Copying from Sky+

bpmurray

I haven't used the Copy function on a recorded program yet, but I'm assuming that it's going to simply dump it as analogue out the VCR SCART connection. I'd like to get it into some format I could actually use - I still have a VCR, but haven't used it in some time. Is there any way to dump it across the USB connection so that I could burn a DVD on my PC? Is there any such thing as a SCART->USB or firewire connector?

EricM

Yes there is a scart to usb connector.
You can get one in pc world for about 80 euros.

But the quality will not be so good because the sky box only outputs analogue.

watty

USB video capture fairly poor.

Better solutions are
* S-Video to PCI TV tuner card with S-Video in (regular Sky boxes you can buy a SCART RGB to S-video convertor, NOT the cheap SCART / S-video adaptor, those are for s-VHS machines with S-video signal on the SCART).

* Use a Digital Camcorder as S-Video to Firewire bridge. Many can route Analog video in to Firewire out, but not all.

* S-video to Firewire Multimedia bridge (These cost about 3/4 price of a Camcorder!)

* Profesional video editing card with Firewire and S-Video in built in. Usually also has HW codecs.

Use either MJPEG, DV or Huffy codec to capture and then do non-real time 2 pass VBR MPEG2 encoding using Nero or TMPenc to encode. Realtime during capture needs 3Ghz PC and is much poorer.

ffocused

you could get a dvd recorder....they are dropping in price all the time, you should get one for EUR100 to 150.

dmeehan

i thought the copy function basically played the selected recording(s)??

Mossy Monk

yes, that is exactly what the copy function does

watty

dmeehan wrote:

i thought the copy function basically played the selected recording(s)??

yes. bit of a misnomer.

What ever the USB is for, it isn't for playback.

bpmurray

So the only realistic option is to convert the SCART signal to S-video and suck that into a TV card. I know my TV card does S-video out - I'll have to check if it does in too.

What annoys me is that there are two USB ports in the box - why on earth aren't they active? Anyone know anyone who knows someone who has actually taken a box apart to see what they can be used for?

mossym

they *could* be for a lot of things, like

allow external hard drives to allow greater storage space
allow you to hook up keyboard instead of those sky navigator remotes
allow usb flash drives to allow you to show pics on screen
allow usb network cards to remove recordings to your pc

even if you took it apart, it would tell you nothing...it's whatever software sky load that will dictate what they are used for

watty

There is a proposed portable Sky personal Audio/Video player that connects via the USB. They are having problems with Rights Management (i.e. they want it only to work with your own box!).