What is the logic for recurring recordings?

[virtualpaul]

Hi,

1- I am wondering what is the logic for recurring recordings. If the same episode was previously recorded but was deleted. Will it record it again when I select 'all episodes'? (I sometimes delete bad recordings when a channel has audio/video glitches). Is there a way to tell NextPVR to re-record any deleted episodes?

2- Is there some options for the recording video (mp2, mp4, quality) and audio format (ac3, aac, ...)?

3- Is there some options for audio and video glitches? Is there a way or a tool to clean it up? I sometimes ear very high pitch glitches and I am afraid for my audio system.

[mikeh49]

1 - Don't know, but others on here do.

2 - No options. NPVR records the transport stream it receives from the capture device. So it records the stream in the video and audio format that is transmitted.

3 - There are tools for post processing that can do stuff like this, for example, Handbrake, but I don't know anything about using them. NPVR provides a way to apply these by way of a postprocessing.bat file that can run various tools to do various things automatically at the completion of a recording.

[dixxfixx]

1 - Before you delete it, go up to the hidden menu and click on "Forget". It removes that program from the database so it will record again when it comes around.

[johnsonx42]

1 - Assuming your guide data has episode ID information (called "unique_identifier" or <UniqueID> within npvr.db3) which NextPVR can use, then any episodes you delete will be added to the RECENTLY_DELETED table in the database. This is done for both completed recordings, and Pending recordings; if you delete a Pending recording, the system assumes it's because you don't want it recorded, and adds the recording to the list. Otherwise the exact same episode would be scheduled again, which would be maddening.

During the recording scheduling process, the scheduler will skip scheduling any episodes with UniqueID's found in RECENTLY_DELETED, as well as any found in the list of existing recordings (or more technically, all those found in SCHEDULED_RECORDINGS with a status other than 3-Failed).

The duration of records in RECENTLY_DELETED is controlled by the config.xml setting <DeletionHistoryDays>; I don't recall what the default is. If you want to get rid of all existing history, you can execute NextPVR.exe /purgehistory (I think, you should probably check the wiki to confirm); this will dump the entire RECENTLY_DELETED table

If you delete a recurring recording request (i.e. the "All Episodes" recording request, not an individual recording), then NextPVR purges all RECENTLY_DELETED records for Pending recordings associated with that specific recurring recording. This way, if you then add a new recurring recording for the same show, it will "start fresh".

If you have an existing episode that has some problem, so you know you want to record it again the next time it airs, you can select the recording and choose "Forget" from the hidden menu. This wipes the <UniqueID> from the recording record, so that it can't be matched against any possible future recording. You can then delete it or not as you wish; it's now invisible to the scheduler.

There are a lot more interesting scenarios here, including ways to make a real mess and ways to make it dance for you, but I think I've typed enough.

2 - as said, no options. It records what you get from the broadcaster.

3 - try a different audio decoder (assuming you are using NextPVR for playback); some decoders react better (or at least differently) to digital garbage than others

[virtualpaul]

Thanks for all the details.

I cannot really use the hidden option since it would not be practical in my setup. I only use NextPVR to setup and perform the recordings since that PC is not connected to a TV. I am only watching and deleting using Plex on the PS4 which sees the recording folders.

So I did the 'purgehistory' and deleted and added back the recurring recordings.

Not sure if this is working though since the episodes are not marked for recording when I look at the TV guide top row, the text does not have a red background.

[sub]

It's actually "nextpvr.exe -removehistory"

[virtualpaul]

Thanks.
I just tried it from a DOS prompt running as administrator and it does not show the GUI, it just exits without showing any message.
Maybe it's normal but I am wondering if there is a way to know if it worked properly.
After doing this I cancelled a recurring recording and rescheduled a new one but the 'red background' does not show on all episodes. The first episode does but not the next episode of the same show.

[sub]

I just tried it from a DOS prompt running as administrator and it does not show the GUI, it just exits without showing any message.

That is correct.

After doing this I cancelled a recurring recording and rescheduled a new one but the 'red background' does not show on all episodes. The first episode does but not the next episode of the same show.

If you want to post your logs, and the name of the show, and time you scheduled it, I'll tell you why.

[Reddwarf]

To repair messed up recordings the "TS Doctor" is a superb tool, it's not free but a reasonable price. There is a demo version so you can try it out.

[johnsonx42]

NEVERMIND THIS - I FORGOT HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK - SEE EDIT 2 AT THE END

If you delete a recurring recording request (i.e. the "All Episodes" recording request, not an individual recording), then NextPVR purges all RECENTLY_DELETED records associated with that specific recurring recording. This way, if you then add a new recurring recording for the same show, it will "start fresh".

sub, I'm 99% sure "we" implemented the above feature awhile back, but it's not working now. (by "we" of course I mean I bugged you to do it, you did all the work, then I tested it... you know... "we" )

I just deleted two recorded episodes of a recurring recording (recurrence_oid 475) and verified the RECENTLY_DELETED table included the two episodes with the correct recurrence_oid; then I canceled recurring recording oid 475, and I found that the two episodes were not removed from the RECENTLY_DELETED table.

I'm quite sure this is the reason you added the recurrence_oid to the RECENTLY_DELETED table, in order to remove the episodes when canceling the related recurring recording.

Somehow this has broken.

(EDIT: on further thought, maybe this was something I strongly suggested, but didn't happen? I can't find relevant discussion either way. Still, this is something I really think it ought to do; I'm not sure why else the recurrence_oid is being recorded in RECENTLY_DELETED if not for doing this)


EDIT 2: NEVERMIND - I forgot that it only purges the episodes that were put in to RECENTLY_DELETED with Status 0 - Pending. Those existing recordings with status 2 - Ready that were deleted are NOT purged, nor should they be. As far as I know this is all working as designed. (updated my original post to reflect this)

EDIT 3: for those curious, this feature was added and tested in NextPVR v3.6.4