[d2e8b8]

Hi guys,

Need your help. First, wasn't quite sure which forum to ask this in so if it's the wrong one please feel free to move.

The objective -
My son wants to capture the action while he's playing his PS3 game, then edit it to make short video clips.

Other than a general idea that I need to capture the output from the PS3 on to the PC I'm afraid I know very little on how to do this.

I'm looking for solutions to
- capture the video from the PS3. He wants to capture High Def so assuming HDMI is out. Which means I need to buy the multi-av to component cable? And what is the best way to capture - a capture card or an HD PVR (something like Hauppauge 1212)?

- I'm assuming this device will be inserted between the PS3 and the TV since the TV has no video out.

- Similarly for audio, I'm guessing the optical will go from PS3 to device to receiver.

- Can I retain the HDMI connection to another input for my movies? Will the PS3 allow both outputs to be used albeit one at a time.

- So what is the best device for capture of video and audio?

- Do I need to buy software to edit the files or will an editor come with the device.

- Is it better to save files in a specific format i.e. is there an advantage to using a specific format over another.

- I'm assuming the device will connect to the pc via usb. Does it need to be connected while recording as well or just for transferring the files to the pc.

I'm sure I haven't asked all the questions and there may be more later but there is so little I know about this topic that I feel a little lost not knowing where to start.

I have a laptop with Win 7 installed (in case it helps).

Thanks very much for any help you can give me.

ps. Oh, I don't want to spend too much on this - may be 200 or 300.

 

[ac]

You can use the Hauppauge HD PVR to do this. I have one but don't use it for this particular function (so I can't answer all of your questions). The price is around $240 so it would fit into your range.

The HD PVR connects to your PC via USB. It does come with capture software which should be sufficient for basic video editing. You would need to connect the component cables from your PS3 to the HD PVR box component in, and the component out connections to your tv/receiver. It has optical in/outs as well.

You should be able to keep you HDMI connection and add a second component/optical audio path, but you will likely need to manually set the PS3's output each time you want to change.

The HD PVR just does the encoding and has no local hard drive storage, so you must have you laptop connected the entire time.

Have a look at the Hauppauge website under support and then the HD PVR area. There is a FAQ that will answer some of your other questions. (Also they have a section on setting up the PS3).

 

[d2e8b8]

Thanks ac for confirming my assumptions.

I did look at the Hauppauge site but didn't get to the FAQ so thanks for that.

 

[Wayne]

I am not sure that the software that comes with the HD-PVR will allow you to do editing. The HD-PVR creates H.264 files which are not that widely suported by video editing programs so you might have to buy software like VideoReDo TV Suite which at least has a beta version that supports H.264 files.

And I am also not 100% sure that you can use the HDMI and component outputs simultaneously from a PS3. The HD-PVR has a passthrough so you might have to connect component cables from the PS3 to HD-PVR and then another set of component cables from HD-PVR to TV. The reason I say this is that the SA cable boxes will not simultaneously output to both HDMI and component.

The other way to do this, although the quality will suffer, is to simply use a camcorder to film the TV while playing - but you may have already tried this.

If you don't mind giving up HD then pretty much any TV tuner product with a s-video input will work and software like Windows Movie Maker should work as your editor since the files created will be in MPEG-2 format. That solution will cost you $50 or less as opposed to $300 for the HD option. But it would be better if you used a desktop PC since most capture devices are PCI or PCIe based.

 

[JoeSoap]

My son also wanted to capture his PS3 gameplay but hasn't asked for edit capability yet.

You should be able to keep you HDMI connection and add a second component/optical audio path, but you will likely need to manually set the PS3's output each time you want to change.

I can confirm the manual change of output. I have a computer, pvr, and PS3 connected to receiver, which in turn connects to the tv. The hdpvr is connected to the computer which is running with dual monitors (the tv is one of the monitors).

During game capture the source is the computer, while the regular game play's source is the PS3.

I showed my son how to switch the PS3's outputs and the receiver inputs. Now he does it all himself, including uploading the result to youtube.

And I am also not 100% sure that you can use the HDMI and component outputs simultaneously from a PS3.

I agree as you tell the PS3 which output you're using and I assume the non-active connection would be dark.

 

[Tikker]

lots of folks use a HAVA for doing this

its not HD tho, but dvd resolution

(hava is basically a slingbox, but integrates into media center)

you can use the mediacenter recorder, or the default hava app

 

[d2e8b8]

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions. I eventually ordered the Hauppauge 1219. It has not arrived yet. Will update when it does.

I have not ordered an editing software yet so that's next on the list.

 

[d2e8b8]

The Hauppauge arrived today from NCIX. It was quick shipment and the packaging was excellent.

Installed the software and drivers and checked the website and found and installed an updated driver (son did it all with a little direction from me - which means it was really simple to do).

Still waiting for the cables which were ordered from m/price.

Hopefully, by next week, we'll be able to set it up and test it out.

 

[d2e8b8]

The cables arrived and we hooked it all up. The colors were off and we found the ps3 multi-av cable was defective (which makes it a hassle to return if bought online from the US). Ended up spending for another cable at EB Games.

Everything works except 5.1 audio. Not sure if there's something in the Hauppauge that needs to be set but it insists on sending 2-ch to the output.

It looks like it is using the red/white input (and not the optical input) and outputting the stereo signal to the optical out (which is the only audio connection to the amp).

I tested this by removing the red/white input to the hauppauge and the audio stopped. I've got the ps3 set to output to optical and also tested it by connecting it directly to the amp and getting 5.1.

But to get audio 'thru' the hauppauge I had to set the ps3 to output both (which also tells me the hauppauge is only recognizing the red/white).

So it looks like there's more work needed to make the hauppauge use the optical in.

Other than that, the video capture and editing works.

 

[d2e8b8]

Gave up on 5.1 optical 'thru' the Hauppauge. Now I have the optical going straight to the AVR while the Hauppauge only has the red/white. That way while any recording is in stereo at least we can enjoy 5.1 while gaming or watching movies.

I've been trying to program my Atlas 5-device (that comes with Rogers box) to switch the Hauppauge on/off but the code in the manual doesn't work.

Has anyone been able to program the Atlas and know the code.