[mythtv-users] Problem with Hard and Soft Padding on recordings

[Nick Morrott]

On 8 February 2011 22:20, Anthony Giggins <seven at seven.dorksville.net> wrote:
>
>
> On 8 February 2011 23:00, David Watkins <watkinshome at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Yes I believe they are both set to 600
>> >
>>
>> Um - isn't that your answer then?  10 mins padding - 30 minutes
>> recording - 10 minutes padding.
>>
>>
>> Maybe before you generally had some adjacent recordings that caused
>> the soft padding to be overriden?
>>
>
> I wasn't aware that the soft padding was in addition to any hard padding I
> was under the impression that Hard padding over rides Soft padding.

Hard padding does not override soft padding, as they are used for
different purposes.

Hard padding is _always_ added to a programme's start/stop times when
the scheduler runs, and is why it is a specified on a per-rule basis.
This can and will lead to conflicts if you always need a scheduled
recording to start early (or stop late) and do not have sufficient
tuners. This scenario will produce the largest number of conflicts
when attempting to record one-off back-to-back programmes that cannot
be rescheduled to a later time or alternative tuner.

Soft padding _may_ be added to a scheduled recording if - and only if
- the specified amount of soft padding can be recorded before the
tuner is required again for another scheduled recording. It occurs
_after_ scheduling has occurred and although it is a global option (it
will be used for all scheduled recordings if possible) you are never
guaranteed that it will be included.

If both hard and soft padding are in effect for a particular
recording, you will see the worst-case-scenario* when:

i) the scheduler includes hard padding;
ii) additional soft padding can also be recorded; and
iii) the programme's listed duration is small

This is what you reported seeing in your initial post - your 10 minute
recording was being extended in length by 400% to 50 minutes due to
the summative effects of your hard and soft padding settings.

* where worst-case-scenario means the highest proportion of padding
compared to a programme's listed duration

HTH,

Cheers,
Nick

-- 
Nick Morrott

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