ZProcess: Getting it to use mencoder

[zehd]

Hi again

here are the logs again with the newest ffmpeg and lots of AVI added!

Zeltak

Give this a shot

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?p=166634

Edit: Zeltak.... I know that your original problem was getting MEncoder working... I haven't forgotten. It's just for you, ZProcess isn't even working right with ffmpeg... Hang in there...

[zehd]

Hi again

here are the logs again with the newest ffmpeg and lots of AVI added!

Zeltak

Zeltak, there's now a clear log button on the Utilities tab. Clear the log and then do a few more with the new file I released. Then send me the whole log...

Thanks

[zeltak]

Hi Again Zehd!

Thx again for all your effort! here is the new log file with the new version and with lots of different stuff i tried (mpg,avi etc conversions)!

hope it helps

Zeltak

[My MVP is a Twonk]

Zehd,

With a clean XP install I don't have mencoder shown in the drop down box. I also still have pixilated output on my tv which I never had with previous versions of the software. My PC can transcode a minute of DVD video in about 15 seconds so I know this isn't the problem. If I take that 1 minute file and play it through the MVP its fine, its just pixilated when doing it on the fly. I'm thinking this has something to do with the new ffmpeg and GPPVR release.

[zehd]

Zehd,

With a clean XP install I don't have mencoder shown in the drop down box. I also still have pixilated output on my tv which I never had with previous versions of the software. My PC can transcode a minute of DVD video in about 15 seconds so I know this isn't the problem. If I take that 1 minute file and play it through the MVP its fine, its just pixilated when doing it on the fly. I'm thinking this has something to do with the new ffmpeg and GPPVR release.

Did you download mencoder from the directions on the wiki? Did you use the default location? From ZProcess's Directories tab, have you 'taught' it where MEncoder is? Which version of ZProcess are you using?

Can you post me both logs from the current days backup folder?

[zehd]

Hi Again Zehd!

Thx again for all your effort! here is the new log file with the new version and with lots of different stuff i tried (mpg,avi etc conversions)!

hope it helps

Zeltak

From the logs it seems that only the MPGs won't give up their dimensions...

But then that might be the reason that you can't find MEncoder: the same reason that ZProcess can't find mplayer.exe...

Yes the registry says that you've entered it...

I don't see anywhere in the log the actual start of ZProcess. So I'll ask you to try again... (BTW, there's yet another version, 855)

Once upgraded, open ZProcess, clear the log then close ZProcess, open it again, and simply load three avis and three mpgs. Don't try transcoding...

Let me see what those logs show me...

Thanks

[zehd]

Hi Again Zehd!

Thx again for all your effort! here is the new log file with the new version and with lots of different stuff i tried (mpg,avi etc conversions)!

hope it helps

Zeltak

Just in case it's not the case, I wanted to be sure: The mencoder install is the default, right? You haven't deleted or moved any other files from the mplayer folder? See, ZProcess assumes that along with MEncoder, there exists another file called mplayer.exe...

[zehd]

To the folks currently having trouble seeing MEncoder in ZProcess...

I've been thinking really hard about this problem. In order to add MEncoder to that preferred transcoder combo box, it need only see the existence of a file named mencoder.exe. It looks in the default locations..

So Just to be thorough I'm going to give you a list of directories that ZProcess wants to see...

Although I can't see why any deviation from these paths would be a problem, I'm at such a loss, I suggest that those having trouble might want to consider these paths...

• GB-PVR: C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr
  
• Third Party: C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party
  
• ffmpeg: (the real one) C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\FFmpeg - Containing the new 6 MB ffmpeg.exe file shipped with GB-PVR 95.5
  
• ZProcess: C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\Third Party\ZProcess - Containing ZProcess.exe (you need nothing more)
  
• MEncoder: C:\Program Files\mplayer - Containing both mencoder.exe and mplayer.exe with the rest of its support files...
  

Optional:

• VLC: C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC Containing vlc.exe
  
• Comskip and Comclean: same as GBPVR directory
  

Directory structure for Videos, Backups, Override etc...

This is all based on one main folder for TV. I KNOW this works on either C or D drive...

• C:\TV
  
• C:\TV\Recorded
  
• C:\TV\Videos
  
• C:\TV\Live
  
• C:\TV\Override
  
• C:\TV\Backup
  

* ZProcess automatically creates sub folders for the current day...
* C:\TV\Backup\20070107, etc...

Within my Recorded folder I have several sub directories, based on show titles, auto created from GB-PVR...

The Video folder also has several subdirectories...

I have not used puctuation marks, brackets quotes or anything other than spaces and hyphens -

A new point, and one I'll repeat here, is the new button that straightens out the pathing in GB-PVR's config.xml.

1. Be sure you are using ZProcess as 'zprocess.exe' and you are using GB-PVR 95.5
   
2. Click the Utilities tab, and 'GB-PVR settings'. Then click 'check ZProcess.exe'
   
3. Restart te GB-PVR Recording Service
   

I'd like to also explain the use of the Override directory, in case it's being missed. Basically, When I transcode mpg to mpg, it's possible that if yo do not select an alternate directory, that the original file gets overwritten...

I have written a safe guard for that, but instead of having a popup asking "where would you like to send the file to avoid a conflict", I have the override...

I don't mean any of this to be taken the wrong way. I'm all of you are very capable computer users. But I have not been able to think why we're having this trouble...

Next, we'll have to look at region, (PAL, NTSC) (I noticed one person using PAL-DVD yet the framerate was set to 29.97...), and then codecs, (which shouldn't be an issue, but)

I notice with one of you, that the mpg that you have been trying to transcode seem to be originally recorded by GB-PVR. I know for me, it works, but maybe the file you are using has trouble because it is recorded using a different codec/mux than what I use...

I'd really like to see this working, guys. Hang in there...

[My MVP is a Twonk]

Did you download mencoder from the directions on the wiki? Did you use the default location? From ZProcess's Directories tab, have you 'taught' it where MEncoder is? Which version of ZProcess are you using?

Can you post me both logs from the current days backup folder?

I downloaded mencoder using the link on Wiki and put it in the program files as listed. I have pointed ZProcess to Mencoder and I am using 855. I will post logs later today.

[zehd]

For those still having troubles with using MEncoder...

I do not necessarily have a solution for you. It's supposed to work right off, and if it doesn't, I have to suspect something is occurring that I haven't anticipated.

If mencoder and mplayer are located in their default directory, then ZProcess should be able to see them, and then add them to the list of preferred transcoders...

If you have found a solution, let me know...