Using demo, questions about video playback and others

[limiter]

I have recently installed the SageTV demo (I am thinking of switching from another PVR app). I am interested in solving a few issues before my 15 day trail is up.

My System:
- Pentium 4 3.0Ghz, 1GB Ram, Nvidia 6800GT, Optical Out
- 2x ATI TV Wonder 550, 1x Hauppauge pvr500, 1x FusionHDTV 5 Lite OTA HD
- 3 analog, 1 ATI connected to cable box, MCE Remote & Blaster
- Connected to HDTV 1280x720 via DVI
- Nvidia PureVideo, AC3 Filter set for playback, VMR9, 3D, Full Screen Exclusive, Windows XP Pro SP2

1. I have a "Music Videos" folder in the media center video section which I would like to be able to play shuffled one after another, but I don't see a way to do that. I can play one video but when it finishes it returns to the list of videos.

2. While playing videos from the media center video section is there a way to change the aspect ratio on the fly like when watching TV?

3. I have old recordings from my previous setup and they have significant padding in some cases (3-5 minutes depending on how bad start times were for the show) so the video thumbnails are showing previous shows or commercials. Is there a way to adjust where the thumbnails are taken from in the file?

4. Is there a way to add a second hard drive for recordings or can there be only one location for recorded tv?

5. Transport Stream (.ts) files seem hit or miss with decent playback, should I just transcode these into something else, or are there some performance tips to get the ones that don't work well to playback better?

I've read a lot of the manual and searched the forum for answers to some of these questions, but I'm sorry if these things were already answered.

Things I really like:
- Video Thumbnails are great.
- Controlling cable box with IR Blaster on MCE remote (thanks for the instructions).
- Seems very stable & it was easy to setup my 5 inputs.
- Playing video is nearly instant which is something I did not have with my previous setup.
- Many other small things.

Thanks!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by limiter

1. I have a "Music Videos" folder in the media center video section which I would like to be able to play shuffled one after another, but I don't see a way to do that. I can play one video but when it finishes it returns to the list of videos.

Instead of playing a single video, play all the videos by selecting the the parent folder, or using Play on that folder. You can also select individual videos and add them to a playlist. There are also options to shuffle or repeat playlists.

2. While playing videos from the media center video section is there a way to change the aspect ratio on the fly like when watching TV?

You can use the Options command during playback to see a choice for selecting the aspect ratio mode. There is also a newer Aspect Ratio Toggle command you could try.

3. I have old recordings from my previous setup and they have significant padding in some cases (3-5 minutes depending on how bad start times were for the show) so the video thumbnails are showing previous shows or commercials. Is there a way to adjust where the thumbnails are taken from in the file?

I've never tried it, but you could see if changing the video_thumbnail_extraction_time_offset_sec property affects it.

4. Is there a way to add a second hard drive for recordings or can there be only one location for recorded tv?

Simply go to Setup -> Detailed Setup -> General -> Video Recording Directories and configure additional locations. Appendix C of the PDF manual explains where recordings are stored with multiple locations.

- Andy

[limiter]

Thanks for the fast response!

Originally Posted by Opus4

Instead of playing a single video, play all the videos by selecting the the parent folder, or using Play on that folder. You can also select individual videos and add them to a playlist. There are also options to shuffle or repeat playlists.

I didn't even think to look and see if I could play the folder, I was thinking playing from inside the folder. Makes sense now.

Simply go to Setup -> Detailed Setup -> General -> Video Recording Directories and configure additional locations. Appendix C of the PDF manual explains where recordings are stored with multiple locations.

I am used to my other pvr program having a single recordings directory. Thanks again!

[limiter]

SageTV is the first time I have got HDTV to record and play back correctly in PVR software. Digital cable recorded correctly, and the preferred tuner setting worked as well. I purchased SageTV with Media extender today, it looks like some great software.