Problem playing simple MPEG2 file N-PVR

[smiler]

I am looking to migrate to NPVR from gbpvr in the near future and I have an issue with trying to play some MPG video files from NPVR. The file format is recorded MPG2 from DVB-T using the cyberlink mpg decoder.

The codec filter setup is ok as far as I can tell (i have checked the default settings in graph studio for gbpvr and default direct show) and gbpvr plays the file fine.

By looking in the logs, I suspect there is a bug in the calculation of the progress timeline at the top of the screen and the filter is returning some values for file length that NPVR was not expecting.

I have attached my logs and config.xml file.

[ShiningDragon]

Have you installed a skin for nPVR? If yes, try the default skin and test it, please.
If no, then please try another decoder for mpeg-2 decoding. The standard Microsoft DTV-Video decoder does a good job, otherwise i could recommend the usage of ffdshow tryout beta 7 (not very easy to configure, a big load of options, but in features comparable to vlc player).

[smiler]

Thanks for the suggestions, I have not tried any new skins for NPVR so I don't think its related to that.

I have tried many different codecs for mpeg2 decoding and they all seem to fail (including FFDShow + microsoft dtv mpeg2 dec).

It would be interesting to find out why NPVR is failing to load the file but default directshow apps like media player and media player classic work perfectly. I suspect it is an issue with NPVR itself, but that is just a guess.

[ShiningDragon]

I suspect it is an issue with NPVR itself, but that is just a guess.

Code:

2010-11-07 09:22:00.671    [DEBUG][4]    Error excuting SQL (probably already applied in previous release): System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteException: SQLite error
duplicate column name: priority
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLite3.Prepare(SQLiteConnection cnn, String strSql, SQLiteStatement previous, UInt32 timeoutMS, String& strRemain)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.BuildNextCommand()
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.GetStatement(Int32 index)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteDataReader.NextResult()
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteDataReader..ctor(SQLiteCommand cmd, CommandBehavior behave)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
   at NShared.UpdateManager.DoDatabaseUpdates()
2010-11-07 09:22:00.671    [DEBUG][4]    Executing SQL: update CAPTURE_SOURCE set priority=-1 where priority is null

Mhm, a snip from your nrecord.log. Do you have this message after everey restart of nrecord.exe (NPVR Recording Service) ?

And this one from your web.log (it appears a few times):

Code:

2010-08-16 06:26:12.105    [ERROR][13]    Unexpected error streaming file: System.Net.Sockets.SocketException: An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
   at System.Net.Sockets.Socket.Send(Byte[] buffer, Int32 offset, Int32 size, SocketFlags socketFlags)
   at Cassini.Connection.WriteBody(Byte[] data, Int32 offset, Int32 length) in C:\Dev\NextPVR\NRecord\web\Connection.cs:line 165
   at Cassini.Request.StreamFile() in C:\Dev\NextPVR\NRecord\web\Request.cs:line 1025

[sub]

Is the extension .mpg or .mpeg or something else?

What MPEG2 Video Decoder, and MPEG1 Layer II Audio Decoder do you have selected?

[smiler]

Is the extension .mpg or .mpeg or something else?

What MPEG2 Video Decoder, and MPEG1 Layer II Audio Decoder do you have selected?

The filename is: A 4x4 is Born_20100827_15001530.mpg

The Screenshot below shows the configuration.

[smiler]

I don't know if it will help. I have run MediaInfo on the file to get you the specific specs:

Code:

General
Complete name                    : T:\Video Media\Recorded TV\A 4x4 is Born\A 4x4 is Born_20100827_15001530.mpg
Format                           : MPEG-PS
File size                        : 639 MiB
Duration                         : 37mn 52s
Overall bit rate                 : 2 358 Kbps

Video
ID                               : 224 (0xE0)
Format                           : MPEG Video
Format version                   : Version 2
Format profile                   : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP            : Yes
Format settings, Matrix          : Default
Duration                         : 37mn 52s
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 2 137 Kbps
Nominal bit rate                 : 1 998 Kbps
Width                            : 544 pixels
Height                           : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Resolution                       : 8 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Interlaced
Scan order                       : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.273
Stream size                      : 579 MiB (91%)

Audio
ID                               : 192 (0xC0)
Format                           : MPEG Audio
Format version                   : Version 1
Format profile                   : Layer 2
Duration                         : 37mn 52s
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 128 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Stream size                      : 34.7 MiB (5%)

[sub]

You might have to try downloading GraphEdit, select 'Insert Filter' from the menu, expand the directshow category and insert the 'File Source (Async)' filter, select your .mpg file, then insert the 'MPEG2 Demultiplexer' filter, then drag the output of the source filter to the input of the demultiplexer filter, then see if any pins get created on the demultiplexer.

This is what NPVR is trying to do, but it looks like no pins are being created.

[smiler]

Thanks for the suggestion Sub, Interesting result, I managed to configure the setup as you suggest above and the pins try to connect for 10-15 seconds and then do not connect. interestingly during this time i can see the Haali tray Icon appear as the pin is trying to be connected.

I can get a successful filter chain if I user the Haali Media Splitter(AR) filter instead of the Mpeg2 Demux Filter, I guess it is not possible to get NPVR to use this filter instead?

[sub]

Thanks for the suggestion Sub, Interesting result, I managed to configure the setup as you suggest above and the pins try to connect for 10-15 seconds and then do not connect. interestingly during this time i can see the Haali tray Icon appear as the pin is trying to be connected.

There must be something wrong with your either your .mpg file or your directshow components, since it sounds like its not working in the expected way. NPVR depends on these components working.

I can get a successful filter chain if I user the Haali Media Splitter(AR) filter instead of the Mpeg2 Demux Filter, I guess it is not possible to get NPVR to use this filter instead?

No, it always tries to use the MPEG2 Demultiplexer. If you're lucky, you might be able to get it working by setting <ForceMpgGraph> to 'false' in config.xml.