Built-In Streaming Capabilities

[mckhatri]

It would be great if built-in streaming capabilities were possible.

Something like simply being able to specify links and connection types (mms or what have you) to watch within GB-PVR.

I know UbuStream does something quite similar, but getting it to work with GB-PVR under different skins and what-have-you is quite troublesome.

-MK

[mvallevand]

I plan on enhancing the Web Radio plugin to handle some video links over time. This isn't a high priority, so you might want to check out Boxee and miro.

Martin

[mckhatri]

I've already got a nice HTPC setup for my existing video and recording needs using GB-PVR (it's great!!!). The ability to stream live video would simply be a cherry on top.

[cathrynm]

Yeah, I think really, it would be very slick to be able to add a direct show stream as a channel, and then just swap between it and other TV channels. Now, I watch TV and recorded anime in GBPVR using the remote. When I want to watch some foreign language video streams I'm fond of, I walk back to the computer, shut down GBPVR, and then start up Windows Media player.

Short youtube type videos aren't as interesting, because they require constant browsing and selection. But the internet streams would be very nice. I assume that this is really hard to do for complicated reasons? I'm a programmer myself , and I find a lot of the DirectShow stuff completely baffling.


I'm trying to figure out what does External Recorder do exactly? Can this be used to bring direct show streams into gbpvr?

"The External Recorder plugin allow you to use an external program to record programs for GB-PVR. It was written for capturing a network stream using VLC, but you can use it for anything.""

Hmm. I'm slightly baffled by this description.

[whurlston]

I'm trying to figure out what does External Recorder do exactly?
...
Hmm. I'm slightly baffled by this description.

It does exactly what the description says. It will use VLC to connect to a network stream and make VLC dump the stream to disk for recording. I modified the source a few years ago to create a recording source for the HDHomeRun before they had BDA drivers.

There is a Graph Recorder plugin that will be closer to what you want. You can create preconfigured DirectShow graphs in GraphEdit and use them as recording sources. You can find it in the Plugins forum. UBUStream may also work for you.

[cathrynm]

Oh I see. Yeah, I read that text backwards. But, I think now the lights have gone on.

So it's VLC (captures the stream) --> Graph Recorder --> GBPVR (TV)

It sounds like this is possible, then, with a little bit of configuration work.

[whurlston]

With Graph Recorder, you probably won't need VLC. You can just use a network source filter.

[cathrynm]

Well, you know, I just I got a stream working this way. I had one link I used that has an mms:/ / type link, and I put it in graphedit, saved a graph and launched it with your program. It's actually pretty slick, now I have this Net station listed among my other channels. Much cleaner than the ubustream plugin, which just had too many buttons.

It didn't find DirectShowLib-2005.dll in the plugins directory, so I copied it up to gbpvr and now it works. Nice. I haven't tried recording or anything, but so far it's pretty interesting.

[whurlston]

Glad you got it to work. You should be able to place DirectShowLib-2005.dll in the Plugins/Common folder and it should still work. That will keep the main GBPVR folder clean of third party apps.

I can't take credit for Graph Recorder though, it's not one of my creations.

[mvallevand]

Sub's post on the Graph Edit highlights the need for some of the Ubu components. Network audio and video streams can be broadcast in a variety of formats. I see UbuNetStream player as both a downloading and transcoding engine, and UbuRecordingService as the engine to the MVP and NMT clients.

Martin