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Record with OBS Studio

The biggest challenge when recording from an Android TV Box (video streaming hardware) is to record video and surround sound in sync. I tried several ways of doing this and found one which allows me to do it in one recording without too expensive hardware. I have not found a video capture card on the market which allows to record a protected video stream or multi-channel surround sound.

Note: This guide is not intended to teach you how to circumvent copy protection. Make sure the source or service you are recording from allows you to make a copy for your own use before you record. Creating multiple copies or selling copies is prohibited by law.
Note: Subtitles stretch to convert from PAL to NTSC or vice versa: 0.960 / 0.959 or 1.0416

Settings

Gear

With this setup you can record video and 5.1 or 7.1 audio at the same time.

Cost of gear

  • Media Player: 100 USD
  • Disc Player: 1000 USD (you need to find a premium player or another device with HDMI passthrough and analog surround audio outputs). Instead of a Disc Player you can utilitze any 5.1 pre-amplifier which supports an audio codec currently used by Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, etc. If you use a pre-amplifier with variable output volume make sure you adjust the volume so you don't need to post-process amplification to it. Note that not every 5.1 pre-amplifier works, only one which supports the audio codec in the source stream.
  • Multi-channel USB audio interface: 300 USD (with 6 or 8 analog inputs). If you don't have one or do not want to buy one you can record the 6 channels in 3 stereo pairs and then sync the audio with Audacity. 3 stereo pairs means you need to record the stream 3 times, each time you connect a different pair of analog output to the analog stereo input of the Video Capture card (e.g. L/R, C/LFE, SL/SR).
  • Ground Loop Isolators: 30 USD (for 6 channels)
  • HDMI to HDMI converter: 30 USD (to remove HDCP)
  • TOTAL: 1500 USD

Connection diagram

flowchart LR; Isolator["Ground Isolator"]; Capture["Video Capture"]; USBaudio["USB Audio"]; Box["Media Player"]; Box--HDMI-->NoHDCP; NoHDCP--HDMI-->BDP["Disc Player"]; BDP--"FL/FR C/SW SL/SR (6ch RCA)"-->Isolator; BDP--HDMI-->Capture; Capture--"PCI-e or USB"-->PC; Isolator--"FL/FR C/SW SL/SR (6ch RCA)"-->USBaudio; USBaudio--USB-->PC; click PC "#software"

Notes:

  • The UDP needs to be set to Source Direct to pass through the video to the capture card, and the input needs to be set to HDMI In.
  • While Netflix has a desktop client from which you could separately record 5.1 audio, other streaming clients on Windows do not have this feature.

Steps

  1. Switch on Media Player
  2. Switch on Disc Player
  3. Set Disc Player to HDMI in with remote or handheld app
  4. Start OBS

Software

Desktop Audio 5.1

  • Video: none
  • Audio: Windows 10 App

FHD Surround 5.1 (Intensity Pro)

  • Video: Mi Box S → 40281 (HDMI) → Intensity Pro (HDMI)
  • Audio: Mi Box S → 40281 (SPDIF) → AVR-4308 (5.1 through Pre Out) to U86XT (Line IN 1-6)
  • Make sure you connect the U86XT through a Ground Loop Isolator to the AVR to avoid ground loop issues while recording
  • Set the AVR-4308 to volume -10 dB

VHS Stereo (Intensity Pro)

  • Video: HR-S6711EU (composite) → Intensity Pro (Y - green)
  • Audio: HR-S6711EU (stereo) → Intensity Pro (RCA)
  • Audio monitor: HR-S6711EU (stereo) → AVR-4308

OBS Studio

Settings

  • Output
    Hint: Chose Simple or Advanced, not both, then save. Simple is good for lossless recording of both video and audio. Advanced is only necessary for some special use cases.
    • Output Mode: Simple
      • Recording Path
      • Recording Quality: Lossless Quality
    • Output Mode: Advanced
      • Type: Custom Output (FFmpeg)
      • File path or URL
      • Container Format: matroska
      • Audio Bitrate: 256 Kbps
      • Audio Track: 1
      • Audio Encoder: pcm_s16le
  • Audio
    • Sample Rate: 48 kHz
    • Channels: 5.1 or Stereo
  • Video
    • Base (Canvas) Resolution: 1920×1080
    • Output (Scaled) Resolution: 1920×1080
    • Downscale Filter: [no downscaling required]
    • Common FPS Values: 60

Properties Intensity Pro 4K

  • Video Connection: HDMI
  • Audio Connection: Analog RCA (we do not record the audio stream)

Properties ESI U86 XT

  • Device: U86 Multichannel 8 (ESI Audio Device (WDM) - U86)
  • Advanced Audio Properties - Sync Offset: -120ms
  • Advanced Audio Properties - Tracks: 1

Filters

  • Limiter: Threshold -1.00 dB, Release 60 ms

Deinterlacing

  • Disable

How Tos

Know How

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