Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder

Other products by Hauppauge

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 8.4 x 3.5 inches ; 3.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0018LX0DY
• Item model number: 1212
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

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  Electronics > Televisions & Video > Digital Video Recorders

• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 29, 2008

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder is the world's first high-definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i. With the HD-PVR, you can schedule and automatically record your favorite shows in high definition directly from cable TV and satellite set top boxes. As an added feature, the HD-PVR also includes S-Video inputs so you can convert all your old home video tapes into Blu-ray DVD recordings.

This personal video recorder makes real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i. View larger. View front connections Plug your VCR directly into the 1212 HD-PVR and record old home video tapes into AVCHD format. View larger. View rear connections The Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder offers: Recording direct from cable TV and satellite with quality up to 1080i. AVCHD format for burning Blu-ray DVD discs. Standard definition composite and S-Video inputs. High-Definition Quality Recordings on Your Schedule At long last, a personal video recorder, or PVR, that offers high quality recordings of high-definition television shows. Now you can start building a personal archive of your favorite high definition TV programs without losing the broadcast quality. At the heart of the HD-PVR is an H.264 high-definition encoder that's built-in for high-performance, high-quality TV recordings at up to 1080i resolution, 720p or VGA/D1. The box includes a component video input for use with most high-definition cable TV and satellite TV receivers, as well as optical or stereo audio inputs. (Audio is recorded using AAC of Dolby Digital.) The HD-PVR records in the AVCHD format, which can be used to burn Blu-ray DVD discs. Two hours of high-definition recordings, recorded at 5 Mbits/sec, can be burnt onto a standard 4.7 GB DVD-R or DVD-RW disk for playback on any Blu-ray DVD player. (You have the option of recording at datarates from 1 Mbs to 13.5Mbs, constant and variable bit rate.) The recorder also includes Hauppage's WinTV scheduler that lets you schedule your TV recordings, and a built-in IR blaster that automatically changes TV channels for your scheduled recordings. The included remote control lets you change the stations in your set-up box. And for even greater convenience and performance, the HD-PVR features an audio / video component video loop so you can record and watch your television at the same time. Convert Your Home Videos to Blu-ray DVDs If you've been wondering what to do with all your home videos, the HD-PVR has the answer. Thanks to the included standard definition composite and S-Video inputs, you can plug your VCR directly into the box and record your old home video tapes into an AVCHD format, which you can then burn onto a DVD for playback on your Blu-ray DVD player. Also included with the HD-PVR is Arcsoft's "TotalMedia Theater," a video player that lets you play back your TV recordings to your PC screen, and "MediaConverter" to convert your H.264 HD recordings onto other formats. The HD-PVR measures a scant 7.8 x 6.8 x 2.8 inches, so it will fit snugly in your home theater set up. What's in the Box HD-PVR, remote control (with batteries), IR Blaster transmitter cable, component video cable set, audio cable set, USB cable, and 5V power supply. Also includes the following bundled software applications: Arcsoft "TotalMediaExtreme"; Arcsoft "TotalMedia Theater," Arcsoft "MediaConverter," and Hauppauge WinTV Scheduler.

Product Description
The HD-PVR from Hauppauge is the world's first High-Definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i. HD-PVR records component video from cable TV and satellite set top boxes, with a built-in IR blaster to automatically change TV channels for scheduled recordings. Audio is recorded using AAC or Dolby Digital. The recording format is AVCHD, which can be used to burn Blu-ray DVD disks. Two hours of HD recordings, recorded at 5 Mbist/sec, can be burnt onto a standard 4.7 GB DVD-R or DVD-RW disk for playback on a Blu-ray DVD player. The HD PVR's amazing recording quality allows personal archival recordings of your favorite high definition TV programs from any component video HD set top box. The HD PVR also has standard definition composite and S-Video inputs so you can record your old home video tapes into an AVHCD format for creating Blu-ray recordings. Other features include recording high definition video at up to 1080i resolution, 720P or VGA/D1. Includes HD software video player so you can playback recordings to your PC screen. NTSC, PAL, and SECAm support. IR receiver for remote control which is included. Works with Windows XP and Vista.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Hi def recorder on the market currently, June 5, 2008

By	Daniel And Barbara Sullinger (Phoenix, Az United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

June posting

ok I would have given this 5 stars but this comes with current problem with it, this has optical in for 5.1DD recording at this time hauppuage can not get this to work so you are stuck with PCM 2.0 or audio from the analog imputs, now to the rest, it records video at 1920x1080 at same or near Blu ray discs, you have a choice of bitrate constant from 1 to 13.5 Kb or on variable all the way up to 20.2, this records in the same codeec (AVCHD) as blu ray and HD DVD discs, it will take any component imput, I have mine through my receiver where my Dishnet PVR HD, PS3, HD DVD and Oppo DVD player runs through, just for test purposes I tried all my devices and what I test recorded from dishnet, blu ray, DVD and HD DVD the test disc looked no different than the original source, once you capture your source you can then edit or add chapters then you get to add a real cheapo menu and then put in what disc you need to burn either a DVD-R or a dual layer DVD Disc, it takes about 10 minutes to author your recording to Blu ray standard and burn on your normal DVD as a true Blu ray playable Disc, beware once you burn your DVD as a blu ray playback DVD you will not be able to read it in your computer again unless you have a Blu ray Rom or Blu Ray Burner, once and if Hauppuage ever gets the 5.1 DD fixed this could be the killer to blu ray Discs, hauppuage claims by next driver release they will include the 5.1 fix. Beware this is Xp service pack 2 or Vista operating system only, also you must have a fast computer to use this device and its programs, I have a dual core 3.4 gig Intel, 2gigs of ram, 2 - 500 sata HDD and had to buy a nvidia 7600 512 meg video card to get this up to speed and at the fastest bitrate 13,500 I cant do anything else on the computer, but this is the problem with Hi def, its power hungry, now I can finally put my hi def movies of all 6 star wars and 3 lord of the rings on DVD for 1080i blu ray playback, you can also convert the finished files over to movie factory 6 to burn on a normal DVD for HD DVD playback also.

August update...
Ok been doing alot of capturing, have made 40 dual layer DVDs for blu ray playback and 10 dual layers for HD DVD playback. the video qua;ity is great if you keep it above 7.8 bitrate, only major drawback is no 5.1DD audio, I am now Beta tesing the 5.1DD audio driver right now, wow this makes a huge difference with the sound. Problems still, wont work with the arch software yet, sync problems, but works with TSmuxer. There seems to be heat related issues with some boxes, mine stays on 7, 10, 15 hours at a time never gets overly warm and never locks up. I have done well over 100 captures with this device. Having an Lg blu ray burner and blanks getting below $8 each, this might be the future for capturing and buring HD content at the PVR's full 13.2 to 20.0 bitrate in the future. If hauppauge can just tweak this 5.1DD driver a bit more I think this will be a great little device.

October update,
I am now a beta tester for hauppauge and I finally got 5.1DD drivers and TME software that works, so now I got a card that finally works capturing movies the way I wanted it to, 5.1DD and can also edit with the software and no more sync issues, burn to dual layers DVD's or $4 blu ray discs.

December Update
Ok Hauppauge support finally has Drivers and software out for general public that makes this device work properly. you can capture 1080i from any component ouput using the 5.1DD and you get a great captured TS or M2TS file ready to burn to a blu ray or dual layer DVD with or without menu. since october I have captured and burned over 50 movies onto disc in 5.1DD and they look great, the ones from the 1080p sources look really great. Now I manually record all my movies, so I do not know how this works with a timer or sageTV.


Feb Posting

some here wanted me to post to let you know of known problems with this and dishnet, I find there is no exact problems per say with the PVR1212 and Dishnet, you should know that sometimes when you use this device with the dishnet you get out of sync problems and digital tears in the picture, most, if no all is the blame of dishnet or most likey the channel the show is broadcast from. Example: I have tried 7-8 times to capture and record Spaceballs from MGM HD channel every time its out of sync and every time its being played out of sync on MGM HD over dishnet before I even capture it. Please keep in mind when using this device, HD content is never perfect and they "big hollywood" does not want you to capture and record their programs. So dont be surprised if "they" are always trying anything to foil you capturing a Hi Def Digital program, be it dish, cable, PS3 or HD-DVD. so far I have captured and burned onto dual layer DVD's 130 movies from all such sources all coming out perfect, be it analog, 2DD or 5.1DD audio. yeah where else can you watch on a disc, star wars, lord of the rings, batman, star trek movies in hi def, way to go hauppauge. :)

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars HD-PVR does not record surround sound yet, July 29, 2008

By	Bradford P. Vineyard - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hauppauge included a small note on a flyer sent with the unit. "Does not record bitstream audio at this time".
What this means for me is, no surround sound with my HD recordings. The flyer stated that an upcoming firmware release would solve this problem.
My first attempt to record HD produced great video but no audio because I selected SPDIF optical input. Can only record stereo audio until the firmware is fixed.
At least for me, it is collecting dust until then, as I don't have any reason to make HD recordings without surround sound for my home theater.
Would give it a 5 for video quality and ease of use. Suggest buyers contact Hauppauge to confirm bitstream audio is functioning before purchase.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!!! Records straight to avchd (.TS or m2ts), November 3, 2008

By	John Hillestad (Ft Lauderdale, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This device finally does what I have been wanting since my purchase of a Sony CX7 avchd camcorder. I always wished I could just hook my cam internals to my hd pvr and record a show in HD.

Well this is almost like that , the box has hd component inputs (and outpus for passthru) with an internal processor to convert the video straight to avchd out the usb port.

Now , for the cool part... since my computer was no where near my hd sat receiver I decided to try using 2 usb active extension cables to bring my usb port to the box. Worked great!

[...]
The software included will make a .TS file (avchd) now you can play this file directly on a PS3 by just renaming it with a .m2ts extension ! just rename it and your done... no further transcodes needed!

But the best part is to make a hi def blu ray dvd using a cheap blank dvd-r . You can put 1 hour of HD avchd video on a standard 4.7gb dvd-r - your blu ray player / PS3 will see this disc as a valid hd blu ray disc and play it! No blu ray burner needed to actually make blu ray discs.

Creating the disc does not take very long since its putting your file in the proper blu ray structure... its just copying it not transcoding it.... so quick and painless.

Now if you want to make a standard SD dvd this will take longer because it will have to transcode it..

I found the included software pretty straight forward and easy to use. Making a avchd playable disc was totally painless.

If you want to record a show in HD and keep it for later playback on a ps3 or bluray player on cheap dvd-r media - this is it ! I love it... there is nothing else like it.

I used a intel dual core system with 2gb of ram and an 8500 video card with Vista and the software ran very smoothly. I do not use the pc to playback any of the video - thats the job of the ps3 or bluray player... so think of your pc as the recording and making dvd device not the playback device. playback of avchd file require too much pc muscle - so use a ps3 - its easier and you can load .m2ts files on it to your hearts content!

The other reviews I read about quicktime and stuff are kinda missing the point... its really to get the hd content off your dvr and get it into a dvd-r thats playable over and over again.... in HD

What I hope to see in the next rev:

Ethernet port rather as well as usb to send the data stream.. this way you can send the data to a computer that is not near your home entertainment system.

A hard drive or external hard drive hookup with a record button... eliminating the need for a pc all together for the recording of the show.