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modes
BBC iPlayer makes programmes available in different streaming formats at multiple levels of video and audio quality. get_iplayer represents each combination of format and quality with an alphanumeric code, referred to as a "mode". You can find details of available recording modes here, though in general you will not need to use them directly. Most users will only need to configure the maximum recording quality for TV and radio programmes.
Quality level can be one of six possible values, in decreasing order of bit rate (radio) or video size (TV):
- best
- better
- vgood
- good
- worse
- worst
The quality is treated as a maximum. If a stream at the specified quality is not available, the best available lower-quality version is used. If you wish to target a specific media stream, use the desired mode directly rather than a quality level. See modes reference.
The quality levels are used for the --modes, --tvmode and --radiomode options of the get_iplayer CLI (command-line interface), the modes, tvmode and radiomode options in your preferences or the Recording Modes field in the get_iplayer WPM (Web PVR Manager).
By default, get_iplayer will download the best quality available from the default mode list for the given programme type (TV or radio). If you are using the Web PVR Manager, you should remove any previous setting in the Recording Modes field in order to record with the default settings.
The only decision most users will need to make is whether or not to configure a maximum quality level for recordings. Some reasons you may wish to configure a maximum quality level:
- HD TV will require 1GB+ (2GB+ at 50fps) storage per hour of video, which may be too much for your needs
- You may feel that 320kbps is unnecessary if you only record speech radio programmes
- You only record audiodescribed programmes and do not need a large video size
You can enforce maximum quality levels by adding the necessary settings to your preferences. Use the tables below as a guide to configure get_iplayer.
| Max Size | Max FPS | Max Bit Rate | Max Quality Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 25 | 2.3 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=best |
default |
| 960x540 | 25 | 1.7 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=better |
|
| 832x468 | 25 | 1.4 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=vgood |
|
| 704x396 | 25 | 950 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=good |
|
| 640x360 | 25 | 780 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=worse |
|
| 512x288 | 25 | 550 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=worst |
The --fps50 option configures get_iplayer to use 50fps streams where available (with fallback to 25fps):
| Max Size | Max FPS | Max Bit Rate | Max Quality Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 50 | 5 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=best --fps50 |
default with --fps50
|
| 960x540 | 50 | 3 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=better --fps50 |
|
| 704x396 | 50 | 1.7 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --tvmode=good --fps50 |
50fps not available for all programmes at this size |
NOTE: For TV, the bit rate of available streams may vary at a given quality level. The best variants are always tried first. Higher-quality streams may not be available for all programmes. It is also possible that there may be TV programmes with HD (1280x720) streams only available with --fps50.
| Max Bit Rate | Max Quality Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 320 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --radiomode=best |
default |
| 128 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --radiomode=better |
|
| 128 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --radiomode=vgood |
same as better
|
| 96 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --radiomode=good |
|
| 48 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --radiomode=worse |
|
| 48 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --radiomode=worst |
same as worse
|
NOTE: 96kbps is the highest bit rate normally available to international users, though some have reported higher bit rates available.
You can use the --modes option to configure the maximum quality level for both TV and radio. If you do so, you should employ separate quality levels for TV and radio, using a "tv" or "radio" prefix as appropriate. The table below assumes you wish to always download the best available radio streams while adjusting the maximum quality for TV, but the maximum quality for radio can be adjusted independently.
| Max Size | Max FPS | Max Bit Rate | Max Quality Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 25 | 2.3 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvbest,radiobest |
default |
| 960x540 | 25 | 1.7 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvbetter,radiobest |
|
| 832x468 | 25 | 1.4 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvvgood,radiobest |
|
| 704x396 | 25 | 950 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvgood,radiobest |
|
| 640x360 | 25 | 780 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvworse,radiobest |
|
| 512x288 | 25 | 550 kbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvworst,radiobest |
The --fps50 option configures get_iplayer to use 50fps streams where available (with fallback to 25fps):
| Max Size | Max FPS | Max Bit Rate | Max Quality Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 50 | 5 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvbest,radiobest --fps50 |
default with --fps50
|
| 960x540 | 50 | 3 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvbetter,radiobest --fps50 |
|
| 704x396 | 50 | 1.7 Mbps | get_iplayer --prefs-add --modes=tvgood,radiobest --fps50 |
50fps not available for all programmes at this size |
NOTE: Do not insert spaces between mode values
For the Web PVR Manager, use the Recording Modes field. The Web PVR Manager uses --modes behind the scenes, so configuration is much the same as the combined TV and radio settings. After entering the desired values in the Recording Modes field, click Save As Default to apply the new settings to all recordings. The table below assumes you wish to always download the best available radio streams while adjusting the maximum quality for TV, but the maximum quality for radio can be adjusted independently.
| Max Size | Max FPS | Max Bit Rate | Max Quality Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 25 | 2.3 Mbps | tvbest,radiobest |
default |
| 960x540 | 25 | 1.7 Mbps | tvbetter,radiobest |
|
| 832x468 | 25 | 1.4 Mbps | tvvgood,radiobest |
|
| 704x396 | 25 | 950 kbps | tvgood,radiobest |
|
| 640x360 | 25 | 780 kbps | tvworse,radiobest |
|
| 512x288 | 25 | 550 kbps | tvworst,radiobest |
The --fps50 option cannot be specified in the Web PVR Manager, but you can configure it (with fallback to 25fps) from the command line with get_iplayer --prefs-add --fps50. If you do, use this table as a guide:
| Max Size | Max FPS | Max Bit Rate | Recording Modes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 50 | 5 Mbps | tvbest,radiobest |
default with --fps50
|
| 960x540 | 50 | 3 Mbps | tvbetter,radiobest |
|
| 704x396 | 50 | 1.7 Mbps | tvgood,radiobest |
50fps not available for all programmes at this size |
NOTE: Do not insert spaces between mode values
There are somes circumstances in which you may wish to override the default maximum quality settings for single recordings. Any recording modes or quality levels set on the command line will override the defaults and those configured in your preferences. Some examples are listed below.
You wish to record only a programme's 25fps HD stream without fallback to lower-quality streams:
get_iplayer --tvmode=hlshd [...]
You wish to record only the best available 50fps stream, e.g., for a sporting event:
get_iplayer --tvmode=hvfhd,hvfsd,hvfhigh [...]
You usually record lower-quality audio described TV programmes, but you wish to record the best available quality for a single programme:
get_iplayer --tvmode=best [...]
You usually record HD programmes, but you wish to record lower-quality TV because your internet connection is temporarily unstable:
get_iplayer --tvmode=good [...]
You usually record 128kbps speech radio programmes, but you wish to record the best available quality for a music programme:
get_iplayer --radiomode=best [...]