Poor VMR performance with 98.08?

[sub]

Try an AVI file when you get a chance. It uses very different filters than when you play an MPEG2 file, so would narrow the cause down quite a bit.

[acidfiend2003]

Any particular type of AVI file? I have:

1. AVI converted from a GBPVR recording using Auto Gordian Knot (MP3 audio, XVID video)

2. AVI converted from a DVD (also with AGK, MP3 audio and XVID video)

3. AVI with XVID/DivX video and AC3 audio

At the moment I have AC3Filter setup to act as decoder for both MPEG and AC3 if it helps.

Regards
Dave

[sub]

Any old AVI file should be fine. Preferrably with out an associated SRT file.

[acidfiend2003]

OK - I tried with an AVI file this afternoon in 96 and 98. There was no difference that I could really find, both versions play back AVIs just fine.

I also repeated my tests with Live TV and Timeshift TV. Live TV was unwatchable, like watching stop-motion animation in 98, but fine in 96. Timeshift TV was acceptable in both versions.

I've zipped up some relevent log and graph files for you (attached).

Regards
Dave

[acidfiend2003]

...and the last attachment.

I'm really hoping there is something in those files that will explain why Live TV is just unwatchable in 98.08 - all I can tell you is the CPU consumption goes off the charts and the frame rate drops to about 5fps. In 96.08 the framerate, audio sync etc. are all just fine and the CPU usage is very low (10-30%).

Hope this helps.

Dave

[sub]

Its got to be something in the combination of decoders and video renderer. I would have guessed at AC3Filter being the culprit, but you've already tried removing that one. Still, I would focus some more tests around removing that filter and trying alternative audio/video decoders with live tv.

[acidfiend2003]

Its got to be something in the combination of decoders and video renderer

I've already tried every decoder I can lay my hands on (Hauppauge, Cyberlink, Nvidia) and every VMR/overlay mode available. Nothing makes the problem go away.

I've spent a lot of time on this, and I just can't get my head around the idea that identical configurations of mux, video decoder, audio decoder and renderer behave differently under two versions of GBPVR and its not GBPVR's fault. As you can see from my attachments the ONLY difference between the filter graphs is the addition of the MPEG Sections and Tables filter in the 98 Live TV graph. I'm not a DirectShow expert (I work with cross-platform technologies and DSP) but if I could fire up my debugger on GBPVR that's where I would start....

[sub]

I dont really know what to suggest.

GB-PVR doesnt really play a significant part in the playback of video files. It tells Directshow which decoders it would prefer to use, and which video renderer to use, then Directshow pretty much takes care of these rest. From time to time GB-PVR will tell Directshow to update the OSD graph if information is being shown on the screen.

Some things to consider during you analysis:

1) If you're using VMR9 Custom, then Directshow passes each video frame to GB-PVR for it to display on the screen. GB-PVR uses Direct3D for this. If you use any other renderer, then directshow will take care of its one rendering. I would recommend VMR9 or Ovelay rather than VMR7.

2) If you have teletext or DVB subtitles enabled, then GB-PVR can be drawing blank OSD graphics on top of the screen even though they're not visible. This could potentially be causing some problems, so best to disable this.

If you're not using VMR9 Custom or one of these form of subtitles, then GB-PVR should be doing nothing during live tv other than waiting until it next needs to display some OSD graphics on the screen.

[sub]

Have you tried deleting your config.xml to force it to go back to the original file? There may be some wierd setting you've got in there that wasnt used in older versions of GB-PVR.

It could something entirely unexpected - like interaction between some other software on your machine and .NET 2.0 that has been used since v0.97. Firewall, antivirus...

You could also try switching <WindowedMode>true</WindowedMode> between true/false if using VMR9 to see if it makes a difference.

[JDizzy]

I have recently installed GBPVR and am experiencing the stuttering too.
I will explain what I have done to try and get it right in hopes it might help...
But, it still does have some problems...

I also run Sage TV on same machine. I can only run Sage in overlay mode or it will stutter.
If I try to run GB in overlay mode, I just get a black screen so I am forced to use one of the VMR modes.
VMR7 sutters really bad... VMR9 is better...and VMR9 Custom is almost watchable. (but not acceptable)
I have tried every renderer you can think of and many different combinations. Some get real bad sound sync problems and others sync very well. But still the stuttering which is very noticable in camera pans and fast action.

I do have subtitles disabled and minimal OSD enabled.

Playing prerecorded AVI files are fine only Live TV suffers.

I feel as though I could get into overlay mode my problems would be solved (wishful thinking)

Any ideas?
JD