BBC Iplayer Downloader Plugin - Beta + Support

[martint123]

I also had a problem with the option file and the ITVTHREAD bit. I'm not sure what created it (I have been playing with get_iplayer for some time as a standalone) but I just deleted the option file and it started downloading fine.

Ditto, I end up with 0 length transcode files, but haven't had chance to investigate further yet.

[smiler]

Hi similer. Having a problem with playing the download file from the recordnigs menu. All looks fine in the downloading stage oin the plugin but the mpg file in the recordings directory os a zero byte file. My guess is that the transcodng is going wrong but not sure how to debug. Logs attached.

Best thing to do is open a dos window and run the following command

Code:

C:\PROGRA~1\devnz\gbpvr\THIRDP~1\mencoder.exe  -msglevel all=6 -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg  -vf scale=720:576,pp=hb/vb/dr/al/ac/lb,hqdn3d, -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video:aspect=16/9:vbitrate=11500:keyint=15:trell:mbd=2:precmp=2:subcmp=2:cmp=2:dia=-10:predia=-10:cbp:mv0:acodec=libmp3lame:abitrate=320 -ofps 25.0 -o "D:\Recordings\Top Gear - Series 13\Top_Gear_Series_13_Episode_7_new_series_133310_6_8_2009.mpg" "D:\iPlayer Plugin Temp\Top_Gear_-_Series_13_-_Episode_7_new_series.partial.mp4.flv"

It should run unless you have delete intermediate files enabled, in which case you will need to rerun it with it disabled. And point the input about to the new file. Tell me how you get on.

[smiler]

Hi Smiler,

I've got iPlayer 3 working ok. (I had hassle with ITVTHREADNO=1 stopping the perl script executing so I remove it from the config file).

I've downloaded a couple of 'CBBC Deadly 60' shows for my daughter ....

I've got a strange results after the transcode. On the TV Sever (with iPlayer) the mpg file plays find with sound. Copied to my laptop or the liteon Network DVD player, the file pays without sound...

Also the transcoded file are much larger than the Same show recorded at broadcast time.

Any thoughts please ? I've attached my logs

I suspect this is actually a codec issue, the transcoder uses lamemp3lib for mencoder and ffmpeg generating an MP3 file in the MPG output. I would download VLC media player on the laptop and see if it plays in that, if so you probably need to download a codec for mp3.

[systemshark]

Hi Smiler....

I've tried the '5 files' which don't have sound which are from IPlayer, in VLC and no sound.... Can I use a different Transacoding method ?

[smiler]

Hi Smiler....

I've tried the '5 files' which don't have sound which are from IPlayer, in VLC and no sound.... Can I use a different Transacoding method ?

Interesting, if you go in to the information dialog in VLC what does it say about the file interms of the Codec?

[scim]

Sorry for the delay, logs attached

Thanks

[smiler]

Sorry for the delay, logs attached

Thanks

This seems to be a bug in the getiplayer script, ther is an options file contained in the location below:

Code:

ERROR: Invalid option in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users/get_iplayer/options: 'itvnothread = 1'

If you can find this file and either delete if after making a copy or delete the single line called 'itvnothread = 1' this will hopefully fix the issue.

[scim]

That seems to have fixed it, strange, I never noticed that error in the logs though.

Thanks again

[mark_lt]

Hi,

This plugin just keeps getting better and better. Of course there are always one or three comments...

1) HD programmes don't seem to be downloading at HD resolution. I can get them using mode flashHD on get_player command line, but wondering if this was working properly. When I download manually it is at 1280x(whatever it is meant to be) and through the plugin it is 720x(whatever)!
2) Might be more GBPVR issue, but when I play back these plugin downloaded HD files, they do not fit on the playback screen, the side edges seem to be cropped, even after playing with aspect (F7). They playback fine on same computer us Media Player. PC resolution is 1366x768 so shouldn't be an issue there.
3) Download radio shows, JPG and XML download but no MP3. I need to investigate in more detail as it may just be my settings, but something to note for the Beta anyway.

Thanks again for all your work on this, great to be able to get these shows high res through download. There is always something I forget to record.

Mark

[smiler]

Hi,

This plugin just keeps getting better and better. Of course there are always one or three comments...

1) HD programmes don't seem to be downloading at HD resolution. I can get them using mode flashHD on get_player command line, but wondering if this was working properly. When I download manually it is at 1280x(whatever it is meant to be) and through the plugin it is 720x(whatever)!
2) Might be more GBPVR issue, but when I play back these plugin downloaded HD files, they do not fit on the playback screen, the side edges seem to be cropped, even after playing with aspect (F7). They playback fine on same computer us Media Player. PC resolution is 1366x768 so shouldn't be an issue there.
3) Download radio shows, JPG and XML download but no MP3. I need to investigate in more detail as it may just be my settings, but something to note for the Beta anyway.

Thanks again for all your work on this, great to be able to get these shows high res through download. There is always something I forget to record.

Mark

Glad you are finding the plugin useful

To be honest, I can't really test the HD behaviours on my setup because my ISP throttles back my BW so much. This means that I have not got all the issues resolved. I could actually do with someone to assist in the debugging!

I suggest the best thing to do would be to attach your logs so I can see what settings are being used, certainly HD downloads are supposed to be enabled and I think they do start to download on my setup. Have you got download quality set to HQ?

As for transcoding I really need to try to work out what Mencoder and FFMpeg command line settings are best when converting HD h264 to mpg , I think I actually tell the transcoder to down size to a Size suitable for MVP's, I.E. 720X576. I could change this if I had the new settings.
If I have time I might have a look.

As for the zero Length mp3's this is a bug that I have fixed, if you are using mencoder as the transcoder the mp3 conversion does not take place, this is now fixed, I will try to update the Wiki with the new version and a few other bug fixes and more bebug to assist in these issues.