Reality Test: Decoder Recording Options

[MJC]

I'd like to know if anybody has more than 2 options to select an MPEG-2 decoder for *recordings*, as found in the WebAdmin / Recording Preferences.

The options that appear for me are 1) Default and 2) Snapstream Basic.

I have 7 decoder options for Playback. Shouldn't there be more options for Recording?

Thanks in advance for input.

MJC

[Baylo]

No. You use an ENcoder for recordings, and a DEcoder for playback. Different things.

Mark

[areviaki]

So rephrasing the original question.

Is there more than two encoders to choose from out there?

[wheemer]

yuo cannot add new encoders to BTV, that is specifically for software tuners and is programmed in by Snapstream. The only reason the Snapstream basic is there is for instances when the default doesn't work well.

[DonK]

Wheemer and Baylo are correct.

[areviaki]

So we should be using the default? What kind of problems would cause us to switch to the basic?

[wheemer]

This information is contained in the sticky in the support forum:

Read Me First (v3.5 Users) - Common Fixes and Tips

[areviaki]

You know, I've been searching this forum repeatedly for info like that. The search function gives me so much to look thru I waste my time reading repeat ed threads about the same issues.

I should keep my searches to sticky items since they seem to contain the most important info.

Thanks of that link

[MJC]

I started this thread and now have an update.

For over six months, I've been endlessly tweaking an ATI 8500DV that feeds a Sony plasma TV. Always, always, there was a grainy background, especially with some of NBC's shows, which tend to be dark.

Buried way into the BTV Web admin menus (as discussed above) are the *En*coder options. The options are "Default" and "BTV Basic".

I've never examined these before and always used the former. The tweaking was endless for *De*coder (Intervideo variants, Sonic, etc.). I'm using 2 PVR 250s.

I changed the setting from Default (whatever the heck that is) to BTVBasic. Wow! Colors were brighter for Live TV and recordings. Even the sounds were better!

Only hardware interfacing was used in the past. Two software interfacing options were now available. I chose Progressive. While it used 10% more CPU, the tearing was minimized. 3d was chosen rather than overlay.

Check it out.

MJC

[wheemer]

From what Snapstream has said those settings apply to the encoder chosen for use with software tuners. If you are using PVR 250s then this setting should not have any affect on you. And it most certainly should not change the available decoding formats.

[MJC]

Originally Posted by wheemer

From what Snapstream has said those settings apply to the encoder chosen for use with software tuners. If you are using PVR 250s then this setting should not have any affect on you. And it most certainly should not change the available decoding formats.

I can't explain it, but the colors are better and the picture is also great - it's not wishful thinking.

MJC