Greetings...

I would like to record/capture DVB-C MPEG2 digital cable broadcasts
directly in ?non-analog-converted? digital form to my hard-drive and
burn the content onto DVD-R for playback.

In other words, I wish to connect the physical TV cable from my wall
directly to my PC, select a legitimately subscribed channel above 125
and record the MPEG 2 & AC3 digital feeds onto my PC?s hardrive to be
subsequently prepared for viewing on DVD-R.

Question - If this is feasible, what video-card, application(s) and
procedures would you  recommend to do this?

At present, I receive the cable broadcast through a Scientific Atlanta
Explorer 3200 digital converter and record the content via the
analogue video & audio outputs to my Digital8 Handycam. I then capture
the content via firewire as an .AVI into Sony Vegas or Avid, trim and
convert to MPEG2 with either MainConcept or TMPGEnc.

It is my hope that by maintaining digital integrity throughout the
procedure that I will achieve better video quality overall in addition
to streamlining the workflow.

The current project flow goes like this:

1 - Cable broadcast (subscribed) ch 301 >> 
2 - SA Explorer 3200 (MPEG2 to Analog out) >>
3 - RCA analog input Digital8 worktape (DV) >>
4 - Capture to PC via IEEE 1394 (Vegas Video or Avid) as .AVI file>>
5 - Render as MPEG2 & AC3 files (MainConcept or TMPGEnc) >>
6 - Compile as a typical DVD with DVDlab (menus, chapters etc) >>
7 - Burn content to disc with Nero.

I would like to try and do something like this:

1 - Cable broadcast (subscribed) ch 301 >> 
2 - Capture broadcast MPEG2  & AC3 to PC via ?Recommended Capture Board? >>
3 - Patch (resize) broadcast MPEG2 to DVD compliant 720 by 480 with ?DVDpatcher? 
(See DVB to DVD-R guide at:  http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/DigiTV/dvbs-soft.htm)
4 - Compile as a typical DVD with DVDlab (menus, chapters etc) >>
5 - Burn content to disc with Nero.

Most PVR-ish type solutions that I have casually researched seem to
require that the video signal is introduced into the flow as Analog to
be converted real-time to MPEG2 then stored as MPEG2.

I guess I?m looking for a solution that will split or extract the
original MPEG2 file from the bundled Analog/Digital signal that is
brought into the home via Cable.

Makes sense to me... can it be done ?  how do I do it?  

Thank you

---

Clarification of Question by inquiryetc-ga on 15 Sep 2005 16:58 PDT

I have since learned that the method suggested in my original question
could potentially violate regulations set by the cable industry even
in a situation in which the home-user has paid for the digital
subscription service and is for personal use.  As much as I sincerely
appreciate those who generously gave their time and effort to assist
me, I do not wish to use or direct this goodwill in any way that is
not in full compliance with the law.  I suppose the innocent concept
of fair-use is open for interpretation and/or debate, that said, I've
decided to abandon my request for information on this topic and
roll-and-record with traditional consumer approved set-top devices. 
Thanks again for you generous assistance, expertise and consideration
and sorry that I have not responded more promptly.  All the best.

It can be done, but it's not so easy, and not in the way you'd
probably like it to be done.  PC turner cards, by law, cannot decode
the digital stream that comes from your digital cable.  Gotta love the
DCMA.  Any channel above 125 tends to be digital channels. They are
encrypted by the various cables companies and you need their STB to
see them.  The lower analog channels are filtered but not encryted so
you can see them with a "cable ready" TV set or tuner card.  That's
why all turner cards only support 125 channels.  Now this confuses
alot of people. Especially since their Digital Cable or Satellite goes
up to 999 stations (or more!). Are you limited to just watching the
lower 125 stations? The answer is no, of course not. Although the
tuner does only handle up to 125 stations, you can get your digital
cable channels with the help of an IR Blaster or in some cases
(certain DirecTV boxes or certain Motorolla digital cable set top
boxes) a serial cable.  You need to use your set top box to
decode/tune the digital cable, and run the video and audio output of
the digital cable box to your TV tuner/encoder and use a PC controlled
IR Blaster to automagically change the channel on the digital cable
box at the appropriate time to record your favorite shows. An IR
Blaster is simply an InfaRed emitter that in this case would be used
in place of your cable remote control.

I personally would run a video compsite out from your TV into a video
stabilizer, remove any macravion *link* and capture any video you want
straight to mpeg2 through a capture card.

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Or.. as dvd recorders are getting so cheap now, copy from your TV to a
dvd recorder but pass through a video stabilizer first. Then edit your
dvd with Ulead as desired.

No 5.1 but pro-logic with a dam good sub can still sound good.