Difference between revisions of "Using MythTV"

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'''Using A [[Myth Box]] From Day To Day'''
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{{User Manual TOC}}
  
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Ah, yes; the part you've all been waiting for. :-)
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{{UpToDate 0.27}}
  
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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.
+
==Using MythTV From Day To Day==
  
 +
This section explains what you can ''do'' with a MythTV unit, how the parts 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).
  
−
== Conventions and notes ==
+
MythTV is a capable, powerful, and most of all ''expandable'' system.  We will describe things which can only be done with, or will work differently with, an expanded configuration.
  
−
Screenshots will vary depending on the Theme you have chosen.
+
Most of the daily usage of MythTV is done from the frontend with a remote control or keyboard. If your frontend is set up on a large TV screen in the living room you will want to have a remote control to use with it. You can also set up a frontend remotely on a laptop or desktop computer and use the keyboard to control it.
−
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.
 
  
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>NO_XV=1 mythfrontend
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Whether your screen will look exactly like the screenshots in this manual will vary depending on the [[theme]] you have chosen.
  
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:Editor's note: The images below are using only one of the several available OSDs. Personally, I 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). --[[User:TylerDrake|TylerDrake]]
+
== Introduction ==
 +
 
 +
MythTV has been designed for the "ten foot Interface": it should be driveable from your sofa ten feet (3 metres) away.
 +
 
 +
This is a compromise between functionality and simplicity--especially since the average Remote Control only has about 40 to 50 keys (10 of which are numbers), while MythTV has over 100 keyboard functions.
 +
 
 +
MythTV users will also cite the much needed [[WAF]] or GAF; that is, Wife/Girlfriend Acceptance Factor. 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.
  
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'''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 --[[User:Mikec|Mikec]] 06:06, 28 January 2006 (UTC)
+
===Remote Control Buttons===
  
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'''Remote Control Buttons'''
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The frontend can be controlled with a keyboard or an IR remote control. Either way, the functions are mapped to keyboard keys. If you use an infra red remote, the infra red button presses are mapped to keyboard keys, which are then mapped to MythTV functions. The mappings of keyboard keys to MythTV functions can be changed in the frontend setup (Setup->Edit Keys). If you have made changes there, this chart will not match your system.
  
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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.
+
The remote button icons represent common names for remote control keys. In reality, how these map to physical keyboard keys will depend on how your particular machine was configured. You will need to setup your Remote Control to suit.
  
−
You can find a full list of keyboard keys and functions on this page: [[Keybindings]]
+
You can find a full list of keyboard keys and functions on the [[Keybindings]] page.
  
−
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
+
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse; border-color:silver; background:whitesmoke"
−
| Remote Control Name
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|- style="background: gainsboro"
−
| Keyboard Key  
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!| Remote Control Name
−
| Remote Control Name
+
!| Keyboard Key  
−
| Keyboard Key
+
!| Remote Control Name
−
| Remote Control Name
+
!| Keyboard Key
−
| Keyboard Key
+
!| Remote Control Name
 +
!| Keyboard Key
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|[[Image:RemotePause.png]] Pause
 
|[[Image:RemotePause.png]] Pause
−
| p
+
| align="center" |p
 
|[[Image:RemoteExit.png]] Exit
 
|[[Image:RemoteExit.png]] Exit
−
| ESC
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| align="center" |ESC
−
| [[Image:RemoteREW.png]] Fast Reverse
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| [[Image:RemoteREW.png]] Rewind
−
| Page Up
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| align="center" |Page Up
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]] Left Cursor
 
| [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]] Left Cursor
−
| Left Arrow
+
| align="center" |Left Arrow
 
| [[Image:RemoteVoldown.png]] Vol Down
 
| [[Image:RemoteVoldown.png]] Vol Down
−
| [or F10
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| align="center" |[ ''or'' F10
 
| [[Image:RemoteFF.png]] Fast Forward
 
| [[Image:RemoteFF.png]] Fast Forward
−
| Page Down
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| align="center" |Page Down
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| [[Image:RemoteRight.png]] Right Cursor
 
| [[Image:RemoteRight.png]] Right Cursor
−
| Right Arrow
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| align="center" |Right Arrow
 
| [[Image:RemoteVolup.png]] Vol Up
 
| [[Image:RemoteVolup.png]] Vol Up
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| ] or F11
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| align="center" |] ''or'' F11
 
| [[Image:RemoteZoom.png]] Zoom, Size
 
| [[Image:RemoteZoom.png]] Zoom, Size
−
| w
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| align="center" |w
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| [[Image:RemoteUp.png]] Up Cursor  
 
| [[Image:RemoteUp.png]] Up Cursor  
−
| Up Arrow
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| align="center" |Up Arrow
 
| [[Image:RemoteStart.png]] Start
 
| [[Image:RemoteStart.png]] Start
−
| Home or Q
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| align="center" |Home or Q
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| [[Image:RemoteProgup.png]] Prog +
+
| [[Image:RemoteProgup.png]] Channel Up
−
|  
+
| align="center" |Up Arrow
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| [[Image:RemoteDown.png]] Down Cursor
 
| [[Image:RemoteDown.png]] Down Cursor
−
| Down Arrow
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| align="center" |Down Arrow
 
| [[Image:RemoteEnd.png]] End
 
| [[Image:RemoteEnd.png]] End
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| End or Z
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| align="center" |End or Z
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| [[Image:RemoteProgdown.png]] Prog -
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| [[Image:RemoteProgdown.png]] Channel Down
−
|  
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| align="center" |Down Arrow
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|[[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] Select
 
|[[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] Select
−
|CR
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|align="center" |CR
 
|[[Image:RemoteRecord.png]] Record
 
|[[Image:RemoteRecord.png]] Record
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|CR
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|align="center" |CR
 
|[[Image:RemoteMute.png]] Mute
 
|[[Image:RemoteMute.png]] Mute
−
|F9
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|align="center" |F9
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|[[Image:RemoteInfo.png]]Info
 
|[[Image:RemoteInfo.png]]Info
−
|i
+
|align="center" |i
 
|[[Image:RemotePower.png]] Power
 
|[[Image:RemotePower.png]] Power
−
|User  
+
|align="center" |User  
 
|[[Image:RemoteSlow.png]] Slow Motion
 
|[[Image:RemoteSlow.png]] Slow Motion
−
|A
+
|align="center" |A
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|[[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] Menu
 
|[[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] Menu
−
|m
+
|align="center" |m
 
|[[Image:RemoteStop.png]] Stop
 
|[[Image:RemoteStop.png]] Stop
−
|User
+
|align="center" |User
 
|[[Image:RemoteAVInput.png]] AV input
 
|[[Image:RemoteAVInput.png]] AV input
−
|C
+
|align="center" |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
 
−
[[User Manual:Outline of mythtv menus|the front end]] and
 
−
[[User Manual:Outline of mythtv-setup|the backend setup program]].
 
−
 
 
−
== Watching Live TV ==
 
−
 
 
−
'''Changing channels'''
 
−
 
 
−
While watching Live TV you can change channels with [[Image:RemoteUp.png]] and [[Image: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 [[Image:RemoteUp.png]] and [[Image:RemoteDown.png]] to Browse the programme information on the next/previous  programme with the OSD. Then when you see the programme you want press [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] and MythTV will then jump to that channel.  While in Browse mode you can also use [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]] and [[Image: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 [[Image:RemoteVolup.png]] [[Image:RemoteVoldown.png]] to increase/decrease the Vol
 
−
 
 
−
Press [[Image:RemoteMute.png]] to toggle the audio mute
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image: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 [[Image:RemoteZoom.png]] key.
 
−
 
 
−
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
 
−
|4:3
 
−
|Classic TV Aspect Ratio
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
|16:9
+
|[[Image:130.png]] 1
−
|True Anamorphic Widescreen
+
|align="center" |1
 +
|[[Image:230.png]] 2
 +
|align="center" |2
 +
|[[Image:330.png]] 3
 +
|align="center" |3
 
|-
 
|-
−
|4:3 Zoom
+
|[[Image:430.png]] 4
−
|Crop top and bottom to fill Wide Screen TV
+
|align="center" |4
 +
|[[Image:530.png]] 5
 +
|align="center" |5
 +
|[[Image:630.png]] 6
 +
|align="center" |6
 
|-
 
|-
−
|16:9 Zoom
+
|[[Image:730.png]] 7
−
|Crop sides to fill 4:3 TV
+
|align="center" |7
 +
|[[Image:830.png]] 8
 +
|align="center" |8
 +
|[[Image:930.png]] 9
 +
|align="center" |9
 
|-
 
|-
−
|16:9 Stretch
+
|[[Image:030.png]] 0
−
|Resize 4:3 picture to fit a Wide Screen TV
+
|align="center" |0
 +
|[[Image:Guide.png]]
 +
|align="center" | s
 +
|
 +
|
 
|}
 
|}
  
 +
===Live TV vs MythTV===
  
 +
MythTV will shift your TV paradigm.  Once you had to plan your time around your broadcaster's schedule, or sit channel-surfing just to see what was on, more often than not finding nothing you liked.
  
−
=== Live TV Capabilities ===
+
MythTV introduces the Electronic Program Guide, or EPG, with its full description of what is currently being broadcast and what will be broadcast in the coming weeks. The guide is stored in a relational database so that you can make queries such as find episodes of "Desperate Housewives".
  
 +
MythTV watching is more like the way you would watch your DVD collection. You browse what is in your collection and watch what you want, when you want. However instead of going out and buying DVD's, you harvest your favourite programs as they are broadcast, record them to your hard drive and watch them as you want.
  
−
MythTV offers some of the most sought after features of modern Media Centres.
+
MythTV allows you to just look for broadcasts of your favourite films and, as soon as they are broadcast, record them to your hard drive to add to your collection! You can even have the system make recommendations and record them against the kind of shows that you like.
  
 +
Many long-term MythTV users will say that they have stopped watching live TV and are instead spending time each week scheduling the system to record the kind of shows they like and just browsing through their collection of shows and movies and watching what they like at their leisure.
  
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====Pause Live TV====
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MythTV also supports watching, pausing, fast forwarding and rewinding of 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.
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===Dealing with Commercials===
  
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By pressing [[Image: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.  
+
Some people like commercials. If you don't, MythTV lets you skip these in your recordings. As such MythTV is often compared to a TiVO.
  
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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.
+
===Media Consolidation===
  
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[[Image:LiveTVPaused.jpg]]
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Over the years MythTV has transformed itself into a full blown media hub, able to handle all digital media including photos, music, videos, DVD and CD plus much more. MythTV is able to support the Universal Plug and Play ([[UPnP]]) media server/client and control point standard, so that it can interact with all manner of other media applications and devices.
  
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While the picture stream is paused
+
You may find it useful while reading the manual to refer to (or even print out) the Menu Maps for
 +
[[User Manual:Outline of mythtv menus|the front end]] and
 +
[[User Manual:Outline of mythtv-setup|the backend setup program]].
  
−
Press [[Image:RemoteRight.png]] and [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]] to move forwards / backwards by 1 frame
+
==Starting MythTV==
  
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Press [[Image: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.
+
MythTV consists of two main applications: MythBackend and Mythfrontend. Mythbackend handles all aspects of your TV cards and capturing live TV shows into recordings, and most importantly all the information about these recordings and any media you have such as music and photos. You will always need to start the Mythbackend first. Mythfrontend handles the user interface and the interaction between you, your remote control and the mythbackend server.
  
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====Chase TV Playback====
+
Mythbackend should be autostarted when you power on your machine. Normally it will run as a daemon on the backend machine (which may be the same machine as the frontend). The installation procedures in [[Software Installation]] will take care of that. See that section if this is not working.
  
−
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.
+
Mythfrontend is a GUI application and can be launched from the menu system after logging on. You can run the frontend this way to watch your recorded shows, controlling it with the keyboard. However the normal situation would be using a TV set and remote control. In this setup you may be unable to achieve a Linux login using your remote. The user manual chapter [[Frontend Startup]] describes how to deal with that.
  
−
Press [[Image:RemoteRight.png]] and [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]] to move forwards / backwards in the stream
+
The backend normally runs under a special user id called "mythtv". The MythTV frontend should be run from a normal logged in user, not the "mythtv" user, which is a "system" user id without password.
  
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Press [[Image:RemoteFF.png]] and [[Image:RemoteREW.png]] to  jump forward /backwards by the configured number of minutes (default is 10). This is great to skip quickly over commercials.
+
Many users just leave their backend machines running all the time so that they can be sure to capture scheduled TV shows to recordings. For those of you that are concerned about electricity usage, then you can have your MythTV machine automatically wakeup just before a show starts, and then shutdown after the show has been recorded -- see the mythTV HowTo [[ACPI_Wakeup|"ACPI Wakeup"]]. The mythbackend server will automatically shut down when it is idle, i.e. is not connected to a front end, and not recording.
  
−
====Time Stretch Playback====
+
You can start the MythTV Frontend from the menu or with the following command:
  
−
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.
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> /usr/bin/mythfrontend
  
−
During Live TV you can use this feature to play the TV Stream in slow motion, nice for instant reviews of sports events.
+
mythfrontend can be run either in full screen mode or inside a window. The default is full screen. If you are using it on your living room TV then only full screen makes sense. To change this, use the settings in Setup->Appearance.
  
−
Press [[Image:RemoteSlow.png]] to toggle the Time Stretch playback.
+
==How MythTV Records==
  
−
[[Image:Timestretch.jpg]]
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Watching Live TV and recording are one and the same. When watching Live TV, the system is recording the show and watching it at the same time. Actually, watching will be a few seconds delayed as the show is written to the disk, and then read by the frontend. If you press the record button 10 mins into the show, MythTV will flag this as a recording and move it to the default recording group. All of the show that you have watched to that point is saved in the recording.
  
−
Press the [[Image:RemoteRight.png]]  [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]] Keys to set the Time Stretch speed.
+
Live TV recordings that have not been "Recorded" by pressing "Record" appear in the LiveTV recording group. By default these will be deleted after 1 day.
  
−
====Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)====
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===Storage Usage===
  
−
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.
+
Depending on how you set up your system, you need to be aware of your recording group disk storage usage. There is a discussion of this in the article [[Setup Storage Directories#Storage Usage]].
 +
 +
In the frontend ''Watch Recordings'' screen the percentage full and number of gigabytes free are displayed. If you are relying on auto expire to make space for recordings, this will not be very useful as it will always show 99%. If you are not relying on auto expire, this gives a good indication of how your disk space is going, and when it starts to get too high you need to take some action.
  
−
Press [[Image: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
+
If your machine starts to run low on disc space it will start to expire (delete) recordings to make room. The default behaviour is to delete oldest shows first, but there are other policies you can choose. A check for recordings that should be expired is made every 10 mins. The disc space threshold at which recordings start to be deleted is configurable. You can control most aspects of how recordings are expired in:
  
−
[[Image:Livetvinfo.jpg]]
+
Frontend Setup -> Video -> General -> General (Auto-Expire)
  
−
Press [[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] and the On Screen Menu will show.
+
The settings are described in [[Configuring Frontend#General .28Auto-Expire.29]].
  
−
Use [[Image:RemoteUp.png]], [[Image:RemoteDown.png]] to move up and down the menu. Use [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] to Select.
+
If you want to keep a recording around, you can mark it as permanent in the Recording Browser. Select the recording you want and press [[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] and select "Storage Options" and then "Disable Auto Expire". This only applies if the recording had auto expire enabled in the recording rule in the first place.
  
−
[[Image:LivetvOSM.jpg]]
+
==MythTV Front Page==
  
−
Select the Programme Guide and the Full EPG will show.
+
Once MythTV has started you will be presented with the MythTV Front Page. Here is one using the MythCenter Wide Theme.
 +
:You can see a collection of the available themes on the [[Themes]] page.
  
−
[[Image:LivetvEPG.jpg]]
+
[[Image:MythCenter-wide.png]]
  
−
Use [[Image:RemoteUp.png]], [[Image:RemoteDown.png]], [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]], [[Image:RemoteRight.png]]  to move around the EPG
+
The MythTV Front Page with the default menu theme provides you with the following options:
  
−
Use [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] to Jump Back to live tv at that channel. or just press [[Image:RemoteExit.png]] to go back to watching Live TV
+
#[[#Media Library|Media Library]] - Watch previously recorded programs or your video collection.
 +
#[[#Managing Recordings|Manage Recordings]] - Manage recording schedules
 +
#[[#Information Center|Information Center]] - View MythTV status
 +
#[[#Optical Disks|Optical Disks]] - Watch and Import DVDs
 +
#[[#Watch TV|Watch TV]] - Watch and record Live TV.
 +
#[[#Program Guide|Program Guide]] - Show the Electronic Program Guide.
 +
#[[#Setup|Setup]] - Configure MythFrontend and Plugins.
  
−
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.
+
==Media Library==
 +
This item has two sub-menus, '''Watch Recordings''' and '''Watch Videos'''.  
  
−
====Concurrent Channel Watching====
+
===Watch Recordings===
 +
(Media Library->Watch Recordings)
  
−
If you have multiple tuner cards you can watch two channels at once using the Picture in Picture (PIP) facility.
+
Shows that have already been recorded can be accessed by selecting '''Watch Recordings'''.
−
You can record one programme while you are watching another. Turn on the PIP via the Onscreen Menu by pressing the [[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] key while watching Live TV.
 
  
−
[[Image:LivetvPIP.jpg]]
+
Detailed information about watching recordings can be found in the '''[[User Manual:Watch Recordings|Watch Recordings]]''' sub chapter of this manual.
  
−
Press the [[Image:RemoteAVInput.png]]key to switch between your various tuner cards.
+
===Watch Videos===
 +
(Media Library->Watch Videos)
  
−
==Recordings==
+
Videos that are in the directories listed in the ''Videos'' storage group on the back end (see [[Setup Storage Directories#Setup Storage Groups|Setup Storage Groups]]) or are in the video directories on the front end (see [[Configuring Frontend#General Settings .281.2F4.29|Videos General Settings]]) can be viewed on the front end.
  
−
===Recording Live TV===
+
==Manage Recordings==
  
−
While watching Live TV press the [[Image: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.  
+
The '''Manage Recordings''' section has several layers of sub-menus that are used to select programs to be recorded in many ways. Also included are options that view recording rules and upcoming recordings, as well as recording conflicts. There is the ability to manage the list of previous recordings.
  
−
[[Image:RecordingRecord.jpg]]
+
MythTV has the built in feature of remembering what episodes have already been recorded and not recording them again, unless you specifically wish them to be recorded again.
  
 +
Detailed information on all of this can be found in the [[User Manual:Manage Recordings|Manage Recordings]] sub chapter of this manual.
  
−
The Tuner card being used to record from will be locked until the recording has finished or you explicitly cancel the recording.
+
==Information Center==
−
If you have multiple Tuner cards you can now change channels with the [[Image:RemoteUp.png]] [[Image: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 [[Image:RemoteUp.png]] [[Image:RemoteDown.png]] keys will just jump back and forth in the recording.
+
The information center contains system status information and access to plugins like [[MythBrowser]].
  
 +
A detailed description about the information center can be found in the [[User Manual:Information Center|Information Center]] sub chapter of this manual.
  
 +
==Optical Disks==
  
−
Press the [[Image:RemoteInfo.png]] key, and the OSD will show the position in the recording.
+
To play a DVD with the MythTV media player, simply click on ''Optical Disks >> Play Optical Disc'' from the front page.
  
−
[[Image:RecordingInfo.jpg]]
+
The MythTV [[Internal player|media player]] has complete menu and subtitle support, as well as remote control behaviour and menus which are consistent with the those used when watching recordings.
  
−
Use the [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]], [[Image:RemoteRight.png]] keys to move backwards and forwards in the recording.
+
In order to play encrypted DVDS such as most commercial DVDs you will have to install libdvdcss2.
  
 +
Press [[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] to bring up the DVD On Screen menu options.
  
−
Press the [[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] key, and the On Screen Menu for Recordings will show.
+
All of the controls that work with watching of Recorded Programs or Videos are available, such as fast forward, forward skip, etc. Controls are better than are typically available with a normal DVD player.
  
−
[[Image:RecordingOSM.jpg]]
+
==Watch TV==
 +
Live TV can be accessed by selecting '''Watch TV''' from the main menu screen. This feature provides a way to watch TV through channel surfing at the time it is broadcast.  Since everything is recorded to disc, it is possible to pause programs, replay scenes, and store shows permanently on the system. In addition to channel surfing, it is possible to browse through TV listings using the [[Electronic Program Guide]]. 
  
 +
Detailed information on watching live TV can be found in the '''[[User_Manual:Watch_TV|Watch TV]]''' sub chapter of this manual.
  
−
You can exit the watching recordings with the  [[Image:RemoteExit.png]] key.
+
==Program Guide==
 +
The Electronic Program Guide can be started from various places.
 +
*Main Menu (''Program Guide'' selection).
 +
*While watching TV (From Menu button).
 +
*Manage Recordings (Manage Recordings->Schedule Recordings->Program Guide).
 +
In each case you will have options for recording or selecting a channel for Live TV.
  
−
If you try watching live TV and all the Tuner cards are busy recording, you will get the following screen. [[Image:RecordingBusyinput.jpg]]
+
For more information see [[Electronic Program Guide]].
  
 +
==Setup==
 +
The Setup menu contains the frontend setup pages. For details see  [[Configuring Frontend]].
  
 +
<!-- Update point -->
  
−
.
+
==Topics to be moved to a separate document==
 +
===Commercial Detection===
  
−
=== Scheduled Recordings ===
+
MythTV recordings can be flagged for commercials if you select the option in the recording rule. 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 programme recordings directly from the EPG
+
You can change the default behaviour in Setup->TV settings->General settings->Job Queue
−
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
+
You might find it useful to have a look at [[Commercial Detection|Commercial Detection]] which explains how it works.
  
−
Select the show that you want to record and press the
+
Normally, commercials are just detected so you can skip them, but not actually removed from a recording. If you're interested in permanently removing them, please refer to [[Removing Commercials]].
−
[[Image:RemoteRecord.png]] key repeatedly to cycle through the record options. A record icon on the guide will show which option you have selected.
 
  
−
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
+
===Editing, Transcoding, Removing Commercials===
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG1.jpg]] 
+
Detailed information on editing and transcoding can be found in the [[Removing Commercials]] page.
−
|<tt>Not Recording</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG2.jpg]]
 
−
| <tt>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.</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG3.jpg]] 
 
−
|<tt>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.</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG4.jpg]] 
 
−
|<tt>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.</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG5.jpg]] 
 
−
|<tt>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.</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG6.jpg]] 
 
−
|<tt>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.</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG7.jpg]] 
 
−
|<tt>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.</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG8.jpg]]
 
−
|<tt>Records a show anytime the title is listed on this station. This is perhaps the most common rule to use for most shows.</tt>
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Image:RecordingEPG9.jpg]] 
 
−
|<tt>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.</tt>
 
−
|}
 
  
−
===How MythTV Records===
+
===Archiving Recordings===
−
 
+
:''Note: Should this section, and the following section "Exporting Recordings", be moved to its own page, such as [[User Manual:Archiving Recordings|Archiving and Exporting Recordings]]?''
−
'''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 [[Image:RemoteInfo.png]] key, and select "Dont Auto Expire".
 
  
−
You can change the default beviour in TV settings->General settings-> Global Auto Expire Settings
+
At some point you will want to archive your TV recordings for safe keeping. There are however some complications with this, due to the way Digital TV content is held on your hard drive. MythTV stores its recordings in the "/mnt/video" directory by default. You will find files in here with a .nuv or .mpg file extension and a long complicated name based on the recording schedule. These files are either in [[NuppelVideo]] format or [[MPEG-2]] (Program or Transport Stream) format. To archive these files to DVD they will need to be either be transcoded if NuppelVideo format, or remultiplexed to specially formatted [[MPEG-2]] files suitable for burning to DVD.
  
−
'''Commercial Flagging'''
+
MythTV [[Release_Notes_-_0.20|0.20]] plug-ins now includes [[MythArchive]] for archiving your recordings. What follows is for users of MythTV [[Release_Notes_-_0.19|0.19]] or earlier.
 +
A separate detailed guide exists for SUSE users at http://acaciaclose.co.uk/28654/124502.html.
  
−
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.
+
The process to archive recordings to DVD before version [[Release_Notes_-_0.20|0.20]] involves the use of several external tools in the following steps:
  
−
You can change the default beviour in TV settings->General settings->Job Queue
+
'''Split DVB File with [http://www.lucike.info ProjectX]'''
  
−
===Watching Recordings===
+
Project X takes a collection of DVB stream files and  concatenates them into one big project. You can trim the files here also. It will then create synchronization marks between the audio and video. You can use the default settings.
  
−
MythTV by default holds all its recordings the /mount/store directory
+
'''Create DVD [[MPEG-2]] stream'''
  
−
You can browse these recordings in Main Screen-> Media Library-> Watch Recordings from Mythfrontend
+
We now can convert the above output video (m2v) and audio stream (mp2) generated by projectX to a DVD compatible stream. We use the mplex command, which is part of mjpegtools. You will then have a .mpg file with combined audio and video all nicely synchronized.
−
 
 
−
[[Image: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 [[Image:RemoteUp.png]] [[Image:RemoteDown.png]] keys to select the recording group. Press the [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] key to play that group of recordings
+
> mplex -f 8 -o 1.mpg 1.m2v 1.mp2
  
−
'''Play Individual Recordings'''
+
'''Create a DVD Image with [http://pingwing.xs4all.nl/view.php/page/DVDAuthor KDE_DVDAuthor]'''
  
−
Indivdual recordings from each recording group are on the right of the screen. Use the [[Image:RemoteRight.png]]  [[Image:RemoteLeft.png]] keys to move between the Recording Groups and recordings. Once you are in the recordings pane, use the [[Image:RemoteUp.png]]  [[Image:RemoteDown.png]]  keys to move between recordings. Press the [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] key to play that recording.
+
KDE DVD Author will allow you to create very nice DVD's complete with animated menus. You do not need to compile it. Just download and click on the installer.kmdr icon and KDE will install it. KDE DVDAuthor is a KDE Kommander application.
  
−
===Recording Playlists===
+
'''Required packages:'''
 +
* DVD Author
 +
* ffmpeg
 +
* lsdvd
 +
* normalize
  
−
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.
+
Just follow the steps in the wizard, adding in the video , audio and images files that it asks for. It wil then generate  a DVD ISO image once it completes.
  
 +
[[Image:dvdauthor.jpg]]
  
−
'''Adding Recording Groups to the Playlist'''
+
'''Burn DVD image using [http://k3b.plainblack.com/ K3b]'''
  
−
Press [[Image:RemoteMenu.png]] to bring up the Recording List Menu
+
K3b includes a wizard to burn DVD ISO images. You will find it under the Tools pull down.
−
 
+
''Tools -> Burn DVD ISO image''. Just load up the ISO image from step 3, and you are done.
−
[[Image:RecordingsListMenu.jpg]]
 
−
 
 
−
Select "Add this Category/Group to Playlist" with [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]]
 
−
 
 
−
press [[Image:RemoteExit.png]] to go back to the recordings browser.
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Adding Individual recordings to the Playlist'''
 
−
 
 
−
Press [[Image:RemoteInfo.png]] to bring up the Recording Information popup
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:RecordingsBrowse2.jpg]]
 
−
 
 
−
Select "Add to Playlist" with [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]]
 
−
 
 
−
press [[Image: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.
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:RecordingsPlaylist.jpg]]
 
−
 
 
−
'''''Note: Once you exit the watch recordings page. Your Playlist will be lost.'''''
 
−
 
 
−
While you are in the Recording Browser press [[Image:RemoteInfo.png]] and select "Recording Options". You can now choose to play the Playlist sequentially or in shuffle mode.
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image: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.
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image: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 in red 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 [[Image:RemoteSelect.png]] to see more information about the Recording and to make changes to its status.
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:RecrodingRecordOptions.jpg]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Editing Recordings===
 
−
 
 
−
The Editor allows you to remove any commercials that the may not have been detected by the system during recording. You might also want to remove the lead in prior to a show or the overrun at the end of a show. The process of editing is often referred to as creating a Cut List. This is because MythTV does not actually cut the Recording. Instead it creates a collection of in and out points in the database that is associated with that recording.
 
−
 
 
−
To Edit a Recording press [[Image:remoteMenu.png]] to bring up the On Screen Menu. Select Edit Recording.
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:EditMenu.jpg]]
 
−
 
 
−
The Timeline Editor will now appear
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:EditTimeline.jpg]]
 
−
 
 
−
You can now move along the time line with [[Image:remoteLeft.png]] [[Image:remoteRight.png]] by the amount indicated at the bottom right of the screen Default is 1 Sec
 
−
 
 
−
Use [[Image:remoteUp.png]] [[Image:remoteDown.png]] change the amount to move. This varies between 0.5 Secs to 10Mins. You also have the option of 1 frame at a time, 1 keyframe at a time and finally a cutpoint at a time (jumps from cutpoint to cutpoint).
 
−
 
 
−
To insert a cutpoint press [[Image:remoteSelect.png]]. The Cutpoint menu will appear
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:EditCutpoint.jpg]]
 
−
 
 
−
Use [[Image:remoteSelect.png]] to choose between Delete before this point of after this point. Just add the cutpoints that you need. The system will remember these the next time that you bring the recording up. Red areas along the Timeline will be deleted (Skipped). Green areas will be played.
 
−
 
 
−
If you now transcode this recording the system will take the Cutlist and produce an edited Recording ready to be exported.
 
−
 
 
−
===Transcoding Recordings ===
 
−
 
 
−
Transcoding gets its own section
 
−
 
 
−
===Archiving Recordings===
 
−
 
 
−
Burning the suckers
 
  
 
===Exporting Recordings===
 
===Exporting Recordings===
  
−
Ipods, external media players
+
MythTV recordings can be exported into multiple different formats such as iPod or PSP compatible [[MPEG-4]] files, [[DivX]] and [[Xvid]] files, or files to burn to VCD, SVCD or DVD with the use of [[Nuvexport]], which as of 0.21 is included in MythTV.  It can also be downloaded from [https://svn.forevermore.net/nuvexport/ https://svn.forevermore.net/nuvexport/].
−
 
 
−
==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.
+
[[Nuvexport]] is a command line program that can be used to create a copy of your recording in the following formats: [[Xvid]], SVCD, VCD, DVCD, DVD, [[DivX]], ASF, MP3, PSP, iPod, and [[MPEG-2]] (though the iPod and PSP export options are currently unavailable). It does not alter the original file in any way, just gives you a new one in a folder of your choosing.
  
−
==Managing Media==
+
When run, it will use information from the MythTV database to give you a list of all your recordings to choose from, and allow various options such as resizing the video, cutting out sections marked with MythTV's edit cut list, altering the bitrate, and various other things. A work in progress manual for nuvexport can be found at [http://www.inaudible.co.uk/nuvexport http://www.inaudible.co.uk/nuvexport].
  
−
===Photos===
+
There is also a specialized script that allows you to transcode your files and subscribe to them on your iPod available at http://myth2ipod.com/.  This utility uses nuvexport, and then does special post-processing with MP4Box to create an iPod-ready video.  It will even generate an RSS feed for your shows, which you can subscribe to in iTunes.  Currently (6/22/06) transcoding HD shows doesn't appear to work - you get rolling colors and disjointed sound.  This is apparently a bug in nuvexport.  SD shows work fine though.
  
−
*importing
+
http://www.gentoo-wiki.com/TIP_MythTV_to_iPod is an alternative to http://myth2ipod.com/.  While this how to is aimed at Gentoo users, it can be applied to any distro.  Features include tagging files correctly (so they show up in TV shows instead of movies by default) and user job integration instructions.
−
* Rotating
 
−
* Playing short movies
 
−
* Slide shows and Transitions
 
  
 +
===Managing Media===
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
 +
The [[MythVideo]] plugin provides the ability to manage and play videos of various formats with the help of external players.
  
−
*Importing
+
===Photos===
 +
[[Gallery]] and the [[MythGallery]] plugin allows you to view all your photos as well as short movies from your digital camera.  It will show your photos as they are organised in your file system and generate thumbnails of both folders as well as individual photos.
  
−
* Disc information
+
===Music===
 +
MythTV allows you to play music in various ways
  
−
* Cover Art
+
*The [[MythMusic]] plugin adds the ability to manage and play music files on the frontend.
 +
*Play CDs direct from your CD/DVD Drive
 +
*Access your music files on your Mythbox from the internet using MythWeb
 +
*Access your music files from a UPnP Client by using your MythBox as a DLNA UPnP Server
  
−
===Music===
+
===Advanced Features===
  
 +
===Job Queues===
 +
===Advanced Search===
 +
===Controlling the mythfrontend via netcat (0.19)===
 +
For detailed information see the [[Frontend control socket]] article.
  
−
==Advanced Features==
+
===Fixing Problems===
 +
See [[User_Manual:Diagnosing_Problems]]
  
−
*Job Queues
+
[[Category:Using MythTV|1000]]
−
*Advanced Search
 

Latest revision as of 08:42, 3 November 2016

User Manual
Introduction
► Hardware Setup
► Operating System
Software Installation
Post Installation Tasks
Configuring MythTV
Configuring Frontend
Using MythTV
► Upgrading MythTV
Advanced Topics
► Support
Knowledge Base


Software-update-available.png This page is up-to-date as of MythTV version 0.27.6, the current release is 34.0


Using MythTV From Day To Day

This section explains what you can do with a MythTV unit, how the parts 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 a capable, powerful, and most of all expandable system. We will describe things which can only be done with, or will work differently with, an expanded configuration.

Most of the daily usage of MythTV is done from the frontend with a remote control or keyboard. If your frontend is set up on a large TV screen in the living room you will want to have a remote control to use with it. You can also set up a frontend remotely on a laptop or desktop computer and use the keyboard to control it.

Whether your screen will look exactly like the screenshots in this manual will vary depending on the theme you have chosen.

Introduction

MythTV has been designed for the "ten foot Interface": it should be driveable from your sofa ten feet (3 metres) away.

This is a compromise between functionality and simplicity--especially since the average Remote Control only has about 40 to 50 keys (10 of which are numbers), while MythTV has over 100 keyboard functions.

MythTV users will also cite the much needed WAF or GAF; that is, Wife/Girlfriend Acceptance Factor. 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.

Remote Control Buttons

The frontend can be controlled with a keyboard or an IR remote control. Either way, the functions are mapped to keyboard keys. If you use an infra red remote, the infra red button presses are mapped to keyboard keys, which are then mapped to MythTV functions. The mappings of keyboard keys to MythTV functions can be changed in the frontend setup (Setup->Edit Keys). If you have made changes there, this chart will not match your system.

The remote button icons represent common names for remote control keys. In reality, how these map to physical keyboard keys will depend on how your particular machine was configured. You will need to setup your Remote Control to suit.

You can find a full list of keyboard keys and functions on the Keybindings page.

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 Rewind 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 Channel Up Up Arrow
RemoteDown.png Down Cursor Down Arrow RemoteEnd.png End End or Z RemoteProgdown.png Channel Down Down Arrow
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
130.png 1 1 230.png 2 2 330.png 3 3
430.png 4 4 530.png 5 5 630.png 6 6
730.png 7 7 830.png 8 8 930.png 9 9
030.png 0 0 Guide.png s

Live TV vs MythTV

MythTV will shift your TV paradigm. Once you had to plan your time around your broadcaster's schedule, or sit channel-surfing just to see what was on, more often than not finding nothing you liked.

MythTV introduces the Electronic Program Guide, or EPG, with its full description of what is currently being broadcast and what will be broadcast in the coming weeks. The guide is stored in a relational database so that you can make queries such as find episodes of "Desperate Housewives".

MythTV watching is more like the way you would watch your DVD collection. You browse what is in your collection and watch what you want, when you want. However instead of going out and buying DVD's, you harvest your favourite programs as they are broadcast, record them to your hard drive and watch them as you want.

MythTV allows you to just look for broadcasts of your favourite films and, as soon as they are broadcast, record them to your hard drive to add to your collection! You can even have the system make recommendations and record them against the kind of shows that you like.

Many long-term MythTV users will say that they have stopped watching live TV and are instead spending time each week scheduling the system to record the kind of shows they like and just browsing through their collection of shows and movies and watching what they like at their leisure.

MythTV also supports watching, pausing, fast forwarding and rewinding of Live TV.

Dealing with Commercials

Some people like commercials. If you don't, MythTV lets you skip these in your recordings. As such MythTV is often compared to a TiVO.

Media Consolidation

Over the years MythTV has transformed itself into a full blown media hub, able to handle all digital media including photos, music, videos, DVD and CD plus much more. MythTV is able to support the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) media server/client and control point standard, so that it can interact with all manner of other media applications and devices.

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.

Starting MythTV

MythTV consists of two main applications: MythBackend and Mythfrontend. Mythbackend handles all aspects of your TV cards and capturing live TV shows into recordings, and most importantly all the information about these recordings and any media you have such as music and photos. You will always need to start the Mythbackend first. Mythfrontend handles the user interface and the interaction between you, your remote control and the mythbackend server.

Mythbackend should be autostarted when you power on your machine. Normally it will run as a daemon on the backend machine (which may be the same machine as the frontend). The installation procedures in Software Installation will take care of that. See that section if this is not working.

Mythfrontend is a GUI application and can be launched from the menu system after logging on. You can run the frontend this way to watch your recorded shows, controlling it with the keyboard. However the normal situation would be using a TV set and remote control. In this setup you may be unable to achieve a Linux login using your remote. The user manual chapter Frontend Startup describes how to deal with that.

The backend normally runs under a special user id called "mythtv". The MythTV frontend should be run from a normal logged in user, not the "mythtv" user, which is a "system" user id without password.

Many users just leave their backend machines running all the time so that they can be sure to capture scheduled TV shows to recordings. For those of you that are concerned about electricity usage, then you can have your MythTV machine automatically wakeup just before a show starts, and then shutdown after the show has been recorded -- see the mythTV HowTo "ACPI Wakeup". The mythbackend server will automatically shut down when it is idle, i.e. is not connected to a front end, and not recording.

You can start the MythTV Frontend from the menu or with the following command: 

> /usr/bin/mythfrontend

mythfrontend can be run either in full screen mode or inside a window. The default is full screen. If you are using it on your living room TV then only full screen makes sense. To change this, use the settings in Setup->Appearance.

How MythTV Records

Watching Live TV and recording are one and the same. When watching Live TV, the system is recording the show and watching it at the same time. Actually, watching will be a few seconds delayed as the show is written to the disk, and then read by the frontend. If you press the record button 10 mins into the show, MythTV will flag this as a recording and move it to the default recording group. All of the show that you have watched to that point is saved in the recording.

Live TV recordings that have not been "Recorded" by pressing "Record" appear in the LiveTV recording group. By default these will be deleted after 1 day.

Storage Usage

Depending on how you set up your system, you need to be aware of your recording group disk storage usage. There is a discussion of this in the article Setup Storage Directories#Storage Usage.

In the frontend Watch Recordings screen the percentage full and number of gigabytes free are displayed. If you are relying on auto expire to make space for recordings, this will not be very useful as it will always show 99%. If you are not relying on auto expire, this gives a good indication of how your disk space is going, and when it starts to get too high you need to take some action.

If your machine starts to run low on disc space it will start to expire (delete) recordings to make room. The default behaviour is to delete oldest shows first, but there are other policies you can choose. A check for recordings that should be expired is made every 10 mins. The disc space threshold at which recordings start to be deleted is configurable. You can control most aspects of how recordings are expired in:

Frontend Setup -> Video -> General -> General (Auto-Expire)

The settings are described in Configuring Frontend#General .28Auto-Expire.29.

If you want to keep a recording around, you can mark it as permanent in the Recording Browser. Select the recording you want and press RemoteMenu.png and select "Storage Options" and then "Disable Auto Expire". This only applies if the recording had auto expire enabled in the recording rule in the first place.

MythTV Front Page

Once MythTV has started you will be presented with the MythTV Front Page. Here is one using the MythCenter Wide Theme.

You can see a collection of the available themes on the Themes page.

MythCenter-wide.png

The MythTV Front Page with the default menu theme provides you with the following options:

  1. Media Library - Watch previously recorded programs or your video collection.
  2. Manage Recordings - Manage recording schedules
  3. Information Center - View MythTV status
  4. Optical Disks - Watch and Import DVDs
  5. Watch TV - Watch and record Live TV.
  6. Program Guide - Show the Electronic Program Guide.
  7. Setup - Configure MythFrontend and Plugins.

Media Library

This item has two sub-menus, Watch Recordings and Watch Videos.

Watch Recordings

(Media Library->Watch Recordings)

Shows that have already been recorded can be accessed by selecting Watch Recordings.

Detailed information about watching recordings can be found in the Watch Recordings sub chapter of this manual.

Watch Videos

(Media Library->Watch Videos)

Videos that are in the directories listed in the Videos storage group on the back end (see Setup Storage Groups) or are in the video directories on the front end (see Videos General Settings) can be viewed on the front end.

Manage Recordings

The Manage Recordings section has several layers of sub-menus that are used to select programs to be recorded in many ways. Also included are options that view recording rules and upcoming recordings, as well as recording conflicts. There is the ability to manage the list of previous recordings.

MythTV has the built in feature of remembering what episodes have already been recorded and not recording them again, unless you specifically wish them to be recorded again.

Detailed information on all of this can be found in the Manage Recordings sub chapter of this manual.

Information Center

The information center contains system status information and access to plugins like MythBrowser.

A detailed description about the information center can be found in the Information Center sub chapter of this manual.

Optical Disks

To play a DVD with the MythTV media player, simply click on Optical Disks >> Play Optical Disc from the front page.

The MythTV media player has complete menu and subtitle support, as well as remote control behaviour and menus which are consistent with the those used when watching recordings.

In order to play encrypted DVDS such as most commercial DVDs you will have to install libdvdcss2.

Press RemoteMenu.png to bring up the DVD On Screen menu options.

All of the controls that work with watching of Recorded Programs or Videos are available, such as fast forward, forward skip, etc. Controls are better than are typically available with a normal DVD player.

Watch TV

Live TV can be accessed by selecting Watch TV from the main menu screen. This feature provides a way to watch TV through channel surfing at the time it is broadcast. Since everything is recorded to disc, it is possible to pause programs, replay scenes, and store shows permanently on the system. In addition to channel surfing, it is possible to browse through TV listings using the Electronic Program Guide.

Detailed information on watching live TV can be found in the Watch TV sub chapter of this manual.

Program Guide

The Electronic Program Guide can be started from various places.

  • Main Menu (Program Guide selection).
  • While watching TV (From Menu button).
  • Manage Recordings (Manage Recordings->Schedule Recordings->Program Guide).

In each case you will have options for recording or selecting a channel for Live TV.

For more information see Electronic Program Guide.

Setup

The Setup menu contains the frontend setup pages. For details see Configuring Frontend.


Topics to be moved to a separate document

Commercial Detection

MythTV recordings can be flagged for commercials if you select the option in the recording rule. 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 behaviour in Setup->TV settings->General settings->Job Queue

You might find it useful to have a look at Commercial Detection which explains how it works.

Normally, commercials are just detected so you can skip them, but not actually removed from a recording. If you're interested in permanently removing them, please refer to Removing Commercials.

Editing, Transcoding, Removing Commercials

Detailed information on editing and transcoding can be found in the Removing Commercials page.

Archiving Recordings

Note: Should this section, and the following section "Exporting Recordings", be moved to its own page, such as Archiving and Exporting Recordings?

At some point you will want to archive your TV recordings for safe keeping. There are however some complications with this, due to the way Digital TV content is held on your hard drive. MythTV stores its recordings in the "/mnt/video" directory by default. You will find files in here with a .nuv or .mpg file extension and a long complicated name based on the recording schedule. These files are either in NuppelVideo format or MPEG-2 (Program or Transport Stream) format. To archive these files to DVD they will need to be either be transcoded if NuppelVideo format, or remultiplexed to specially formatted MPEG-2 files suitable for burning to DVD.

MythTV 0.20 plug-ins now includes MythArchive for archiving your recordings. What follows is for users of MythTV 0.19 or earlier. A separate detailed guide exists for SUSE users at http://acaciaclose.co.uk/28654/124502.html.

The process to archive recordings to DVD before version 0.20 involves the use of several external tools in the following steps:

Split DVB File with ProjectX

Project X takes a collection of DVB stream files and concatenates them into one big project. You can trim the files here also. It will then create synchronization marks between the audio and video. You can use the default settings.

Create DVD MPEG-2 stream

We now can convert the above output video (m2v) and audio stream (mp2) generated by projectX to a DVD compatible stream. We use the mplex command, which is part of mjpegtools. You will then have a .mpg file with combined audio and video all nicely synchronized. 

> mplex -f 8 -o 1.mpg 1.m2v 1.mp2

Create a DVD Image with KDE_DVDAuthor

KDE DVD Author will allow you to create very nice DVD's complete with animated menus. You do not need to compile it. Just download and click on the installer.kmdr icon and KDE will install it. KDE DVDAuthor is a KDE Kommander application.

Required packages:

  • DVD Author
  • ffmpeg
  • lsdvd
  • normalize

Just follow the steps in the wizard, adding in the video , audio and images files that it asks for. It wil then generate a DVD ISO image once it completes.

Dvdauthor.jpg

Burn DVD image using K3b

K3b includes a wizard to burn DVD ISO images. You will find it under the Tools pull down. Tools -> Burn DVD ISO image. Just load up the ISO image from step 3, and you are done.

Exporting Recordings

MythTV recordings can be exported into multiple different formats such as iPod or PSP compatible MPEG-4 files, DivX and Xvid files, or files to burn to VCD, SVCD or DVD with the use of Nuvexport, which as of 0.21 is included in MythTV. It can also be downloaded from https://svn.forevermore.net/nuvexport/.

Nuvexport is a command line program that can be used to create a copy of your recording in the following formats: Xvid, SVCD, VCD, DVCD, DVD, DivX, ASF, MP3, PSP, iPod, and MPEG-2 (though the iPod and PSP export options are currently unavailable). It does not alter the original file in any way, just gives you a new one in a folder of your choosing.

When run, it will use information from the MythTV database to give you a list of all your recordings to choose from, and allow various options such as resizing the video, cutting out sections marked with MythTV's edit cut list, altering the bitrate, and various other things. A work in progress manual for nuvexport can be found at http://www.inaudible.co.uk/nuvexport.

There is also a specialized script that allows you to transcode your files and subscribe to them on your iPod available at http://myth2ipod.com/. This utility uses nuvexport, and then does special post-processing with MP4Box to create an iPod-ready video. It will even generate an RSS feed for your shows, which you can subscribe to in iTunes. Currently (6/22/06) transcoding HD shows doesn't appear to work - you get rolling colors and disjointed sound. This is apparently a bug in nuvexport. SD shows work fine though.

http://www.gentoo-wiki.com/TIP_MythTV_to_iPod is an alternative to http://myth2ipod.com/. While this how to is aimed at Gentoo users, it can be applied to any distro. Features include tagging files correctly (so they show up in TV shows instead of movies by default) and user job integration instructions.

Managing Media

Videos

The MythVideo plugin provides the ability to manage and play videos of various formats with the help of external players.

Photos

Gallery and the MythGallery plugin allows you to view all your photos as well as short movies from your digital camera. It will show your photos as they are organised in your file system and generate thumbnails of both folders as well as individual photos.

Music

MythTV allows you to play music in various ways

  • The MythMusic plugin adds the ability to manage and play music files on the frontend.
  • Play CDs direct from your CD/DVD Drive
  • Access your music files on your Mythbox from the internet using MythWeb
  • Access your music files from a UPnP Client by using your MythBox as a DLNA UPnP Server

Advanced Features

Job Queues

Advanced Search

Controlling the mythfrontend via netcat (0.19)

For detailed information see the Frontend control socket article.

Fixing Problems

See User_Manual:Diagnosing_Problems

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