How to get an HD version of a show that I have in SD

[davidk21770]

I have lots of SD recordings that I'd like to replace with HD recordings as they air. The problem is that since I already have them recorded, I can't make them a favorite (with channels limited to HD) -- Sage won't record the new version since it already has a recording of the show. Is there a way to get Sage to make the new recording automatically? (I know that I can make them manually).

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by davidk21770

I have lots of SD recordings that I'd like to replace with HD recordings as they air. The problem is that since I already have them recorded, I can't make them a favorite (with channels limited to HD) -- Sage won't record the new version since it already has a recording of the show. Is there a way to get Sage to make the new recording automatically? (I know that I can make them manually).

You can do this with SJQ v3. I suspect you can do it with v4, as well, but I have yet to upgrade to that version, since v3 currently does everything I need it to. If you use v3, it's as simple as adding this code to your ruleset:

# Reschedule SD recordings in HD
if [IsObjMediaFile == true && $.IsTVFile{} == true && $.IsAiringHDTV{} == false] {
   :DONEALERT "true"
   :RESCHEDOPTS "HDONLY"
   _RESCHED
}

If I recall correctly (I'm sure Slugger or someone else will chime in), it doesn't delete the SD version until it successfully reschedules an HD version (as opposed to after the new one has been recorded). What that means is that your show has the chance of disappearing for a few days between the time it finds the HD airing in the guide and when that day actually arrives to record it.

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by davidk21770

I have lots of SD recordings that I'd like to replace with HD recordings as they air. The problem is that since I already have them recorded, I can't make them a favorite (with channels limited to HD) -- Sage won't record the new version since it already has a recording of the show. Is there a way to get Sage to make the new recording automatically? (I know that I can make them manually).

Actually, I have found that you can do this by modifying the existing favorite to restrict it to HD channels only, and clearing the watched status. When you do this, the existing recordings will no longer be marked as favorites if they weren't recorded on one of those HD channels. And, as long as the show hasn't been marked as "watched", if Sage sees it come up again on an HD channel, it will record it. You will then have to manually delete the SD version.

I have done this myself successfully.

One thing to watch out for though - if your hard drive is nearly full (or you use Intelligent Recording), Sage may delete some of these shows that are no longer marked as favorites to make room for something else. You may have to mark the old SD version as a Manual recording to prevent Sage from automatically deleting it when you run low on disk space.

[will]

Originally Posted by Tiki

Actually, I have found that you can do this by modifying the existing favorite to restrict it to HD channels only, and clearing the watched status. When you do this, the existing recordings will no longer be marked as favorites if they weren't recorded on one of those HD channels. And, as long as the show hasn't been marked as "watched", if Sage sees it come up again on an HD channel, it will record it. You will then have to manually delete the SD version.

That is a great trick. Thanks for sharing.

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by will

That is a great trick. Thanks for sharing.

Too much manual effort for me. Much easier to set up SJQ.

[davidk21770]

I never realized that sage would rerecord a favorite if it was unwatched and an HD version of a nonHD recording came up! I'm now testing that out .

Can SJQ limit channels? I only want a new HD recording from "movie" channels. Some of the shows that I want to rerecord are on all of the time on commercial channels, but I want an uncut version.

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by davidk21770

I never realized that sage would rerecord a favorite if it was unwatched and an HD version of a nonHD recording came up! I'm now testing that out .

The key is to make sure that Sage no longer considers the SD version that it already has recorded to be a favorite. You do this by modifying the Favorite settings to only record that show on the HD channels.

[davidk21770]

Ah! That makes a lot of sense!