MVP and AVIs

[LilY0da]

Set everything that said MPEG4, DivX, etc... to "disabled" in the FFDshow settings, the log now uses another codec for rendering the video:

Code:

03:27:42.250    INFO    Log started
03:27:42.250    INFO    TRANSCODING: C:\Video\AI_FR_~1.AVI
03:27:42.250    INFO    TARGET: C:\MVP000DFE0078C7.mpg
03:27:42.250    INFO    ...
03:27:42.250    INFO    T1
03:27:42.250    INFO    T2.
03:27:42.265    INFO    T3
03:27:42.265    INFO    T4
03:27:42.281    INFO    T4.1
03:27:42.281    INFO    T4.2
03:27:42.281    INFO    T5
03:27:42.281    INFO    T6
03:27:42.281    VERBOSE    AVI file type.
03:27:42.281    VERBOSE    About to check for Async Reader
03:27:42.281    VERBOSE    ...found, about to query for IFileSourceFilter interface
03:27:42.296    VERBOSE    About to render graph
03:27:42.296    VERBOSE    Rendering pin
03:27:42.484    VERBOSE    About to list graph filters
03:27:42.484    INFO    Graph contains the following filters:
03:27:42.484    INFO     - MainConcept (Hauppauge) MPEG Encoder
03:27:42.484    INFO     - MPEG Layer-3 Decoder
03:27:42.484    INFO     - DivX Decoder Filter
03:27:42.484    INFO     - Avi Splitter
03:27:42.484    INFO     - C:\Video\AI_FR_~1.AVI
03:27:42.484    VERBOSE    About to start graph
03:27:42.500    VERBOSE    transcode processing started

Running for 15 minutes now, no crash, error message so far... Audio still out of sync. The audio desync problem could be totally unrelated though...

I can even use skip now, before that was systematically causing a crash, or return to Video Library settings...
I gotta go to bed, it's 3:40 AM here, but thank you so much for helping out... I think you found what was causing crashes (at least for me)... I will run more tests tomorrow evening when I can spend more time, but it looks good so far, except for that audio problem

[MediaDogg]

Running for 15 minutes now, no crash, error message so far... Audio still out of sync. The audio desync problem could be totally unrelated though...

Good job! Comparing my log output to yours, the main difference (aside from the media file of course) is the Divx decoder being used. I will twiddle with K-Lite Codec Pack (or maybe even uninstall i t) to see if I can get your same good results!

Thanks for the information!

Update: After getting rid of K-Lite, my system now defaults to using the Nero Video Decoder. Overall, my system performance is faster and better, and MVP plays for a couple more seconds, but still quits.

Hey LilY0da, which Divx decoder are you using?

[MediaDogg]

I coulldn't wait, so I went ahead and got the latest Divx from Divx.com. I was directed there from the Zoomplayer site. I don't have zommplayer, but that author had some good advice about codecs and links to the best ones - his advice: "avoid codec packs - just get the ones you need." I like that advice - my system plays avi files faster and better now.

But unfortunately, I still have the problem with gbpvr. My logfile now looks perfect, but my avi files play only for a couple of seconds (pre-play buffer set to maximum - the transcoded mpg file is exactly the length of the played video, so the transcoding itself seems to be aborting for some reason).

So, sub here is my log file for the next time you get a chance to look at this problem. Meanwhile, I'm gonna live without avi playback and move on to other projects:

11:38:10.296 INFO Log started
11:38:10.296 INFO TRANSCODING: F:\TOBEMO~1\AIKO-K~1.AVI
11:38:10.296 INFO TARGET: F:\GBPVR Recordings\MVP000DFE00619A.mpg
11:38:10.406 VERBOSE AVI file type.
11:38:10.406 VERBOSE About to check for Async Reader
11:38:10.437 VERBOSE ...found, about to query for IFileSourceFilter interface
11:38:10.437 VERBOSE About to render graph
11:38:10.437 VERBOSE Rendering pin
11:38:11.281 VERBOSE About to list graph filters
11:38:11.281 INFO Graph contains the following filters:
11:38:11.281 INFO - MainConcept (Hauppauge) MPEG Encoder
11:38:11.281 INFO - ACM Wrapper
11:38:11.281 INFO - DivX Decoder Filter
11:38:11.281 INFO - AVI Splitter
11:38:11.281 INFO - F:\TOBEMO~1\AIKO-K~1.AVI
11:38:11.468 VERBOSE About to start graph
11:38:11.500 VERBOSE transcode processing started

[LilY0da]

Have you tried using the last Trans2MVP that Sub posted in this thread?
Also, make sure you disable FFDshow in the 2 checkboxes in the GBPVR config, and then open FFDshow config and disable it for anything that looks like a DivX and MPEG4

Also, try different AVIs. Some of mine still crash the player, but I think it's because they have a unusual encoding. div3 enconding at 29.97FPS with MP3 audio seems to be the best combo for me at the moment...

[sub]

MediaDogg, also try bumping up the "MVP Transcode preplay delay".

If you machine isnt able to transcode in 'faster than real' time, then you'll probably always have this problem. What spec is you machine?

[MediaDogg]

Wow, ok thanks for all the feedback.

(1) I don't even have FFDShow installed.
(2) The last Trans2MVP I thought just added more verbose logging. I don't think there is any new or changed functionality. But, to be safe, I'll try it.
(3) I already mentioned that my preplay delay was maxed out.
(4) Machine is 1.8 GHz P4 (Dell 2300) with 1GB of RAM. Plenty of temp space on C drive. Both ATI All-In-Wonder and Hauppage PVR-350 installed - but not used concurrently.

Most of the AVIs I am having trouble with play using the original MVP software, albeit not always smoothly. I know that I need more horses, and just yesterday I picked up a discontinued 3GHz P4/HT, 512MB with loads of disk and dual layer RW DVD for $350. Yowza! Didn't get a chance to even power it on yet - but I can't wait!

[sub]

Yeah, I suspect is a matter of you machine not being able to transcode at the desired rate. It needs to decode divx to raw video frames, then encode them to MPEG2, all in real time. This requires a bit of grunt. The Hauppauge software maybe a bit more tolerant when it comes machines that cant keep up, or marginal machines.

I guessing this problem will magically disappear with your new 3GHz CPU.

[MediaDogg]

I guessing this problem will magically disappear with your new 3GHz CPU.

Bingo!

Well it's not perfect, but the new machine screams and I got a lot of AVIs to play, but some still don't. Now it's a matter of finding the pattern for what works and trying to tweak the system.

To summarize what we have confirmed:

(1) Avoid FFDSHOW. Disable it AND config gbpvr to not use it for transcoding.
(2) Use a quality DIVX codec. I got mine from Divx.com. I plan to try others to see if they are faster.
(3) GBPVR depends on transcoding real-time from AVI to Mpeg. You need a FAST machine in order for it to work smoothly.

I noticed that the transcoded mpeg file uses a generated name, and goes away. It would be cool to have an option to take the name of the original file and keep it. Then eventually, all your favorite videos will be converted, one-by-one into an efficient format. If you have the space (which I do), this is great. Then I might just archive the AVIs onto DVD, delete them, and move on ...

Thanks sub - I just sent a little support via Paypal.

[sub]

(1) Avoid FFDSHOW. Disable it AND config gbpvr to not use it for transcoding.

Yes, that is a step that some people have had to take...but if it works for you with ffdshow, there can be some real advantages. I personally use ffdshow during transcoding and it works very for me. The MVP can only correctly display certain resolution videos, so ffdshow gives you the opportunity to resize non-standard videos to a size that can be displayed cleanly on the MVP.

I suspect ffdshow wasnt working well for you during transcoding due to how it was configured. You may have had the specific file format disabled, or similar...

[MediaDogg]

Yes, that is a step that some people have had to take...but if it works for you with ffdshow, there can be some real advantages. I personally use ffdshow during transcoding and it works very for me. The MVP can only correctly display certain resolution videos, so ffdshow gives you the opportunity to resize non-standard videos to a size that can be displayed cleanly on the MVP.

Hmmm ... ok, good to know. I'll add that to the list of things I will try, as I build confidence in my ability to tune and control my system.

Thanks for the info.