Horible image quality with Intervideo Mpeg decoder

[C14]

I just installed the Hauppauge Mpeg software decoder (version 5.0.22236) for my PVR-500. With this codec in Sage, I now have an horrible image quality (see the attached .jpg). It's much better with the "SageTV MPEG video decoder", but I think it shouldn't...

So, what do I have to tune, where can I change the Intervideo codec settings ? Or am I missing something else...?

Thanks for your help.

[mariusvr]

Some codes will perform better than others. I also tried out the Intervideo codec and was not satisfied. Not sure if you can tweak this codec to perform better.

I use the NVIDIA DVD codec at the moment, which gives excellent results. There are also some other free codecs out there, but in my humble experience the NVIDIA codec works best (but is not free).

Good luck,

Marius

[C14]

But what I do not understand if that this codec id made for Hauppauge cards (!?), so it should be the best for these cards. Further more, in WinTV2000, you can't choose the codec : it takes the Intervideo (because WinTV2000 is for Hauppauge cards I presume). So I think there is a problem...

[nielm]

The Hauppauge/intervideo decoder is nothing special...

[edited to remove incorrect info]

[C14]

I thought it was only possible to use dscalar with the free Elecard Decoder (according to SageTV 2.2 manual, page 140) ???

[Lucas]

C14,
when I first started using SageTV, I had the same issue so I tried Sonic and NVidia.
In the process over the last year, I tweaked my system and the other day I tried the Intervideo decoder...... Other than a slight drop in sharpness I did not see the problems I initially had.

I am running it now with Overlay and defaults for the 2 DXVA settings.

I found that the Intervideo decoder gives me the most stable use. (No hiccups when ff/rrwd, no hangs etc). So for recordings I just use this one. For DVDs I use Sonic which works very well.


Nielm,

this is a new thing. Can you elaborate? Which part(version/file) of DScaler does one need to install and how do you go about using it in SageTV (other than enabling it through setup).

Thanks.

[C14]

Concerning my initial question, I found the solution...

I changed my PVR-500 driver thinking I was installing a new one but it was an older version. What a shame...
Now back to the latest driver, everyhing seems well, even with the Intervideo codec.
But I am still a bit disapointed with the image quality. Not only when watching recordings, but also for live tv (when watching a football match for exemple). So is it related with the recording quality ? I ask it because I know SageTV is always recording, even when watching live tv...

[Mahoney]

Something I found was that on my TV menu there was a setting for one of my "Ext" SCART inputs to tell the TV whether it was getting S-Video or real video. Made a huge difference when I set that to S-Video.

One irritation - the TV now has no aerial plugged in, and just one SCART connection from the PC on EXT2. But for some reason the TV doesn't pick that up when you turn it on and you have to manually change it to EXT2 every time with the TV remote.

[nielm]

[edited to remove incorrect information]

Lucas/C14: yes you are right, in 2.2 Dscaler is elecard-only...

[nielm]

Originally Posted by Mahoney

One irritation - the TV now has no aerial plugged in, and just one SCART connection from the PC on EXT2. But for some reason the TV doesn't pick that up when you turn it on and you have to manually change it to EXT2 every time with the TV remote.

You may be able to convince your TV that there is something on your scart input by applying a 12V voltage to the SCART 'Function select' pin 8 (its how VCRs and DVDs tell a TV to auto switch to the SCART input when playing, and what aspect ratio to use. see http://www.idiots.org.uk/vga_rgb_scart/index.html). Of course where to get +12V from is another question, and I disclaim all responsability for whatever may happen

[dooferlad]

Come now, if you are attaching a SCART connector to the end of a VGA cable and hoping your TV won't complain you aren't going to care about attaching a +12V pin to it at the same time :-)

I have to say I was rather worried about that particular hardware hack, but it has to be the best low value image improvement ever!

[nielm]

I was assuming that Mahoney was doing (Svideo+Audio)->Scart, not the VGA->SCART that I linked - the link was just for Pin 8 info...

Theoretically, if the correct scanrates are used and if windows is convinced to send the interlaced frames at to the right scanlines at the right time, a direct VGA-RGB/SCART connecttion *should* be the best image quality, as all interlaced lines in the source video are exactly displayed on the correct scanline on the TV. Thats how XCards, PVR-350's and DVD players get such good image quality on STDVs. But, I did say in therory, and so much of windows video playback subsystem assumes an non-interlaced high-res, high refresh rate monitor that it would be very difficult to get working...

[Mahoney]

I was assuming that Mahoney was doing (Svideo+Audio)->Scart

I am! Thanks for the suggestions, no idea how to get +12V to the 8 pin but I suppose I can think about it if it becomes too much of a pain.

[C14]

Nielm : I don't understand how you can activate dscaler with Sage Mpeg decoder. I have SageTV 2.2.8 and the only way to enable dscaler is by using the elecard mpeg decoder.

!?!?!?!

[nielm]

Originally Posted by C14

Nielm : I don't understand how you can activate dscaler with Sage Mpeg decoder. I have SageTV 2.2.8 and the only way to enable dscaler is by using the elecard mpeg decoder.

Nevermind, ignore me, pretend I never said anything...

[alon24]

<quote>
[edited to remove incorrect information]

Lucas/C14: yes you are right, in 2.2 Dscaler is elecard-only...
</quote>

Nielm,

Are you by any chance testing 3.0??????

[nielm]

no, just playing with a different STV.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by nielm

no, just playing with a different STV.

Interesting... that's the part that was undocumented. I was recently told that you can use DScaler w/the SageTV decoder, but you have to create a custom STV to do so, since it wasn't enabled in the official STV. (Unless it is possible to activate it just by properties file changes??) That's why the manual doesn't mention it -- it only documents what the official STV can do.

- Andy

[ukmgranger]

Originally Posted by alon24

<quote>
[edited to remove incorrect information]

Lucas/C14: yes you are right, in 2.2 Dscaler is elecard-only...
</quote>

Nielm,

Are you by any chance testing 3.0??????

Blimey - people are getting desperate for 3.0!! The conspiracy theorists are coming out of the woodwork

[alon24]

can you blame me???