ZProcess - Old Support Thread...

[zehd]

Yes, then I guess there must be caching. I double checked in my FTP Webspace... There should defietly be the right one there...

(Next time try CTRL F5 in your rowser and see if that forces the cache. But anyway, glad you got 598 and it's working...

Yep definitely a web page caching error.... sorry too many updates, I guess...

[zehd]

I got build 370 in the zip, 589 in the update, very strange.

EDIT: oopps - the beta zip has the 598....

I'll bet the 598 worked for you....

Oh well off to bed...

[Skybolt]

I'll bet the 598 worked for you....

Oh well off to bed...

It got me past the init.setup but I am definetly missing something, I think I will re read your web page and try later. All I get is either a lock up or blank screen and transcoding windows. It seems to create Mpegs fine though, it's just the on th efly stuff. Not really sure why this is so taxing on the system, since playing hte AVI file has virtually no affect. I will keep you updated on the progess, and thank you for support to day that's unbelieveable!

[Skybolt]

Well I guess I am stillmissing somthing. I can run Zprocess manually without a problem. When I run with the MVP no luck. I believe that the profile I saved (Trans2MVP) is not being loaded when ran through GBPVR. I am not clear as to how to invoke the profile needed.

"Press ‘FFmpeg’ (bottom right, see figure) to start the encode. In a few seconds you’ll have a 1 minute clip of video
Have a quick look at the time it took to encode those 60 secs. 15–25 seconds is good. " From step 6. Where is the "ffmpeg " button? Is it now the "Start" button?

If I access the video from the MVP interface how do you run zprocess with out any of the postprocessing files? When Zprocess starts it defaults to "2mpg" instead of "Trans2MVP" ?

Thanks,
Skybolt

[zehd]

Well I guess I am stillmissing somthing. I can run Zprocess manually without a problem. When I run with the MVP no luck. I believe that the profile I saved (Trans2MVP) is not being loaded when ran through GBPVR. I am not clear as to how to invoke the profile needed.

"Press ‘FFmpeg’ (bottom right, see figure) to start the encode. In a few seconds you’ll have a 1 minute clip of video
Have a quick look at the time it took to encode those 60 secs. 15–25 seconds is good. " From step 6. Where is the "ffmpeg " button? Is it now the "Start" button?

If I access the video from the MVP interface how do you run zprocess with out any of the postprocessing files? When Zprocess starts it defaults to "2mpg" instead of "Trans2MVP" ?

Thanks,
Skybolt

Yes, when you manually start ZProcess with an AVI it defaults to using the 2MPG profile. Except when GB_PVR calls it, it also supplies an MVP038fe...mpg file name for the output. That's the output file needed to be generated for the MVP to start viewing. When ZProcess sees a filename starting with MVP, it kicks into Trans2MVP mode...

In Trans2MVP, click the reset button. That will allow you to start from scratch... See if that works...

On the 'reserved' tab, adjust the Pre-Play delay to something like 9000. (That accesses the GB-PVR config.xml directly for convenience - Will require a service restart...)

Make sure that 'MVP Transcode using FFmpeg is set to true

In the Backup folder/Todays'Date is ZProcess.log, zip and send that to me

I'm running out right now, but I hope that I've gotten you on your way...

[Skybolt]

Thanks again for your help. I think I may have misunderstood how this actually works. I thought the GUI of Zprocess never loads, My server is not in hte room I am testing the MVP in. I am using dameware to monitor the server. THe GUI flashes so fast that I did not catch that it was loading and stopping. I just tried it whke at the server and the right profile is being loaded, I confussed the manuale GUI with the RT GUI. - sorry.:o

If I reboot and Play an AVI file It will play if I attemp to stop or return to the main menu and then restart nothing happens and zprocess start then terminates quickly. Any I deas?

For what ever reason I am not allowed to add attachments at this point. Here are the last few entries from the log.

9/2/2006 10:39:02 PM : **************************** :
9/2/2006 10:39:02 PM : ZProcess is started. :
9/2/2006 10:39:36 PM : Transcode starts : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:39:36 PM : Transcode: "C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\FFmpeg\fmpeg.exe" -y -i "E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi" -t 00:01:00 -b 4000 -ab 224 -ac 2 -r 29.97 -s 336x188 -padtop 26 -padbottom 26 -f svcd "E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.mpg" : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:40:04 PM : Transcode finishes moving files : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:40:04 PM : Transcode finishes : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:40:04 PM : Time: 00:00:28 : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:45:39 PM : ZProcess closes : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi

9/2/2006 10:48:06 PM : **************************** :
9/2/2006 10:48:06 PM : ZProcess is started. :

9/2/2006 10:48:08 PM : **************************** : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:48:08 PM : Transcode starts : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:48:08 PM : Transcode: "C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\FFmpeg\fmpeg.exe" -y -i "E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi" -b 4000 -ab 224 -ac 2 -r 29.97 -s 336x188 -padtop 26 -padbottom 26 -f svcd "E:\Movies\GB-PVR\MVP000DFE0C01081.mpg" : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi

9/2/2006 10:48:43 PM : **************************** :
9/2/2006 10:48:43 PM : ZProcess is started. :

9/2/2006 10:48:45 PM : **************************** : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:48:45 PM : Transcode starts : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:48:45 PM : Transcode: "C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\FFmpeg\fmpeg.exe" -y -i "E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi" -b 4000 -ab 224 -ac 2 -r 29.97 -s 336x188 -padtop 26 -padbottom 26 -f svcd "E:\Movies\GB-PVR\MVP000DFE0C01081.mpg" : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi

9/2/2006 11:00:11 PM : **************************** :
9/2/2006 11:00:11 PM : ZProcess is started. :

9/2/2006 11:00:12 PM : **************************** : E:\Movies\24\Season 3\24 - 302 - 2pm-3pm .avi
9/2/2006 11:00:12 PM : Transcode starts : E:\Movies\24\Season 3\24 - 302 - 2pm-3pm .avi
9/2/2006 11:00:12 PM : Transcode: "C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\FFmpeg\fmpeg.exe" -y -i "E:\Movies\24\Season 3\24 - 302 - 2pm-3pm .avi" -b 4000 -ab 224 -ac 2 -r 29.97 -s 336x188 -padtop 26 -padbottom 26 -f svcd "E:\Movies\GB-PVR\MVP000DFE0C01081.mpg" : E:\Movies\24\Season 3\24 - 302 - 2pm-3pm .avi

9/2/2006 11:06:39 PM : **************************** :
9/2/2006 11:06:39 PM : ZProcess is started. :

[zehd]

Well, It's def using the Trans2MVP Profile...

ZProcess would have written other comments if it was closed properly. So It's def being forced closed, or crashed...

How about zip the GB-PVR logs too, we'll see where it crashed...

Remember to 'reset' the profile, and see if that works.

[zehd]

This one worked, but it was only one minute long

9/2/2006 10:39:02 PM : **************************** :
9/2/2006 10:39:02 PM : ZProcess is started. :
9/2/2006 10:39:36 PM : Transcode starts : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:39:36 PM : Transcode: "C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\FFmpeg\fmpeg.exe" -y -i "E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi" -t 00:01:00 -b 4000 -ab 224 -ac 2 -r 29.97 -s 336x188 -padtop 26 -padbottom 26 -f svcd "E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.mpg" : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:40:04 PM : Transcode finishes moving files : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:40:04 PM : Transcode finishes : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:40:04 PM : Time: 00:00:28 : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:45:39 PM : ZProcess closes : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi

This one failed even though it's the same settings. Must be computer runs out momemtum

9/2/2006 10:48:06 PM : **************************** :
9/2/2006 10:48:06 PM : ZProcess is started. :

9/2/2006 10:48:08 PM : **************************** : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:48:08 PM : Transcode starts : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi
9/2/2006 10:48:08 PM : Transcode: "C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\FFmpeg\fmpeg.exe" -y -i "E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi" -b 4000 -ab 224 -ac 2 -r 29.97 -s 336x188 -padtop 26 -padbottom 26 -f svcd "E:\Movies\GB-PVR\MVP000DFE0C01081.mpg" : E:\Movies\DeadWood\deadwood.305.hdtv-lol.avi

On the Trans2MVP profile, Make sure that:
Crank up the preplay delay to around 9000 (Reserved tab)
set the output is at 352x240 for NTSC
set CPU Priority is normal
set 'After Transcoding' is do nothing...
set 'Use Override directory', isn't checked... (Directories tab)

Click 'More' and select 192 for an audio bitrate...

Don't set HQ, or Two Pass, Or Force Deinterlace...

[Skybolt]

... Must be computer runs out momemtum

On the Trans2MVP profile, Make sure that:
Crank up the preplay delay to around 9000 (Reserved tab)
set the output is at 352x240 for NTSC
set CPU Priority is normal
set 'After Transcoding' is do nothing...
set 'Use Override directory', isn't checked... (Directories tab)

Click 'More' and select 192 for an audio bitrate...

Don't set HQ, or Two Pass, Or Force Deinterlace...

Well I have tried what you have suggested. The video is zoomed in quite a bit, plays for ~ minute and goes back to the video libary selection screen. fmpeg is still running as well as datahunter. fmpeg is @ 9x% always. Also If I try to interact with the system at all I get a .net RTE and need to reboot.

when doing a manual transcode of these AVI's it took 28sec. on a P4 2.4 w/512. With out running the transcode stuff the cpu is at >95% over 90% of the time.

I am running some HA stuff - HomeSeer mainlobby. Here is the kicker, I wrote an app which plays locally any file in the path and also is a Music juke box with multiple web clients controlling the video and music. The server plays the video on a second monitor which is distributed on RG6. - The reason I am telling you this is that applet barly impacts this server. Obviosly I am not running this nor is it loaded in any way while all this testing is going on. I have also unloaded mainlobby from running as well.

fmpeg is definetly cpu hog. I am trying to use GBPVR as an alternitive to running sagetv, which has many issues withthe MVP as well. GBPVR I think is a much nicer app, Java never seems to play that nice. Anyway I am rambeling - sorry to much coffee this morning.

Thanks,
Skybolt


EDIT: Forgot - which logs files would you like - I am very new(yesterday) to the GBPVR and there are a lot of log files.

[zehd]

Well I have tried what you have suggested. The video is zoomed in quite a bit, plays for ~ minute and goes back to the video libary selection screen. fmpeg is still running as well as datahunter. fmpeg is @ 9x% always. Also If I try to interact with the system at all I get a .net RTE and need to reboot.

when doing a manual transcode of these AVI's it took 28sec. on a P4 2.4 w/512. With out running the transcode stuff the cpu is at >95% over 90% of the time.

I am running some HA stuff - HomeSeer mainlobby. Here is the kicker, I wrote an app which plays locally any file in the path and also is a Music juke box with multiple web clients controlling the video and music. The server plays the video on a second monitor which is distributed on RG6. - The reason I am telling you this is that applet barly impacts this server. Obviosly I am not running this nor is it loaded in any way while all this testing is going on. I have also unloaded mainlobby from running as well.

fmpeg is definetly cpu hog. I am trying to use GBPVR as an alternitive to running sagetv, which has many issues withthe MVP as well. GBPVR I think is a much nicer app, Java never seems to play that nice. Anyway I am rambeling - sorry to much coffee this morning.

Thanks,
Skybolt


EDIT: Forgot - which logs files would you like - I am very new(yesterday) to the GBPVR and there are a lot of log files.

Did you say/mean 9x% CPU running with nothing running? With or without ZProcess Idle? And your other monitoring software is off, and services not running...?

It does sound like you have your computer loaded up....

Just so you know, ZProcess is only a shell. Unfortunately, Task Manager blames the cpu on it, because it is the onwer of the spawned process, in this case fmpeg.exe (Which is the actual transcoder)

OK, So the reason I added the CPU Priority, is exactly for this... Set it to Below Normal or Low, if you want, that will get ZProcess and Fmpeg off the hook, but you won't be happy....

Basically, To transcode smoothly, It needs complete (i'm exagerating) control of the CPU, (OK a lot of..)..

I suggest, trying to turn off all extra services (except gbpvr recording service), and running apps, and trying again with ZProcess set to Normal and the MVP Pre-Play set to 9000 or 10000...

This is what I expect. (I had the same problem) First of all, 512 Mb isn't enough for a PVR MVP server that will Transcode on the fly AND do something else that requires a substantial slice of the CPU no matter how nice that process asks...

Though, I did get my server going with 512 after I changed the System Performace in Windows, System Properties to Background Services and System Cache...

I also learned a new Reg Trick that unloads DLLs from memory After they are no longer needed... (It's a magic bullet)

Code:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"AlwaysUnloadDLL"=dword:00000001

GB-PVR crashes ZProcess/ffmpeg because it doesn't get 'served' the MVP**.mpg file fast and smooth enough. I've got a 3.0ghz machine, and I still had the problem until I did some major memory/services/autostart management... If you notice from my sig, I am able to use ZProcess on a far lesser computer...

At least try ZProcess without anything else running and see...