building a dvr/dvd player/entertainment system on the cheap

[thegayhare]

hi hi folks

I'm currently trying to bash together a dvr/dvd player... yadda yadda yadda on the cheap using an old desktop I happen to have laying around.

the only problem is the build in sound card doesn't work and hasn't in again but no big deal I talked to my boy and he's gonna bring be down one he has laying around.  I also ordered a pci tv tuner so that should be all set

I figure the tv tuner will take the place of the video card freeing up a slot. and I won't need the modem anymore, the either net card will be usefull for updating codecs and the like so that'll stay.

I know VLC is a good video player but does anyone know of any good video capture programs.  or is there anything I've overlooked?

[Fibre]

Well, I haven't tried it personally, but MythTV seems to be a popular solution for "home made" DVRs, if your hardware supports it and you want to go that route.

[ashitaka34]

Chances are if you're ordering a newer video card the driver should have DVR settings. Also if you have Widows 7 (any version) or Vista Home Premium or Professional, it'll have a built in DVR support (I think there's some bizzare XP editions that may too =/). If you don't have any of those Freevo is the next best thing. I like it much more than MythTV. You really should try both to see which one you prefer however, since they're free anyhow.

[thegayhare]

well lemmy see I'm doing it on the cheap like I said so the 9 dollar tuner I bought its a 2003 ATI Rage Pro Turbo 8MB AGP 2X... looking at it I might try the ATI program.  but I'll keep the other programs in mind to.

I'm also thinking about getting a game emulater.  maybe a 16 bit or a satun or ps1  but thats a later project  first I gotta get it up and running

thats everyone so far and if there is any more advice keep it comming

[RobbieThe1st]

MythBuntu: http://mythbuntu.org/downloads
Download the ISO, burn it to a CD using a CD burning program like This one, stick the CD into your DVR machine and boot it.
It should automatically boot up, autodetect everything and - provided your hardware is supported - start using it. You should probably install it if you like it, though.