The analog capture saga

[yarra64]

ok guys ... how do i get a reliable analog capture!? really, all i want to do is dump old footy games etc that are filling up my foxtel iq planner. i'm happy to not watch my foxtel iq through media centre (for now) - i currently use the component output directly into my plasma and i'd prefer to stick with the better quality it offers.

here's what i've tried so far:

• set up foxtel via htpc and vista mc (hacked the registry to run the digital and analog tuners at the same time but get stuck at IR blaster - don't have!)
• use virtualdub (audio/video sync problems - i've tried the various fixes without success ... i do find it amusing that i can get the video and audio to sync up by the end of the recording by adjusting frame rate to match but it's all over the shop during the recording)
• used dscaler (audio + video, recordings playback video only)
• tried hypermedia center - squashes the video into 4:3 and can't seem to find anything other than mpeg 1 and 2 codecs - which tend to wig out virtualdub if i try and open them to fix
• tried winamp tv (audio but no video)
• tried the DNTV Live! software (analog capture is not supported)

I'm using a DNTV! Live Dual Hybrid PCI 2

has anyone managed to solve this problem? is there a better app? or should i just go out and buy the mce remote/ir blaster thingy and get over it?

i'm not about to give up so any help would be really appreciated!

[Astrotoy7]

I have the same card, but dont use it for my sat capture >> reason is simple > its analogue tuners do not have hardware mpeg2 encoding, which is vital to maintain good pciture quality in the capture.

The capture aspect issue is only resolved by using the 3rd zoom setting, capture cards work in 4:3, so theres no way around that 4 button presses isnt too much of a chore though. If archiving, you can simply re-encide into a 16:9 ration and it comes out all pretty

longstoryshort: if you want to do it properly : you need an hardware mpeg2/mce happy analogue capture card, like the PVR/MCE series that hauppauge has. I have the PVR150 myself, cost $150. The hauppauge hybrid and dual analogue cards are more expensive.

good luck
astro