iRed and iCal for timed recordings

• start the VCR every weekday at 3 p.m., switch to channel 12, begin a recording, than stop the recording 30 minutes later.
• or record the morning show on every Sunday at 8 a.m. on the radio

These timer functions probably will be part of an upcoming version of iRed, but for now this is possible only by using this workaround.

How does it work?

1. With the Script Editor create an AppleScript which contains the command to start the recording:
   
   
   
   
2. Go into iCal and create an event at the requested time, set a repeat option if suitable
   
3. Add an "alarm" to the event, which calls the AppleScript created above
   
   In the iCal inspector the event now looks like this:
   
   
   
   
4. To end this recording you need another timed event in iCal which calls the respective "Stop" codes from iRed.

Please note that neither iCal nor iRed can switch on your Mac a the specified time. In switched off or sleeping state the event wil not be called! Nevertheless iCal will run the alarm and call the AppleScript when you later switch on the Mac again. This will probably have an unwanted effect.

On the other hand you may switch on your Mac automatically. Please see the section "Energy Saver" on the System Preferences panel.

All in all this is by far no optimal solution for creating timed recordings, so keep in touch with upcoming versions of iRed - and support the development by purchasing a license ;-)