UbuStream v2.1 Beta finally available

[ubu]

Not exciting, and may not be new, but a search of the forum shed no light. I've tried an uninstall, rebooting, cleaning out the event log, but nothing seems to let me install the recording service from the recording service controller. The problem is on one test system - I got the service working on a second test system, but have not yet tried installing on the production system. I'm stumped Ubu.:confused:
.........
Oh, and there's no UbuRecordingService.exe.log either.

Looks like, for some reason, it can't find the MS InstallUtil app. I've had a couple of people experience this problem. One reason would be that you have .Net 3.0 installed (which confuses my code which assumes that .Net 2.0 is the most recently installed version of the Framework). The workaround has been to run InstallUtil.exe manually, as decribed in the second part of this post.

Anyway, I've updated the wiki v2.1 installer with a new version of the UbuRecordingService console app which a) tries to ensure that it correctly picks the .Net 2.0 directory and b) pops up a message box with some diagnostic info if it still can't find InstallUtil.exe. Either this will fix your problem or, at least, give me more info about why you are getting it.

Not surprising there's no log file since this error is occurring before the service has been started.

I too am getting the same exception that Ralphy references after installing V2.1 beta dated 4/3/07.

Try the new version and let me know what you get.

Additionally, I am getting the following exception when GBPVR shuts down:

Looks like this is triggered by UbuStream trying to write to the log just before GB-PVR closes. Unfortunately I can't reproduce this on my test system. It would be interesting to know what the last thing UbuStream wrote to the log was. Can you attach a copy of your gbpvr.exe.log file (from just after you exit GB-PVR) so I can take a look?

[ralphy]

Looks like, for some reason, it can't find the MS InstallUtil app. I've had a couple of people experience this problem. One reason would be that you have .Net 3.0 installed (which confuses my code which assumes that .Net 2.0 is the most recently installed version of the Framework). The workaround has been to run InstallUtil.exe manually, as decribed in the second part of this post.

Thanks for the pointers Ubu, although InstallUtil.exe didn't solve my problem. On the surface the error messages I was getting looked very similar to HappyHammer. (Although I didn't really look very carefully)

My solution was to go into the registry and delete the HKEY\LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog\Application\UbuRecordingService key:eek: as referred to by you. Although I cleared out all the entries in the event log, the key wasn't deleted.

I can now install, uninstall, start and stop the service. Finger crossed, all is working!

[ubu]

Thanks for the pointers Ubu, although InstallUtil.exe didn't solve my problem. On the surface the error messages I was getting looked very similar to HappyHammer. (Although I didn't really look very carefully)

My solution was to go into the registry and delete the HKEY\LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog\Application\UbuRecordingService key:eek: as referred to by you. Although I cleared out all the entries in the event log, the key wasn't deleted.

I can now install, uninstall, start and stop the service. Finger crossed, all is working!

Well that's good. I'm still confused by your original error message which appeared to be saying that the Install button code could not find the InstallUtil app. Did you ever figure out why it couldn't find it?

Also, did you get a chance to test my latest fix to UbuDynSourceUpdate to see if it now works the way you expect?

[ralphy]

Well that's good. I'm still confused by your original error message which appeared to be saying that the Install button code could not find the InstallUtil app. Did you ever figure out why it couldn't find it?

No idea Ubu. The file was there, but I do have .Net 3 installed on that system. Running the InstallUtil app manually caused errors of "can't uninstall", "rollback", etc etc as per HappyHammer.

Also, did you get a chance to test my latest fix to UbuDynSourceUpdate to see if it now works the way you expect?

I am out of town for an Easter break for a week, so although I've loaded the file and run it once (it trapped the BBC error ok), I'll let it run for a while to see if it catches everything else! Thanks again for building this wrapper.

[JavaWiz]

No idea Ubu. The file was there, but I do have .Net 3 installed on that system. Running the InstallUtil app manually caused errors of "can't uninstall", "rollback", etc etc as per HappyHammer.

I too was having the same problem (as was ralphy). What I ended up doing was:

• Uninstall UbuStream
  
• Ran the InstallService.exe program (to uninstall) as described here
  
• Insure the UbuRecordingService directory was removed under Plugins/UbuStream
  
• Run Regedit and remove the UbuRecordingService entrys under HKLM
  
• Reinstall the latest UbuStream v2.1 beta
  
• Let the installer complete w/o attempting to install the service.
  
• Manually (via start - Programs - GB-PVR - UbuStream Plugin 2.1) install the service

All seems to be working now, although I have not had a lot of time to check things out, but at least it installed clean and threw no errors.

[jksmurf]

I get an error when trying to run Web radio using the new Ubustream beta.

I installed Uburadio1.1 first (just dropped them in), as I saw some files from Ubustream 2.1 Beta were newer.

I use both Real Player Alternative and Quicktime Alternative. But the error is the same for Media Player Streams too?

New WinXP install, with GBPVR, so I thought I'd give Ubustream beta a crack... (You might remember I had Ubu Webradio working OK a while back)

k.

[EDIT] - Something else too. In Options General, it keeps asking for a podcast directory. I don't have one, but it was quite insistent, so I had to put one in. Could a default one be made? Say //gbpvr/podcasts?

[ubu]

I too was having the same problem (as was ralphy). What I ended up doing was:

• Uninstall UbuStream
  
• Ran the InstallService.exe program (to uninstall) as described here
  
• Insure the UbuRecordingService directory was removed under Plugins/UbuStream
  
• Run Regedit and remove the UbuRecordingService entrys under HKLM
  
• Reinstall the latest UbuStream v2.1 beta
  
• Let the installer complete w/o attempting to install the service.
  
• Manually (via start - Programs - GB-PVR - UbuStream Plugin 2.1) install the service

All seems to be working now, although I have not had a lot of time to check things out, but at least it installed clean and threw no errors.

Sounds like you had the same problem as ralphy. Do you also have .Net 3.0 installed?

The fact that you used the latest UbuStream 2.1 UbuRecordingService console to do the service install suggests that my latest fix may have solved the problem (you would have got a message box complaining about your .Net config if it couldn't find the MS InstallUtil app). So that's encouraging.

I'd like to be able to say that this problem is always caused by having .Net 3.0 installed and that I've now got this covered. But I'm left with nagging doubts. I'm still not sure why you (and ralphy and happyhammer) had to manually remove registry entries. I'm guessing that you can't uninstall the old version of the service once you've upgraded to the new version of the service (the actual exe in the UbuRecordingService directory). If that's true, I could write some code that would be called by the UbuStream installer that would a) check if the service is installed, b) if it exists, use the existing UbuRecordingService app to uninstall it, c) copy the new files into the UbuRecordingService directory and d) install the service using the new UbuRecordingService app. Does that make sense?

btw - the UbuRecordingService checkbox in the beta installer app simply loads the controller dialog app, so it's no different from selecting it from the Start Programs menu. The new recording service files have already been copied into the UbuRecordingService directory at that point (so the damage has already been done ).

[ubu]

I get an error when trying to run Web radio using the new Ubustream beta.

I installed Uburadio1.1 first (just dropped them in), as I saw some files from Ubustream 2.1 Beta were newer.

I use both Real Player Alternative and Quicktime Alternative. But the error is the same for Media Player Streams too?

New WinXP install, with GBPVR, so I thought I'd give Ubustream beta a crack... (You might remember I had Ubu Webradio working OK a while back)

Whoops! I made a minor change to the core UbuNetStreamPlayer library and forgot to test it with UbuRadio. Certain components (the UbuNetStreamPlayer dll, the activex dlls for the internal players and the UbuRecordingService app) are shared by UbuStream and UbuRadio so I have to be careful to avoid breaking one plugin when I make a fix to the other. I've changed it so that it will now be compatible with your existing UbuRadio install (v1.1).

[EDIT] - Something else too. In Options General, it keeps asking for a podcast directory. I don't have one, but it was quite insistent, so I had to put one in. Could a default one be made? Say //gbpvr/podcasts?

Thanks for noticing this. I had made some changes to trap for the case where you don't have permission to access a network drive (not just where the directory doesn't exist) and, it seems, shot myself in the foot. I've changed it so you don't have to enter a podcast directory. (Not inclined to default it since most people will be using a podcast receiver such as Juice or iTunes and they all have different default locations for the downloaded files).

I've updated the wiki installer to include both these fixes. In case anybody was wondering, the installer will only replace files if the new one has a later date than the currently installed one. So you should be able to run it as many times as you like without adversely affecting your existing installation.

Unrelated: I've used Media Player Classic with UbuStream in the past (as per your screen prints) so I know it works fine when used as an external player. But when you use Preview Play, the embedded versions of RealPlayer or Quicktime are being invoked, not MPC. Sounds like you're using the RP and QT Alternative codecs (and don't have the "official" RP and QT codecs installed at all). So does Preview Play work with the Alternative codecs? I wasn't sure if the activex controls had some "hook" to force you to have the "official" RP and QT products installed.

[jksmurf]

I've changed it so that it will now be compatible with your existing UbuRadio install (v1.1).

And it works!

I've changed it so you don't have to enter a podcast directory.

Great.

Sounds like you're using the RP and QT Alternative codecs (and don't have the "official" RP and QT codecs installed at all). So does Preview Play work with the Alternative codecs? I wasn't sure if the activex controls had some "hook" to force you to have the "official" RP and QT products installed.

Yes I am and yes it works fine (at least RP, haven't tried QT). I've never installed the "real" Codecs (new WinXP install as of yestreday). The QT Lite and RT Lite versions both ONLY have Codecs, so you don't even need the player (for the embedded radio in any case).

The RA stream was choppy (on NDR2 at least) though. 96kbps Surestrem was better. Might be just a case of tweaking the buffer for RA?

There is one wierd thing too. After the radio thing is closed down (and even GBPVR), a continuous "popping" sound like a legacy or artefact windows error sound continues to come through the speakers. (Like a pop-up sound I guess). I coudl say "no windows sounds" in my sounds set-up, but what would THAT be?

k.

[ubu]

The QT Lite and RT Lite versions both ONLY have Codecs, so you don't even need the player (for the embedded radio in any case).

That's what I figured. Cool!

I'm not a big fan of RealMedia and Apple (close behind M$ in their arrogant attitude to users, IMHO) but, I hate to admit it, the RealPlayer activex control has been the easiest one to get working and it seems pretty robust compared with the VLC and WMP ones.

The RA stream was choppy (on NDR2 at least) though. 96kbps Surestrem was better. Might be just a case of tweaking the buffer for RA?

One thing's for sure about streaming media: you can throw a fast CPU and tons of memory at it but, if the streaming server is having a bad day or your internet conection is having hiccups, it all comes to naught. And then there's the self inflicted stuff. Last week, I was having all kinds of problems with streams that are usually pretty reliable. Then I realized I'd left Joost running on one of my machines and it had been merrily uploading and downloading P2P streams (and chewing up bandwidth) for a couple of days. :o

There is one wierd thing too. After the radio thing is closed down (and even GBPVR), a continuous "popping" sound like a legacy or artefact windows error sound continues to come through the speakers. (Like a pop-up sound I guess). I coudl say "no windows sounds" in my sounds set-up, but what would THAT be?

Does the popping sound happen all the time or only after using UbuRadio (or UbuStream)? Could it be that the RealPlayer activex control leaves something still "connected" to XP's Wave In channel? You could try muting the Wave volume slider but keep the master Volume slider normal to test this theory. Also, does the popping sound stop after you play something else on the speakers (an mp3 with Media Player Classic, for instance)?