Speed viewing: 1.5X fast forward with sound

Keith

*** Summarised idea from trials process ***

Simply put it is a fast forward speed that is only 1.5 times normal speed but also includes the sound so you can skim through something and still understand what is going on.

At first reading it may seem a slightly odd feature request but I can see situations where 'speed viewing' could be useful, e.g. when watching a recorded event that is dragging on a bit but you want to be sure there was nothing interesting that you might miss (including in the audio) if going faster, e.g. a rain delay in a Formula 1 race programme or perhaps a long olympics opening ceremony.

churchwarden

I recently used a pvr that had a speeded up play option, which would play back a recording at 1.3 times normal speed. I found this too fast, as the sound was affected. However, thinking about it, playing back at 1.1 or possibly even 1.2 normal speed would allow you to watch 10% (or even 20%) more programmes in the same time. I suspect that the 1.1 times option would hardly be noticeable, but would reduce the time to lay, say a 60 minute recording to roughly 55 minutes. 1.2 times would knock off about 10 minutes. Not sure how much demand there would be for this, but with certain programmes, where quality was not a major consideration (say some documentaries or debates, etc.) I would have no problems if they were speeded up a bit, and could well find this a useful time-saving feature.

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Speeded up play.

gomez

TBH this speed viewing "feature" is available on my Digitalstream PVR whether you want it or not and I hate the fact that you cannot turn it off as it mars the cuing up a programme after an ad break etc

churchwarden

Hi Gomez - not sure what you mean by 'cuing up a programme'?

gomez

Using the jump keys to get close to the start / resume point then using the slowest FF speed to move the last few seconds without hearing any annoying CILLIT BANG man etc.

Unknown

Genuine Q, how is switching between two different buttons & functions easier than than FF-ing through the ads?

gomez

Much quicker and more precise. Ease of use comes with practise and can be done blindfold.

Unknown

I dispute the blindfolded part ;-)

gomez

Well this *is* with a remote control I have been using every day for seven years. Most of the symbols have long since rubbed off the keys.

Ryan1

Panasonics do this at 1.2 times and we use it a lot. Can watch 30 min programme in about 15 mins if you FF through adverts. It would be great to add to YV

Nesbitt

My Panny HDR plays 1.3 times with audio, it's a bit quick for comfort but 1.2x or 1.1x with audio for YouView would be a useful and welcome feature, and if complemented with slow mo would definitely be an achievable improvement.

pjbh

My Sony HXD910 allows 1.5 playback with sound and it is absolutely brilliant; we dread the day when the machine fails because we use it so frequently. My wife speeds through the judges comments on X factor, most documentaries are better for it, 'live' football is a bit odd, but certainly watchable. The key thing is that the sound does not change pitch, it is resampled. If someone speaks really fast it can get too much but for the most part, you simply don't notice after a while and have to check which speed you are playing at. The ideal would be a variable speed, or 1.25 and 1.5

churchwarden

Thinking about the way you would use this feature, it HAS to be easy - a single key toggle would make sense.

Possibly a configuration setting to define the two speeds you want to set - 1.25 & 1.5 - or 1.2 & 1.4, say. Exact speeds set by user choice.

Then activate these speeds with a SINGLE key press when playing back. These key presses should be toggles - say red for the first and green for the second. A second press of these keys returns to normal speed.

However it was done, it makes sense for it to be a single key toggle to activate it easily.

Oh, and +1 for slow motion as well .....

Keith

churchwarden said:

Thinking about the way you would use this feature, it HAS to be easy - a single key toggle would make sense.

Possibly a configuration setting to define the two speeds you want to set - 1.25 & 1.5 - or 1.2 & 1.4, say. Exact speeds set by user choice.

Then activate these speeds with a SINGLE key press when playing back. These key presses should be toggles - say red for the first and green for the second. A second press of these keys returns to normal speed.

However it was done, it makes sense for it to be a single key toggle to activate it easily.

Oh, and +1 for slow motion as well .....

You could pop your +1 for slow motion here if you have not already done so

churchwarden

churchwarden said:

Thinking about the way you would use this feature, it HAS to be easy - a single key toggle would make sense.

Possibly a configuration setting to define the two speeds you want to set - 1.25 & 1.5 - or 1.2 & 1.4, say. Exact speeds set by user choice.

Then activate these speeds with a SINGLE key press when playing back. These key presses should be toggles - say red for the first and green for the second. A second press of these keys returns to normal speed.

However it was done, it makes sense for it to be a single key toggle to activate it easily.

Oh, and +1 for slow motion as well .....

Already voted for this, but thanks for the 'memory jog', Keith.

Grunders

Ryan1 said:

Panasonics do this at 1.2 times and we use it a lot. Can watch 30 min programme in about 15 mins if you FF through adverts. It would be great to add to YV

And my toshiba.

Roy

Ryan1 said:

Panasonics do this at 1.2 times and we use it a lot. Can watch 30 min programme in about 15 mins if you FF through adverts. It would be great to add to YV

Oh, thank God! I've been waiting five years to learn of another make that does this !

:-)

Grunders

Ryan1 said:

Panasonics do this at 1.2 times and we use it a lot. Can watch 30 min programme in about 15 mins if you FF through adverts. It would be great to add to YV

Yep. Mine plays at 1.3 speed up or 0.8 slow down. Very handy feature.