Plextor px-tv402u Questions

[Heineken77]

Hi Guys, I just picked this card up and would be greatful to anyone who may have this card to help me out, as I am about to take it back lol :'( I would really appreciate your time if you could help answer some of these questions.

1) For some reason, when I connect my sattelite to the Plextor via composite inputs, all looks well, however when I hit the record button through the winDVR 5 software, the picture on screen goes black and white until I hit stop recording. When I check the recorded video, the video is in color so that is good. However I would like to watch what I'm recording in color as it records, rather than have to watch it in Black and White. Any way to fix this?

2) Is WinDVR5 the best software to use in order to record in DIVX or MPEG2 with the plextor tv402u?

3) When I open WinDVD Creator and click capture video with plextor, it crashes each time immediately. Any ideas why?

4) What is the best custom settings to use with the Plextor to record say an hour worth of video in DIVX format to equal 900megs and be the best possible quality for DVD recording?

5) I also have a hauppauge PVR 150. Would it capture a better quality cap with that card in MPEG2 format, and then convert the video with AutoGK to an xvid version compared to the Plextor ConvertX tv402u? If so I may take the Plextor back.

My computer specs:
HP m7640n Media Center PC
AMD 64 x2 5000+ Dual Core
2GB DDR2 Ram
NVIDIA Geforce 7600 GTOC Video Card
Hauppauge PVR 150 TV Card
Plextor ConvertX PX-TV402U
2 Hard drives - 320gb + 250gb

Thank you so much for your time! Have a wonderful holiday season to you all!

[johnsonlam]

1) For some reason, when I connect my sattelite to the Plextor via composite inputs, all looks well, however when I hit the record button through the winDVR 5 software, the picture on screen goes black and white until I hit stop recording. When I check the recorded video, the video is in color so that is good. However I would like to watch what I'm recording in color as it records, rather than have to watch it in Black and White. Any way to fix this?


Did you mess up with PAL/NTSC thing?

Try download GOCAP from "www.plextor.com" and use it, I didn't like WinDVR5 because it's not for advance users.


2) Is WinDVR5 the best software to use in order to record in DIVX or MPEG2 with the plextor tv402u?


No, GOCAP works, Vdub hangs when record 20mins in my PC.
MediaPlayerClassic work but the format mess up, there's 2 video stream but no audio stream, only Vdub can correctly recognise the correct video stream.


3) When I open WinDVD Creator and click capture video with plextor, it crashes each time immediately. Any ideas why?


Neither your display driver have problem (maybe you install OMEGA driver or tweaked it with ATUNE), install a new one and make sure DirectX 9 upgrade to latest distribution.


4) What is the best custom settings to use with the Plextor to record say an hour worth of video in DIVX format to equal 900megs and be the best possible quality for DVD recording?


That's up to your quality request, for myself I record 6000-9000K, then apply filter with Vdub and re-compress into XviD.


5) I also have a hauppauge PVR 150. Would it capture a better quality cap with that card in MPEG2 format, and then convert the video with AutoGK to an xvid version compared to the Plextor ConvertX tv402u? If so I may take the Plextor back.


I don't have PVR 150, you can try record a similar clip with same bitrate and compare.

I have another Canopus ADVC-1394, this card is even better than I think, though it only have RCA (S-Video) input.

Thank you so much for your time! Have a wonderful holiday season to you all!

I'm happy to help, in return I may need your help later, so help more people :)

[urvieh]

I'm working with this thing, too.

1. The b/w issue. I haven't come across this yet. Be sure to use the latest drivers from Plextor (http://www.plextor.be).

2. WinDVR. No it is not. I do my recording with Plextools Pro XL. There are a lot of advanced settings, some of which I hadn't heard the names of when I started using it.

3. WinDVD crashing. No idea. I don't use it. I do the authoring part with (a, a/v are in sync) Pinnacle Studio Plus 10.7 and (b, a/v are out of sync) with TMPGEnc Xpress 4 and TMPGEnc DVD Author 2. This out of sync issue will be your daily companian. Don't ask me why usb2 devices are such a problem ...

4. Quality vs file size. This depends on the quality of the source. Satellite is not satellite. Sometimes even pay-TV stations use the lowest possible bitrate for mpeg-2 encoding. There isn't much left then for recording. You will have to see for yourself.

5. PVR 150. No idea.

Try to get yourself an s-vhs adapter to connect your devices. The differences are huge. Composite is the least (im)possible common denominator.

[Heineken77]

Thank you so much guys!! :)
So what do you guys think is better and gives better quality caps, plextools or Gocap?

Cheers!

[Heineken77]

Try to get yourself an s-vhs adapter to connect your devices. The differences are huge. Composite is the least (im)possible common denominator.

Here's my dilemna, my sattelite set top box only has rca outs, no s-video. If I get myself an s-vhs adapter, will that boost the quality? If so how seeing as the sattelite is outputing via composite either way??

Thanks!

[johnsonlam]

Here's my dilemna, my sattelite set top box only has rca outs, no s-video. If I get myself an s-vhs adapter, will that boost the quality? If so how seeing as the sattelite is outputing via composite either way??
Thanks!

If your source is NOT S-Video, changing it to S-Video only help when the cable was long.

Easier way is to shorten the distant between 2 device or buy a better RCA cable like AudioQuest or XLO, a better cable will help preserving quality.

[urvieh]

Are you sure your satellite box does not have a Euro-AV (= SCART) out? An s-vhs adapter won't boost anything at all if you haven't. I suppose it would worsen things ...

As for Gocap vs. PlexTools Pro XL ... The latter costs money but provides you with a scheduler (make sure to schedule your recording five minutes earlier) and the ability to burn cue/bin images. And it has lots and lots of advanced video settings, some of which are not functioning yet. (The most important of these is the 16:9 switch. But I've not given up hope.) And before I forget it: You can sort the channel list. This might not be that important to many people but I'm German. I need some structure and logic and formal discipline :D :D .

[nolly]

Hi,
I spotted your post and signed up but of course wasn't able to post for 5 days - sorry about the delay.

I'm replying with respect to the crashing with Windvd creator. What error do you get? I have a new pc from MESH and have experienced crashing with WinDVD Creator 2 and the Plextor M402U. (The hardware and software work okay on another PC). The error is:

Faulting application wcreator.exe, version 2.0.14.426, faulting module msvcrt.dll, version 7.0.2600.2180, fault address 0x00037631.

(I have documented the problem fully at:
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=95162 )

I emailed plextor and the reply was to download new drivers from the european website. I did this with no change. Also I tried a free download of WinDVD Creator 3 as downloaded from the Intervideo website. I reckon that this might not support the plextor. This did not capture (or crash).

I got Gocap to work okay although the picture was very dark. Plextools LE worked fine but is time-limited to 30 minutes. I downloaded a free demo of Roxio Easy Media Creator which supports the plextor. It worked okay, but costs money for the full version. I think that perhaps it said that it was using PAL B instead of PAL I but it looked okay on the screen. I haven't tried burning a DVD yet.

This crashing problem has occupied me since I got the new computer. I would be very interested to watch for any progress.

Nolly

[johnsonlam]

Hi,
I emailed plextor and the reply was to download new drivers from the european website. I did this with no change. Also I tried a free download of WinDVD Creator 3 as downloaded from the Intervideo website. I reckon that this might not support the plextor. This did not capture (or crash).


Make sure your copy of firmware is v2.3.0.5c. If not, get it from:
http://www.plextor.be/technicalservices/downloads/drivers_converters.asp?choice=Digital%20video%20converters


I got Gocap to work okay although the picture was very dark.

If you're using Tuner as input, your antenna MAY have to add an extra booster because the signal was weak.

Or you can connect the antenna to VCR recorder and got the signal from VCR's RCA/S-Video output, that signal will be far better than tuner.

[nolly]

Sorry for hijacking this post....

Make sure your copy of firmware is v2.3.0.5c. If not, get it from:
http://www.plextor.be/technicalservices/downloads/drivers_converters.asp?choice=Digital%20video%20converters


Yes - this is the driver that I downloaded.

If you're using Tuner as input, your antenna MAY have to add an extra booster because the signal was weak.

Or you can connect the antenna to VCR recorder and got the signal from VCR's RCA/S-Video output, that signal will be far better than tuner.

I have tried signals from a VCR and a set-top box (I am using the M402U which has no tuner input).

Other thoughts - are there any issues with INTEL dual core processors and the plextor or WinDVD Creator - My computer uses a Duo E6400 Dual Core Processor.

What about graphics cards or drivers - Mine is a Geforce 7300GS?

[johnsonlam]

Sorry for hijacking this post....
Yes - this is the driver that I downloaded.


Never mind, just want to help solving the problem.


I have tried signals from a VCR and a set-top box (I am using the M402U which has no tuner input).


Except the TUNER it should be same.


Other thoughts - are there any issues with INTEL dual core processors and the plextor or WinDVD Creator - My computer uses a Duo E6400 Dual Core Processor.


Compression should be done by the box, so CPU is not a problem. The only problem maybe the WinDVD in your case.

I tried the WinDVR5 come with the CD, it work for me though I never like it because I need to fine tune the parameters, so I use GoCap, works perfect.

As I see if your PC keep crashing, there may be something corrupt, try reinstall the OS than trouble shooting, save a lot of time.


What about graphics cards or drivers - Mine is a Geforce 7300GS?

Make sure you use the latest NVIDIA driver (I'm using 97.02) and RESET ALL PARAMETER to default, try not to use profiles and color management until you got the quality.

[nolly]

All sorted.

To fix the crashing when using the Plextor M402u with WinDVD Creator 2, it was necessary to download two fixes and install in the right order from:
http://www.plextor-europe.com/technicalservices/downloads/software_converters.asp?choice=Digital%20Video%20Convertors

Thanks johnsonlam for your help.
This hopefully will also sort Heineken77's problem.

Nolly

[johnsonlam]

All sorted.

To fix the crashing when using the Plextor M402u with WinDVD Creator 2, it was necessary to download two fixes and install in the right order from:
http://www.plextor-europe.com/technicalservices/downloads/software_converters.asp?choice=Digital%20Video%20Convertors

Thanks johnsonlam for your help.
This hopefully will also sort Heineken77's problem.

Nolly

Glad you finally fix the problem.
And thanks for sharing your experience.

[Heineken77]

Hi guys.

Thank you for all the helpful replies! I do have an issue though :(

I finally got it working. But then what I did was install windows vista. Now the plextor is not compatible with that.

So what I did was install XP on a seperate partition as a dual boot setup. I reinstalled the drivers on XP for the plextor and that worked fine. I also installed WinDVR 5 again.

However now the Plextor won't work with WinDVR 5. It will cap with Plextor Go Cap, but for some reason WinDVR 5 doesn't seem to pick it up as it's not displaying any picture through that program. When I start up WinDVR 5, the orange ready to record light won't go on. It will only go on with Plextor Go Cap.

I tried reinstalling WinDVR 5. Cleaning the registry. Reinstalling XP. I've tried practically everything, but winDVR 5 will just not work anymore. It's wierd, as it worked fine up to the point I left XP to go to Vista. But then after putting XP back in my computer, now it won't work.

If anyone has any ideas it would be a huge help!! I've been at this for weeks with no luck :(

Thanks!!!

[johnsonlam]

Hi guys.
However now the Plextor won't work with WinDVR 5. It will cap with Plextor Go Cap, but for some reason WinDVR 5 doesn't seem to pick it up as it's not displaying any picture through that program. When I start up WinDVR 5, the orange ready to record light won't go on. It will only go on with Plextor Go Cap.

I tried reinstalling WinDVR 5. Cleaning the registry. Reinstalling XP. I've tried practically everything, but winDVR 5 will just not work anymore. It's wierd, as it worked fine up to the point I left XP to go to Vista. But then after putting XP back in my computer, now it won't work.

If anyone has any ideas it would be a huge help!! I've been at this for weeks with no luck :(

Thanks!!!

I hate WinDVR because it limit the capture size and have no bitrate option, so if GoCAP works just use GoCAP, you can adjust the bitrate and other options by yourself.

Not sure why you fail, I just install in an English WinXP with firmware updated once.

Maybe you need to contact Plextor support.

[Heineken77]

Thanks for the reply.

I hate gocap though :(

First..I don't know what settings to input in order to get the exact quality cap that I did with WinDVR when I used the: Portable High Quality capture profile at 640x480. What settings would I use? I notice the bit rate numbers don't look the same as WinDVR. There are 4 digits in winDVR for the bitrate...but in gocap and other software I've tested, the bitrate is actually a 6 or 7 digit number. What gives?

Second, I've noticed that the video will freeze and drop frames every now and again using gocap. This never happened with WinDVR :(

Thank you for your help man! I look forward to your reply!

[johnsonlam]

Thanks for the reply.
I hate gocap though :(


Sorry I'm not that professional, but gocap really not for daily use or casual user, I can understand your anger deciding the bitrate and all kinds of "clumsy" settings.


First..I don't know what settings to input in order to get the exact quality cap that I did with WinDVR when I used the: Portable High Quality capture profile at 640x480. What settings would I use?


I suggest 3400kbit MPEG2 for 640x480, size and quality both OK.

If you want to "delete after watch", go for MPEG-4/2000kbit or lower.


I notice the bit rate numbers don't look the same as WinDVR. There are 4 digits in winDVR for the bitrate...but in gocap and other software I've tested, the bitrate is actually a 6 or 7 digit number. What gives?


They're not in Kbit, those are bits, you can divide by 1024 to get a Kbit reading.


Second, I've noticed that the video will freeze and drop frames every now and again using gocap. This never happened with WinDVR :(


Strange ... I use 8600Kbit to capture but still got smooth display, something must be going wrong ...

Too bad my unit is not here, I'll try to capture a screen for you in weekend.

[Heineken77]

Thanks for the reply once again!

Well I just reinstalled Windows XP Home onto my computer, once again onto a dual booted partition. However now nothing will work with the Plextor on my computer.

This is VERY wierd!!

I started thinking the ConvertX TV-402U might be having some sort of problem. Mabye it was just a coincidence that it broke at the same time that I installed Vista onto my computer.

So I took the unit to my Dad's PC which is the same AMD HP computer, where he didn't install Vista and stayed with the original operating system that came with the computer, which is: Media Center 2002 SP2. Put in the disk. Loaded the drivers. Loaded in WinDVR 5 and then connected the unit to the computer. And IT WORKS!!!!

So I know it's not an issue with the device, nor the drivers that I'm using. It has something to do with my dual booted XP installation. I've tried using both FAT and NTFS when installing XP, and both yielded the same results. I do see a couple of things in my device manager under XP that have a ! next to them..but I can't see those things having anything to do with the plextor!! :(

I would be so greatful if you guys could help me along with this until I get it fixed. I've spent weeks trying to figure this out with no luck :( VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!

Well thanks again guys!! I'll keep working at it, and will post a solution if I find one on my own.

[johnsonlam]

Thanks for the reply once again!
So I know it's not an issue with the device, nor the drivers that I'm using. It has something to do with my dual booted XP installation. I've tried using both FAT and NTFS when installing XP, and both yielded the same results. I do see a couple of things in my device manager under XP that have a ! next to them..but I can't see those things having anything to do with the plextor!! :(


I have a different conclusion.

It's your PC's hardware (chipset, USB) have problem.
You have to use the most complex way to troubleshoot:

1) check the mainboard chipset type, use the latest chipset driver (hope you use NFORCE, VIA ans SIS always have problem), access HP for any BIOS update
2) make sure Plextor is the only USB device plug in the USB port, temporary remove everything including USB hub
3) Defrag the whole hard disk, turn off unnecessary Windows service such as wireless and messenger
4) make sure don't run other memory or CPU hungry applications
5) try capture in FAT32 partition, a bit faster
5) not much related ... but help reserve Windows resources: try turning the theme back to Windows 2000, don't use fancy scrolling and fading effect


I would be so greatful if you guys could help me along with this until I get it fixed. I've spent weeks trying to figure this out with no luck :( VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!


Feel sorry for your experience, so I'll try my best to help.

[Heineken77]

Hey Jonsonlam. Thank you kindly for all of your continued support.

I tried all you suggested. Checked the mainboard chipset, and downloaded the latest nforce drivers for it from nvidia. Went into bios and reset to default settings. There was unfortunately no drivers or updates on the HP site for my computer.

I unplugged all other USB devices. Defragged, and shut down all the unnecessary services, changed system settings as suggested etc. Not a single thing worked.

So now I think to solve this issue, I am going to order the recovery disk set from HP and revert my computer to it's original state, when the device actually did work! It's a shame that no matter what I tried that there was no way to fix it. I would have been very curious to know what the problem was, regardless.

After I recover my PC to it's original state, I'll just make another partition and put Vista on it without removing XP like I did originally.

Thanks again my friend!


Quote:

[johnsonlam]

There was unfortunately no drivers or updates on the HP site for my computer.


This is the main reason to keep me away from brand name PC.


So now I think to solve this issue, I am going to order the recovery disk set from HP and revert my computer to it's original state, when the device actually did work! It's a shame that no matter what I tried that there was no way to fix it. I would have been very curious to know what the problem was, regardless.


Really a shame of HP, I've meet other minor problems in my workplace's PC. A brand new PC bootup with crazy XP. I need to restore myself before I can really use it, makes me angry.

I'm so lucky that my city have no tax, computer parts are cheap and abundant, experienced users DIY PC themselves.


After I recover my PC to it's original state, I'll just make another partition and put Vista on it without removing XP like I did originally.

Thanks again my friend!
Quote:

Appreciate your spirit to find out the TRUTH, I'll try my best to help. You're not alone!

Even it's a long and frustrating reinstall of drivers and programs, problems again and again, and you still want to overcome it, I wish everyone will follow your way and announce the badly designed product to the public, reducing the victims.