Hi,

First post... Just upgrading to Freesat+ from terestrial (because my aeriel is pants!). Quick question:

I've got an old LG PVR for terrestrial recording and one of the most useful features is double speed play with sound (at normal pitch). Its great for slightly boring programs or when you're in a hurry... I'm now in the process of upgrading to Freesat+ and was wondering if the Humax has this feature, or maybe any of the other PVRs on the market? Can't find anyone talking about this. Grateful for any info people here might have.

Cheers, thanks,

Mike.

Not on The Foxsat HDR I'm afraid. I fondly remember the feature from a 1980s VCR - fantastic for catching up on a backlog of recordings in double time.

Yep, that's it, and it turned up on my old analogue PVR which was a real surprise! I'm sorely tempted by the Humax still though.

Just seems that I'm downgrading everything but the PQ, I've lost PIP on my TV (although it'll likely be on the PVR now), I'll be losing double speed viewing... Also seems that I'm liable for trouble with the EPG freesat vs non-freesat recordings.

Am I investing too early in this technology I wonder or is it the competing companies who are ignoring the ease of use for the end user and failing to integrate everything adequately?

Mike.

Double speed audio has never been at all common, and it's a VERY rarely required feature - I wasn't aware any PVR's had ever included it. The number of VCR's that ever did probably never reached double figures either.

PIP is a similar gimmick, and most sets with it built-in will probably never be used in that mode.

All good points. If anyone else has info on whether any of the other players have or rather definitely don't have this feature I'd be grateful. Thanks.

Mike.

My Sony RDR-HXD860 (Freeview not Freesat) PVR has this feature. I agree with earlier post that very useful for speed watching a film or other media through the boring bits.

How can you follow the audio at x2 speed?
I had a dvd recorder that would play back at x1.4 but the other half would moan if I set it anywhere above x1.2

That's why it's not a popular feature - the sound is down-converted to the right frequency range (similar to what they do for communication links to divers breathing helium), but it's still twice as fast.

I know its slightly off topic but PIP is a very useful feature if the TV does it well. eg you can press one button to show PIP then one button to flick between the sound sources. Thats great if theres 2 sporting events on at the same time. eg Footy on one channel and a horse race youve had a bet on, on another channel.

Unfortunately with my current TV and also my previous one, theres so many key presses its not worth using. PIP always seems to be added as an after thought.

Thank you for more comments

PIP - watch two programs at once if neither of them are much good, or flip up the PIP to find a better program without interrupting what you're watching. Most TV presenters (except Jonathan Ross on Film2010!!) speak slower than normal so 2xspeed is only just faster than normal and completely intelligable. Consider those sections of I'm a Celebrity when they're kicking someone out and waiting dramatically - you can halve the time it takes to find out who stays and who goes! But each to his own...

I notice that LG have brought out a new PVR MS409D and it has double play too - I'm now waiting for them to turn it into a freesatHD version! Maybe, maybe not.

Really I'd rather purchase something that could record Freeview and Freesat, both HD+SD, on the basis that the bit rates are different for each and I'd like the best... Oh, iPlayer, youTube and wireless networking too just in case (which that LG has!).

Anyone else out there with other PVR info on the 2xspeed?

Mike.

The Panasonic Freesat boxes have Quick View (Play x1.3). It's a feature I use a lot on my Freeview Panny DVD/HDD recorder for shows like Big Brother where increasing the pace by 30% doesn't harm the viewing/listening experience (it improves BB) like it might with some drama or music shows.