Transcode/Auto Convert

[GlowTube]

Sub, Maybe I'm missing something, but why does the Cyberlink muxer need to be installed for conversion from dvr-ms to mpg? I do this conversion all the time (manually, and offline from GB-PVR) using only FFmpeg driven by a .BAT file.

[sub]

That functionality was implemented in GB-PVR long before ffmpeg supported DVR-MS files. I'll probably get around to changing it over one day, but it'll have to be when I've got more time available.

[wtg]

Sub, Maybe I'm missing something, but why does the Cyberlink muxer need to be installed for conversion from dvr-ms to mpg? I do this conversion all the time (manually, and offline from GB-PVR) using only FFmpeg driven by a .BAT file.

FYI, you can add your own ffmpeg transcode command lines to the config.xml and then select them from the transcode menu in Video Library. Just look in the file at the examples already there.

By the way, what command line do you use for converting .dvr-ms? Quite some time ago I tried to get it working but was getting errors if memory serves. I haven't played with ffmpeg in quite a while though.

[philip1982]

all of that is a bit above my head. I did try the latest VLC - and tried transcoding DVRMS to MPEG2 using that - but the sound was way out of sync.

[Deusxmachina]

Sub, Maybe I'm missing something, but why does the Cyberlink muxer need to be installed for conversion from dvr-ms to mpg? I do this conversion all the time (manually, and offline from GB-PVR) using only FFmpeg driven by a .BAT file.

I saw a mention of FFmpeg being modified to mux differently than the cyberlink mux. Anyone know if all versions work well for converting now? I've been messing with dvr-ms and .ts and conversions lately. Haven't tried FFmpeg but did try things such as tsconverter and the autoconvert in gbpvr and even automkv. They ALL hang or only process 50 megs or so (audio only maybe) from ATSC.

VideoRedo is the only thing that's worked so far, and works nicely.

[GlowTube]

My experience with the latest build of FFMpeg is positive, but not perfect. I use it to do two conversions, dvr-ms to mpg, and dvr-ms to avi. The purpose of the mpg conversion is to produce a file that can be played on Linux or MacOS, and to have the conversion proceed as quickly as possible with no re-encoding. The purpose of the avi conversion is to produce a file that is 1/6 the size of the original dvr-ms, to conserve disk space. The mpg conversion produces frequent messages about illegal record size, and buffer underflow, that have been documented elsewhere but have yet to be fixed. The messages occur more frequently when the dvr-ms is HD rather than SD, which makes sense. Nonetheless, the mpg file produced is watchable and is often error-free to the viewer's eye. The avi conversion (being a re-encoding) does not share this problem, and is a watchable "pint-sized" duplicate of the original, at least for my purposes. I've never had FFMpeg hang, but I've seen it crash. This is occasional and seems data-dependent. All of this activity goes on outside of GB-PVR, and in fact on a different PC. My PVR records a lot of stuff, at all hours, and I don't want to load it down any further with transcoding work.

Hope that helps.

[wtg]

What command lines are you using GlowTube? The stock conversions in gbpvr, or something different?

[GlowTube]

What command lines are you using GlowTube? The stock conversions in gbpvr, or something different?

Sure. Here are the commands I use. Although I've seen some really impressive FFMpeg commands, which specify the smallest details of the encoding process, I get good results by keeping it fairly simple.


dvr-ms -> mpg
===========
ffmpeg -y
-i <inputfile>
-async 1
-vcodec copy
-acodec copy
-f dvd
<outputfile>


dvr-ms -> avi
===========
ffmpeg -y
-probesize 512
-i <inputfile>
-async 1
-deinterlace
-vcodec mpeg4
-s 800x450
-croptop 2
-padbottom 2
-qscale 4
-vtag DX50
-acodec libmp3lame
-ac 2
-ab 128000
-f avi
<outputfile>

I don't do any transcoding under GB-PVR, so I've only glanced at the stock command lines that are specified. Not sure how mine compare.

Now, to download and try out the new version! Nice list of enhancements, Sub.

[wtg]

Thanks GlowTube. What version of ffmpeg are you using? I've only tried the first command line using the gbpvr-delivered version of ffmpeg and a 2/5/08 release, and the "-f dvd" option isn't valid. I did try the "-target ntsc-dvd" option presumably to the same result, though it crashed about 8 minutes into it. Of course.

I'll play around with the .avi conversion later, but thanks again for sharing.

Sure. Here are the commands I use.
<snip>

dvr-ms -> mpg
===========
ffmpeg -y -i <inputfile> -async 1 -vcodec copy -acodec copy -f dvd <outputfile>


dvr-ms -> avi
===========
ffmpeg -y -probesize 512 -i <inputfile> -async 1 -deinterlace -vcodec mpeg4 -s 800x450 -croptop 2 -padbottom 2 -qscale 4 -vtag DX50 -acodec libmp3lame -ac 2 -ab 128000 -f avi <outputfile>

[philip1982]

I've just installed the latest version of GBPVR - and have been transcoding the DVRMS files to MPEG to allow me to burn to DVD.

The Transcoding on the face of it seems to be ok, but the files that are produced, still have the timestamp problem - so they still wont author.