Difference between Muxing and Transcoding?

[jaybee]

I've confused myself. What is the difference between:

Encoding
Re-encoding
Decoding

Muxing
De-muxing

Transcoding

I use PS3 Media server and I have been using my powerful main rig to do so over ethernet to avoid any problems. Now I'm not so sure I have it set up right, as I have been reading that people find with the majority of mkv files they have, "ONLY" a Mux is required for the PS3 to play it which is very much less intensive than a full transcode.

My poor mans method of understanding it was as follows:

PS3 can't play .mkv files natively and as a result we use PS3 media server so that the mkv file gets transcoded on the fly to a readable format (MPEG?) for the PS3 to play it which requires a fairly capable CPU for full 1080p high bit rate rips. Is this not the case? What is the difference between muxing and transcoding and how do you know which one PS3MS is doing?

Reason I ask, is that if all of mkv files are "JUST" being muxed, this may mean that I can use a low powered file server to perform the same task ? ?


Argh! help

 

[jaybee]

What core2duo was that? I have read of many people saying that "any core2duo" should be ok for 1080p transcodes via PS3MS. I also found like yourself that this is not the case. I had a poverty spec old e2140 which is core2duo equivalent power, and even overclocked 100% it still couldn't do it.

 

[jaybee]

Transcoding is just converting from one digital format to another whether it's done in realtime or not. It's the same as converting an MP3 file to WMA for example.

So why do people say sometimes you can get away with just muxing and how do you define that? Because the PS3 cannot read mkv files natively. Sigh...I still don't think I get it. lol < thick