Question:

What should I do to prepare a cable box before connecting it to a SnapStream encoder?

Answer:

• Make sure that your cable boxes have Component outputs (red-blue-green), Composite output (yellow), and RCA Audio outputs (red and white).
  
  
• Lock the Screen Resolution to always output the same resolution all of the time (720p is a good place to start).
  
  
• Lock the Aspect Ratio to always be 16x9.
  
  
• Make sure that any settings that override the screen resolution and/or aspect ratio for SD channels have been turned off (this is sometimes called 4:3 override).  On some cable boxes, you will need to turn on a setting called, "Auto Pillar Bars".
  
  
• Turn off any power save or screen saver settings if available on your model cable box.
  
  
• Set the Cable box to always power on to the last channel it was on if the option is available.
  
  
• Avoid DVR capable cable boxes if at all possible.  This is to avoid recording jobs set on the cable box from interfering with your Recording Schedule in SnapStream.

Additional Notes:

Changes to the Aspect Ratio or Screen resolution in the middle of a recording can cause playback problems.

If you need any assistance finding these settings, it is best to contact your cable provider.  If you still need assistance, please contact SnapStream Support with the cable box make and model number, and we will do our best to help you find the information.