Low recording bitrate

[mcbo84]

After comparing a SageTV recording to a NextPVR recording of the same program, with the same source, on the same device (colossus 2) I'm noticing two wildly different bitrates

SageTV: Data Rate: 12358 kbps
             Total Bitrate: 12550 kbps

NextPVR: Data Rate: 4380 kbps
              Total Bitrate: 4572 kbps

NextPVR recording also just doesn't seem as shape, is there a way to correct this?

[mvallevand]

You need to edit the default SD bit rate in config.xml. NextPVR is detrerming the bit rate on the tuned channel and sometimes it see the tuning blank space as SD. My HDPVR works best with a fixed bitrate I use 720p so I get deinterlacing on the STB

Martin

[mcbo84]

I tried copy/pasting the 1080/720 bitrate to SD

<ModeSD>
      <Bitrate>9000000</Bitrate>
      <BitratePeak>13500000</BitratePeak>
      <BitrateMode>VBR</BitrateMode>
    </ModeSD>


I'm still getting the same bitrate 1920x1080 4778kbps

[mvallevand]

I should have asked for the logs.

Martin

[sub]

Yep, we'll need to see some logs.

[mcbo84]

Looks like I was editing the v4 config, I now have it at 14,366kbps. What bitrate to do you recommend for lossless recording? What exactly is the Video Encoder level, I see its set at 3.1.

Thank you for the help, great program!

[sub]

There is no real lossless recording option, since all options are going to have the hardware H.264 encode the video. For SD content you're unlikely to notice any benefit beyond 7Mbps.

[mvallevand]

If you are happy with SageTV recording use their lower settings. It isn't going to be lossless no matter what you do so use settings that match your quality vs disk space requirements

Martin

[mcbo84]

Would upping the "Video Encoder Level" increase quality, or is that unrelated? What is its range?

[sub]

The level changes a few options that the encoder can use in the video, and the min/max range for the bitrate, but you're limited by the hardware to well under to the maximum bitrates for level 3.x , so is going to make very little difference.