[mythtv-users] DVD carousel or lots of HDD space?

[Michael Miyabara-McCaskey]

Hail Mythtv gurus,

I'm a total newbie to the world of PVR's and I've found only documentation
on HOW to do something with MythTV, I havent found anything on WHAT to do
with MythTV...

So... Here goes... I'll get my fireproof suit on now!  :-)  But please
tell me if I'm being silly or not on each option.


I'm thinking of setting up a system, that can use a Sony DVP-CX985 - 400
DVD jukebox ($300), as it's primary method of archiving recorded TV +
playing existing DVDs... (as I'm trying to avoid buying several terrabytes of HDD
space - as I have a collection of several hundred DVDs today).


------------
Config#1: Basic PVR w/glorified frontend maybe?
 - Sony DVD connected directly to TV/speaker input#1.
 - Dish Network connected directly to MythTV host.
 - MythTV connected to TV & speaker system on TV/speaker input#2.
 - MythTV external receiver IR blaster to control Sony DVD.

Question on this option:
  Can MythTV be loaded with a list of the DVDs that I put into the Sony
DVD player?  From what I have read, the "MythVideo" module, is what would
be used to play these back, as well as annotate the IMDB info on each line
item... Can "MythVideo" act as a pass-through IR blaster?

PROs:
 * DVD-RW media is cheap plus no crashed HDDs to worry about.
 * Video & Sound go direct to TV, so quaility should be great.

CONs:
 * Dont know if the "mythvideo" module can work as a dummy pass-through
of IR commands to the Sony DVD player.
 * In this method no additional TVs can use the video on the DVD player.
 * Dont know if I could get the IR blaster to change my inputs correctly.
 * Just seems cludgy, just doesnt sound like a MythTV setup.

------------
Config#2: Streaming through MythTV w/Dolby Digital?
 - Sony DVD video connected directly to MythTV capturecard#1 (s-vhs).
 - Sony DVD audio connected directly to MythTV soundcard#1 (dolby coax).
 - Dish Network connected directly to MythTV capturecard#2.
 - MythTV connected to TV & speaker.
 - MythTV external receiver IR blaster to control Sony DVD.

Question on this option: Can MythTV take video from 1 card, and
sound from another card, re-integrate into a stream, and fire it back out
to the TV and speakers still including the Dolby Digital?  Also same
question as in config#1 above.

Sounds Card: Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS Platinum??  cuz it has lots of
in/outs for Dolby Digital.

Capture Card: Something that can handle 2 - sources?? or just buy 2
cards?  any recommendations as to which one(s)?

PROs:
 * DVD-RW media is cheap plus no crashed HDDs to worry about.
 * Only need the TV/Speakers on 1 input source forever

CONs:
 * Dont know if the "mythvideo" module can work as a dummy pass-through
of IR commands to the Sony DVD player.
 * In this method no additional TVs can use the video on the DVD player,
unless streaming can be done from MythTV backend to frontends... which
leads to config#3.


------------
Config#3: Streaming w/Dolby Digital to MythTV backend.  Playback on at
multiple locations?
 - Same as above, except pretend I split just the "MythTV connected to TV
& speaker" to 1 or more hosts.

Question on this option: Can the streaming be done to a MythTV backend and
therefore a MythTV frontend can pick it up?  and if 1 frontend can pick it
up, can several pick it up via multi-cast or something similar?



Dont you guys love newbie questions?

Thanks in advance for any info you can give.

-MyKarz