More PQ Questions...

[quaffapint]

Trying out Sage 1.4.

Setup...
Win XP SP1
PIV 2.4
512MB RAM
Onboard Video
PVR250 Retail (16 chip) - Latest drivers from shspvr
Elecard MPEG2 2.0 Codec
DVD quality (3.2GB hour (or something like that))
Standard analog cable (no box)

Currently I'm viewing on my 17in LCD computer monitor. If all goes well, I'll be using this w/ a standard 27" TV.

First off - it plays well enough w/o killing the processor - unlike Beyond which is stuttery and just unwatchable.

The issue is everything appears "blocky" w/ lines across the screen - it seems like the "Deinterlace" is not setup correctly. I really don't know what settings to use.


- On a side note : The EPG never pulls down. I tell Zone Alarm to allow it, but it just never happens (same w/ Beyond). Do I need to open certain ports in my firewall?

Thanks.
Quaff

[mlbdude]

What is the deinterlace setup to in the Elecard media player? What deinterlace setting are you selecting in Sage?

[stanger89]

Also what quality are you recording at? Low bitrates will cause blocky pictures, especially with fast motion.

[quaffapint]

mlbdude - I upgraded to Elecard 2.1 and it is MUCH better. Still not perfect though - the biggest problem now is w/ some motion blur (hockey game, etc.)

stranger - I'm trying both 3GB and 2.5GB / hour - 2.5 seems to work when there's not a lot of motion. 2.5 does seem to cause occasional jerkiness though (once every 10 secs or so), while 3 plays consistently smoothly.

Here's my settings (again currently looking at a 17in computer lcd)...

Elecard..
Initial proportions:by Aspect Ration
Vertical filter deinterlace
Resize window according to proportions is checked
(if there are more Elecard settings - I don't know where they are)

Sage...
Rendering Filter:Overlay
Elecard MPEG2 Decoder
Use Dscaler to Deinterlace
Mode:Default

Hauppauge...
All default under Video Properties (I don't know what they all mean)
Brightness:121
Contrast:71
Hue:0
Saturation:70
Sharpness:2


Appreciate all the input...Also, what should I look to change when I get ready to display it on my regular 27" TV?

Thanks

[mlbdude]

The real advantage to using Elecard is using DScaler with it (since you are deinterlacing in Elecard first it is not helping you)


Elecard..
Initial proportions:by Aspect Ration
Weave (no deinterlacing)
Resize window according to proportions is checked

Sage...
Rendering Filter:Overlay
Elecard MPEG2 Decoder
Use Dscaler to Deinterlace
Mode:Plugin VideoWeave*
Double Refresh checked

* I have actually upgraded my pulugins with the ones included with the lates DSCaler application. WIth it came a new plugin called TomsMoComp. I use that and like it best. VideoWeave was pretty good though.

[stanger89]

Motion blur could be your LCD, some of the older ones had slow response times that caused trailing with motion.