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1. Introduction
2. DVBViewer Installation
3. Fundamental Operating Steps
4. Display Adjustments
5. Recording and Playback
6. The Channel List
7. The Options Window
8. Troubleshooting
9. Tools and Links
10. Small Filter Guide
11. Plugins
12. Legal Notes

Target Folder and File Format

Before starting your first recording, the location for the recordings must be set. The default setting is a sub-folder in the DVBViewer-folder. You can also set the path for time shift recordings. Those adjustments can be made at settings/options/recorder.

Now you must choose one of the following file-formats in the output format list (the selection only applies to video-recordings, radio programs are always recorded in the mp2 format (via the GraphSelector plugin you can record radio broadcasts directly in the mp3-format)):

  • Video/Audio PS (MPEG 2 program stream): This is the standard setting. It produces an MPEG 2 (though not necessarily DVD compatible) compliant file. MPEG, which stands for Moving Picture Experts Group, is the name of a family of standards used for coding audio-visual information (e.g. movies, video, music) in a digital compressed format.
    The file extension here is .mpg, or .m2p. Often you can use such a recorded file directly for creating a DVD or (S-)VCD. This kind of recording is also known as multiplexed recording.
    Reminder: DVB-MPEG 2 is not the same as DVD-MPEG 2. For DVD-compliance a GOP (group of pictures) must not consist of more than 15 pictures (PAL). But DVB broadcasts often have more than 15 pictures per group. This is not the DVBViewer's fault since the original stream broadcast is saved. But many modern DVD players can cope with DVB-recordings, though.

  • Video/Audio PES (PVA, packetised elementary stream): A PVA-file consists of a sequence of audio and video packets without headers or file trailers. This format is particularly advisable for further processing the recordings (for example cutting ads) with ap­propriate PVA tools as PVAStrumento from www.offeryn.de or PVACut.
    Reminder: You can use AC3 in combination with PVA, but at the time only PVAStrumento and ProjectX are able to demux such a stream. It is advisable to use the more common MPEG 2 for AC3 recordings.
    During the playback of PVA files there are certain restrictions, as you are unable to seek (jump to different positions). It is also necessary to install a PVA demultiplexer which is able to separate the combined video and audio stream of this type of file. Such a filter is contained in the MPEG 2 decoder package from http://www.elecard.com.

  • Video/Audio TS (*.ts): This format records the original data stream from the satellite. It is most advisable for further editing and error handling.

Smart Buffer

Activating this option uses a buffer for recording. The maximum size is 10 percent of your RAM. The minimum size is 2 mbytes. The buffering algorithm prevents negatives influences on the recording process. Usually 3-5 mbytes are sufficient, since one second of DVB stream takes up to 0.5 mbytes. That means you'll have a 10 seconds buffer with 5 mbytes size. The buffer consists of a series of 512 kbytes chunks which are asynchronously written to the harddisk. There are two threads. The first one fills the buffer and receives the data directly from the directshow filter. The second thread is responsible for writing the data to the disk and thus emptying the buffer.

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