Playing TS files on MVPs

[Bobins]

SUB,

There are many of us who want to use multi-record and therefore TS files however we have MVPs which don't natively support playing TS files.

Transcoding has proved problematic with the various types of differing broadcast formats.

Several of us have tried using the mvpmc dongle in emulation mode and find the mvp will play a SD TS file without transcode to mpg. Unfortunately the skip functions do not work and the timeline shows incorrectly.

I understand why this is however it's been discovered that if the file is renamed to .mpg the file plays well with all the required functionality (assuming the TS file actually contains a valid timeline)

Would it be possible to include an option for the MVP in the config.xml that tells GBPVR to treat playback of .ts files as if they were .mpg files.

This could make for easy MVP playback of .ts files, may allow us to watch a file whilst recording and possibley even watch live TV (via timeshift). It would be a big improvement on having to transcode everything.

What do you think?

(It's understood this wouldn't work for HD TS files.)

[sub]

The patch posted in that MVP thread a few days ago was supposed to do exactly that. I havnt tested it though (not sure where my MVP power supply is), so there may have been some mistake in the logic.

[Bobins]

Just done some patch testing.....

Two files one a 1 hour .ts file the other a copy of the same file re-named to .mpg.

.ts file plays on mvp but shows wrong timeline and won't skip.
.mpg file plays on mvp, skips etc and shows the correct timeline.

I assume other than setting <MvpTranscodeTS>false</MvpTranscodeTS> in the config.xml that I didn't need to change anything else?

Does that config line only work when included in the MAC MVP section? I couldn't get it to stop transcoding when placed elswhere in the config file (including in the MVP default section)

[sub]

Looking at the code, it like you'd have had to had <MvpTranscodeTS>false</MvpTranscodeTS> at the settings level, and <MVPTranscodeTS>false</MVPTranscodeTS> at the MAC specific level. Note the difference in case between these two.

[Bobins]

aHa! Didn't spot that in the instruction manual

Config lines added and things are beginning to look better. I've tested 10 SD TS files and they all seem to play, skip & show timeline etc ok.

A couple of short files created by starting a recording and then cancelling seem to have bad timelines but I can accept that.

I notice that files re-named to .mpg prompt resume or restart when played a second time (expected behaviour) but TS files played this way don't.

[Jaggy]

I notice that files re-named to .mpg prompt resume or restart when played a second time (expected behaviour) but TS files played this way don't.

I have been playing with .mpg recording renamed .ts (because of a problem transcoding .ts recordings to .mpg's via postprocessing.bat sometimes dropping the recording from the recordings screen) on the mvp & noticed that I had no resume in the video library but have the resume button in the recordings screen & it seems to work reasonably as long as the recording has been played for a bit longer than is required for .mpg recordings......hope that makes sense?

[Bobins]

Some further testing on the MVP....

If a recorded TS file is played back a second time from the "Recordings" menu, resume is offerred. If it's played back from the "Video Library", no resume is offerred.

Selecting "Watch" on a programme in "TV Guide" plays back. Pause works but the timeline shows a non sensible time and skip doesn't work (jumps you to the current recording point).

Starting a recording, going to the "Recording" menu and selecting watch behaves the same as above (i.e. silly timeline and no skip but working pause).
Stop the recording and play the file, everything works correctly.

Tried "Live TV". Plays fine and pauses. Timeline shows 01:00:00 and as above, skip takes you to current time.

We're making progress

[Bobins]

Sub,

Playback of pre-recorded TS files on my MVPs seems to work fine for me after your last patch but playback of currently recording files has a few "features".

Is there a big difference in the way GBPVR handles playback during recording as opposed to playing back a pre-recorded file? It would be useful for at least the skip function to work during timeshift.

[Bobins]

Sub,

Gentle "BUMP" for my last question

[sub]

Is there a big difference in the way GBPVR handles playback during recording as opposed to playing back a pre-recorded file?

No, I cant think of any significant difference.