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Article:
  Schedule HackTV with iCal
Subject:   Correction
Date:   2005-11-12 20:52:32
From:   ericasadun
Response to: Correction

Actually DV *is* a compressed format. (5:1 if I recall correctly.)
Also, this article predates the QuickTime recording features suggested here.
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  • Compressing DV Video to a smaller size.
    2005-11-14 19:11:41  GT-DVR [Reply | View]

    Thanks for your input!

    Also if you are intererested in compressing DV down further (25:1) you can export to MPEG4 with H264 Video and AAC audio. Below is an applescript that will do this for you. Be sure to edit the in and out folders at the beginning of the script. This can be scheduled via iCal as well. I run mine when I am not using my computer. After recompressing the movie to MPEG4, it will automatically move the old files to the trash and empty it. It is designed to be self sufficient. If this is not desired, you can comment it out. Below is the Script:

    -- Export to H264 MP4 Post Process
    -- Change path to your own location.
    -- path must exist.
    -- aka GT-DVR Trash Compactor
    -- GT-DVR 2005 v1.02
    -- added multi file export support
    -- Requires Quicktime Pro 7 & Tiger 10.4.x

    global mov_counter

    -- Path to write MP4 files

    set hd_path to "MIRAGE:MP4_SHOWS:GT-DVR_" -- Enter your own Out Folder on your Hard drive (out folder)

    -- Original Path were you keep your movies, it will attempt to trash after converting to save disk space
    set org_hd_path to "MIRAGE:TV_SHOWS" -- enter your own Hard drive path (in folder)

    -- Make sure a Movie is Ready to Compress
    try
    tell application "Finder"
    set all_movies to every file of folder org_hd_path
    set mov_counter to count of all_movies
    end tell

    repeat with next_movie from 1 to mov_counter
    tell application "QuickTime Player"
    open item next_movie of all_movies
    end tell
    end repeat
    on error errMsg
    display dialog errMsg
    end try


    repeat with next_movie from 1 to mov_counter
    set get_name to getName(next_movie)
    tell application "QuickTime Player"
    activate
    --display dialog next_movie
    try
    if not (exists movie next_movie) then error "No movies are open."

    stop every movie

    -- get the name of the movie
    set the movie_name to the name of movie next_movie
    set the new_file to (hd_path & get_name)
    -- export the movie as MPEG4 H264 Video Format using LAN/Intranet Setting
    export movie next_movie to file new_file as MPEG4 using settings preset "LAN/Intranet"
    --close movie next_movie -- not good for multi files
    on error error_message number error_number
    if the error_number is not -128 then
    beep
    --display dialog error_message buttons {"Cancel"} default button 1
    end if
    end try
    end tell

    -- Trash export movie based on org_hd_path location
    set trash_me to org_hd_path & ":" & movie_name
    tell application "Finder"
    try
    move file trash_me to trash
    end try

    end tell
    end repeat

    -- clean up, save some HD space for future recordings
    tell application "Finder"
    tell application "QuickTime Player" to quit
    delay 2

    try
    empty trash
    end try
    end tell
    -- Return a name for the file based on current date & time
    on getName(next_movie)
    set datewords to words of ((current date) as string)
    set rstring to (item ((month of (current date)) as integer) of {"01", "02", "03", "04", "05", "06", "07", "08", "09", "10", "11", "12"})
    set rstring to rstring & (((day of (current date)) as integer) as string)
    set rstring to rstring & next_movie -- added "next_movie #" to make sure each movie name is unique, otherwise the script likes to skip
    set rstring to rstring & item 5 of datewords & item 6 of datewords & item 8 of datewords & ".mp4"
    return rstring
    end getName