2010-09-07, 01:02 PM
This is to try and summerise where I'm at with my audio issues in NPVR as I have comments and helpful responses in a number of threads.
My setup: win7 pro x64, ATI HD4650 (CCC10.8), Gigabyte 780G mb with onboard Realtek HD audio (using spdif out to receiver, latest Realtek drivers). DVB-S for UK FTA channels (hauppage HVR4000 and skystar2), DVB-T for Irish DTT channels (HVR4000).
NPVR 1.5.31, codecs - SAF (I installed the latest at the time last week, will check for a later one) - using ffdshow for audio (both mpeg1 and AC3 for live TV, plus others for video files/blurays), MS H264 decoder as none of the others play nicely since BBC HD went VBR. Either the MS or Cyberlink mpeg2 decoders as for a while ffdshow didn't work with npvr and I'm not sure it works now with DVD playback. I dont have issues with the video decoders though.
The problem: in nPVR the audio degrades over time. Watching an mpeg1 audio channel (e.g. BBC1) it starts fine but within an hour it is choppy (little drop outs very often, like every half second). I think the drop outs get longer over time and I notice after 45-60 mins. A pause/play cure (I think it gets worse again after another hour, but am not 100% sure). "crap" channels have noticeable drop outs from the very start of watching - although this has got better with later releases of npvr. So maybe these channels use a different bit rate to the "good" channels - I assume they use a worse bitrate. Note in GBPVR on the same box, same codecs has never had this problem.
Second problem (the same on GBVPR & NPVR): I do have sync issues on some channels but think that is down to the default bit rate option I choose in the audio driver (e.g. "CD quality 16 bits 44<whatever it is>, DVD quality at 16 bits 48....") - I can never remember which I should chose. Letting it code all PCM audio to DTS5.1 cures the sync issues, but I do get the odd drop out doing this.
Any advice/codec recommendations gratefully received!
My setup: win7 pro x64, ATI HD4650 (CCC10.8), Gigabyte 780G mb with onboard Realtek HD audio (using spdif out to receiver, latest Realtek drivers). DVB-S for UK FTA channels (hauppage HVR4000 and skystar2), DVB-T for Irish DTT channels (HVR4000).
NPVR 1.5.31, codecs - SAF (I installed the latest at the time last week, will check for a later one) - using ffdshow for audio (both mpeg1 and AC3 for live TV, plus others for video files/blurays), MS H264 decoder as none of the others play nicely since BBC HD went VBR. Either the MS or Cyberlink mpeg2 decoders as for a while ffdshow didn't work with npvr and I'm not sure it works now with DVD playback. I dont have issues with the video decoders though.
The problem: in nPVR the audio degrades over time. Watching an mpeg1 audio channel (e.g. BBC1) it starts fine but within an hour it is choppy (little drop outs very often, like every half second). I think the drop outs get longer over time and I notice after 45-60 mins. A pause/play cure (I think it gets worse again after another hour, but am not 100% sure). "crap" channels have noticeable drop outs from the very start of watching - although this has got better with later releases of npvr. So maybe these channels use a different bit rate to the "good" channels - I assume they use a worse bitrate. Note in GBPVR on the same box, same codecs has never had this problem.
Second problem (the same on GBVPR & NPVR): I do have sync issues on some channels but think that is down to the default bit rate option I choose in the audio driver (e.g. "CD quality 16 bits 44<whatever it is>, DVD quality at 16 bits 48....") - I can never remember which I should chose. Letting it code all PCM audio to DTS5.1 cures the sync issues, but I do get the odd drop out doing this.
Any advice/codec recommendations gratefully received!
