PC question

[KLang]

I'd like to be able to copy some shows I have recorded on my Dishnetwork DVR to a PC and ultimately to a DVD. Is this possible?

The DVR has a second set of RCA output jacks so I'm pretty sure I can get the signal from that. My PC doesn't have anything to plug those into though. Do I need a card or some sort of USB adapter?

[racer2c]

There are mulitmedia ports you can get that plug into your PC (Radio Shack and Best Buy carry them), although if your outputs on your DVR are RCA, than they're sending an analog signal which means your end result will be about the quality of a VHS tape, like 352x240.

Link (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage_n.asp?Product_ID=1426&Langue_ID=7)

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/images/ProductImages/dvc1502b.jpg

[pfc_m_drake]

The units made by Plextor are also quite popular and will allow you to do what you're looking to accomplish.

http://www.plextor.com/english/products/product_dvc.htm

Pretty much the same deal as what racer2c linked for you...just another option by another manufacturer.

[racer2c]

There are also really in-expensive adapapters too. I saw one for $6.95 when surfing around.

[nrc]

Six dollars and ninety five cents? Wow. I wouldn't expect much from that. :eek:

[KLang]

Thanks guys, looks like a trip to CompUSA or BestBuy this weekend.


There are mulitmedia ports you can get that plug into your PC (Radio Shack and Best Buy carry them), although if your outputs on your DVR are RCA, than they're sending an analog signal which means your end result will be about the quality of a VHS tape, like 352x240.


I can use s-video as well but that one is currently going to the TV. There aren't any digital output connections without hacking into the hard drive.

Anyone know how much hard drive space an hours worth of video would need?

[indyfan31]

Anyone know how much hard drive space an hours worth of video would need?

From a video camera to my Mac it's about 13 gigs/hour.

[devilmaster]

Thanks guys, looks like a trip to CompUSA or BestBuy this weekend.



I can use s-video as well but that one is currently going to the TV. There aren't any digital output connections without hacking into the hard drive.

Anyone know how much hard drive space an hours worth of video would need?

When my bedroom TV went kaput, instead of buying another one when HD and plasma and everything started coming out, I decided to go a different route.

Since my computer has a 19 inch monitor and surround soung anyways, I went out and bought an ATI all-in-wonder video card for my system. A little on the expensive side, an A-I-W card gives you the ability to have TV and/or extra inputs directly feed into your computer. Through a TV window, I can watch cable, satellite and VHS all on my computer system. The AIW card has a coax cable input, RCA inputs and s-video input.

ATI also has digital recording software with the video card, so I can vidcap (video capture) anything on those inputs. ATI allows multiple types of video encoding from wmv to avi to mpeg files and more.

As an example, I recorded a TSN commercial featuring paul tracy. http://www.mnsi.net/~smicalef/TracyTSN.mpg

Now, as for size of files, it really all depends on what file type you make the video. Since you mentioned that you want to convert to DVD, if you record in DVD format, expect a very large file. I don't have a dvd burner yet (but its next on the wish list) so i've been recording in VCD (video CD) format. As an example, I recorded a hour long TV show recently and took out the commercials which pared it down to 46 minutes. In VCD format, it came back out to 475 megs of hard drive space.

Hope some of this helps. If my post was a little too 'geek' ask some more questions and i'll try to delve into it further.

Steve

[Wabbit]

Look carefully before buying. There are a lot of review sites out there with information on this. Personally, I have the Hauppauge PCR-250. I like it. Based of a lot of reviews I have seen and friends that have had them, the USB ones aren't that great. But, they might have improved those over the last couple years.

[KLang]

Thanks again everyone.

The Plextor PX-AV100U looks pretty good for price ($79) and features. link (http://www.plextor.com/english/products/ConvertX-AV100U.htm)

Any opinions?

[racer2c]

Thanks again everyone.

The Plextor PX-AV100U looks pretty good for price ($79) and features. link (http://www.plextor.com/english/products/ConvertX-AV100U.htm)

Any opinions?

Looks capable. That $79 is msrp too, so you should be able to get it for $50 to $65.

[pfc_m_drake]

$71.00 + $3.50 shipping and handling.

Link (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-144-503&depa=0)

However, there's a $20 rebate (if you buy before 3/31/2005)

Link (http://www.plextor.com/english/products/pdfs/PX-AV100U%20$20%20rebate%201Jan%20to%2031Mar05.pdf)

Which makes your final cost $54.50 shipped to your door.

[oddlycalm]

Anyone know how much hard drive space an hours worth of video would need? Tivo lists the amount of time per single layer DVD on their Humax PVR/burner at different quality settings as EP=6hrs, LP=4hrs, SP=2hrs & EX=1hr. It's going to be different for different PVR's, but you get idea. The higher the quality the bigger the file size. The video is already compressed, the quality levels just allow you to choose how much.

oc

[Wabbit]

Best quality, 1 hour=~4GB. YMMV

Edited down, I can get around 80-90 minutes on a DVD.

[Methanolandbrats]

Assuming I did'nt want to edit, but just dump analog VCR and 8mm tapes onto DVDs, would a Sony DVD recorder work just as well? Any quality difference?

[Wabbit]

You'll want to edit. You can create cool menus for the DVD. You can also convert almost any PC movie format into DVD.