[vdr] User-Friendly Audio Packet Identifications.

[Carsten Koch <Carsten.Koch@icem.de>]

Hi,

while we are looking at channels.conf format and contents,
here is another idea:

Why do I have to enter the APIDs for the various languages
and for AC3 manually? That's not user-friendly.
When I want to select a language, I want to select between
the available languages, not between 4096 numbers, most of
which do not yield any language at all. 
Also, I want a language that I can understand 
to be the default language.


My D-Box (with DVB2000) selects a default language (I do not 
think I can configure which one), shows me the language on 
the OSD in understandable text (not as a number) and allows 
me to switch between the available languages with my remote.
Also, any number of languages is allowed.
I believe that the windoze application delivered with the
hardware works roughly the same way.
I like that much better than vdr's two numeric APIDs plus 
one numeric AC3 PID, but it is still not perfect.

So, here is my idea:

vdr could offer a setup value that lists the languages I 
understand in order of preference. As an example, I could
configure German as my first language and English as my
second language. So, any channel that broadcasts (among
others) German audio, would automatically be tuned to
German audio, while still allowing me to select the other
languages manually. Any channel that does not broadcast
German audio, but has English audio, would automatically 
be tuned to English audio, while still allowing me to 
select any other languages manually. Any channel that 
neither has German or English audio, would be tuned to
its primary APID, while still allowing me to select any 
other languages manually.

As far as recordings go, the simplest idea would be to
record all languages that are configured as preferred
language (if present) or the primary APID, if none of
the preferred languages are available. At least that
could be the default behaviour, while a timer entry 
could also allow additional parameters, such as 
"record only the first N preferred languages".

As far as AC3 goes, this should be en/disabled globally,
in addition to being treated according to the "preferred
languages" setup. In other words, If I do not have AC3 
equipment, I disable AC3 globally and nothing is ever
recorded or heard as live AC3 audio. If I do have AC3 
equipment, I enable AC3 globally. If something is 
broadcast in AC3 AND the language is among my preferred
languages, I hear/record AC3, otherwise my 
preferred language without AC3 takes precedence.


I believe that would greatly simplify the task of setting
up a generally useful channels.conf AND it would make
vdr easier to use.

What do you think?

Carsten.