[mythtv-users] Re: Transcoded file not playing back on PVR-350 out

[Cory Papenfuss]

>>> Will this even compress the file enough to make it worth it?
>
> Depends on the definition of "worth it".  It allows you to
> delete commericals, but  if you want N bits/second, you're
> proably better off just encoding at that rate to start with.
>

 	Yes and no.  It depends on how big N is, and what size you're 
wanting to transcode to.  If you want to be miserly on HD space and 
efficient on resolution, transcoding is a good thing.  The PVR-[23]50 does 
a poor job at low resolutions and bitrates.  I actually record things I 
want to keep (READ: record to DVD) at higher resolution and bitrate than 
necessary (640x480, 4500/6500kbps).  When I get ready to archive to DVD, I 
denoise, 2-pass VBR transcode down to 352x480 at 2200kbps.  Results are great 
(It's cable SDTV, so anything above 440x480 is overkill).  I would 
probably use 480x480 if it were a DVD standard size, but 704x480 is too 
space hungry to be worth it.

 	Again... this is for *archiving* shows if you want the best 
quality/bitrate.  For the convenience of time-shifting, live with the 
20-50% space overhead on the HD.

-Cory