HDHR - H.264 vs MPEG-2. What's best setting?

[JavaWiz]

After reading some posts, I came across the realization that depending on your HDHR configuration, NextPVR records the shows in different formats.

H.264: HDHR config - NextPVR
MPEG2: HDHR config - Other ATSC/QAM

I found this YouTube video explaining the differences between MPEG2 and H.264
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyxy9DCrq1U
Obviously H.264 has much better compression algorithms and captures videos in smaller files. What I didn't get was what impact does this have on the quality (if any)?


Ultimately, my question is, for recording, what is the best setting for my HDHR, NextPVR or Other ATSC/QAM taking into account not only recording size, but quality (and other variables)?

[stustunz]

In the real world I have found modern players like h264 better and seem to play better ( skipping and less artefacts deinterlacing) I have nothing to back this up other than what I have noticed.(current devices that play back h264 better than sdmpeg are the Samsung tv/blurry players and the raspberry pi

[mvallevand]

To be clear the HDTC is the only HDHR that transcodes from mpeg2 to h264 here in North America but in some countries h264 is the broadcast standard so when NextPVR records raw it is already h264. I have been capturing h264 with my HDPVR for years from component and I am very happy with the results at 720p60. I have two complaints with my HDTC, I can't get working comskip with transcoded video and it doesn't do 720p60 transcoding. For 1080i60 it is either 1080i60 h264 or 720p30

For size vs quality, I'd go quality. I got the HDTC to play with, but value wise, my existing HDHR-3 or my other two ATSC cards (my $35 ATI card has a much better tuner then either HDHR) combined with a 4 GB drive is probably better for me.

Martin

[Zeb]

I can't get working comskip with transcoded video

I wonder if that's the same PID filtering issue that sometimes affects recordings by non-transcoding HDHomeRuns with application NextPVR selected?

Also wonder if there's a setting that does not remix 6-channel AC3 as 2-channel? (Don't have an HDTC myself, and nothing I've seen makes me want it.)

[sub]

I wonder if that's the same PID filtering issue that sometimes affects recordings by non-transcoding HDHomeRuns with application NextPVR selected?

I wouldn't think so - doesn't comskip largely work by decoding the video and looking for black frames?

[stustunz]

Yup and finding the logo
Pretty sure it should work if using donation version and some tweaks
Eric could probably sort it if asked

[mvallevand]

I wasn't clear comskip marks the file fine. My experience is there is a huge difference on the HDTC between the timestamps for the a/v streams and NextPVR with any decoder and XBMC jump with any h/w can't deal with it and jump and land early. The delta makes sense since the audio is pass through the video includes transcoding time. After remuxing the same edl file works.

Martin