Help please re transferring from PVR to PC and uploading

@Shirtfull, DB, elmo et al

Sorry to be helpless, even after reading the technical pages, but could some kind soul give me an idiot's guide - with examples of software and connections used etc., as to how to edit recorded material on my PC and then upload?

I happily record on to a PVR from the satellite receiver, but how the **** do I get the stuff from there to my PC to edit and then upload? And what's all that about codecs and compression?

Stupid I'm not, but technical I'm not either. I'd like to learn. I know you all do it a bit differently from each other, but a selection of solutions would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Depending on how many outputs you have got coming from your sat dish, You could connect to a USB receiver which stores the sat transport stream (lossless) directly on to your pcs or laptops HD. This should not interfere with your original setup.

One of these for example:

[hidden link - please register]

PS
There are several high def versions with a CI slot for encrypted channels if used with the appropriate viewing card.

If you really want to go down the PC-editing route, here are the type of units to consider to get a video stream from an external unit beit your PVR or a dvd-recorder

1. The el-cheapo version:

[hidden link - please register]

2. The more sophisticated version:

[hidden link - please register]

My unit is an up-market version of 2 which I obtained as it offered facilities for VHS tapes which create their own problems.

We assume your PVR is connected to the tv. If it does not have a spare output scart or rca connectors then you will also need an adapter like this.

[hidden link - please register]

(you may also need one of these if you are planning on retaining your existing PVR with a dvd-recorder)

and an adapter with audio and video cables to the units.

[hidden link - please register]

You will note that the el-cheapo version comes with some basic capture/editing software and this may well be sufficient to get you started.

But if you decide on a dvd-recorder then you really do not need ANY of this. The techique is to 'rip' the recorded content from the disk straight into the PC (assuming that you have a dvd-burner inside your PC - I cannot guarantee that a dvd-player inside the PC could rip from a dvd-recorded disk). All you then need is a more recent version of the software that is provided above which is called Ulead Video Studio 11. You can import the video straight from the disk into the editor built into the program and from there do what you like with it and finally make a video clip to share with the rest of us.

There are lots more sophisticated programs. There are lots of free ones as well but many will also have quite a steep learning curve.

And if I am begining to sound like your neighbour then it's second nature -))

@ Bellerophon.

Not treacle but black molasses. When you stated a PVR, I think both of us assumed you had sat recorder with a HD.

So you've only got a sat receiver, then I think the easiest way is for you to investigate Dvd recorders with a built in HD. You record the satellite signal to the HD and then you can review and edit the recording on the recorder before burning to disc.

Once on the disc and the disc is in your PC there are numberous free software packages to refine your editing.

See the post by Elmo here:

[hidden link - please register]

You could look at this forum to see if your PVR is listed:

Link:

[hidden link - please register]

And just to pour some fire on to the flames, we all do it differently (to a degree) because our equipment is different. Who said that size does not matter -))

Both shirtfull and elmo have their PVRs inside their PC and use connections to their receiver (or even use - I am not sure about this - satellite cards inside the PC). Good system as you already have mpeg2 source video which you can immediately edit/re-encode.

Da boss, since he is rich, has a dreambox which is a combined receiver,PVR and it's own linux based PC. Recordings can be transfered into the PC using a fast LAN interface and edited/re-encoded from there.

I use a combination of dvd-recorder and PC based capture. Sometimes I will rip straight from the dvd recording and sometimes re-capture the recording via the PC connections.

@ Bellerophon.

The first thing that is required is a method to get video data from the HD in the PVR, hopefully it can be done digitally so you need to assertain wether the PVR has an interface which can be connected to a PC (USB or Lan,etc), if it has not then youll have to go down the analogue route as mentioned by DB.

There are basically, IMHO, two ways to get the stuff off your PVR on to your PC.

The simplest way is to copy your recordings using a dvd-recorder and then rip/re-encode those on the PC. The advantage of this is that you also have a permanent back up copy of all those precious Geehah scenes which you really do not want to lose -))

The second method involves some hardware connected to the PC for video capturing. These range from quite simple USB devices for the price of a few double pepperonis to cards/units costing £££'s

With the second method, you still have the re-encode issues and possible dvd burning if you want a permanent copy.

How to do it ? Well, rather than re-invent the wheel it is much better to read a dedicated site/forum at [hidden link - please register]. You may even come across a familiar face who promises to be kind.