Any Chance for Xcard OSD Support?

[jptaz]

I too hope that sub gets hired. I think his application is enough of resume in its self. I would be thrilled with an ugly OSD on the Xcard as opposed to playing with tweaks and settings to find the ideal software decoder / video card combo.

John

[PGPfan]

I'll third the idea of sub as a coder for Frey. Let's face it, Jeff and Dan do a GREAT job considering the size of their company compared to the competition. However, seeing the direction the industry is moving (MCE/Xbox Extenders, etc) sub has demonstrated expertise that Frey could obviously leverage into a competition KILLER.

Let's just hope that they can do it NOW while the 'iron is hot'.


-PGPfan

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by insomniac

This is exactly the reason why we are pushing for xcard support here. There is no need to tweak anything. Just plug the hardware in and go. Great picture.

This is what I don't understand, what decoders are you guys using? Yes I've tweaked stuff, but I always seem to end up back at the tweakless Sonic CP DXVA config, and there is nothing lacking in PQ that I'm aware of. On an HDTV, you shouldn't have to tweak endlessly to get a great picture (exceptional maybe) but great, no.

[jptaz]

stanger,

What is your PC speed? Do you ever watch channels that have high speed action and or scrolling text like car racing or soccer? Like I said what I have now I think is great, except on high action stuff

EDIT: Do you have an XCard? I am the second person who has said they compared sw decoders to XCARD and thought the Xcard better.

John

[JasonJoel]

Turn off overlay color keying, and then when you are in overlay mode the OSD background is a solid blue. VERY easy to read.

Jason

Originally Posted by Crowdx42

BUT if I use overlay I lose the transparent menus which then make the OSD harder to read.
Patrick

[jptaz]

Thanks Jason,

I couldn't figure out why one TV had the background and the other did. Now I know.

John

[insomniac]

At this point, I think i've tried every decoder imaginable. The problem that I find, is that every decoder seems to have a stregnth and a weakness. Some too fuzzy, some too grainy. Most of them, crappy greyscales. Tweaking comes into play when you like a strongsuit of one decoder, and you are trying to compensate for the weak point of that decoder (upping contrast, etc).

The point is. How many threads have you seen about countless decoders and poor quality? Tons. How many would you see if it was a hardware decoder? My guess is, very few. I would love to be able to just plug the damn hardware encoder in and get a great picture every time. No exception, no upgraded software, no bs.

And yep, IMO sonic is the best so far(out of the box).

I.

Originally Posted by stanger89

This is what I don't understand, what decoders are you guys using? Yes I've tweaked stuff, but I always seem to end up back at the tweakless Sonic CP DXVA config, and there is nothing lacking in PQ that I'm aware of. On an HDTV, you shouldn't have to tweak endlessly to get a great picture (exceptional maybe) but great, no.

[jptaz]

I Agree,

My SageTVClient PC came with Elecard, Cyberlink, and Sonic. The Sonic is the best without messing around. The Sonic was not worth $15 to get only a slight improvement over my Intervideo decoder that came with my Audio Card for my HDTV Client PC.

The XCard is just better at scaling and deinterlacing than the software decoders I have tried on my PC are as good with fast motion and moving text.

John

[x[corwyn]]

I think the interest is here. If the OSD worked I believe a lot more people would be far far more willing to plop down $89 for a product that worked excellent on older hardware than plopping down a lot of money on a gaming rig turned PVR. I'm sure the 6800 is sweet for outputting DVI. However I would rather be using that for playing CS:S and watching my TV with the xcard. The proper tool for the proper job. If I want to dump $300, I want it for more storage space or tuners.

[mikejaner]

I would love to have the Sage TV Xcard support. I want to use the component output of the one I already have on my new 51" Hitachi.
Just putting in my vote.


BTW, I just looked at the screens from TVedia, and noticed, that the pictures, etc, on the osd for the Xcard seem to be in full color now. Is that something new they figured out, or is it still 256 color support only?
Mike

[jughead]

i have an xcard & LOVE it for all the reasons already mentioned. in my opinion it's a "must have" piece of hardware. why sage hasn't implemented an OSD for it is mindboggling to me. whoever mentioned that they should be selling packages of sage/xcard/pvr-250 has the right idea. it's so stable that you can't even have fun troubleshooting it. paired w/ tvedia i use it for EVERYTHING but PVR functions which is still tvedia's only weak link.

sage, we need an OSD, pleeeeease!

[ErsatzTom]

I've posted an early alpha of an Xcard plugin. Check it out here.

t

[Stuntman]

It works! FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[insomniac]

whoa! If the results are good for this, I will be purchasing a case which can fit a fullsize card and get an x-card! Cant wait to hear the results. Thank you very much for this much needed contribution!

I.

[ErsatzTom]

Sure!

t

[x[corwyn]]

Originally Posted by ErsatzTom

I've posted an early alpha of an Xcard plugin. Check it out here.

t

Thank You! I have been using GB-PVR but missed Sage also. This plugin gives me the best of both worlds! I'll be looking forward to trying this out after I get my PVR-500 installed this week