Two transcoding questions

[popechild]

1. Is it possible for the transcoding to happen on a separate machine? ie. Can I setup a networked machine (using Client perhaps, or just using SageTVTrancoder) to do the processing work so it doesn't affect my tv playback while I transcode? Kind of like how you can setup commercial processing on another machine...

2. Is it possible to modify any of the settings for the specific format options? Or even to add new ones? I ask because the Ipod format is giving me the best quality/size mixture (I can't get mpeg4 to work) for what I need, but it's reformatting all of my 16x9 material to 4x3 (or something similar to that). Is it possible to change this option to retain the original aspect ratio?

Thanks.

[rickgillyon]

Don't know about 2, but on 1 Narflex said that it's not currently possible to move transcoding to another server. It shouldn't interfere with viewing etc. as it runs below normal priority.

I do my transcoding on another server with an automatic overnight job or right-click menu on the files for immediate transcode, works very well. There's a thread about it on here somewhere...

[blade]

Originally Posted by popechild

2. Is it possible to modify any of the settings for the specific format options? Or even to add new ones?

Yes, they can be edited in the Sage properties file and new ones can be created.

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by rickgillyon

Don't know about 2, but on 1 Narflex said that it's not currently possible to move transcoding to another server. It shouldn't interfere with viewing etc. as it runs below normal priority.

On my machine it takes up all available CPU cycles, when doing apparently nothing.

[popechild]

Originally Posted by rickgillyon

Don't know about 2, but on 1 Narflex said that it's not currently possible to move transcoding to another server. It shouldn't interfere with viewing etc. as it runs below normal priority.

I do my transcoding on another server with an automatic overnight job or right-click menu on the files for immediate transcode, works very well. There's a thread about it on here somewhere...

Yes, I think I've seen that thread, but if I remember correctly that's using a third party app for the transcoding, right? It may just be that I'm not setting the properties correctly, but I've never been able to get a third party app to get anywhere near the speeds of what the Sage transcoder is giving me, and for now at least, I'm fine with the Sage quality.

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by Goodspike

On my machine it takes up all available CPU cycles, when doing apparently nothing.

Yes, it should take all available, but should allow Sage/Service to operate normally. If it doesn't, there's a problem with it!

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by popechild

Yes, I think I've seen that thread, but if I remember correctly that's using a third party app for the transcoding, right?

Yes, uses AutoGK mainly. Processing overnight so speed's rarely an issue for me, my rig manages about 30fps XViD transcoding.

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by rickgillyon

Yes, it should take all available, but should allow Sage/Service to operate normally. If it doesn't, there's a problem with it!

I have another thread on it, but it first interferes sometimes with Sage being restarted. If I Ctrl-Alt-Del and terminate it, Sage will then restart.

But as an experiment last night I terminated it with Sage running. Going from the recorded programs menu to a recorded program was much faster, and everything else was much more crisp.

I'm not exactly sure this thing does anything for me. If it allows the TS or TP files created by my MyHD card to be played in Sage, that would be something useful (but not 100% necessary), but other than that, I don't see that it does a thing. I'd rather not have it if there's a choice. I don't care about thumbnails at all.