Audio and Video Inputs

The Audio and Video Inputs page displays a list of all the possible inputs Beyond TV can use to make recordings. It also allows editing existing inputs and creating new inputs manually. In the provided example, two WinTV PVR-250BTV devices are configured as basic (analog) cable inputs.

Use the Up and Down buttons to adjust the order in which Beyond TV will use the capture device. The top listed capable video source will be used to record. For example, in a setup connected to both Digital Cable and Analog (basic) Cable, most users like their Digital Cable input on the bottom of the stack so that it is used only when absolutely necessary.

Use the appropriate Disable button to ensure that Beyond TV will not use that video input. For a disabled input, the Enable button will be available.

Use Create New Video Source to manually create a video input*, or Edit Settings to edit the appropriate input. See below for details on creating / editing inputs.

Use License Additional Tuners to enter additional Tuner Licenses. The software natively supports two tuners and additional tuners can enabled through the purchase of additional tuner licenses. (Note that using an additional source on a card that shares a tuner with another source is not considered an additional tuner device.)*

*It is highly recommended that you use the Setup Wizard to accomplish these functions.




The Add / Edit a Video Source page enables users to manually create, or to edit existing, lineups. This screenshot shows the Edit screen for a video input. The "Add" screen is the same except with respect to the "Save" buttons at the bottom. Use the "Show more options" dropdown located at the top of the listing to display all options available.

Friendly Name
The name Beyond TV will use when referring to this Video Source.

Video Device
The tuner device this Source is connected to as it appears to Beyond TV. For example, most of the WinTV-PVR PCI cards will appear as "Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Capture," and all of the ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon cards will appear as "ATI Rage Theater Capture."

Video Input
The method by which this Source is physically connected to the tuner device, for example; Coaxial (usually denoted by the word "Tuner"); S-Video; or Composite.
Lock Tuner: Necessary when using a cable or satellite set-top box and the Coaxial input. This option, when checked, will ensure that Beyond TV tunes only to the channel the set-top box is transmitting on.

Lock Tuner Channel
This option will only appear if using the Lock Tuner option. This specifies the channel the set-top box outputs to on a Coaxial video feed, usually channel 3 or 4.
Video Broadcast Source: The type of broadcast feed connected. Examples: "Cable (no box)" for analog (or "basic") cable; "Cable (Cable box)" for Digital cable; Satellite; and Antenna.

Channel Lineup
The SnapStream.Net or user-created lineup associated with this input.

External Tuning
The name of the device being used to tune a Digital Cable or Satellite set-top box to the correct channel. The following settings will only be available if using one of these devices:

COM Port

This option specifies the COM port that a Serial Port controlled External Tuning device is connected to.

Select Cable/Satellite Box Model

Specifies the make and model, or description, of the Digital Cable or Satellite set-top box being controlled by the External Tuning device.

Simulate "Enter" after channel change

Some set-top boxes will not change channels at all unless the user hits "Enter" or "OK" after entering the channel number. Enable this option if the set-top box for this Source behaves in this manner.

Pad channels with leading zeroes

Specifies the number of digits a set-top box requires to change channels. For example, a box may require the user enter "013" to get to channel 13; this corresponds to a "pad channels" setting of 3.

Time between transmissions

The time, in milliseconds, that Beyond TV should wait before sending the next button press when changing channels.

Repeat rate

The number of times Beyond TV should rapidly repeat a single button press to ensure that the set-top box receives it. Increase this number if the set-top box is not receiving digits, and decrease it if the set-top box is receiving duplicate digits.

Send "Channel Down" before channel change

Some set-top boxes, when tuned to an invalid channel, will require the user to hit the Channel Down or Channel Up button before changing channels again. Enable this option if the set-top box being used behaves in this manner.

Capture Quality Settings
Use these options to fine-tune the recordings made through a given tuner device. All settings are on a scale of 1 to 100, with 1 representing the lowest intensity of the given property, and 100 the highest.

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Brightness

Adjusts the brightness level of the overall picture. Raise this value if the entire picture is too dim, and lower it if the entire picture is too bright. This corresponds to the "Brightness" setting on a television set.

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Saturation

Adjusts the amount of white mixed with colors in the picture. Raise this value if the color in the picture is too pale, and lower it if the color in the picture is too intense. This corresponds to the "Color" setting on a television set.

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Contrast

Adjusts the level of similarity between light and dark in the picture. Raise this value if blacks appear as grey, and lower it if dim scenes in the picture are nearly invisible, but brightly lit scenes are intense. This corresponds to the "Contrast" or "Picture" setting on a television set.

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Hue

Adjusts the bias towards red or green in the picture. Raise this value if there is too much red in the picture, and lower it if there is too much green. This corresponds to the "Tint" setting on a television set.

Windows Media Live Streaming
Enables or disables the streaming of Live TV over the Web Admin interface, which is performed via the Tasks menu. This option is only available for software-encode cards, and is not shown in the screenshot above.

Windows Media Live Streaming Port
The port on which streaming Live TV via the Web Admin will be performed. This option is only available for software-encode cards, and is not shown in the screenshot above.

TV Format
The broadcast standard being used for this video source, defined by the country selection in the Setup Wizard. Changing this value will not necessarily allow you to tune in different formats -- TV format (ie PAL or NTSC) is typically limited by your tuner hardware.

TV Audio
The audio stream that will be recorded with the video. Select "Stereo," "Mono," "Secondary Audio (SAP)" or "Dual Language (mono)" according to your preferences and the capabilities of your capture device.

Country Code
The country in which broadcasts are being recorded by Beyond TV. This is defined in the Setup Wizard, and in turn defines the TV Format setting above.


If editing a Video Source, hit the Save Changes button to save the modifications to the Source being edited.
If creating a new Video Source, hit the Save as New button to save the changes to the Source being created. If editing an existing source as a template for an entirely new source, be sure to change the "Friendly Name" value and any conflicting settings with pre-existing Video Sources.