MPEG Decoder

[pdxcoop]

Hello,

I have a very general question here about the mpeg software decoder's.

Which one is the best one to use with sagetv 2.0?

Thanks,

Perry

[Opus4]

Originally posted by pdxcoop
Which one is the best one to use with sagetv 2.0?

While waiting for someone who knows about the software encoders, I'll have to say that if I remember correctly from the threads I've seen on this subject, the answer is: "Yes".

I sure like my Xcard's output...

- Andy

[kny3twalker]

if you are looking for a substitute for the hauppauge decoder,
I would look at Sonic/Cineplayer
Elecard although no DVD's
and nvidia's NVDVD

in that order

before you start spending a bunch of money though on a software decoder though
look at the real magic X card
it will do both decoding on your monitor and TV, and should be supported soon for the OSD, probably after the the OSD problems are resolved for the pvr 350s

that when I will look into one

[Opus4]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
before you start spending a bunch of money though on a software decoder though
look at the real magic X card
it will do both decoding on your monitor and TV, and should be supported soon for the OSD, probably after the the OSD problems are resolved for the pvr 350s

I don't know that Frey has made any commitment to look into putting the UI on the Xcard, though it sure would be nice. Also, while its output may be able to be put onto the monitor with some extra cabling, it is really meant to go directly to the TV.

- Andy

[stanger89]

pdxcoop,

You'll likely get a different answer from each person to a question such as yours, decoders are each a little different and each person will see them differently.

With that said, I'll have to mostly agree with kny3twalker on this one, the
Sonic Cineplayer Decoder Pack is probably the best bet in decoders today. I've used it quite happily for almost a year now, it provides excellent picture quality for both recordings and DVDs, it's about the easiest to set up and adjust, and one of, if not the most stable of the decoders available. Not to mention the decoder pack is aobut the best value you'll find (considering you don't need their application).

I don't have much experience with Elecard, but I've heard good things, both here and elsewhere. The downside, as kny mentioned, is that you can't play DVDs with it.

That's today, when nVDVD 3.0/Forceware Multimedia (FWMM) is released (hopefully soon), I would recommend that at least as highly as Sonic. It has the same ease of setup, and slightly better PQ. One question yet to be answered completely is stability, some have had problems with previous versions of nVDVD when quickly FFWing.

I'd say you can't go wrong with Sonic, but keep an eye out for FWMM.

[xlr8shun]

i like ffdshow and nvdvd3 (video only) for audio i leave it at default, if i select the nvdvd3 audio codec, then i get (lots) of random crashing in sage, when changing channels, ffw, rew, paused or unpaused, opening recorded videos... its a mess, but about a week ago i changed audio codecs, from nvidia to 'default' and sage has been rock solid.

[krutaw]

Originally posted by pdxcoop
Hello,

I have a very general question here about the mpeg software decoder's.

Which one is the best one to use with sagetv 2.0?

Thanks,

Perry

Umm... I know this isn't quite the answer you're looking for ...

But.. I found that the best software decoder that i could find was "Internet Explorer." I used it to order the PVR-350, which replaced the software decoders and wins hands down. Sorry, just couldn't help myself.

[ckron]

I am with you there Andy. I love my 350 and feel confident that any issues with Intel chipsets will be resolved.

[pdxcoop]

Well thanks for the feedback. I have tired with the NVDVD 2.5 and do find that it does have the FF issue.

The reason I ask this is to my understanding that you have to use the Elecard decoder to use DScaler in sagetv. Is there any benefit in doing this?

With that said, there was a huge thread on avsforum about the new version of Elecard being better than NVDVD 3.0?

Also, I am using a DVI connection to my TV so I am not sure that the wintvpvr 350 is going to be my all time answer. Besides I like the software decoder option out there.


Perry

[stanger89]

The 350 is the better option iff you're using Composite/S-Video to an SDTV. For those of us lucky enough to be driving HDTVs with something better like Component/VGA/DVI, SW decoders and the video card are the way to go.

One thing to keep in mind when reading the AVS Forum, quite often over there, the differences that are described, especially the diff between Elecard and WinDVD 5 (I'm guessing that's the thread you saw) are very subtle, they're the kinds of things you have to stop and look for. I have to keep reminding myself that from time to time.

Yes you do have to use Elecard to enable Sage's native support for Dscaler. However Jeff added ffdshow and the nVDVD Post Processor to the default decoders list (yes it's weird). What happened, is mlbdude noticed he could tell Sage to use ffdshow as a decoder and Sage would then use ffdshow with the systems default decoder. What I'm attempting to get to is that it's possible to use ffdshow with any decoder to perform the same function as the dScaler filter with Elecard.

I've found that nVDVD 3 with ffdshow Denoise3D and a little sharpen gives me the best picture, with Sonic Cineplayer + ffdshow to be almost as good.

[xlr8shun]

Originally posted by pdxcoop
Well thanks for the feedback. I have tired with the NVDVD 2.5 and do find that it does have the FF issue.

dont use the nvidia audio decoder, use something else, and see if your ff issue dont go away.

[Mary H]

Originally posted by stanger89
the Sonic Cineplayer Decoder Pack is probably the best bet in decoders today. I've used it quite happily for almost a year now, it provides excellent picture quality for both recordings and DVDs, it's about the easiest to set up and adjust, and one of, if not the most stable of the decoders available. Not to mention the decoder pack is aobut the best value you'll find (considering you don't need their application).

I went to that link and read pretty thoroughly, but it only mentions the decoder pack working with Windows XP. I'm using W2K on my HTPC... So am I out of luck?

[kny3twalker]

actually there is a post in the forum somewhere that describes how to manually install a decoder pack on 2000
but I have never done it
you may need to use the search
I just wish I could remember who was doing this
if anyone knows please post

[Allmighty]

yes ....Please Anyone?

[gabeyd]

I would like to know how to install Sonic decoders on w2k also. I searched the forum quite a bit and can't find anything. Does anyone remember?