Encoder

MediaPortal enables you to use analog tuner cards to view and record analog TV, FM radio or video from a VCR, camera or set top box. The video and audio in the cable coming from your aerial or other device is in a format that computers can't deal with natively. It must be digitised (converted from analog to digital) so that your computer can understand, manipulate and store it. That is what encoders are for - it is their job to digitise the video and audio. Some more expensive tuner cards have dedicated hardware chips for doing the encoding, hence the term "hardware encoder". We support many of those cards. Many more mid-range, cheap and hybrid tuner cards do not have those chips. Instead, they rely on you to install software to do the encoding. Hence the term "software encoder".