ts to mpeg2 auto convert - isn't.

[sub]

I'm still confused about the "processing" page in gbpvr/config. There are "Auto-Convert" options for TS to MPEG (for example). When this option is selected, is it supposed to be invoked upon completion of recording

Yes. When it will happen depends on the time specified in the processing tab, or immediately if 'asap' selected.

And can I assume that it would not apply to Live TV?

Correct.

I have made several TS recordings but have yet to see anything in the logs that would suggest that GBPVR is even attempting to convert.

To be honest, I havnt tested this with TS recordings. Transport Stream recordings are a much more recent addition to GB-PVR than the transcoding is. It could be broken. It was well tested with .mpg and .dvr-ms files at the time this post-processing was added. .ts recording was added later. I'll put it on my list of things to check for the next release.

[zehd]

I'm still confused about the "processing" page in gbpvr/config. There are "Auto-Convert" options for TS to MPEG (for example). When this option is selected, is it supposed to be invoked upon completion of recording or is this just related to what happens when a person hits the Transcode button under the video library? And can I assume that it would not apply to Live TV? I have made several TS recordings but have yet to see anything in the logs that would suggest that GBPVR is even attempting to convert. I am trying out Zehd's changes to Zprocess (so far unsuccessfully) but I'm confused about when I would want to use GBPVR's features versus Zprocess. This may be obvious to some (or most) but the Wiki isn't clear and checking the forum has gotten me even more confused.

First off, I should say, that ZProcess is still not ready for primetime er, what this thread is about: Manually and Automatically transcoding TS to MPG

To explain it another way, you are all right, expecting GB-PVR to be able to transcode TS files immediately after a recording is finished, or at a set schedule.

GB-PVR needs to call a program called ffmpeg to do that. Sub is looking into making sure that that mechanism is working.

My suspicion is that he won't be successful, because the version of ffmpeg that ships with GB-PVR can't do the job. (at least not the few TS files I've been working on - but then the type of TS is dependant on your TV area transmissions standard)

What I'm working on, is letting ZProcess get involved in that little hand-off (GB-PVR to ffmpeg). It would be able to deal with some of the issues that you folks have be having.

Currently anyone trying to use ZProcess for this will be unsuccessful. It is however very easy to get this working for you all. Unfortunately for ZProcess, It's Christmas. I don't think I'll be able to release anything for you to use untill the new year. But then that might give sub some time to prove me wrong... (he's done that a few times... )

[zehd]

I am trying out Zehd's changes to Zprocess (so far unsuccessfully) but I'm confused about when I would want to use GBPVR's features versus Zprocess. This may be obvious to some (or most) but the Wiki isn't clear and checking the forum has gotten me even more confused.

You would not need to do anything differently, using ZProcess or not. It should be transparent.

Currently, ZProcess will transcode TS files on-the fly for viewing TS files on the MediaMVP. That is the same transcoding that will be used for what you guys want, just ZProcess will need to be tweaked for it to be used...

That means, in Video Library, you select a TS file, and then start watching it... (ZProcess is working in the background)

What Automatic transcoding will do is, you will set a time for TS to be transcoded, the time will come, and GB-PVR will think it's calling ffmpeg, but in reality it will be calling ZProcess to do the job (ZProcess will call an alternate ffmpeg to actually do the work). In the morning, you will have MPGs ready to view...

[Dakota]

I have a new HVR-2250 and I would like to record OTA ATSC(US-NTSC) to a format that I can view on my MVPs. I have installed AC3 Filter. Using the TS Mux, I can record from the digital tuners and play back on the PC. I understand to playback on MVP, I need to convert from TS to Mpg. I understand that autoconvert TStoMPG function does not work at this time and that ZProcess could be used to make autoconvert work. But that part of ZProcess does not work either.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a way to record from HVR-2250 to a format that can be played on the MVP?

[zehd]

I have a new HVR-2250 and I would like to record OTA ATSC(US-NTSC) to a format that I can view on my MVPs. I have installed AC3 Filter. Using the TS Mux, I can record from the digital tuners and play back on the PC. I understand to playback on MVP, I need to convert from TS to Mpg. I understand that autoconvert TStoMPG function does not work at this time and that ZProcess could be used to make autoconvert work. But that part of ZProcess does not work either.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there a way to record from HVR-2250 to a format that can be played on the MVP?

Actually, I know why you might be confused.... It seems that the TS thing is still up in the air as we all scramble to offer solutions...

Over the last few weeks, (there was Christmas in there somewhere) I've been playing with ZProcess as a Post Processing tool, where people could add it to the PostProcessing.bat so that a Newly recorded TS file would be transcoded to a MVP playable format.

I have also been refining support for On The Fly Transcoding for TS files, when it suddenly dawned on me: Why post process a TS file into MPG when On the Fly does the same thing, and leaves less mess (redundancy) on the hard drive...?

The only reason I can think of, is an under powered machine, which can't transcode on the fly in better than real-time.

Anyway, I've put the PostProcessing idea on hold for just a bit (I have something else I'm working on that supersedes that)

But I'd like to see if you guys are happy with on the fly transcoding of TS files...

The prerelease of ZProcess should be able to Transcode your TS files on the fly...


Thoughts?

[zehd]

Is there a way to record from HVR-2250 to a format that can be played on the MVP?

On a separate note, apparently, if you install the ati mux, GB-PVR will record directly into MPGs that are already playable on the MVP, avoiding everything...

But I haven't tried that hard. It isn't easy getting a hold of the ati mux, because it's actually purchasable, and should not be freely downloadable.

I haven't paid much attention to it, so I don't really know where to get it, what version to get, how to install it, and what other settings need to be made so GB-PVR can use it...

[mvallevand]

Well if you post process files you could at least run least fast forward through commercials or run com skip.

An mpeg mux doesn't transcode HD to SD or AC3 to MP2 audio. The advantage is for DVB users with SD broadcasts, but the default ffmpeg on-the-fly transcode does this quite well. But you lost multi record which many people now enjoy.

Martin

[zehd]

But you lost multi record which many people now enjoy.

Martin

If I understand correctly, those who 'enjoy' multi record, end up with a different file for each show... So a MPG mux (ati) should output to individual MPGs, no?

(Sucks how we can't enjoy Multi-Record just yet, (or are you?)

Anyway, certainly a post processed, ready and waiting Transcoded MPG file makes a lot of sense...

This is where I got so far with the Post Processing in ZProcess (that's currently inaccessible in prerelease versions)

• Command line driven to be installed into PostProcessing.bat
  
• Input file (4x3 or 16x9) is letterboxed as necessary into desired output format
  
• Optional, transcode with cropping and scaling (using MVPScreenPosition compensating for MVP and TV Overscan (similar to how I transcode on the fly)
  
• Optionally run comskip
  
• Optionally run ReTime (prefer VideoRedo's Quick Scan routine)
  
• Optionally run UltraXMLTV_Renamer (keeping track of 'moving' filename...)
  
• Optionally copy new file to new location, same location, or replace original TS file
  

[sub]

If I understand correctly, those who 'enjoy' multi record, end up with a different file for each show... So a MPG mux (ati) should output to individual MPGs, no?

No. Due to limitations with other muxes (no dynamic reconfiguration, no ability to stop/start without stopping everything etc), multi-record will only ever be available with the TS Mux.

[Dakota]

Zehd,
Thanks for the clarification. And thanks for all your work on this issue. I am using multiple MVPs, so I am thinking transcode as a post processing option. I am concerned about the amount of CPU required to transcode multiple files on the fly at the same time. Can I still use comskip with on the fly transcode? And do I lose the ability to FF and REW if I use on the fly transcode? I like the option to effectively do MVPPosition, but its not much use to me with multiple MVPs with different MVPPositions.