Record as MPEG or simple AVI, not DVR-MS

[Amused]

Hi
Perhaps I'm missing something in config but is there any way to set GB-PVR to record files as an ordinary MPEG or AVI? As present all files are in Microsoft Record TV Show (DVR-MS) format. This is supposed to be "Highly compressed" but a 1 hour program I recorded last night is 2GB! It's also supposed to take a long time to convert to a different codec. If i can record as a simple MPEG then the file size won't matter 'casue I can easily convert select files to XVID for sharing across the network to my Brothers machine or whatever, and just watch and delete the rest.

[stefan]

I assume you are recording with a digital device. You would need to find a mux in order to record to some other format than dvr-ms. File size will not get smaller, though. You will probably want to read the top sticky thread in the support forum, the one named "BDA multiplexer info (for DVB users)".

[Amused]

Hi Stefan

I'm not fussed about smaller file size initially. If I'm going to keep the file a while to transfer it what ever I'm convert it to XVID. However finding a progam that will convert DVR-MS file to AVI which run on vista is proving... awkward .

I've just been reading up on the Sticky BDA Muc thread and the excelent wiki here: http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FAQ/Codec#toc1

However I've hit a slight snag. I've extracted the MpgMux.ax file to system32 but I can't register it using Start- Run 'cause it fails with "DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0x80070005"

Now running on past experience here it's because I didn't run Run as Administrator. However, If I right click on run I only get a menu which excutes Run, no Admin option. So how can I register the Mux in Vista?

[stefan]

Vista is an OS, right? Seriously, I'm not the right guy to ask about that. Hopefully someone will come along and tell you how to do it. By the way, couldn't you log on the computer in an administrator account, and then register the dll?

[Amused]

Just found a way.

Start- Search for "Command Prompt" and you can right-click and Run as Administrator.

Once it's open it's just a case of registering the file. I got the success message and the MUX is showing up in the MUX checker now. Thanks for the point in the right direction Stefan. I had no idea what a MUX was before but the thread and wiki have educated me!

Amused

[stefan]

Glad you found a way. Hope it will work better with the conversion and all

[Braklet]

I had no idea what a MUX was before but the thread and wiki have educated me!

Please post back about your results. I imagine a lot of people will be interested, especially since Vista is now the primary preload OS.

I did not get very good results trying to MUX ATSC video to MPEG files, while DVR-MS works like a champ (on XP Pro, that is).

I convert DVR-MS files to straight MPEG2 using my MPEG editor, VideoReDo Plus. If you can't get the MUX to work correctly that might be another option for you.

[sub]

I did not get very good results trying to MUX ATSC video to MPEG files, while DVR-MS works like a champ (on XP Pro, that is).

I convert DVR-MS files to straight MPEG2 using my MPEG editor, VideoReDo Plus. If you can't get the MUX to work correctly that might be another option for you.

Amused is using a DVB device, so he'll probably be fine with the Cyberlink or ATI mux. These muxes seem to not work so well with ATSC, but generally work well with DVB.

Amused, best version of the Cyberlink mux to go for is v5.0.0.1307.

[Amused]

Sub
When you say "Best" version of Cyberlink do you mean faster, more stable or what? I'm running 5.0.0813 which I got by following a link in the sticky BDA MUX Thread. Does anyone know what drivers/programs might contain the newer MUX?

Registering the MUX did work (is it clear enough in my previous post so other Vista users can follow it?) I can now record using the Cyberlink mux to an mpeg. I was hoping to transcode in VirtualDub as it supports my dual cores but it doesn't like the file as it's an MPEG2 Stream.

File size is much the same with the Cyberlink but maybe transcoding will be quicker. I've discovered, by reading the forum, that I can transcode an individual DVR-MS to DivX using GB-PVR (in the Video Library section) albeit using only one core. I converted 1.03 mins of DVR-MS to DivX, in under an hour. I don't think this was too bad but then I've never done video conversion, or recording for that matter before. From my brief research into DVR-MS and transcoding I was expecting several hours. I'll record a similar length MPEG somewhen and see if transcoding is faster.

[sub]

Sub
When you say "Best" version of Cyberlink do you mean faster, more stable or what? I'm running 5.0.0813 which I got by following a link in the sticky BDA MUX Thread. Does anyone know what drivers/programs might contain the newer MUX?

By "best" I mean "least buggy". 5.0.0813 is known to occasionally stop mid recording, with the CPU jumping up to 100%.

There was a thread recently that mentioned where to get v5.0.0.1307. I can remember the details, but do a forum search.

Registering the MUX did work (is it clear enough in my previous post so other Vista users can follow it?) I can now record using the Cyberlink mux to an mpeg. I was hoping to transcode in VirtualDub as it supports my dual cores but it doesn't like the file as it's an MPEG2 Stream.

I think there is a special version of VirtualDub you can download that does MPEG2.

File size is much the same with the Cyberlink but maybe transcoding will be quicker. I've discovered, by reading the forum, that I can transcode an individual DVR-MS to DivX using GB-PVR (in the Video Library section) albeit using only one core. I converted 1.03 mins of DVR-MS to DivX, in under an hour. I don't think this was too bad but then I've never done video conversion, or recording for that matter before. From my brief research into DVR-MS and transcoding I was expecting several hours. I'll record a similar length MPEG somewhen and see if transcoding is faster.

The file size is dictated by the broadcaster, since they encoded the video. GB-PVR is just saving the broadcast streams to disk. The choice of mux will make very little difference to the file size.

When GB-PVR converts a DVR-MS file to divx, it first remuxes the DVR-MS file to MPEG2 (via Cyberlink mux), then uses ffmpeg to convert from MPEG2 to divx. This remux step is incredibly quick. A large recording is usually remuxed in less than a minute.