[mythtv-users] Better looking playback?

[Michael T. Dean]

MacNean Tyrrell wrote:

> Ok so i'm using bitrate of 5500 with a max of 8,000.  Kernel 
> deinterlacing (which is best?).  It looks better but could be better.  
> It's probably because the tv is so big.  We'll see.

That's probably about the best you can get.  You're limited by a) NTSC 
(as already discussed) and b) the electronics in the PVR-250.  In 
theory, it may be possible to get a slightly better picture with a 
PVR-150 (it has newer and better electronics), but the amount of 
improvement is probably not worth the cost to you.  You may find that 
you get about the same quality at 4000/6500 or even 4000/5500 (even with 
the additional bitrate, the other limitations have probably maxed out 
your quality before using the available bits).

I've been recording at 2200/9800 (it never actually uses that headroom, 
1 1/3 times average bitrate is more appropriate, but that actually 
exists within the range and I was too lazy to change it), and my 
recordings looked great on my 27" NTSC piece of junk TV, but I can 
definitely see artifacts on my new 67" 1920x1080 DLP.  I'm impressed 
that it doesn't look worse than it does with the amount of 
magnification.  However, I haven't changed my bitrate as motivation to 
get my HDTV antenna/cabling/amps/splitter/4xHD-3000 rig in place.  
(Which I won't be doing tonight.  Handing out candy to 
trick-or-treaters...  :( )

Mike