PVR PLUS User Manual

Contents

V2.0

Chapter 1 : PVR-PLUS Software Functions...................................................................................................... 3

Chapter 2 : TVR Functions Guide ..................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 System Setting and Channel Scan........................................................................................................ 4
2.2 Main Panel ........................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2.1 Information Window ................................................................................................................. 5
2.2.2 Basic Tools ................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2.3 Channel Tuning ......................................................................................................................... 6
2.2.4 Input Source .............................................................................................................................. 6
2.2.5 Volume Adjust ........................................................................................................................... 6
2.2.6 Record, Playback and TimeShifting.......................................................................................... 6
2.3 Schedule Recording ............................................................................................................................. 8
2.3.1Capture ....................................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.2Time option ................................................................................................................................ 8
2.4 Setup Utility ....................................................................................................................................... 10
2.4.1 TV Tuner Setup Properties...................................................................................................... 10
2.4.2 Preview Setup propertyies ...................................................................................................... 10
2.4.3 Capture Setup properties ......................................................................................................... 11
2.4.4 Video Setup properties ............................................................................................................ 11
2.4.5 Other Setup properties............................................................................................................. 12
2.5 Channel Preview ................................................................................................................................ 12
2.6 Snapshot ............................................................................................................................................. 12
2.7 Sleeping Timer ................................................................................................................................... 13
2.8 FM Function (Optional) ..................................................................................................................... 13
Chapter 3 : MPEG Encoder ............................................................................................................................. 16
3.1 User Interface ..................................................................................................................................... 16
3.2 Practice Streaming Video File Format Conversion............................................................................ 16
Chapter 4 : MPEG Editor................................................................................................................................. 19
4.1 Play List Editor .................................................................................................................................. 19

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 4.2 Display Panel ..................................................................................................................................... 20
4.2.1 Original Clips Display Window.............................................................................................. 21
4.2.2 Edited Clips Display Window................................................................................................. 21
4.3 Original and Staging Clips ................................................................................................................. 21
4.3.1 Original Clips .......................................................................................................................... 21
4.3.2 Staging Clips ........................................................................................................................... 22
4.4 Frame Edit Mode................................................................................................................................ 22
4.4.1.Frame Range Selection for Editing......................................................................................... 22
4.4.2. Video Frames Editing and Saving.......................................................................................... 23
Chapter 5 : Burn DVD ..................................................................................................................................... 24
5.1 Adding Files ....................................................................................................................................... 24
5.2 Burning............................................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 6 : FAQ ............................................................................................................................................... 26
FAQ 1 : How do I use the “Schedule Recording in Power-Off (SRPO)” function?................................ 26

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 Chapter 1 : PVR PLUS Software Functions
When using PVR PLUS, There are four different functions to choose from. Picture below is an example of
how the interface looks like and a short description of each function.

• TVR : TVR turns your PC into a

full-featured video recorder.

• MPEG Encoder : MPEG Encoder

converts AVI files into MPEG format.

• Video Editor : Video Editor makes

editing MPEG video files easy.

• Burn DVD : Burn DVD creates VCD,

SVCD and DVD that can be played on a PC or
DVD player.

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Chapter 2 : TVR Functions Guide
TVR is a powerful and easy-to-use TV application which includes feature-rich video/audio entertainment
functions. TVR provides a convenient way to watch and record TV or video on your PC and also allows
you to playback recorded TV or video files. You could also listen to FM radio broadcasts under the FM
mode if it is included in your model.

2.1 System Setting and Channel Scan

When executing TVR at first time, TV Setup Wizard will help you to
set your TV configurations step-by- step.

1. Select “Frequency Table” and “Video Standard” (NTSC, PAL or

SECAM) either by “Country” or “TV System”.

2. Set frequency input source from “Cable type” and sound source
from “TV live sound”, TV live sound is the audio device
channel that connects to your audio-out of TV tuner card.

Note: If you connect “Line-out” from TV card to “Line-in” of sound

card, you should select “Line-in” under “TV live sound’ and
“Recording Sound”.

3. Click “Start” to start channel scanning.

4. After scanning the set frequency range, click “Finish” to activate

TVR to follow the frequency table set from channel scanning to
do channel mapping.

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Note:
1. TVR’s default frequency scanning range is dependent on country code set by Windows OS, but
scanning range might not be entirely correct. You should check and select a valid option for your
origin if necessary.
2. When re-configuring current TV frequency table at anytime, choose "Reset TV Option" from the
option menu by Right-Clicking on the display panel.

2.2 Main Panel

Preview window size can be adjusted by mouse or double click to switch to full-screen. There are six major
functions of TVR.

2.2.1 Information Window

Displays current state (Live, REC, Playback, Time-Shifting), TV sound state (Mono, Stereo or SAP),
audio volume, speaker state, recording time, recording file size and current time.

2.2.2 Basic Tools

There are 8 sub functions, see following for icon definition.
Antenna: Video source switch (the horizontal white button on the top)
: Schedule Recording Agent
: Setup
: Channel preview
: Snapshot
: Sleeping timer setup
: TV sound switching
Switches to FM mode, if product you purchase supports this function.

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2.2.3 Channel Tuning

Selecting channel can be done by entering the channel through numeric keys from the
application’s control panel or keyboard.

: Previous channel. : Next channel.

: Back to previous channel.
Note: Frequency table must be enabled in order for and buttons to be functional.

2.2.4 Input Source

There are five video input sources for users to select from (Antenna, Cable, Memory, Composite and
S-Video). Input source can be changed by clicking “ ” or “ ” button on control panel or
choose "Switch Video Source" in popup menu.

2.2.5 Volume Adjust

: Volume increase

: Volume decrease

: Mute or restore sound

2.2.6 Record, Playback and TimeShifting

1. Record Function

Any current live video can be recorded by clicking the capture button, on control panel or choose

"Capture" in popup menu. To stop recording, simply click the “Stop” button on control panel or

choose "Stop" in popup menu to stop current recording. Recorded files can be reviewed in the playback list
after recording.

2. Playback Function

By clicking the “Play” button, on control panel or choose "Play" in popup menu to playback

any recorded files. A playback dialog which shows all recorded video files and all recently played files will
pop up. More than one video/Audio files from either recorded file or files of your own collections can be
entered into a play list.
Button Definition:

• : Play • : Stop • : Fast Forward

• : Pause • : Rewind

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Note: The window above is an example of adding or deleting files to and from the Play list.

3. Time-Shifting Function

Time-Shifting can be done during live mode by clicking on control panel or choose "Time-Shifting"

in popup menu. In Time-Shifting mode, simply click on control panel or choose "Play" in popup

menu to get back and watch the channel from where you left. Click on control panel or choose

"Stop" in popup menu to stop Time-Shifting.

During Time-Shifting mode, you can switch from current video to Time-Shifting video window and vice
versa by choosing "Real Screen" in popup menu.

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2.3 Schedule Recording
To setup a schedule recording, click from the control panel to enter the “Schedule Recording Agent”
properties window.

2.3.1Capture
Capture Source: Choose the input source where
you want to capture from.
Channel: Select the channel to record from.
Capture format (profile): Choose the desired
file format for saving the recorded file.
Capture size: Choose the frame size of the
recording file.
Bit rate (Kbps): Choose the recording bit rate.
Capture quality: Choose the capture quality.
Frame rate: Choose the number of frames per
second for the recording schedule.
Capture audio option: Four options to choose
from, "Capture audio", "Capture audio only, No
video" or "No audio".
File name option: Use the “date/time” as the
default file name for recorded video files or
define a different name.
2.3.2Time option
Current time: Shows the current time.
Starting time: Date and time of the set schedule recording event.
Duration: Time length of the set schedule recording event.
Recording rule: Enter the recording rule for the schedule recording. The default value is "Once only"

When a recording schedule is entered, the entered

recording schedule will be shown in the table like the one
on the left.

Insert: Inserts a new recording schedule record.

Edit: Edit a recording schedule record.
Delete: Delete a recording schedule records.
Delete All: Delete all the recording schedule from the list.
Start Power-off Schedule : This function allows users to
turn off the system immediately and it will turn your PC
back on automatically few minutes prior to the schedule
recording.

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Note: To enable this function, please first enable
“Hibernate” function in the windows power
management configuration.

The “Today To-do List” frame shows all of the recording

schedules set for today.

If any recording schedule had failed, an error message

will be created automatically into the “Log” frame.

Output folder: A different directory can be chosen to

save the recorded files.

Auto-execute at start up: Enable this option in order to

execute Schedule Agent automatically at start up.

Enable Power-off schedule recording mode: Enabling

this option allows system to shutdown automatically when
a schedule recording is finished.

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2.4 Setup Utility
2.4.1 TV Tuner Setup Properties
The TV Tuner Setup property page allows users to customize and configure TV channels and edit users’
favorite channels by grouping them. Signals from the cable or antenna can be scanned for channels
automatically and users can label and identify their favorite channels, as well as include or exclude channels
from the scanned channels list. Channel settings such as video standard, MTS option, channel name and
frequency fine tune can be changed by double clicking on the selected channel.

Normal Group: Switch TV source from Antenna to Cable or

vice versa.
Memory Group: Users can assign channel number or video
source in their desired order.
Auto Scan: Auto Scans the frequency range for TV channels.

2.4.2 Preview Setup propertyies

The preview setup property page, allows users to customize
and configure TV channels for channel previewing. There
two preview options to choose from, “Standard” and
“Customize”.

Standard
Preview dimension: number of frames to be displayed on
the preview window.
Preview time interval: The preview time for each channel
to be displayed.

Customize
This options allows users to set the video source of each
previewing channel. Enter the desired previewing channels
through the numeric keys in the control panel.

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2.4.3 Capture Setup properties
Video capture device: Choose the device to capture from.
Video input format: Select the video input format as YUY2,
UYVY or RGB24.
Capture format (profile): Sets the video format to record in.
Capture Size: Sets the video capture frame size.
Bite Rate (Kbps): Choose the recording bite rate.
Capture quality: Choose the recording quality.
Frame Rate: Choose the frame rate for recording.
Capture location: Choose the directory to save the recorded
files.
Capture filename: Use the “date/time” as the default file
name for recorded video files or define a different name.
Enable time limit: Sets a time limit for recording.
Capture audio device: You can select "Capture audio",
"Capture audio only, No Video" or no audio. When you select
"Capture audio only, No Video", you can capture the file in WAV or MP3 format.
Audio capture device: Select which audio device to user to capture.
Audio Source: Select which audio device to capture from. (Recommend using Line in.)
Audio format: Sets the audio format to record the file in.

2.4.4 Video Setup properties

Color: Brightness, contrast, hue and saturation

adjustment.

Video System: Sets the system format for the input

sources from composite video and S-Video

Always on Top: The preview window will always

be on top.

Enable high quality preview: Enables high

quality preview mode

Don't use overlay as display surface: If your

graphic card doesn't supports Overlay mode, check
this option box.

Display Aspect Ration: You can change

the display aspect ratio to 4 : 3 , 16 : 9 or free
mode.

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2.4.5 Other Setup properties

Multi language option: To select the different language

interface.

Enable PIP playback: Enable the Picture-In-Picture function

while playing back files.

Save file on time shifting: Save the video file while using
Time-Shifting function.

2.5 Channel Preview

Click from the control panel or choose "Channel Preview" on popup menu.

While in channel preview mode, use the

arrow keys on the keyboard and press
“Enter” or double click the left button on the
mouse to exit the preview mode and watch
the selected channel.

2.6 Snapshot
Snapshots (still image capture) can be taken from current viewing window by clicking from the control
panel or choose "Snapshot" in popup menu. The Snapshot window will pop up when a snapshot is taken.
Here, users can view, save or delete images taken.

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Note: The captured images can be saved in either bitmap or JPEG file format when saving the file.

2.7 Sleeping Timer

If is selected, you can use “Sleeping Timer” function.
After you select the button, you would see the dialog box as below:

You can use slide bar or left and right key to adjust the timer
value, click “OK” to start or “Cancel” to exit.

2.8 FM Function (Optional)

FM function allows users to listen and record FM radio shows. There are 50
memory channels that can be assigned to and Schedule Recording Agent can be
used here as well.

The FM control panel is designed to look like controls on a electric appliance, you
can click button on control panel to do the function you want. The following page
shows descriptions for the FM control panel functions, and tips for operating FM
features.

Information Window:

Displays current state (FM, REC, Playback), audio volume, speaker state,
recording time, recording file size and current time.
Frequency Tuning:
Different channel can be selected by using the slide bar to tune in different frequencies

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Basic tool:
: Switch to TV mode : Increases by 0.05MHz to current frequency
: Schedule recording : Decreases by 0.05MHz to current frequency
: Setup property : Next channel
: Add current frequency to memory channel : Previous channel
list

Channel Selection :
: Click the button aftern entering the channel through numeric keys.
: Switch back to previously selected channel.

Volume tuning:

: Volume increase

: Volume decrease
: Mute or restore sound

Record / Playback :

: Recording

: Playback

: Pause current playback

: Stop playback and back to Live mode

: Rewind

: Fast Forward

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Recording

To record current audio channel, simply click on control panel or choose "Capture" in popup menu.

Click to stop recording or choose "Stop" in popup menu. To playback the recorded file, use the

playback list window to playback.

Playback
Please refer to chapter 2.2.6 on page 6 for playback instructions.

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Chapter 3 : MPEG Encoder
3.1 User Interface
Fig. 3.1 is an example of how the main panel looks like when executing MPEG Encoder:

Fig. 3.1
The main panel is composed of four segments. Refer to Fig. 3.1
Header Buttons Add input files; Delete files; Edit options; Start and Stop transcoding.
Batch Process Display Displays file name, encoding status, screen size and play time of files to
Window be transcoded.
Progress Display Window Displays formatting information about the file being transcoded.
Preview Display Window Displays the video of the file being transcoded.

3.2 Practice Streaming Video File Format Conversion

MPEG Encoder 5.0 transcodes multimedia files between

video formats. For multimedia files to be transcoded using
Encoder 5.0, they must be playable under Windows Media
Player. File formats that can be transcoded are: AVI,
DV-AVI, MPEG 1, MPEG 2, ASF, WMV, DivX, and
DAT.

Fig. 3.2

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 Fig. 3.3

To add a multimedia file to be transcoded, click the "+" or "Add" button. This will open the "Browse"
dialog box. Browse to the directory/file wanted and click on "Open". (Another method of adding files to the
“Batch Process Display Window” is to simply highlight a file, then drag and drop it into the Batch Process
Display Window.) Refer to Fig. 3.3

Once the multimedia file is added to the “Batch Process Display Window,” the Option Selection Dialog Box
appears. This begins the process of selecting the output format for the transcoder to create. Choose among
four categories of formats: MPEG 1, MPEG 2; Category tabs appear at the top of the window. After
selecting a format category, choose a specific video format (and detailed options if necessary). Please refer to
Fig. 3.2

The output file will be created in the same directory as the original file unless a different path is manually
chosen. It will also maintain the original video file name and add a file extension matching the video format
of the output type selected. The file name can also be manually changed. Refer to Fig. 3.4

Fig. 3.4

Once the output video format and options are selected, click "OK", then the file will appear in the Batch
Process Display Window. Refer to Fig. 3.5

Fig. 3.5

The Batch Process Display Window shows three states of process in the Status column.

1. “Waiting” means that the media file displayed is queued for transcoding (compression and/or translation).
The transcoding of video files in the "Waiting" state begins when the Encoding button is clicked.

2. “Exclusion” means that transcoding of that file will not occur.

3. “Done” means that the transcoding (compression and/or translation) is successfully completed.

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To change a file's status between Waiting and Exclusion (and vice versa), double click on the file line. The
Waiting state will change to an Exclusion state and be reported as "Skip". Similarly, a file with a "Skip"
status when double-clicked, will change to "Waiting."
Fig. 3.5 shows the status Exclusion that changed status of previously added at above by double clicking with
mouse.

Although you push Encoding button in this status, it will not execute compression and translation process.
Change the status to “Waiting” by double clicking the mouse and click the “Encoding” button to execute the
conversion process.

Fig. 3.6
During transcoding, the Status column changes to display the percentage of progress accomplished. Also,
once the transcoding process has begun the (right arrow) Encoding button changes to a Stop button. If the
Stop button is clicked-on during transcoding, the process will stop.

Once the transcoding process completes successfully, the status will change to “Done”. To transcode the
same file again. For example, double-click on the file in the Batch Process Display Window and the Status
will change to Waiting. To change the option again, highlight the file with a single mouse click and then
click on the Option or Edit button to execute the “Option Selection” dialog box.

To view the input video file, click on the “Input” play button.

To view the transcoded output video file, highlight the video file and click on the
“Output” play button.

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Chapter 4 : MPEG Editor

Fig. 4.1
Fig. 4.1 Shows how the “MPEG Editor” user interface looks like.

• Menu Section : file open, file/video clip delete, video property, change skin color, minimize, maximize,
close and help.
• Display panel : play original video clips, play edited video clips (preview), display saving progress
information.
• Video Clip Staging Section : Original Clips, Staging Clips.
• Frame Edit Section : mark frame range, sequence arrangement, merge multiple frames into one video.
• Title Edit Section : add title, font style, size, color, movement (straight line, curve line)
• Audio Edit Section : add audio and create sound effect
• Special Effect Section : use Color Effect, Filter Effect, Transition Effect, Transition In Effect, Transition
Out Effect, Noise Reduction Filter

4.1 Play List Editor

: Add files to play list

• Support MPEG-1, 2 system file(Video and Audio),

AVI(DV-AVI).
• Select a file and click Ok button.

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 : Clip/File delete
Delete clips registered in Original/Staging Clips.
Actual file on a hard disk is deleted when "Delete File" is
checked.

: Mpeg Properties Dialog

Displays your input mpeg file properties

4.2 Display Panel

Fig. 4.2
The very top of Fig. 4.2 displays the video files added to the play list. The four editing mode when the
“Effect” is selected in Fig. 4.2 is the mode to choose when adding special effects to the editing clips.

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4.2.1 Original Clips Display Window
• Displays videos of Original Clips. (Double Click or Drag and Drop)
• Videos in Staging Clips cannot be displayed in this window.
• In Title editing mode, Title can be edited in this window.
• In Audio editing mode, it displays registered audio files.
• In Special Effect mode, it displays all available filters.
• Displays the progress information when final video is created.

4.2.2 Edited Clips Display Window

• Displays videos in Staging Clips. (Double Click or Drag and Drop)
• Videos in Original Clips can be displayed in this window.
• Preview function displays edited video in this window.

4.3 Original and Staging Clips

Fig. 4.3
The 4 editting mode where the “Audio” is selected in Fig. 4.3 is the mode to choose when editing the audio
of the editing clips.
4.3.1 Original Clips
z This is the area where video clips that need to be edited are added and managed.
z Video clips can be dragged and dropped into the Original Clips area.
z The sequence of video clips added can also be rearranged easily by drag and drop.

i) How to add video clips

z Use the button in the “Menu” to browse and select video clips to add to the Original Clips
area.
z Drag and Drop video files to the Original Clips area.

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 ii) How to view and manage video clips in the Original Clips area:
z To view a video clip in the Original Clips are, either double click on the video clip or drag and drop
the video clip from the Original Clips area on to the Original Video Display window.
z Clicking on the right mouse button will bring up a Popup Menu. This menu performs the following
functions: copy, delete and show property information.

4.3.2 Staging Clips

• This is the area where video clips are added after frame ranges are specified.
• Video clips can be managed for further editing in this area.
• Editing, deletion and sequence arranging are done here.
• File properties for each video clip can be obtained by right mouse clicking on the clip.
• Video clips are acted upon and added to the Staging area using the four application buttons on the
left side of Video Editor. Those four buttons are "Cut", "Title", "Audio" and "Effect".

4.4 Frame Edit Mode

4.4.1.Frame Range Selection for Editing

Fig. 4.4

The 4 editting mode where the “Title” is selected in Fig. 4.4 is the mode to choose when adding titles to
the editing clips.

• Specify frame range

• To add an entire video clip, drag the clip from the Original Clips area and drop it in the Staging Clips
area.
• To add portions of a video clip, drag the clip from the Original Clips area and drop it in the left
preview window. Then using the Mark-in/Mark-out button, cut the portion of the video clip to be

edited and then click the button to transfer the clip to the Staging Clips area.
• Users can repeat the above steps to add multiple video frames.

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 Fig. 4.5

Fig. 4.5 displays the list of the files chosen to be used for editing.

4.4.2. Video Frames Editing and Saving

2.1 Adding Video Clip

• Click to browse and select video clips to add to the original clips area.
• Drag and drop video files to the original clips area.
• Double click on added video clips in original clips area or drag and drop them to original video
• Display Window to view and select frames for further editing.

2.2 Selecting frame ranges for video editing click “Mark-in” to specify the beginning of a clip and

mark-out to set the end of the clip. Next, click on the button to move the clips from the auto edit
window to the Staging Clips area.

2.3 Editing video frames

• Select video frames in “Staging Clips” List.
• Rearrange the sequence of videos.
• Repeat the same scene by putting the same video frames multiple times.
• Delete sections of video they do not want.
• Confirm the video before final saving using preview function.
• Save the final video when editing is completed.

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Chapter 5 : Burn DVD
5.1 Adding Files

Select Format :
z DVD: For DVD.
z VCD: For Video CD.
z SVCD: For Super VCD.
z DATA: For multi-media data CD.

1 This dialog box shows up when the

is clicked. Video or photo files are displayed as
thumb nails on the screen (As shown below) after
being added.

2 Added files can be deleted. Click on the file to be

deleted and then click on the button.

3 When all necessary files are added, click on

to move to next step.

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5.2 Burning

: This button allows users to go back to the previous step and change selected files or selected
format.

1. Select DVD/CD burner to use.

2. : Eject DVD/CD drive.

3. : Erase all content on DVD/CD media.

4. : Open option dialog box.

z NTSC, PAL, Both: Select video type.

z Support XVCD and XSVCD: Data rate is not checked in order to support XVCD and XSVCD.
z Perform Writing Test before recording: Checks to insure that the DVD/CD writer is functioning
correctly before actual burning.
z Use Windows temporary directory: [Default] Uses Windows temporary directory as DVD
Maker's temporary directory.
z Path: Allows DVD Maker to specify the temporary directory.

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Chapter 6 : FAQ
FAQ 1 : How do I use the “Schedule Recording in Power-Off (SRPO)” function?
ANS: Before you use the power-off schedule recording function, please make sure your system can support
hibernate function.

Enter to the “Display Properties” and choose “Screen

Saver”.

Click the “Power” button to and enter to the Hibernate”

function. You would see the option “Enable hibernate
support”. Check the box to activate the settings of
“Schedule Recording in Power-Off” function.

Click on to start setting the Schedule Recording

Properties. After you finish the setting, please click the
“OK” to the next step.

Then you would see your setting in the schedule. If you

want to use power-off schedule recording now, click on
the “Start Power-off Schedule ” button. A confirmation
message will pop up to confirm if you want to shutdown
system. If you click “YES”, the system will shutdown
immediately. PC will be turned back on automatically few
minutes prior to the recording schedule.
.

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