Newbie with ZTranscode issues

[Foamy]

(Don't bother cutting and pasting the transcode log.... If you feel I should look at the logs, zip and attach everything you find in the ZTools/Logs folder...)

Yes, I've given up on the warnings a long time ago. I go from the angle, if it works and it's fast enough, then it works for me... I only dig into the logs if it doesn't work...

I'm downloading your dvr-ms file and wil work on that next...

Ok, no problem. Thanks again for the help! Video and audio encoding is black magic to me. :-)

[zehd]

OK, you have a couple of threads going...

Which of TS or DVR-MS would you prefer?

DVR-MS is working and I'll be uploading a new version of ZTranscode tomorrow.

If you wouldn't mind, I'd like you to change your mux to TS and record a snippet and upload that for me too. I just want to confirm I have your region licked...

[Foamy]

OK, you have a couple of threads going...

Which of TS or DVR-MS would you prefer?

DVR-MS is working and I'll be uploading a new version of ZTranscode tomorrow.

If you wouldn't mind, I'd like you to change your mux to TS and record a snippet and upload that for me too. I just want to confirm I have your region licked...

Sorry about the two threads. They've converged now, but when I started them I thought I had two separate issues/questions.

I prefer dvr-ms, since I have a number of recordings in that format.

I'll create a ts and pm you with the link(s).

[zehd]

I downloaded the new pre-release Ztools, and tried it again with the same screen position numbers. The numbers are the same as yours, and it seemed to work OK (at least I could see the video with View Output).

I'd like to find out why MVPScreenPosition isn't working....

If you don't mind working with me on that too... So this last test with the new version and the AVI transcoded? Was that with MVPScreenPosition locked?

[Foamy]

I'd like to find out why MVPScreenPosition isn't working....

If you don't mind working with me on that too... So this last test with the new version and the AVI transcoded? Was that with MVPScreenPosition locked?

I don't know why it didn't work at first. After installing your new pre-release, it seems to be working now. Yes, MVPScreenPosition is locked.

[zehd]

I don't know why it didn't work at first. After installing your new pre-release, it seems to be working now. Yes, MVPScreenPosition is locked.

THat's good. Uploading an even newer prerelease tomorrow.

Keep an eye out for the lock. I'm going to be playing with cropping and scaling a bit in the next few versions...

And I'll be playing with cosmetics too, as I really want tit to look less intimidating

[zehd]

I've updated the prerelease... For you and others reading this here's the quick start...

• Copy ZProcess2.exe and ZTranscode.exe into the ZTools folder. Overwrite
  
  
• Copy 'Trans2MVP.exe into GB-PVR folder. Backup and Overwrite original if needed
  
  
• run RemoveAllZProcess.reg to reset settings
  
  
• Start ZProcess2.exe, answer the two questions on start, allow to close
  
  
• Start ZTranscode. Open test dvr-ms file, click start
  

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

• Pay attention to the fps. It should be better than 30
  
  
• You will notice that the output dimensions are pretty tame. Leave them that way for now
  
  
• Close ZTranscode
  
  
• Start MVP and try to view the test DVR-MS file. Watch it all the way through
  

What I found using my own directions is that even though I had 38 to 40 fps for this transcode, GB-PVR still gave up...

So I increased the preplay delay

In ZProcess, GB-PVR settings

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

I increased mine all the way to 9000 ms (9seconds) from the default of 5.5 secs. That really sucks, but such is life. I suspect a stringer machine may do better in shorter time.

Once you see that things are working for you on the test file, try your other files...

And when you are satisfied that the transcode is stable, you may wish to tempt fate and adjust the dimensions, allowing the picture to look better

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

The default for 4ts, 4dvr-ms, and 4mkv (not working all that well yet) is 352x240 (288PAL). I've found that the picture looks pretty good at 480x480, and that I didn't see an appreciable difference between 640 and 720 widths...

The default for the Trans2MVP profile (please don't confuse with the trans2mvp.exe file) is 640x480 (576 PAL) and should transcode on the fly most other files (MP4, DivX/Xvid, WMV)

[Foamy]

I installed the new pre-release, and gbpvr 1.3.11. Both test files play fine via ZTranscode on the PC (64 fps), but not on the MVP. The dvr-ms file locks up after playing video with no sound for a few seconds. The ts file never plays at all, and the MVP goes to the mvpmc menu.

[zehd]

I installed the new pre-release, and gbpvr 1.3.11. Both test files play fine via ZTranscode on the PC (64 fps), but not on the MVP. The dvr-ms file locks up after playing video with no sound for a few seconds. The ts file never plays at all, and the MVP goes to the mvpmc menu.

A few versions of ZProcess ago, I built in a check to see if GB-PVR Recording Service was 'interacting with desktop'. When I was prereleasing GB-PVR, I would need to re-set the service everytime I installed a new version of GB-PVR...

Anyway, it's possible that something isn't quite right now that you've upgraded GB-PVR - thanks for telling me though

In ZProcess, GB-PVR settings, click remove refs, wait about 5 secs, click add refs, click save config.xml, and click restart...

Make sure that the service is set to interact with desktop...

For dvr-ms, you will need to re-copy the trans2mvp.exe file into the gpvr folder, overwrite

Next, run a manual transcode of the two types of files, and store the resulting MPG in a place youi MVP can get at it. Do they play when you play them direct?

Is your MVP really near your PC? Or can you get someone to start a DVR-MS file while you're watching your PC? You should see "Trans2MVP Replacement" in the task bar, and a flashing lightening bolt in the tray... even for a moment.

If you don't, we need to check some other settings...

[zehd]

I've discovered that the mechanism that checks the recording services' 'Interact with Desktop' isn't working correctly.

I've now made a change to both ZProcess2.exe and UltraXMLTV_Enhancer.exe so that there will be a message box telling you to make the change, and will halt / fail until it is changed.

I would have liked to programatically make the change for you, but it isn't working for me just yet...

To manually change the Recording service to 'Interact with Desktop':

From the run menu type services.msc and enter

Find GB-PVR Recording Service and rigth click and Stop. Then Right click to Properties.

On the 'log on' tab, check 'Interact With Desktop'. Close Properties

Right click the service and ' start' it