ZBack2Back: What about different tuners, same channel?

[Jaggy]

Looks like just what I'm after, even with five capture devices I still get ends chopped off when it is a busy night recording like tonight.

When you say "Then it checks if there was show on the same tuner, preceding or following the current show..." does it check the "tuner" or the "channel" that is being recorded?

I have set

<PreferAlternatingCaptureSources>true</PreferAlternatingCaptureSources>
<TryToHonourPaddingIfPossible>false</TryToHonourPaddingIfPossible>

as this combination seemed to work best for multiple tuners (before zback2back of course) would it be better to change these back to defaults now?

I have just tried to set zb2b up on my test machine running v0.99.12 (my main server is still running v0.99.5 so that may have to be updated first before I put zb2b onto it) & I get a "Component 'comdlg32.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid" error message! Any ideas?

[zehd]

Looks like just what I'm after, even with five capture devices I still get ends chopped off when it is a busy night recording like tonight.

Wow 5 Tuners... Watch TV much?

When you say "Then it checks if there was show on the same tuner, preceding or following the current show..." does it check the "tuner" or the "channel" that is being recorded?

It checks the tuner. When the channel changes at the top of the hour (beginning of next show) you will still lose some program. I have no control

At least in Canada, I have two nights a week that have three shows in a row on the same channel, same tuner, that always loses a second or ten because the network isn't punctual. ZBack2Back helps with that.

If the shows are on the same tuner but different channels, then we're out of luck.

I have set

<PreferAlternatingCaptureSources>true</PreferAlternatingCaptureSources>
<TryToHonourPaddingIfPossible>false</TryToHonourPaddingIfPossible>

as this combination seemed to work best for multiple tuners (before zback2back of course) would it be better to change these back to defaults now?

As far as the settings in config.xml: My ZBack2Back works fine with the defaults. I haven't even tried... My feeling is, I don't want to change and use different/alternate tuners because I want the other tuner available for live TV or a second show...

I have just tried to set zb2b up on my test machine running v0.99.12 (my main server is still running v0.99.5 so that may have to be updated first before I put zb2b onto it) & I get a "Component 'comdlg32.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid" error message! Any ideas?

Yeah you will need some extra components. They're Visual Basic, and most of the time, are already installed. I haven't made it easy for you at the moment, because I haven't had time to write an installer.

If you want it, for now, Download and install ZProcess. During that installation process, it will copy the same files that ZBack2Back uses...

You can always Delete ZProcess after. It won't remove the VB components...

[Jaggy]

Thanks Frank for your quick reply

(sorry about the quoting but I haven't figured out yet how to do a bit at the time so I can reply to each bit by it's self)

"Wow 5 Tuners... Watch TV much?"

Hehehe it's not quite as bad as it looks as I had to setup a separate UHF aerial to get good reception (so that's one tuner) & one tuner for my set top box, only(???) leaving 3 for the other channels/live TV (although we don't watch much live TV). I'm about to add DVB-S shortly as well

In NZ we can loose up to 3 of 4 minutes sometimes (not quite so bad if we haven't already watched & deleted the following program)

"If the shows are on the same tuner but different channels, then we're out of luck."

Yep understand that, zb2b would be a VERY VERY amazing program if it could do that <grin> I am concerned if they are on the same chanel but different tuners ??

"As far as the settings in config.xml: My ZBack2Back works fine with the defaults. I haven't even tried... I don't want to change and use tuners because I want the other tuner available for live TV or a second show..."

Guess it would be best if I change config.xml back to default when I get zb2b working!

"If you want it, for now, Download and install ZProcess. During that installation process, it will copy the same files that ZBack2Back uses...

OK off to do so now

Thanks, Phillip.

[zehd]

(sorry about the quoting but I haven't figured out yet how to do a bit at the time so I can reply to each bit by it's self)

Well, I'm sure others have different ways, but if you're in the advanced text editor, (which is normal if you use the 'quote' button, and not the 'quick reply' button, either select the chunk of text, and the click the little cartoon balloon button at the top, or learn to wrap the chunk with the quote tags. ( Square bracket left, and 'quote' and square bracket right, to start a quote, Square bracket left, Forward slash, and 'quote' and square bracket right)

In NZ we can loose up to 3 of 4 minutes sometimes (not quite so bad if we haven't already watched & deleted the following program)

That sucks...

I am concerned if they are on the same chanel but different tuners ??

First, in theory, if it's the same channel and different tuners, I would change that. Now I have only encountered that from happening a few times: GB-PVR will place two recordings, adjacent and same channel, on different tuners. Sub does that on purpose, because then he IS able to get padding. But what happens when that padding is gobbled up because more adjacent recordings...?

To fix that, you need to edit the database, and keep a lot of stuff in your head. BUT... I'm currently working on a Database Schedule fixer program that would straighten this issue out, and then ZBack2Back would work like it should... (Gonna be a bit before I release that though)

Guess it would be best if I change config.xml back to default when I get zb2b working!

I would return to defaults. It may get worse before it gets better though, as I try to sort through what I can and cannot do, what I should and shouldn't do, and what we either need to accept, or make a case for changes with sub...

"If you want it, for now, Download and install ZProcess. During that installation process, it will copy the same files that ZBack2Back uses...

OK off to do so now

I'm going to address the issue of the extra ocxs download and installer soon...

Also, after I read your last post and then replied, I started thinking. It really is useless for ZBack2Back to cut and paste everything with adjacent shows, same tuner. It would only be appropriate for same channel, same tuner.

If it's same channel, different tuner, you hope that GB-PVR had the chance to create the padding already, but if not, why bother process something that won't help...

And I realize the importance of the other database project. Certainly, I know what first feature I need to perfect before first release...

Thanks for making me think. Watch my Sig or Sticky at the top of sub-forum for details...

[zehd]

I've done the tweak and released it. Please check my sig, or the sticky at the top of this sub-forum, for the latest version...

[Jaggy]

I've done the tweak and released it. Please check my sig, or the sticky at the top of this sub-forum, for the latest version...

What tweak?

I think I have got it working (as far as I can tell without any recordings to check with) on my test machine, thanks for your help

Just a couple of things, is there anything that should stop it working with gbpvr v0.99.5? Or should I update gbpvr first (will have to wait a week or two if so, as I don't have the time if anything goes wrong at the moment)

Is it possible to make the post & pre padding configurable for when running from PostProcessing.bat??

[zehd]

What tweak?

I think I have got it working (as far as I can tell without any recordings to check with) on my test machine, thanks for your help

Just a couple of things, is there anything that should stop it working with gbpvr v0.99.5? Or should I update gbpvr first (will have to wait a week or two if so, as I don't have the time if anything goes wrong at the moment)

Is it possible to make the post & pre padding configurable for when running from PostProcessing.bat??

The way I built ZBack2Back, it should work ever since GB-PVR went over to the sqlite database. Won't work with MS Access database...

It's seems a good idea to make it configurable from a command line, but how would you be using it...? Most people just set it and forget it. If you change the pre and post padding seconds, it will be saved...

[Jaggy]

Most people just set it and forget it. If you change the pre and post padding seconds, it will be saved...

I think I may have been getting tired/confused when I asked that question, your answer above is actually what I was asking <grin>

But after saying that it doesn't seem to save the "post" padding for me, ie. when I open it & change the padding to say "300" & then close it, then re-open it the "post" padding has reverted back to "60"??

[zehd]

I think I may have been getting tired/confused when I asked that question, your answer above is actually what I was asking <grin>

But after saying that it doesn't seem to save the "post" padding for me, ie. when I open it & change the padding to say "300" & then close it, then re-open it the "post" padding has reverted back to "60"??

It should. So that means I'll be looking into it. Sorry. Hang on

Edit. New version, .74, takes care of that...

[zehd]

The exact opposite was happening, where ZBack2Backwas slicing and dicing same channel, different tuner.

I have fixed it so ZBack2Back will only try to reclaim padding when it's the same channel AND the same tuner.

I have also added the feature that it will rerun comksip on the final file, if you want

Check out version 77