Difference between revisions of "Using MythTV"

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The MythTV master backend is responsible for managing the schedule for all TV tuner cards on the master and any slave. Its job is to search the TV listing for the shows you have requested and assign recordings to the TV tuner cards. If none of the shows that you've chosen overlap, it simply records all of the shows. However, if there are shows where the beginning and end times overlap, the scheduler follows rules that you've specified or makes logical decisions about what would be best if you haven't express your preference.
 
The MythTV master backend is responsible for managing the schedule for all TV tuner cards on the master and any slave. Its job is to search the TV listing for the shows you have requested and assign recordings to the TV tuner cards. If none of the shows that you've chosen overlap, it simply records all of the shows. However, if there are shows where the beginning and end times overlap, the scheduler follows rules that you've specified or makes logical decisions about what would be best if you haven't express your preference.
  
If you have a lot of recordings scheduled you can check to see what they are with the upcomings recordings browser.
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If you have a lot of recordings scheduled, you can check to see what they are, as well as resolve any conflicts that the system can't handle, with the upcoming recordings browser. Main Screen->Manage Recordings>Upcoming Recordings.
  
 
[[Image:RecordingsUpcoming.jpg]]
 
[[Image:RecordingsUpcoming.jpg]]

Revision as of 22:36, 30 January 2006

Using A Myth Box From Day To Day

Ah, yes; the part you've all been waiting for.  :-)

This section identifies all the things you can do with a MythTV unit, and explains how they work and how to control them. Hopefully, it will also identify things which can be done more than one way, and point out the most effective choice (and why you might want to do it another way anyway).

MythTV is, as we've said, a very capable, powerful, and most of all expandable system. The practical effect of this is that as we go along, we will describe things which can only be done with more than the basic configuration, or which work differently if you have more than the basic configuration.


Conventions and notes

Screenshots will vary depending on the Theme you have chosen. If you want to do screenshots of live TV you must turn off XV video acceleration. Use this command to run Mythfrontend. It does software rendering of the Video stream so is slow. Would suggest that you dont turn on any de-interlacing to help it along.

>NO_XV=1 mythfrontend

Please note: The images below are using only one of the several available OSDs. Personally, I (TylerDrake) prefer some of the other, "prettier", OSDs (no offense to the author of that OSD). Also note that some of the behaviors noted in this document will change with the release of 0.19 (mainly the LiveTV section).

The remote button Icons refer to common names for remote control keys. In reality these map to physical keyboard keys. You will need to setup your Remote Control to suit.

Content: Please keep configuration related items as well as deep technical explanations to a minimum in this section, These should be covered in the setup and config sections --Mikec 06:06, 28 January 2006 (UTC)


Remote Control Name Keyboard Key Remote Control Name Keyboard Key Remote Control Name Keyboard Key
RemotePause.png Pause p RemoteExit.png Exit ESC RemoteREW.png Fast Reverse Page Up
RemoteLeft.png Left Cursor Left Arrow RemoteVoldown.png Vol Down [or F10 RemoteFF.png Fast Forward Page Down
RemoteRight.png Right Cursor Right Arrow RemoteVolup.png Vol Up ] or F11 RemoteZoom.png Zoom, Size w
RemoteUp.png Up Cursor Up Arrow RemoteStart.png Start Home or Q RemoteProgup.png Prog +
RemoteDown.png Down Cursor Down Arrow RemoteEnd.png End End or Z RemoteProgdown.png Prog -
RemoteSelect.png Select CR RemoteRecord.png Record CR RemoteMute.png Mute F9
RemoteInfo.pngInfo i RemotePower.png Power User RemoteSlow.png Slow Motion A
RemoteMenu.png Menu m RemoteStop.png Stop User RemoteAVInput.png AV input C

Introduction

MythTV has been designed to be used via the "10ft Interface": you should be able to drive its day to day functions from 10ft away sitting on your sofa.

In many respects this is a compromise between functionality and simplicity. This is especially the case given that the average Remote Control only has about 40 to 50 keys (10 of which are numbers). Compare this with MythTVs over 100 keyboard functions.

MythTV users will also cite the much needed WAF or GAF; that is, Wife/Girlfriend Acceptance Factor. The thought of handing her a keyboard to change channels does not bear thinking about! The good news is the 80/20 rule applies. You can do 80% of your day to day things with MythTV on about 20 keys on your remote.

Oh by the way, when you select a Remote Control, think about how easy it is to press the keys when you have beautifully polished/painted long finger nails.

Menu Outlines

You may find it useful while reading the manual to refer to (or even print out) the Menu Maps for the front end and the backend setup program.

Watching Live TV

Changing channels

While watching Live TV you can change channels with RemoteUp.png and RemoteDown.png . There is a pause of several seconds while MythTV buffers the new channel. People often find this pause disconcerting as they are typically coming from a normal TV where they are used to "Channel Surfing".The way to overcome this is to put MythTV into Browse Mode.

Browse Mode is enabled under TV settings ->Playback-On Screen Display, check the box "Always use browse mode when changing channels in LiveTV".

Press RemoteUp.png and RemoteDown.png to Browse the programme information on the next/previous programme with the OSD. Then when you see the programme you want press RemoteSelect.png and MythTV will then jump to that channel. While in Browse mode you can also use RemoteLeft.png and RemoteRight.png to see what shows are coming up next.

You can also jump directly to a channel by pressing the the number keys. Press 1 and it will jump to the first channel in you channel list, press 12 it will jump to the twelve channel in your channel list etc. You can organise your channel list with the MythTV-Setup programme.


Changing Volume

Press RemoteVolup.png RemoteVoldown.png to increase/decrease the Vol

Press RemoteMute.png to toggle the audio mute

LivetvVol.jpg

The OSD will show the Vol provided you have set MythTV to use its internal volume controls. It is possible to set MythTV to bypass its internal volume controls and send the audio directly to your soundcards SPDIF output. In this case you should programme your remote's volume up and volume down keys to control the volume on your AV amplifier.


Changing Aspect Ratio

You can step through the different screen aspect ratios with the RemoteZoom.png key.

4:3 Classic TV Aspect Ratio
16:9 True Anamorphic Widescreen
4:3 Zoom Crop top and bottom to fill Wide Screen TV
16:9 Zoom Crop sides to fill 4:3 TV
16:9 Stretch Resize 4:3 picture to fit a Wide Screen TV


Live TV Capabilities

MythTV offers some of the most sought after features of modern Media Centres.


Pause Live TV

Pausing live tv is great when the phone rings during a show or your little ones need a comfort break during a movie.

By pressing RemotePause.png on your Remote the picture will freeze, and MythTV will start to buffer Live TV to the hard drive. An On Screen Display (OSD) will appear showing seconds behind realtime TV as well as how much live TV has been buffered as a percentage of total buffer space.

If you change channels or exit from watching Live TV then any buffered TV will be lost. This will change significantly in the 0.19 release.

LiveTVPaused.jpg

While the picture stream is paused

Press RemoteRight.png and RemoteLeft.png to move forwards / backwards by 1 frame

Press RemotePause.png a second time to unpause live tv, you will now be watching behind live TV. This is referred to as Chase TV Playback for obvious reasons.

Chase TV Playback

With Chase TV Playback the system can be recording live tv while you are watching the same programme behind realtime. It is somtimes referred to as Timeshifting TV.

Press RemoteRight.png and RemoteLeft.png to move forwards / backwards in the stream

Press RemoteFF.png and RemoteREW.png to jump forward /backwards by the configured number of minutes (default is 10). This is great to skip quickly over commercials.

Time Stretch Playback

At the 0.17 release of MythTv the concept of Timestretch playback was introduced. Though, it's really 'time-compression'. This allows the user to adjust the playback speed slightly, but keeps the audio at the same pitch. If you're recording a lot of shows, timestretch lets you get through them faster. So now you can watch a 1 hour show in 40 mins without feeling like you are listening to the chipmunks.

During Live TV you can use this feature to play the TV Stream in slow motion, nice for instant reviews of sports events.

Press RemoteSlow.png to toggle the Time Stretch playback.

Timestretch.jpg

Press the RemoteRight.png RemoteLeft.png Keys to set the Time Stretch speed.

Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)

The Electronic programme guide will allow you to get more detailed information on what is being broadcast currently as well as programmes schedules that are coming up.

Press RemoteInfo.png and the OSD will show information on what you are currently watching. The OSD will stay up for a default of 3 seconds and then fade out. You can set the duration in the TV settings ->Playback Settings->OSD

Livetvinfo.jpg

Press RemoteMenu.png and the On Screen Menu will show.

Use RemoteUp.png, RemoteDown.png to move up and down the menu. Use RemoteSelect.png to Select.

LivetvOSM.jpg

Select the Programme Guide and the Full EPG will show.

LivetvEPG.jpg

Use RemoteUp.png, RemoteDown.png, RemoteLeft.png, RemoteRight.png to move around the EPG

Use RemoteSelect.png to Jump Back to live tv at that channel. or just press RemoteExit.png to go back to watching Live TV

The EPG also allows direct channel jumping by entering a channel number. By default, it is off. You can turn it on in the TV -> Guide Settings. When you press a number key MythTV gives you 2.5 seconds to enter additional digits, (These are displayed on screen as you press), after which it will jump to the closest channel it can find that matches the digits you have pressed.

Concurrent Channel Watching

If you have multiple tuner cards you can watch two channels at once using the Picture in Picture (PIP) facility. You can record one programme while you are watching another. Turn on the PIP via the Onscreen Menu by pressing the RemoteMenu.png key while watching Live TV.

LivetvPIP.jpg

Press the RemoteAVInput.pngkey to switch between your various tuner cards.

Recordings

Recording Live TV

While watching Live TV press the RemoteRecord.png key, MythTV will start recording the show at that point until the show is finished according to the Guide schedule. There will be a few seconds pause followed by a blank screen before MythTV switchs to recording mode.

RecordingRecord.jpg


The Tuner card being used to record from will be locked until the recording has finished or you explicitly cancel the recording. If you have multiple Tuner cards you can now change channels with the RemoteUp.png RemoteDown.png keys. MythTV will continue recording the current show and switch to the next available Tuner card. If there are no more available Tuner cards then the RemoteUp.png RemoteDown.png keys will just jump back and forth in the recording.


Press the RemoteInfo.png key, and the OSD will show the position in the recording.

RecordingInfo.jpg

Use the RemoteLeft.png, RemoteRight.png keys to move backwards and forwards in the recording.


Press the RemoteMenu.png key, and the On Screen Menu for Recordings will show.

File:RecordingOSM.jpg


You can exit the watching recordings with the RemoteExit.png key.

If you try watching live TV and all the Tuner cards are busy recording, you will get the following screen. RecordingBusyinput.jpg


.

Scheduled Recordings

You can programme recordings directly from the EPG If you have multiple tuner cards, MythTV will try and resolve schedule conflicts by searching for repeat broadcasts of the same show as well as trying to handle non broadcasts due to changes in schedules. For recording of multiple episodes of a show, MythTV will look at the episode information to identify unique episodes.

You can change Recording priorities in Setup->TV Settings->Recording Priorities

Select the show that you want to record and press the RemoteRecord.png key repeatedly to cycle through the record options. A record icon on the guide will show which option you have selected.

RecordingEPG1.jpg Not Recording
RecordingEPG2.jpg Record only this Programme at this specific time and this station. This is the best way to be sure that a certain showing is recorded. However, if the TV listings change and the show is not broadcast at that time, the show will not be recorded but will be marked as Not Listed to let you know that you should investigate.
RecordingEPG3.jpg Record a title once from any of the times that appear in the TV listings. This is useful for recording a movie or special that has multiple showings because it allows the scheduler to choose one that doesn't conflict. It is not a good choice for recording a single episode of a series because it records the first available showing of the title without regard to the episode information.
RecordingEPG4.jpg Record a show whenever the title is listed on the same channel, weekday and time. Note that if the TV station changes the schedule for a special episode, it would not be recorded. However, you can add a single record for the special episode.
RecordingEPG5.jpg Record a title once per week from any of the times that appear in the TV listings beginning from the time of the showing that was selected when the rule was set. This is useful for news, current events or other programs where the same episode is shown several times each week but the listings may not include descriptive information. This may not be a good choice if there are different episodes shown during the week.
RecordingEPG6.jpg Records a show whenever the title is listed for the time and station on any day of the week. Here again, a show will not be recorded if the time was altered by the station.
RecordingEPG7.jpg Record a title once per day from any of the times that appear in the TV listings beginning from the time of the showing that was selected when the rule was set. This is useful for news, current events or other shows where the same episode is shown several times each day but the listings may not include descriptive information. This may not be a good choice if there are different episodes shown during the day.
RecordingEPG8.jpg Records a show anytime the title is listed on this station. This is perhaps the most common rule to use for most shows.
RecordingEPG9.jpg Record this title on any station at any time. This can be useful if a station has sister stations where shows are rebroadcast allowing the scheduler to record rebroadcasts on the other station when the original airing cannot be recorded.

How MythTV Records

Ringbuffer and Recordings

Prior to the 0.19 release MythTV treated timeshifting ie chase play and recording a programme differently. There was a Ringbuffer that handled the timeshifting element, whereas Recordings were saved into their own file. This had some negative side effects.

1. If you were watching a live show and 15 minutes into it you decided that you wanted to record it, pressing the record key only recorded the show at that point. You lost 15 mins worth even though those 15mins were in the ringbuffer.

2. Changing channels was unecessarily slow because the system had to mess around with the ringbuffer each time.

With 0.19 Timeshifting and recording are one and the same. Now if you press the record button 10 mins into the show, all MythTV does is make a change in the database to indicate that this is a Recording and by magic it appears in your recordings collection.

Live TV recordings that have not been transisitioned appear in the Default Recordings group.

Expirations of Recordings

If your machines starts to run low in disc space it will start to expire (delete) recordings to make room. The default behaviour is to delete oldest shows first, and is checked every 10 mins. You can mark Recordings as permanent in the Recording Browser. Select the recording you want and press the RemoteInfo.png key, and select "Dont Auto Expire".

You can change the default beviour in TV settings->General settings-> Global Auto Expire Settings

Commercial Flagging

MythTV recordings are automatically flagged for commercials, ie there are markers put in the database that tell the system where it believes commercials start and end. This allows you to jump over commercials when playing back recordings. You can also use this information to delete the commercials when you export the recordings.

You can change the default beviour in TV settings->General settings->Job Queue

Watching Recordings

MythTV by default holds all its recordings the /mount/store directory

You can browse these recordings in Main Screen-> Media Library-> Watch Recordings from Mythfrontend

RecordingsBrowse.jpg


Play Recording Groups

You can play a collection of recordings for example all episodes of a particular series.

The recordings are organised into Recording Groups on the left of the screen. The Group "All Programmes" contains all recordings. Use the RemoteUp.png RemoteDown.png keys to select the recording group. Press the RemoteSelect.png key to play that group of recordings

Play Individual Recordings

Indivdual recordings from each recording group are on the right of the screen. Use the RemoteRight.png RemoteLeft.png keys to move between the Recording Groups and recordings. Once you are in the recordings pane, use the RemoteUp.png RemoteDown.png keys to move between recordings. Press the RemoteSelect.png key to play that recording.

Recording Playlists

MythTV allows you to create Playlists of Recordings. You can select complete Recording Groups to add to the Playlist, or individual Recordings. This is useful if you need to keep the kids entertained for more than a few hours.


Adding Recording Groups to the Playlist

Press RemoteMenu.png to bring up the Recording List Menu

RecordingsListMenu.jpg

Select "Add this Category/Group to Playlist" with RemoteSelect.png

press RemoteExit.png to go back to the recordings browser.


Adding Individual recordings to the Playlist

Press RemoteInfo.png to bring up the Recording Information popup

RecordingsBrowse2.jpg

Select "Add to Playlist" with RemoteSelect.png

press RemoteExit.png to go back to the recordings browser.


Playing recordings in the Playlist

You can see what Recordings are in the recording Playlist by selecting the "All Programmes" group. Selected Recordings are highlighted in yellow.

RecordingsPlaylist.jpg

Note: Once you exit the watch recordings page. Your Playlist will be lost.

While you are in the Recording Browser press RemoteInfo.png and select "Recording Options". You can now choose to play the Playlist sequentially or in shuffle mode.

RecordingPlaylistOptions.jpg

Managing Recordings

Upcoming recordings

The MythTV master backend is responsible for managing the schedule for all TV tuner cards on the master and any slave. Its job is to search the TV listing for the shows you have requested and assign recordings to the TV tuner cards. If none of the shows that you've chosen overlap, it simply records all of the shows. However, if there are shows where the beginning and end times overlap, the scheduler follows rules that you've specified or makes logical decisions about what would be best if you haven't express your preference.

If you have a lot of recordings scheduled, you can check to see what they are, as well as resolve any conflicts that the system can't handle, with the upcoming recordings browser. Main Screen->Manage Recordings>Upcoming Recordings.

RecordingsUpcoming.jpg

There are two 'views' available.

1.Press "1" to include all of the items that match record rules even if they do not need to be recorded.

2.Press "2" to focus on just the things that will record and items that may need your attention.

Conflicts Reminder

This tells you if there are any conflicts that would prevent one or more shows from being recorded.

Highlight Colour

The items in the list are colored in the record color for things that will record, white for things that may need attention, gray for those that do not need to record and yellow when there is a time conflict. Items at the top of the list may also be highlighted indicating that the recording is in progress.

Tuner Number and Status Code

Numbers indicate which card number has been assigned to record the show. Letters are used to indicate the reason that something will not be recorded. You can see what the letter means in the "Record Mode" Below.

Record Mode

This is a short status message for the highlighted item that indicates the type of record rule that was matched, the "total priority" for this showing and a one or two word explanation of the status code. Press RemoteSelect.png to see more information about the status.

Editing Recordings

Yes there is a basic trim tool

Transcoding Recordings

Transcoding gets its own section

Archiving Recordings

Burning the suckers

Exporting Recordings

Ipods, external media players

Playing DVDs

0.19 introduces the concept of an internal DVD player as opposed to using Xine or Mplayer. You can enable this by entering "internal" for the player command.

Managing Media

Photos

  • importing
  • Rotating
  • Playing short movies
  • Slide shows and Transitions

Videos

  • Importing
  • Disc information
  • Cover Art

Music

Advanced Features

  • Job Queues
  • Advanced Search