Hauppauge HD-PVR 1212 capture

[dannyboy79]

Thank you Danny. I've done this one and it works, but I don't like the quality that cat gives. Also, I want to monitor it real-time on my computer monitor as it's being recorded. I tried VLC, using the hd-pvr as the capture device, but it too gives a strange-looking image (with the same lines in it that cat gives). If I knew better how to send ffmpeg output to 2 different outputs (my file, and stdout), and then pipe stdin into vlc, as evilsoup showed, I think that'd be what I'm looking for, but even when I translate his command into the old (my Natty) syntax it gives me an error. I'll post that error later tonight.

you're getting lines in your recordings? sounds like you have either a capture issue or a playback problem. I don't have any lines when I capture with cat or vlc using hd pvr as a capture device. are you sure your computer is up to playing back 720p h264 content?

[two4two]

you're getting lines in your recordings? sounds like you have either a capture issue or a playback problem. I don't have any lines when I capture with cat or vlc using hd pvr as a capture device. are you sure your computer is up to playing back 720p h264 content?

My computer should be up to the task. AMD 1100T 6-core 3.3G processor, on an ASUS/AMD reference graphics Mobo with HDMI out, 16G DDR3, etc. Less than a year old, fairly modern and quick. I am capturing 1080p, 60fps h264/ac3 mp4 from the hd-pvr. This gives great quality when captured with ffmpeg. I'd just like to monitor it while I record it.

I'm going to try:

"ffmpeg -i /dev/video0 -vcodec copy -acodec ac3 -ab 448k ~/capture.mp4 -vcodec copy -acodec ac3 -ab 448k –f mp4 - | vlc -"


tonight. I'll post the results.

[dannyboy79]

the hd-pvr can't capture 1080p, max is 1080i. i've also read some articles that states 720p is actually better then 1080i because it's progressive versus interlaced but that's your choice of what you want to capture. it definitely can't capture 1080p though

[two4two]

I tried the pipe and VLC:

dad@Dad-Stubuntu:~$ ffmpeg -i /dev/video0 -vcodec copy -acodec ac3 -ab 448k ~/capture.mp4 -vcodec copy -acodec ac3 -ab 448k -f mp4 - | vlc -
VLC media player 1.1.9 The Luggage (revision exported)
FFmpeg version 0.6.2-4:0.6.2-1ubuntu1, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the Libav developers
built on Mar 22 2011 15:55:04 with gcc 4.5.2
configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu1 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libgsm --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
WARNING: library configuration mismatch
libavutil configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libdirac --enable-libgsm --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libfaad --enable-libdirac --enable-libfaad --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
libavcodec configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libdirac --enable-libgsm --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libfaad --enable-libdirac --enable-libfaad --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
libavformat configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libdirac --enable-libgsm --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libfaad --enable-libdirac --enable-libfaad --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
libavdevice configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libdirac --enable-libgsm --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libfaad --enable-libdirac --enable-libfaad --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
libavfilter configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libdirac --enable-libgsm --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libfaad --enable-libdirac --enable-libfaad --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
libswscale configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libdirac --enable-libgsm --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libfaad --enable-libdirac --enable-libfaad --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
libpostproc configuration: --extra-version=4:0.6.2-1ubuntu2 --prefix=/usr --enable-avfilter --enable-avfilter-lavf --enable-vdpau --enable-bzlib --enable-libdirac --enable-libgsm --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-zlib --enable-libvpx --disable-stripping --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-vaapi --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-x11grab --enable-libfaad --enable-libdirac --enable-libfaad --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdc1394 --enable-shared --disable-static
libavutil 50.15. 1 / 50.15. 1
libavcodec 52.72. 2 / 52.72. 2
libavformat 52.64. 2 / 52.64. 2
libavdevice 52. 2. 0 / 52. 2. 0
libavfilter 1.19. 0 / 1.19. 0
libswscale 0.11. 0 / 0.11. 0
libpostproc 51. 2. 0 / 51. 2. 0
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_ADDRESS")
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_BUS_TYPE")
[0x2597120] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
Warning: call to srand(1357693810)
Warning: call to rand()
Warning: call to srand(1357693810)
Warning: call to rand()
Warning: call to srand(1357693810)
Warning: call to rand()
Warning: call to srand(1357693810)
Warning: call to rand()
Warning: call to srand(1357693810)
Warning: call to rand()
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")

(process:15075): Gtk-WARNING **: Locale not supported by C library.
Using the fallback 'C' locale.
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
[mpegts @ 0x1394670]max_analyze_duration reached
[mpegts @ 0x1394670]Estimating duration from bitrate, this may be inaccurate

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 59.94 (60000/1001) -> 59.94 (60000/1001)
Input #0, mpegts, from '/dev/video0':
Duration: N/A, start: 0.387044, bitrate: 384 kb/s
Program 1
Stream #0.0[0x1011]: Video: h264, yuv420p, 720x480 [PAR 8:9 DAR 4:3], 59.96 fps, 59.94 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Stream #0.1[0x1100]: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 384 kb/s
[mp4 @ 0x139c230]muxer does not support non seekable output
Output #0, mp4, to '/home/dad/capture.mp4':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf52.64.2
Stream #0.0: Video: libx264, yuv420p, 720x480 [PAR 8:9 DAR 4:3], q=2-31, 60k tbn, 29.97 tbc
Stream #0.1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 448 kb/s
Output #1, mp4, to 'pipe:':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf52.64.2
Stream #1.0: Video: libx264, yuv420p, 720x480 [PAR 8:9 DAR 4:3], q=2-31, 90k tbn, 29.97 tbc
Stream #1.1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 448 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0.0 -> #0.0
Stream #0.1 -> #0.1
Stream #0.0 -> #1.0
Stream #0.1 -> #1.1
Could not write header for output file #1 (incorrect codec parameters ?)
[0x28a0a70] main stream error: cannot pre fill buffer





So, any suggestions (besides upgrading my ffmpeg, I'll do that next week, maybe)?

[two4two]

the hd-pvr can't capture 1080p, max is 1080i. i've also read some articles that states 720p is actually better then 1080i because it's progressive versus interlaced but that's your choice of what you want to capture. it definitely can't capture 1080p though

Yes, the specs say 1080i. But it captures 60 fps, in both 480p and 1080i. Better remember the 1080i thing when building a Blu-ray disc. If not, you'll get a surprise.

[dannyboy79]

it appears like you're only capturing 720x480 per vlc. I am not sure why you're having such difficulty. Just last night I was using the cat command and the separate vlc command to monitor in real time what I was capturing from my xbox 360. My xbox 360 is set to output 1280x720p@59.94fps.

[two4two]

it appears like you're only capturing 720x480 per vlc. I am not sure why you're having such difficulty. Just last night I was using the cat command and the separate vlc command to monitor in real time what I was capturing from my xbox 360. My xbox 360 is set to output 1280x720p@59.94fps.

Yes in this instance the input was 720 X 480. I have done the 2 seperate windows now and that works, but the mplayer (or VLC) window is a bit behind the recorder window.

I found that the problem with the bad quality and the lines seems to be an issue with the player. I'll post a snapshot to show you what I mean by "lines". mplayer command line and Totem movie player do a better job than SMplayer, Gnome Mplayer or VLC, and don't have the lines. Also, if I capture in TS container, playback in those two looks good. I didn't try xine for any of this yet.

I opened the hd-pvr in VLC as a PVR capture device and recorded. Playing it back in VLC has the problems with the lines, but I didn't try to play that back with the two good players to see if the lines are there. If not, then VLC for record is my solution.

[two4two]

Addendum: the problem with the lines? I think I know what that's all about: This HD-PVR records supposedly at 60FPS. When you look at the properties of the file it says 60FPS. But it's 1080i, not 1080p. So the recording software thinks it's 1080p and it's recording fields as frames? When I look at a frame grab what I see looks like every other line of the frame is missing -- the very definition of a field, right?

[two4two]

I have resolved to use VLC to view when capturing.