First project hardware help needed please!

  • Hello,

    I am working on piecing together what I would need to do my first setup. I have been reading and ready for days now. I am a bit confused what I need for a the splitter and capture hardware.

    My setup will be used on an 1080p tv which gets its signal from a yamaha (advantage) reciever which is 4k. I mostly stream (Netflix, prime) and watch downloaded movies from a pc. I do have an Xbox, playstation and cable box, all of which is connected to the reciever. The reciever has dual hdmi outputs. I wish to use one of the outputs for the Hyperion setup running from a rpi3b+ (already owned) with ws2812b leds and a meanwell 110watt supply.

    I have searched for some of the member mentioned devices (Xolorspace, FeinTech, MacroSilicon, ect) and it would seem most are on the other side of the world from me (Canada). So with the exchange rate, shipping and super long shipping times. These options are out of the question for me.

    Please note that I do not stream from the consoles. I only use them for game play and have no intentions of using ambilight while playing games.


    My questions:

    1: Do I still need splitter in this setup?


    Would any of these work if one is needed or future proofing (Ie adding a Nvidia sheild or firestick to the setup)?

    https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07VP37KMB?tag=hyperioforum-21&coliid=I2NLZKHAD2FUIZ&colid=1WVG7S4V4Y3WY&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it


    https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B078YRDZKJ?tag=hyperioforum-21&coliid=I16V1QL5Y05PCT&colid=1WVG7S4V4Y3WY&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it


    https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B078YRDZKJ?tag=hyperioforum-21&coliid=I16V1QL5Y05PCT&colid=1WVG7S4V4Y3WY&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it


    2: can I use a cheap USB dongle type capture card or do I need something better than these?


    Would any of these work?

    FeizLink Capture USB2 0 Camcorder Action


    Volantech Definition Acquisition Streaming Conference


    MavisLink Capture Definition Acquisition Broadcasting


    If I am completely off base here with my selections above please feel free to add yours.


    Also any Info is greatly appreciated!


    Thanks

    Edited once, last by Nghtrdr ().

  • Hey Nightrider.

    I've just finished (literally, like yesterday) getting my first setup up and going, and I went a similar route as you, so I wanted to at least give you answers based on my (very limited) experience:


    1.) I run all my inputs through my AVR, but unlike yours, mine only has one output. So I bought the small Ezcoo 1->2 splitter (like in your first link), which works a treat. Since your AVR has two outputs, you don't need a splitter at all. Note, that the splitter it does not support ARC or CEC, but I use neither so I didn't care. The bigger one (in your second link) supports CEC, but not ARC as far as I know.


    If you intend to get one as future-proofing with regards to adding more things, wouldn't you rather have all those things into your AVR as you do today, instead of adding a splitter after the AVR? If you're running out of HDMI inputs, you could just get a cheap HDMI Switch module to add in front of your AVR. Ezcoo makes some fine ones. But just get one when the times comes.


    2.) I think any cheap dongle thing will work, but they're all slightly different. I specifically chose the https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097R3PB36?tag=hyperioforum-21 one because it had a cable attached (to easier fit the Pi) and because it does 60fps and promises low lag. I wish it only had an USB-A plug instead of a C->A converter, but so be it. Since the capture card reads 4K anyway, and outputs 1080p, there's no need to worry about the input being 4K. (again, future proof)


    Aside from those two things, I also bought a https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LG646VS?tag=hyperioforum-21 (or ten!) which was recommended as an optional extra to make a steadier signal, and they're pretty cheap so it didn't hurt to add it. Have yet to add that permanently to my circuit.


    As for any other info, I don't know how proficient you are with Linux, but I've never touched a Pi before 2 weeks ago, and never used Linux, so I've had quite a bit of trouble getting everything going. I installed the HyperBian image, which allowed me to not have to learn to install an OS and software, but I had to learn how to give my user root access, because the WS2812B strips require root access. Learned all sorts of new words, like Nano and Sudo. ?

    My lack of knowledge, however, stops me from being able to upgrade Hyperion, or trying to play with either Hyperion.ng or HyperHDR. But I don't have a HDR TV yet, and don't know what the difference is between Hyperion and Hyperion.ng, so I have some time to hopefully learn a little more about this whole thing.


    I'm dealing with some flickering issues, which I'm assuming are the result of the corner connectors being shite, so that's something I'll need to chase down next weekend.


    After degrading the signal (in Hyperion) down to something like 160x120, I've gotten the lag as low as I think I'll get it. I'm gonna guess that the lag is probably at least 50-80ms, down from maybe 300-500ms. I know there's always going to be some lag in the capture card and again in the software, so I'll have to learn to live with it. It's still annoying me, however. ?


    I've found that the color rendering of the WS2812B is... so so. Purple is near non-existent, yellow is quite green, and white is basically just a pale blue. I'm still learning to understand the brightness/contrast/saturation controls of Hyperion, but I feel that the software itself is maybe not fully capable of doing what I want it to. As you see in the attached image, at the current saturation level the lion gives quite a red color, but the green matches quite well. If I tone down the saturation a bit further - which gives me a far more orange/brown on the lion - I feel I start to lose the blues a bit in other parts of the video.


    It's a work in progress! ?

  • Apologies, I have no idea whether I've just posted the same thing twice. Or even once! All I see on my end is that "This post was deleted by the author themselves" but I didn't delete anything and have no idea why that message appears.

  • If you use the 2 output of the AVR you limit the output to the TV, both outputs can only ever deliver the same signal it uses the EDID data of both devices. With a Full HD, that won't have much of an impact. With 4K HDR DolbyVision HDCP DRM DeepColor this leads to the fact that only what the grabber can do is released.


    Splitter that has EDID copy from the TV and a scaler for the grabber you can partly bypass that.


    regards pclin

    Dreambox ONE / TWO

    dreamOS OE2.6

    Amlogic S922X - 53.000 DMIPS - 2 GB RAM - 16 GB Flash - Twin-DVB-S2X Tuner - HDR10 - HLG
    -
    AudioDSP: miniDSP 2x4HD - Amp: Pentagon - Lautsprecher ELAC / ARENDAL
    LG OLED65BX9LB (PicCap, hyperion.NG webOS)

    FireTV 4K max

    -
    hyperion (classic) & Plugin HyperionControl | hyperion-ng 2.0.16-beta.1 (dreamOS)
    Hyperion-ng (Debian bullseye)
    -
    6 x ESP32/Wemos D1 mini - WLED - SK6812 RGBW-NW 60 LEDs/m
    FeinTech VSP01201 - Grabber Macrosilicon

    LG TV Hyperion webOS & PicCap


    Ambilight for ever

    Edited 2 times, last by pclin ().

  • That's good to know for when I get my 4K TV, thanks pclin!

    As I understand it, the Ezcoo splitters don't convert HDR to SDR, nor remove DolbyVision, so I guess those will cause problems in my future, since I doubt any USB grabber card does DV.

  • No Grabber Card do DV. Only PicCap on LG TV Can do this.


    regards pclin

    Dreambox ONE / TWO

    dreamOS OE2.6

    Amlogic S922X - 53.000 DMIPS - 2 GB RAM - 16 GB Flash - Twin-DVB-S2X Tuner - HDR10 - HLG
    -
    AudioDSP: miniDSP 2x4HD - Amp: Pentagon - Lautsprecher ELAC / ARENDAL
    LG OLED65BX9LB (PicCap, hyperion.NG webOS)

    FireTV 4K max

    -
    hyperion (classic) & Plugin HyperionControl | hyperion-ng 2.0.16-beta.1 (dreamOS)
    Hyperion-ng (Debian bullseye)
    -
    6 x ESP32/Wemos D1 mini - WLED - SK6812 RGBW-NW 60 LEDs/m
    FeinTech VSP01201 - Grabber Macrosilicon

    LG TV Hyperion webOS & PicCap


    Ambilight for ever

  • ArniVidar,

    I am not familiar with Linux at all just like you. So I will have to figure it all out as well. Yes I have all the devices connected to the avr and still have 3 open ports available. When I wrote the above I was a bit confused as to the need for a splitter. It's my understanding that alot of tweeking is needed to get the perfect Hyperion for you as every setup is different but that's part of diy anyways.

    How? "I had to learn how to give my user root access".

    The info you have shared is invaluable for me.

    Thank you


    Pclin,

    My setup currently is only 1080p so I don't think I will have an issue with the second output of the avr for now. If, when that changes I will do a deeper look at hardware. Thank you for the info.


    I purchased a simple capture card for now. Hopefully it works. If not I will return it and try another. I will be working on this today.


    Fingers crossed.


    Thanks for the sharing!

    Edited once, last by Nghtrdr ().

  • Edit:

    Fixed it! A uninstall and reinstall of Hyperion seems to have done the trick..


    Previous message removed!

    Edited once, last by Nghtrdr ().

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