Padding before and after a recording

[andyvr4]

Hi,

I'm looking at switching over to sagetv from media center, but I really like the feature in media center that allows you to configure it to record a certain amount before and after each scheduled show when possible (there's enough tuners to handle all the schedule recordings). Frequently programs around here seem to either start a minute or two head of schedule or finish a couple of minutes late and I really don't want to miss the beginning or end of a program.

Is there away to configure sagetv to do this either through the program itself or a plugin?

Thanks,
Andy

[graywolf]

Yes, you are able to add padding before and after recordings for both manual and favorites. There is also an option to remove padding for back to back recordings on the same channel. That way if set and both shows have before/after padding and they are on the same channel, it would remove the padding between the 2 shows and thereby use just 1 tuner.

Otherwise if back to back shows on different channels, then it would need 2 tuners because the padding would not be automatically removed. Either that or 1 of the shows (if favorites) would be adjusted to an alternate airing (if there is one)

[andyvr4]

Great, that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for! Where would I go in sagetv to find these options?

[paulbeers]

Once you setup a favorite, you can set the padding before and after in the favorite settings.

The "remove padding on back to back..." is found in the detailed settings. I am not sure which menu though off the top of my head.

[andyvr4]

Thanks, where do you go to set the default padding for manual recordings?

[Rico66]

There's a plugin that does this job, which you need to install. I don't know the exact name right now, but it should say something about manual and padding in the title.

[Opus4]

As a new user, I suggest you check out the PDF manual that is installed with SageTV (or can be downloaded separately). Chapter 2 covers installation & some sections for new users. You can also search the PDF for Padding & other topics.

Default padding for new Manual Recordings & Favorites are options in the hidden extras that are built into the default STV but which must be enabled for them to be available. See the thread in the link for the additional features.

- Andy

[wayner]

And if you record sports then use the SRE plugin. It monitors web pages to see if your sporting event is over, if not it keeps on recording until done. This is particularly useful for hockey playoff overtime games that can go for hours more than scheduled.

[andyvr4]

Thanks everybody I got it working great on my trial system! I'm getting very close to converting over!

[Sharky112065]

I don't like that you can only set it to pad 15 minutes. I can't seem to figure out any way to change the padding to only 3 minutes. Anyone know a way to do this? Seems stupid to be recording an extra half hour when I only need 3 minutes each way. Seems it would save a lot of storage space.

Also, I don't understand why they don't simply use the existing transport stream to simply output two different files. If they did this there would be no need to select the option that allows it to not pad if it is out of tuners. For example say I am recording on two separate shows on the same channel back to back and I have padding set for both ends of the shows. Seems like they could simply when the time comes to record the 2nd show on the same channel to simply open another file and start dumping the stream to that file as well at the correct time.

I have it set up so it will automatically add the padding to all shows I record. This works on the server but not the client. When I try to schedule a recording or a series it does not use the defaults that are set up on the server. Any ideas? I'm using SageTV 7 server and client.

[andyvr4]

You should be able to setup different pad times. I'm currently using 3 minutes before a recording and 10 minutes after.

I had to go into system information and unlock the extras with 5309. Then it gave me a before and after passing option for both manual recordings and favorite recordings.

So far it's been working great!

Since I don't use a client I can't comment for sure, but I suspect you'll need to set these defaults on the client as well!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Sharky112065

I don't like that you can only set it to pad 15 minutes. I can't seem to figure out any way to change the padding to only 3 minutes. Anyone know a way to do this? Seems stupid to be recording an extra half hour when I only need 3 minutes each way.

Normally, I point people to the PDF manual that is installed with SageTV, but in this case, please read the on-screen instructions that are shown when adjusting padding. It says:

Use the Left and Right arrows to adjust the time in minutes that SageTV will start recording this Favorite relative to when it is scheduled to begin. Use Page Left/Rew and Page Right/FF to adjust in 15 minute increments. Press Enter when done.

- Andy

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by Sharky112065

Also, I don't understand why they don't simply use the existing transport stream to simply output two different files. If they did this there would be no need to select the option that allows it to not pad if it is out of tuners. For example say I am recording on two separate shows on the same channel back to back and I have padding set for both ends of the shows. Seems like they could simply when the time comes to record the 2nd show on the same channel to simply open another file and start dumping the stream to that file as well at the correct time.

Everyone agrees this would be a useful feature, and you're not the first to suggest it. So apparently it's not so simple as you think, or it would have been done already.

[Sharky112065]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Normally, I point people to the PDF manual that is installed with SageTV, but in this case, please read the on-screen instructions that are shown when adjusting padding. It says:


- Andy

Thank you Andy.

I was using the mouse and obviously did not read the on screen info that well. I came from Snapstream BTV and was used to just using the mouse to adjust it in minutes. So when I used t he mouse and only saw 15 min increments I was kinda disappointed. As soon as I get home from my trip ill try it out.

[Sharky112065]

Originally Posted by andyvr4

You should be able to setup different pad times. I'm currently using 3 minutes before a recording and 10 minutes after.

I had to go into system information and unlock the extras with 5309. Then it gave me a before and after passing option for both manual recordings and favorite recordings.

So far it's been working great!

Since I don't use a client I can't comment for sure, but I suspect you'll need to set these defaults on the client as well!

I did unlock the extras on the server. I tried it on the client and it did not work. But either way I think it is lame that it does not simply adopt the options that the server uses. Same thing with the channel logo's. I had to copy them manually from the server. I cant think of any reason why someone would need different logos on the server and the client.

[Sharky112065]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

Everyone agrees this would be a useful feature, and you're not the first to suggest it. So apparently it's not so simple as you think, or it would have been done already.

I write code for a living. It should be pretty simple. You are already buffering the stream to memory and writing it to a file. Yes it might take about a week to fully implement and test but it would be so worth it.

A bit more effort in development to save a lot of people money on extra hardware.

But please don't take this as me bashing this product. I love it so far. I just came from BTV and seem to be adapting well.

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by Sharky112065

I write code for a living. It should be pretty simple. You are already buffering the stream to memory and writing it to a file. Yes it might take about a week to fully implement and test but it would be so worth it.

As I said, you're not the first person to ask for it, so I'll just refer you to the answer I got last time I asked.

[Sharky112065]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

As I said, you're not the first person to ask for it, so I'll just refer you to the answer I got last time I asked.

I responded in that thread/forum.

[blade]

Originally Posted by Sharky112065

I tried it on the client and it did not work. But either way I think it is lame that it does not simply adopt the options that the server uses.

Padding works just fine on clients and there is no such thing as setting padding on a per client basis. If there is then it's news to me because I've been using padding for 5 years and have never had to do anything to a client to get it to see the padding. When you set padding it changes the parameters for the actual recording. This has absolutely nothing to do with the client.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Sharky112065

... Seems stupid...

... I think it is lame...

... But please don't take this as me bashing this product. I love it so far. I just came from BTV and seem to be adapting well.

Then, please see the forum rules, particularly item #1 about remaining civil instead of appearing to be insulting.

I have it set up so it will automatically add the padding to all shows I record. This works on the server but not the client. When I try to schedule a recording or a series it does not use the defaults that are set up on the server. Any ideas? I'm using SageTV 7 server and client.

Padding is the same on the server & client. The extra feature for default padding for new Favs & MRs also applies to all clients. However, the hidden extras have to be enabled on each client in order for all clients to actually use the default padding settings -- that is an extra feature, after all, not a supported standard feature.

- Andy