[mythtv-users] Re: Optimum encoding for remote mythtv

[Timothy Weaver]

Thanks for all the tips and information. I agree with the recommendation to
record everything at a high resolution and bitrate, then auto-transcode
everything to MPEG4 to shrink the size. I will try this out.

For my first round of testing, I set the profile "High" for recording
MPEG-2 at 720x480 with a bitrate of 3500 (max 8000) and audio at 384kbps
(48000). The transcode is to MPEG4 at 352x480 with a bitrate of 2200 and
audio at 80 kbps (48000 because I cannot go lower). Previously, I was
recording 30 minutes at 500MB and 60 minutes at 1GB. This should
drastically reduce the size of the files. Now I just have to check the
quality.

Some questions I have regarding the auto-transcode feature. I read the
documentation instructions on setting up the auto-transcode but some of it
is unclear or incorrect.

1) The documentation says to enable the "Automatically transcode" option in
the mythtvsetup program. I don't see this option. Is it only in the CVS? I
am using .14 from Axel's apt rpms. Or is it referring to the options in the
mythfrontend TV Settings - Recording Profiles.

2) I have two sets of profiles: MPEG-2 Encoders (PVR-250 and PVR-35) and
Transcoders. Both sets of profiles include the option to "Automatically
transcode after recording". Do I set this option in my MPEG-2 (PVR-250)
Encoder profile that I use to originally record or do I set the option in
the Transcoders "MPEG4" profile?

3) Am I limited to automatically transcoding from one profile to one other
profile? Meaning, can I only go from all recording profiles to a single
transcoding profile? Or is there a way to configure mythtv to, for example,
transcode all items recorded with the "High Quality" profile to the "MPEG4"
profile?


On Mon, 2004-05-10 at 10:57, Boyd II, Willy wrote:

Record the programs at 720x480 at 8/12/16000 per second. Make sure you
get a good record of the program. The idea here is not to transfer the
file but get as a high of quality digital stream that you can handle to
start with.

Next, use mencoder, or the transcode options of mythtv. transcode it
over to mpeg4 maybe with ogg sound or somesuch. as far as the video, you
can then reduce it to something smaller and limit the bitrate down to 1k
or 1.5k. An mpeg4 stream will have the same quality as a meg 4 stream at
the same resolution and a much lower bit rate. The downside is that the
transcode will take some time to complete if you dont ahve a beefy cpu.
The upside is your file transfers wil lbe MUCH faster for the same
quality of video.