HD-PVR does not record surround sound yet

[BradV]

Hauppanuge included a small note on a flyer sent with the unit. "Does not record bitstream audio at this time".
What this means for me is, no surround sound with my HD recordings. The flyer stated that an upcoming firmware release would solve this problem.
My first attempt to record HD produced great video but no audio. Can only record stereo until the firmware is fixed.
At least for me, it is collecting dust until then, as I don't have any reason to make HD recordings without surround sound for my home theater.

[stanger89]

And this deserved a new thread and registration because?

[BradV]

In answer to stanger89; I checked this forum before purchasing the HD-PVR and did not find any reference to the surround sound problem....was probably covered but did not find it. Hopefully, by submitting a new thread this issue will be highlighted for prospective buyers.
Without doubt I would have waited for a fix if I had known the optical input would not record bitstream surround sound.

[sic0048]

Well I've hear that it should be fixed in the next firmware, but no ETA on when that will be

[Personal Opinion]
But I don't really mind missing DD on regular TV shows. I'd rather make sure my shows were being recorded than care if they were in DD or not. I don't think most shows really use DD well anyway, so there isn't much lost there. I look forward to the fix from Hauppauge, but it isn't a deal breaker for me.

Now if I was recording HD movies that might be a different story.
[/Personal Opinion]

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by BradV

Hauppanuge included a small note on a flyer sent with the unit. "Does not record bitstream audio at this time".
What this means for me is, no surround sound with my HD recordings. The flyer stated that an upcoming firmware release would solve this problem.
My first attempt to record HD produced great video but no audio. Can only record stereo until the firmware is fixed.
At least for me, it is collecting dust until then, as I don't have any reason to make HD recordings without surround sound for my home theater.

Sooooooo. You are going back to your much superior SD capture card with stereo audio input, or only watching local stations with your QAM tuner?

[Taddeusz]

While I do agree that it sucks that the HD-PVR won't record bitstream audio Hauppauge has made it very clear in the product information and FAQ on their website that the device currently only supports recording a PCM output that is then compressed to AAC audio. I don't know how you might have gotten the impression otherwise. It's been extensively discussed in the forums here. I'm sure there will be a huge hooray on the forums when Hauppauge releases drivers that do support bitstream pass-through.

In all honesty this was my primary reason for not being one of the initial pre-orderers. Aside from not having the cash at the time. I finally ordered mine in late June and got it Monday last week when they were in stock. Took me very little to set up and get running. I'm quite pleased with it despite not being able to record surround sound.

This is the price we pay for being early adopters. If you're not willing to pay the early adopter tax then wait till things smooth out. Complaining when it states in multiple places what is and isn't currently supported doesn't really get anyone anywhere.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Sooooooo. You are going back to your much superior SD capture card with stereo audio input, or only watching local stations with your QAM tuner?

Hehe. So very true. I wouldn't have any other way but to use an SD analog card coming out of my VIP211 without the HDPVR. So either get stereo only, but HD video or get Stereo only and SD only video.....seems like a no brainer!

[evilpenguin]

I think you'd be surprised how many "5.1" audio tracks on TV are just Stereo->5.1 conversions

I think Lost is the only show where I ever heard my back speakers being used.

[Brent]

So just in case someone happens along this thread and is wondering when Hauppauge plans to have the 5.1 firmware update to the HD-PVR.

I'm hearing that it should be out this week or next week. No promises, but they say its very close.

[stanger89]

The other thing we should clarify is since the HD PVR records stereo, you actually do get surround, you just don't get discrete, digital surround, you get matrix surround.

[QueOnda]

But with the update you should get dicrete, righT?

Brent. I'll be looking for it all this week and next week. Is that the release or beta??? I'm sure you'll post it on your site.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by QueOnda

But with the update you should get dicrete, righT?

Brent. I'll be looking for it all this week and next week. Is that the release or beta???

Its my understanding that its the release driver that we'll see soon. And yes, it would be discrete, digital surround (5.1)

I'm sure you'll post it on your site.

I'll be posting the news and a link there as soon as its released.

[gibsonpa]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Hehe. So very true. I wouldn't have any other way but to use an SD analog card coming out of my VIP211 without the HDPVR. So either get stereo only, but HD video or get Stereo only and SD only video.....seems like a no brainer!

Paulbeers, how do you like the VIP211 with the HDPVR? I just had two 211's installed last week...and am using them with a USB-UIRT and S-Video capture now. It is working great...just not seeing the HD video from the 211's until I spring for the HDPVR.

Do you have any extenders with 4x3 TV's? If so, does it look ok?

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by gibsonpa

Paulbeers, how do you like the VIP211 with the HDPVR? I just had two 211's installed last week...and am using them with a USB-UIRT and S-Video capture now. It is working great...just not seeing the HD video from the 211's until I spring for the HDPVR.

Do you have any extenders with 4x3 TV's? If so, does it look ok?

Unfortunately no I do not have any extenders with 4x3 tv's. Both of my HD100's are hooked to widescreen tv's, but I love it! I only use my VIP211's for capturing those channels that I can't get OTA (so I do not use it for CBS, NBC, FOX, etc) as I only have 1 and didn't want to "clog" it up with shows I can get in other ways, but my wife even loves it. She loves watching Deadliest Catch on Discovery. She just keeps saying how amazed she is at the clarity. Is it perfect, no, but it is damn close. I waited to go HD until this box came out so I can't give any comparison as SD Analog capture vs HDPVR directly but I know it wins hands down.

I have never played an HDPVR captured video via a Sage full PC client so I can't comment on that, and I am not using the built in IR blaster that comes with the HDPVR as I use a USB UIRT, but I will tell you (other than getting my USB UIRT), I had HDPVR to Sage to HD100 setup within a half hour!

[Taddeusz]

My only TV right now is a 32" tube. Any HD looks awesome on it! Much sharper looking than standard SD 480i video even though technically the TV can't display anything more than that. The HD100 really does a good job with AVC.

The only thing I've noticed about the HD100 in particular is that it doesn't do any filtering on the video as it's resizing it. As a result horizontal lines such as blinds tend to have a moire effect to them. A minor annoyance until I can afford to get an HDTV.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by QueOnda

But with the update you should get dicrete, righT?

Brent. I'll be looking for it all this week and next week. Is that the release or beta??? I'm sure you'll post it on your site.

Originally Posted by Brent

Its my understanding that its the release driver that we'll see soon. And yes, it would be discrete, digital surround (5.1)


I'll be posting the news and a link there as soon as its released.

Correction to my earlier post. What will be released this week (or possibly early next week) will be a solid working beta (not the final release) driver for the HD-PVR with DD5.1. And I'll have the driver available for download on GeekTonic also.

[QueOnda]

Brent,

Very very good news.