What's the best way to turn my PC into a VCR?

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

I have:

PC
TV Card (Pinnicle) with video and aerial-in.

The software that comes with the card lets me record, but no matter what encoding option I select it always seems to go out of sync with the video playing too fast in the finished files.


Is there another program out there that works with a range of TV cards and records at a decent resolution? Perhaps something like TiVo software for PCs.

[buckstwits]

You could use Windows Media Center, if you have it.

[Lazlow]

SageTV (http://www.sagetv.com/)

Worked brilliantly on my computer when Media Center didn't.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

Media Center wouldn't be too bad if it could find either of the 2 stations I actually want.

Will give Sage a try.

[/backslash]

I find that Arcsoft Total Media 3.5 (that I got for free with my Asus USB TV tuner) picks up reception better than Windows Media Center. Sometimes I have to use it when the sports channel isn't working, in some ways I prefer it over Windows Media but Windows Media makes recording much easier especially when trying to go through the multiple programs you've recorded

Shame that both lack customisation though, I really would like a double click action on WMCto make it fullscreen & also do it without that annoying pause (which ATM does but getting out of the channel guide is annoying)