Just a silly idea? Switching from Mpeg to Wmv...

[Eric3a]

Ideally I'd like to view Live TV (the few times when I do) using Mpeg format so I can Pause, rewind, etc...

Ideally also I'd record in wmv format because it takes a lot less disk space for a rather surprisingly good result.

From the FSUI Settings page I can easily switch my default recording settings from Mpeg to wmv.

So:
Could I (and does it make sense) set my recording format to wmv by default....
THEN
When I want to watch Live TV, switch over to Mpeg format
THEN
When I am done go back to wmv format...

???

I'd try it but I'm leaving tomorrow and have all my recordings set to Mpeg default and don't want to mess things up while I am away.

IF the above switching makes sense is there anyway I could program my RemoteWonder (ie is there a command to change default recording format)?

Usage: Just before switching to Live TV. press my remote, change to Mpeg. Watch, and on exit press another button and back to wmv format.

Eric

[Julia]

What about recompressing after you record in MPEG2, that way you don't have to keep switching modes.

Julia

[Eric3a]

Thanks for the prompt reply... That was fast!

Recompressing is so CPU intensive and slow I only do it for the very few recordings I'd want to keep (about once a month). I prefer recompressing using DrDivx across the network actually, leaving my main machine for the rest.

Plus I tend to timeshift program over the same 24 period, so "off peak" timeshift isn't all that useful for me.

What happens if having set all my recordings at default setting (currently Mpeg) I switch default to wmv tonight before leaving ??(Afraid hard disk space won't do when I'm away. new HD on order already..)

Will all recordings then be done in wmv?

At least you seem to indicate that from FSUI swapping recording formats will work. I was afraid BTV might get mixed up if say I setup a recording in default wmv but I left (or was running) Live TV in Mpeg.

Pretty cool stuff.
Eric

[V_D_O]

Well, the original versions of 3.0 (below beta 6 or 7, I believe) did allow you to record to WMV in MPEG mode as a default setting. But this caused very high CPU usage and was therefore removed. It is still theoretically possible, by editing each recording individually as far as I can see.

[Eric3a]

Thanks;
I tried that during a more recent Beta I believe (might have done it by accident/manually) and yes it was very CPU intensive, though acceptable by taking the quality settings down.
Amazingly it didn't impact image quality as much as I thought it would.

I'm going to HAVE to play some more with settings and options...

If it ain't broke you haven't tried hard enough.
Eric