Hauppauge Colossus PCI Express Video Capture Card Review

Reviewed Summer, 2011

Well now you can with the Hauppuage Colossus. Using component cables (to get around the copy protection issues), the Colossus can record any program from a digital tuner (cable, satellite, or over-the-air) in HD. It even has digital audio input so you can record in 5.1 surround sound.

Using the included TotalMedia software, you can burn a Blu-ray compatible disk using your existing DVD writer. An hour of HD content (at the standard bit rate) will fit on a single layer DVD, and 2 hours on a dual layer. That’s a lot better than buying a $500 Blu-ray writer and $4+ Blu-ray disks. Then just play in your Blu-ray player.

If you do not have a PCI-e slot available check out the USB version, Hauppauge HD-PVR or AverMedia's USB version the AverTV HD DVR.

• Records and burns any HD program from a set-top box.
• Includes IR Blasters for changing channels on the set-top box
• Uses the free TitanTV for scheduling recording stations and time
• Works with Windows 7 Media Center
• Compatible with GB-PVR, BeyondTV, and SageTV third party applications
• Can use standard DVD’s for burning HD content
• Works with XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems (Windows 7 only for Media Center support)

• Requires a 2.0 dual processor or better for PC playback
• No time-shifting during the recording (unless using Windows 7 Media Center).
• Card is full height, so will not fit in a low profile PC.

Get the Hauppauge Colossus PCI Express Video Capture Card

for $134.99 with free shipping!

Simply put, the Colossus PCI Express card is the cheapest way to record and burn HD content from premium HD satellite or cable channels using a PC. Technically it is not a tuner, but a video/audio capture device. The Colossus box connects to a set-top tuner/receiver via dongle and component cables for video (the red, green, blue RCA cables) and red/white RCA cables for stereo or a toslink optical cable (not included) for digital audio.

Using Media Center in Windows 7, along with Hauppauge Media Center software and a cable/satellite set-top box, will allow you to use the Colossus just like a regular tuner. You can watch and record ANY show in HD. You will need to connect IR blasters so that the PC can change channels on the set-top box.

Specifications

• Hardware encoder
  • H.264 AVCHD video encoder
  • AC-3 audio encoding
  • Recording datarate: from 1 to 13.5 Mbits/sec (user selectable)
  • Recording format: up to 1080i from component video (YCrCb)Note: the video input format determines the recorded format. For example, 1080i input records at 1080i, 720P records at 720P, etc.. Any other format conversions need to be done with the MediaConvert program (supplied).
• Size:
  • 19.8cm wide x 17.3 cm deep x 7 cm high
• Power:
  • 5V at 2 amps
• Weight:
  • 1 lb, 3 oz

• Processor Requirements (minimum):
  • Dual core CPU
• Graphics with 256MB memory (or greater) Note: the playback of high definition H.264 requires a fast CPU and at least 256MB of graphics memory
• Sound card

• Colossus high definition personal video recorder, USB
• Remote Control Including batteries
• IR Blaster transmitter cable
• Component video/audio cable set
• Two audio/video dongles

• Arcsoft “TotalMediaExtreme” for video capture, preview, playback, and authoring and burning your TV recordings onto a Blu-ray DVD compatible disc
• Arcsoft “TotalMedia Theater”, a video player so you can play back your TV recordings to your PC screen
• Arcsoft “MediaConverter” , to convert your H.264 HD recordings onto other formats
• Includes Hauppauge's WinTV scheduler for scheduled TV recordings