptastic looking.

Any ideas would be helpful

[normanr]

Kevl: is this the same as your setup?

[Kevl]

Hi,

Not sure if I understand what is being said.

Im currently using a monitor to view GBPVR while I setup cards skins etc.
This minimises ear ache from other TV viewers.

The monitor is usually set to 1024x768 @75Hz non interlaced (for ease of viewing).

I have the ability to set 720x576 at 50Hz non interlaced and my monitor can display this (i use powerstrip to set screen resolution and refresh rate etc.).

Have tried GBPVR in both 1024x768 @75Hz ni and 720x576 @50Hz ni. Both settings give the poor picture and osd as described when using the software card (sweetspot) to display live TV. In dScaler said sweetspot picture is superb in every respect.

For proper connection to my TV (when I get it all set up etc) i will be taking RGB + Composite sync from my VGA card output (radeon 9600 fanless)passing it through a colourspace converter (hardware) and sending it into the YUV input on my TV. Then I will set screen res to 720x576 @50Hz non interlaced as TV is progscan capable.

Have not yet tried the use of TV but I'm certain it will be a copy of what my monitor shows - except that TVs have slower phospors and will show less flicker at 50Hz.

Kev

[sub]

I think norman is asking if you picture looks sort of like this: http://www.dscaler.com/screenshots/index.htm

[Kevl]

Oh I see.

Sorry to misunderstand.

No The picture quality I see is more like resolution loss. Like it has been passed through a very lossy jpeg compressor. The loss of resolution is clearly visible even on OSD where text appears blocky.

I recognise the effect of bad deinterlacing and this is not my problem.

Will investigate how to grab a screen image and post this weekend if I get a chance.

Kev

[Necro]

Wait, no...that's not how mine looks.

If that's 'no deinterlacing at all' then it's being deinterlaced. In Dscaler, my picture looks phenomenal. In GBPVR, it looks like complete crap (exactly what Kevl is describing). I'll try right now to get a screenshot and see.

Now, an important thing here may be that I'm using a Pinnacle PCTV and I can't seem to get timeshifting/recording to work at ALL. Nor can I get ffdshow to be used for the 'live preview' (the only way I can get to see the TV). I'm really tempted to completely reinstall WinXP and just do a from scratch setup to see if I can fix it, but I'd like to avoid that if possible until I know all the 'final version' software I'm going to use.

What I meant, and what appears to be happening, is BAD deinterlacing. Kevl, if you use Dscaler and use one of the lower quality deinteracing options (say, drop one of the two frames or something similar) does it look more like what your getting from GBPVR? For me it does.

Hope that helps and is clear. Trying to get the screencaps right now.

Edit:
Ok here they are:
Dscaler Image:


Dscaler Image w/similar text bottom to compare:


GB-PVR w/o OSD


GB-PVR w/ OSD


Sorry, but this is the best I could grab. Hopefully you can see what I mean. The dscaler images are a bit degraded because I used there internal capture and I think I might have a setting wrong...but even with that you can see the clarity difference. There both set to the same resolution for livetv, etc.

[sub]

Yes, the OSD appearance shows it is running at something like half resolution. I dont know anything abot the software recorder plugin though, so cant tell you why. Hopefully norman will come up with something.

[Kevl]

Hi

I can confirm that Necro's displayed pictures show the problem I'm having. Note the low res OSD and "soft focus" video behind - when compared to the dScaler vdeo.

Kev