[mythtv-users] UK: Unplayable BBC HD 1920x1080 recording (be careful what you wish for)

[Andre]

On 30 Jun 2011, at 10:15, Paul Gardiner wrote:

> On 30/06/2011 09:08, Andre wrote:
>> 
>> On 30 Jun 2011, at 09:40, Paul Gardiner wrote:
>> 
>>> I recorded a bit of Wimbledon on BBC HD yesterday evening around
>>> 7:15, and my Zotac ION based FE couldn't play it back without
>>> stuttering! ffmpeg said it was 1920x1080 rather than the 1440x1080
>>> that we've been used to. I've had a few 1920x1080 recordings
>>> before, and they've played back ok, but this one wouldn't - well,
>>> not without setting it to "progessive" so that the deinterlacing
>>> was turned off.
>>> 
>>> I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come. There we've
>>> been asking the BBC to transmit 1920x1080, and actually we've
>>> gone and shot ourselves in the foot, perhaps.
>> 
>> BBC HD is one of the more demanding h264 encodes commonly seen, so maybe not so surprising that it's even more demanding when running at full resolution! Maybe it's too demanding for some set top box decoder chips and this is the real reason they have been running at 1440 all along...
> 
> I've seen two other 1920x1080 transmissions, and they were problem free.
> 
>> That said it plays fine on my GT430, well no more glitches than any other HD recording anyway :-P
> 
> I'm one of the lucky ones that usually runs glitch free (well, other
> than the recording stop start ones).
> 
>> Does look really good on some programmes, the ones that are evidently top quality productions, technically at least.
> 
> Can't say I've really noticed the difference yet, but then my TV is
> Plasma which perhaps wouldn't show it as much. Also, I've been
> transcoding stuff to 720p lately and not noticing a huge difference.

There really isn't much difference at normal modern TV sizes, 40" to 50", I think it's a real shame that 720p hasn't been widely adopted as it gives excellent results on 40"+ sizes and production is easy even at 50/60frames. I think it's the "correct" format to use for modern TV production and broadcast but everyone hears 1080 is bigger than 720 and doesn't understand the difference between i&p, even if they did most people are used to tv being interlaced and don't think it's a problem.

I can clearly see the difference between 1080p & 720p on a 90" projector screen but really I'm very happy to watch 720p and I'm a fussy bstd.

Andre


> 
> Cheers,
> 	Paul.
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