MAME cabinet/PVR combo?

[farmecologist]

Hi all,

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this.  If not, please move!

Since I have a high spec computer running in my cabinet, and since my cabinet is in my den ( close to the TV ), the thought occurred to me that it may be possible to also use the cabinet PC as a Personal Video Recorder.   

I am considering the snapstream beyond TV software ( http://www.snapstream.com/ ).   Seems to get good reviews and seems to be one of the most robust and easy to set up solutions out there.  I also like the 'free' firefly remote deal they have going right now.

Thinking about it a bit, it seems like I would need:

- A TV tuner card ( obviously )
- A graphics card that can handle:
   - Component video (for my TV )
   -  *and* drive another monitor ( my MAME monitor ).


Thoughts? Thanks much!

[sphetr2]

I like Media Portal. It's an open source port of Xbox Media Center. Snapstream costs, right? Well, MP is free. 

And with open source, comes themes and mods and other great stuff.

Or you could wait for GameEx to have PVR support. 

[leapinlew]

You will definetly need a TV Tuner card. I use Microsoft Media Center 2005 and I've been pretty happy with it overall. You can go down this path if you wish, but I think it would make more sense to have a dedicated machine for media center. If you want to talk about this more, let me know. I'd be glad to share my experiences with you on both Mame and PVR's.

As for Media Portal... I've never used it but I have used Xbox Media Center and it doesn't include a DVR of any kind.

[eastbayarb]

I have a PC with a Hauppague PVR-250 and a great program called Beyond TV with a USB/wireless remote called a FireFly.  I record on my PC with this combo, but I actually (via my wired network) play back recordings on my XBOX

This may be a viable option for you if you have an XBOX in your cab.

[davieboynj]

don't do it - - pvr is just too much overhead with its near constant disk usage.  you'd be better off with your mame on a SLOW computer and changing the inputs on your monitor. 

Also, I used snapstream for years, and it's a pile of doggie-doo compared to media center 2005.  It used to be somewhat "renegade" with its ability to mark off commercials, but now they're mainstream - and the only thing that's left is the divx support - which you can't even record directly to... it has to be recoreded in mpeg first.  In MCE2005, you can get plugins that do the same thing. 

And compared to the MCE remote (designed by the same people who made the tivo remote) the firefly stinks. 

I tinkered with my snapstream box constantly...  switched computers even to see if i could make it more stable...  no luck.  MCE2005 just worked from the start.  I never miss a show.  with snapstream, they were screwed up ALL the time. 

[sphetr2]

As for Media Portal... I've never used it but I have used Xbox Media Center and it doesn't include a DVR of any kind.

MP does. It started as a port of XBMC but it's since expanded into places XBMC has never gone because of the limits of the xbox.

[leapinlew]

As for Media Portal... I've never used it but I have used Xbox Media Center and it doesn't include a DVR of any kind.

MP does. It started as a port of XBMC but it's since expanded into places XBMC has never gone because of the limits of the xbox.

Oh, I see. This is just the DVR software correct? Like Myth, or Knopmyth?

for what it's worth, I tried Myth and ran into some configuration issues. So many problems in fact I justified the expense for Microsoft Media Center. I got it setup in no time... and it streams to my Xbox360 with no problems.

Maybe this solultion is pricier than some of the free alternatives, but not having any headaches and the seamless integration make it worth it to me.

[Silver]

don't do it - - pvr is just too much overhead with its near constant disk usage.  you'd be better off with your mame on a SLOW computer and changing the inputs on your monitor. 

Have to agree. It would be quite easy to stick in another system with HD/Tuner card to be your PVR, then you can just share the screen. If you get a proper card like one of those Hauppage jobs they do on-board video encode/decode, so you don't need a fast cpu.

[davieboynj]

for what it's worth, I tried Myth and ran into some configuration issues. So many problems in fact I justified the expense for Microsoft Media Center. I got it setup in no time... and it streams to my Xbox360 with no problems.

Maybe this solultion is pricier than some of the free alternatives, but not having any headaches and the seamless integration make it worth it to me.

so true.  if i knew then what i know now... 

[sphetr2]

Oh, I see. This is just the DVR software correct? Like Myth, or Knopmyth?

for what it's worth, I tried Myth and ran into some configuration issues. So many problems in fact I justified the expense for Microsoft Media Center. I got it setup in no time... and it streams to my Xbox360 with no problems.

Maybe this solultion is pricier than some of the free alternatives, but not having any headaches and the seamless integration make it worth it to me.

No, MP is DVR with Music Manager, Photo Manager, My Videos, DVD Player, Internet Radio, etc. Like a free MCE.

Here's the site:
http://www.team-mediaportal.com/

Plug-ins and themes are also downloadeable from the site. You can make MP look just like MCE. Or you can integrate a web browser. There are lots of options that come w/ open source.