Difference between revisions of "Filter Wizard"

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This is a [[Feature Wishlist_(Frontend Addons)|feature request]] for a '''Filter Wizard''' for selecting and applying filters to recordings already recorded. Example: crop black bars from a TV show broadcast in letterbox.
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This is a [[Feature Wishlist_(Frontend Addons)|feature request]] for a '''Filter Wizard''' or GUI for selecting and applying filters to recordings. This feature has associated [[Bug_Tracking_System | trac]] entry {{Ticket|3152}}.
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The functionality to apply filters to recordings already exists in the transcoder profiles, but currently this method is not very user friendly (its just an argument string).  Additionally, it is currently not possible to add new transcoder profiles, leaving only 4 possible combinations of compression and filtering. 
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= Background =
 
= Background =
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The topic of allowing the user to add new recording profiles has been brought up on the developer mailing list.  The position of the main developers seems to be "if you add a single new profile name, it would have to be added for each and every other profile group, etc, etc.. " and that this would be overly complex. It is assumed that the average user will not need more than 4 recording profiles. As far as I can tell the profiles in the 'transcoder' group would not have this issue. It is my understanding that 'transcoder' profiles are always used post recording and would therefore be hardware independent.  Therefore a new profile in the 'transcoder' group would not need to be added to any of the other profile groups.
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The functionality to apply filters to recordings already exists in the ''transcoders'' profiles, but currently this method is not very user friendly (its just an argument string). Filters  can also be applied in the same way on a per channel basis during recording or playback.  There is some discussion on the developer mailing list of adding a GUI for filters in the future, but nothing recent.  Section [http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-10.html#ss10.4 10.4] in the user manual describes the currently available filters.
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[[Image:Filterscurrent.jpg|thumb|center|400px|The current method is not user friendly.]]
  
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It is currently possible to add new transcoder profiles to the [[Recordingprofiles_table|recordingprofiles table]] using a mysql query. 
 
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mysql> insert into recordingprofiles (name, videocodec, audiocodec, profilegroup) values("Letterbox","MPEG-4","MP3",6);
 
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These profiles are then editable in the [[User_Manual:Utilities_and_Setup#Recording_Profiles|'recording profiles' setup screen]].  They are also selectable from the 'post recording processing' options of the recording scheduler.  However, these new profiles are not selectable from the osd menu of playing recordings.  Currently the only selectable profiles from the osd are hard coded as "Default", "Autodetect", "High Quality", "Medium Quality" and "Low Quality".
 
 
== Developer Threads ==
 
== Developer Threads ==
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*[http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/17678 More recording profiles?]
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*[http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/18669 New plugin scheme / Filter selection interface?]
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*[http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/17800 More recording profiles? (revisited)]
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*[http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/18349 Filter documentation?]
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*[http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/13814 [Preliminary patch[ Add profile groups]
 
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*[http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/13725 How to edit the gui? (And some profile related stuff)]
 
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= Solutions =
 
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== Suggested Solution ==
 
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'''Fix transcoder profile setup to allow for adding new transcoders'''
 
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* Add graphical interface for creating new transcoder profiles.
 
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* Modify osd menu for playing recordings to show additional transcoder profiles.
 
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'''Modify the transcoder profile wizard to make adding filter parameters easier'''
 
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* Replace the 'custom filters' input box with 'Add filter'/'Remove filter'/'Modify Filter' buttons and a list of currently applied filters
 
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* On 'Add filter' -> Provide a list of available filters
 
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* On 'Select filter' -> Provide a wizard for each type of filter
 
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'''Pros'''
 
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* Should definatly work
 
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* Fixes transcoder profile setup to allow for more profiles
 
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* User only has to set parameters once and can use them on any video
 
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* Filter parameters easily input
 
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* Filters are more discoverable to user
 
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* Seems to go along with the current architecture
 
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'''Cons'''
 
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* Possibly adds clutter to transcoder profile setup
 
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* Will require some gui coding for wizards
 
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== Alternate Solution #1 ==
 
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Set the filters in the transcoder profile
 
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'''Pros'''
 
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* This should definitely work
 
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* User only has to set parameters once and can use them on any video
 
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* No new code
 
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'''Cons'''
 
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* Currently only 5 (really 3) profiles and no option to add more.
 
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* The current filter options are inconvenient to input from a remote.
 
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* Filters aren't very discoverable.
 
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== Alternate Solution #2 ==
 
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Apply the filters in user jobs
 
  
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'''Pros'''
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= Proposed Solution =
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* This should work
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== Add/Remove/Reorder GUI ==
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* No new code
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This would be similar to the ''Recording Profiles'' setup screen that would contain a list of applied filters and an ''(add new filter)'' item at the bottom.  Pressing the menu key would bring up a menu with the options to move the selected filter up in the list (to be applied earlier in the chain), down in the list, or to remove it. Selecting ''(add new filter)'' would bring up a new screen with a list of the available filters.  Each of these items would then bring up a wizard to walk the user through inputing the required parameters of the filter. Selecting an existing filter brings up the wizard for that filter to alter the values.
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'''Cons'''
 
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* Not convenient to the user since they could not easily change filter parameters from a remote.
 
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* Would require expertise.
 
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* User would have to find a transcoder the would do the filtering. (maybe virtualDub or something)  
 
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== Alternate Solution #3 ==
 
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Provide a filter menu for each recording
 
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* Provide a menu item context menu of a recorded video (i.e. where 'edit' is).  Allow the user to select filter parameters here and possibly preview.
 
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** Similare wizard to the first solution.
 
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* Add videoFilter field to recorded table in database to store filter parameters for each recording
 
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** Perhaps other tables could be created, but this seems in line with how channel fitlers were implemented
 
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* Modify transcoder to get filters from the recorded table, in (addition to / as apposed to) the recording profile.
 
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** What about conflicts
 
  
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'''Pros'''
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[[Image:Filterbutton.jpg|thumb|center|400px|A button will replace the text input.]]
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* Should work
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[[Image:Filterchain.jpg|thumb|center|400px|The applied filters will be listed with their settings.]]
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* Allows user to choose custom filter parameters for each recording
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[[Image:Filteradjust.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Selecting a filter will bring up a wizard to modify the settings.]]
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* Should be easily discoverable for the user
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[[Image:Filterpopup.jpg|thumb|center|400px|The menu button opens a popup menu to alter the ordering of the chain.]]
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[[Image:Filterlist.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Adding a new filter opens a list of available filters to select from.]]
  
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'''Cons'''
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[[Category:Wishlist]]
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* Probably would be redundant for user to select parameters for each recording if there are only several parameter sets the user uses for all their videos
 
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* Possibly adds clutter to recorded video menu
 
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* Requires change to MySQL schema
 
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* Requires change to transcoder code
 
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* Requires change to osd code?
 

Latest revision as of 20:59, 24 September 2010

This is a feature request for a Filter Wizard or GUI for selecting and applying filters to recordings. This feature has associated trac entry #3152.

Background

The functionality to apply filters to recordings already exists in the transcoders profiles, but currently this method is not very user friendly (its just an argument string). Filters can also be applied in the same way on a per channel basis during recording or playback. There is some discussion on the developer mailing list of adding a GUI for filters in the future, but nothing recent. Section 10.4 in the user manual describes the currently available filters.

The current method is not user friendly.

Developer Threads

Proposed Solution

Add/Remove/Reorder GUI

This would be similar to the Recording Profiles setup screen that would contain a list of applied filters and an (add new filter) item at the bottom. Pressing the menu key would bring up a menu with the options to move the selected filter up in the list (to be applied earlier in the chain), down in the list, or to remove it. Selecting (add new filter) would bring up a new screen with a list of the available filters. Each of these items would then bring up a wizard to walk the user through inputing the required parameters of the filter. Selecting an existing filter brings up the wizard for that filter to alter the values.

A button will replace the text input.
The applied filters will be listed with their settings.
Selecting a filter will bring up a wizard to modify the settings.
The menu button opens a popup menu to alter the ordering of the chain.
Adding a new filter opens a list of available filters to select from.
Retrieved from "http://www.mythtv.org/wiki?title=Filter_Wizard&oldid=48973"