[mythtv-users] Transcode from HD to SD, what settings?

[Glenn Harris]

On Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 3:12 PM, Allen Edwards
<allen.p.edwards at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have asked this before and been told basically to experiment.  Maybe
> if I ask it specifically someone knows the answer.
>
> I have an OTA ATSC system.  Every evening I record Jepordy in HD and
> transcode to the lowest quality setting.  This takes a 3.6GB recording
> down to 3.6GB, not much help.  I recode another show off a DT station
> (9.2 in San Francisco) and the same length show takes up only 0.8GB
> and looks just fine on the 37 inch CRT TV with S-Video input that we
> use for watching Jepordy.  We watch the shows about a month after
> broadcast so the time to transcode isn't an issue.  We have a 10 ft
> screen that we use for watching shows in HD, btw.
>
> What I want is to know the transcode settings that will take my 3.6GB
> Jepordy recording down to the same quality I get with the DT station
> and hopefully only use 0.8GB although that may be asking too much.
> But taking a 3.6GB show down to 3.6GB clearly isn't asking enough.
>
> Allen

I use the settings described in this post:
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/269479#269479

It keeps it at HD resolutions, but converts to mpeg4 with a bitrate
appropriate to the source material.  My HD stuff ends up around
1.5-2GB/hr and SD stuff comes in at 0.8GB/hr.

Good luck!
--Glenn