Transcode only select channels? How to tell what format channels are?

Scottie Arnett

Is there a way to transcode only certain channels? How do you tell what format the source video channels are to select a source video codec in the "streams" section for transcoding? I want to only tanscode the high definition channels to lower the bandwidth consumption, but I think they are mpeg2, so selecting it transcodes all channels.

Hiro Protagonist

Are these channels OTA or IPTV?

Scottie Arnett

OTA tv antenna.

Saen Acro

https://tvheadend.org/issues/3131

Scottie Arnett

Over 6 years ago! :) I guess that is not going to be done anytime soon.

OK. any work arounds?

I have had no replies on the other question....How to tell what format channels are?

Ron L

Probably the best way to tell the format is to record a sample and then use the program mediainfo to identify the format. It can normally be installed from your distro repos.

Saen Acro

Any player show same info without need to record


ffprobe http://tvh.ip.or.dns:9981/url

also show it

Scottie Arnett

Ron L wrote:

> Probably the best way to tell the format is to record a sample and then use the program mediainfo to identify the format. It can normally be installed from your distro repos.

As I suspected. My SD and HD channels are both mpeg2. I guess the only solution is to wait until there is a way to transcode by channel?

Scottie Arnett

Are there any forks of tvheadend that allow you to transcode by channel? Any other software recommendations to try or any ideas on how to accomplish this?

Saen Acro

Make manual playist with transcode profille

Else spawn profile with ffmpeg analize option with will transcode depend on input format.

Scottie Arnett

OK you are way above my head. How do I "Make manual playist with transcode profille?" I have searched the web and looked in tvheadend but do not see that option.

Saen Acro

edit links in playlist

http://tvh.ip.or.dns:9981/stream/channelid/204694613?profile=TRANSCODING-PROFILE

TRANSCODING-PROFILE is name of your transcoding profile

Scottie Arnett

saen acro wrote:
> edit links in playlist
> [...]
>
>TRANSCODING-PROFILE

> is name of your transcoding profile

Is the playlist a file on the server?

Ron L

If you look to the help menu in TVH webconfig under Appendix 1 you'll find documentation for a number or URLs accepted by the TVH server. One of which is playlist.

Thus the url http://YOUR_TVH_IP:9981/playlist

will generate a m3u formatted playlist of your available channels as such....

#EXTM3U #EXTINF:-1 logo="http://192.168.20.77:9981/imagecache/1853756308" tvg-id="dca764259392942fabe246887d3cb7c2" tvg-chno="1000",CKUA http://192.168.20.77:9981/stream/channelid/627353564?profile=pass #EXTINF:-1 logo="http://192.168.20.77:9981/imagecache/1853756309" tvg-id="c962314703bd3b3b78237f24511f5af7" tvg-chno="5501",Repretel 4 http://192.168.20.77:9981/stream/channelid/1194418889?profile=pass

Once you save this playlist file you can manually edit the requested profile, in this example "pass" to the one you have created or selected to use for your transcoding profile for any channels that you wish to be transcoded by default. You would then pass this playlist to your IPTV player of choice.

To use this with Kodi I gather would be with the IPTV simple addon rather than the HTS TVHeadend addon.

Saen Acro

There is simple way to get playlist


http://test:test@tvh.ip:9981/playlist/auth/channels?profile=test

Scottie Arnett

Thank you to the people that responded. Ron's suggestion worked for me in VLC on a PC. I am trying to get it to work on a firestick using "dream player tv" app. I have not had time to work with it much nor with kodi. If at all possible I would like to get it working with the "dream player tv" app. When I get time to work with it, I will post back.

Saen Acro

Set stream profile in user profile.