Media file playback problems

[mvallevand]

The ExoPlayer library used by uidroid should support most ts streams from NextPVR for live TV and recordings.  As well it support most container formats (mkv, mp4, ts, mpg, etc) for video and audio, however there is no doubt that some formats will fail.  The most likely scenario is that skipping could fail on recordings since the support in ExoPlayer for mpeg-ts is limited but sub and I attempt to work around them.  I have not had problems with comskip but the more you manually skip the more like you will encounter problems.  If that turns out to really problematic consider post  processing you files to mp4.

For files that will not play at all, that you think should play turn on EventLogging in the setting and reproduce the problem and post the zipped logcat files in a separate post.  Use adbLink to get the this file.  Alternatively if there is a specific problem file that you would like me to investigate if possible create a small 100MB sample and provide an external link (ie Google Drive, One Drive ).  Because of the varitey of formats available I do expect some file will need to be looked at.

At the current time subtitles (DVB and ATSC CC style) have only been tested on live TV and recordings.  Activating subtitles on mkv and other files may or may not work.  External file (srt ass etc) and AC-4 captioning will also not work currently.

Also note that in the initial release timeshifted live TV is not available.  I hope to add that functionality in a future release.

Martin

[SteveTyrakowski]

I installed this on a FireStick 4K and a Chromecast with GoogleTV.  The interface looks crisper than the Web UI from XNEWA and is more responsive

As you mentioned in the other post, the standard remotes don't work well at all for navigation.  In the Web UI you have the long Press which calls up the extra menu that lets me select a number 1-9 for navigation, but I was unable to do that on either device with this app.  It does work in the old Web UI on these same devices.  

Skipping ahead did not work on either device.  It was trying to and I could see the time stamp briefly change ahead, but playing just continued and the timestamp then restored to the currently playing location.  BTW, the files were .mp4 files.

Just wanted to give you some initial feedback.  I would much prefer to use this instead of having to go thru Kodi.

I have a huge database of recordings so I really need some way to navigate more quickly.  The 1-9 menu was an acceptable workaround, so it would really be great to get that again with these standard remotes.

Another thing that would be great is to have a way to mark favorite folders.  For example, right now I'm working my way thru a backlog of Supergirl episodes so it would be nice to be able to set that folder as a shortcut, as well as the location in the folder where I am at.  Right now it takes a lot of scrolling to get there and it would be nice to set a bookmark of sorts as a shortcut.  

Great work so far on this.
Thanks
Steve Tyrakowski

[mvallevand]

I have no plan to implement an alternative menu in the app, sorry.  You can purchase alternative remotes and Kodi remains an option. Perhaps one day sub could enhance UI client for these non PVR remotes

I did zero testing of mp4 file performance as the focus was direct play of ts files.  Not all mp4 files are indexed which could be the issue.  If you provide a link to one I could have a look and see what might be the problem.  Do you play as recordings or from the video library.

In the NextPVR config.xml you can simply add another top level directory that could point inside another folder.

Martin

[SteveTyrakowski]

I have no plan to implement an alternative menu in the app, sorry.  You can purchase alternative remotes and Kodi remains an option.  Perhaps one day sub could enhance UI client for these non PVR remotes

I did zero testing of mp4 file performance as the focus was direct play of ts files.  Not all mp4 files are indexed which could be the issue.  If you provide a link to one I could have a look and see what might be the problem.  Do you play as recordings or from the video library.

In the NextPVR config.xml you can simply add another top level directory that could point inside another folder.

Martin

I send you a private message with a link to the test mp4.  FWIW, I also tried skipping on a TS file while it was recording and it was also unable to skip, so I don't think it is due to the mp4 file.  Below is the postprocessing file where I use Handbrake to convert the TS file to mp4 in case you think there is a different parameter I should use for better indexing.

Steve Tyrakowski

#!/bin/bash
DB=/var/opt/nextpvr/npvr.db3
HISTFILE=/recordings/PostProcessing.log
LOGFILE=/recordings/transcode.log
OID=$3
OLDFILE=$1
NEWFILE="${1%.ts}.mp4"
XMLFILE="${1%.ts}.xml"
SQL1="update scheduled_recording set filename = '"
SQL2="' WHERE oid = "

echo $0 "$1" "$2" "$3" "$4" "$5" >> $HISTFILE

# nice 19 is lowest priority
if nice -n 4 HandBrakeCLI -i "$OLDFILE" -o "$NEWFILE" -e x264 --two-pass --turbo --vb 1000 -r 29.97 -m -s "1,2"
then
  echo success $(date +%x_%r) ":"  $OLDFILE >> $LOGFILE
  echo $SQL1$NEWFILE$SQL2 $OID | sqlite3 $DB
  sed -i "s/.ts</.mp4</g" "$XMLFILE"

  if test -f "$NEWFILE"
  then
    if rm -f "$OLDFILE"
    then
      echo deleted: $OLDFILE >> $LOGFILE
    else
      echo failed to delete: $OLDFILE >> $LOGFILE
    fi
  else
    echo FAILED! cannot find: $NEWFILE >> $LOGFILE
  fi
   
else
  echo failed $(date +%x_%r) ":"  $OLDFILE >> $LOGFILE
fi

[mvallevand]

Thanks Steve, it's a bug in a client flag that I introduced when sub improved ts range seeking for ts files and I never needed to test mp4 and mkv seeking afterwords. I suspect you would find resume or the first skip works. I have updated the apk with the fix

I didn't check your script but in Handbrake they have a "Web Optimized" setting which relocates some information for seeking correctly. Search for movflags faststart for more information. I good way to tell if your mp4 is good for these html5 standards is to see it if plays in a browser. The beauty of that format is that is you would be able to play recordings in NextPVR web and also Roku players. Your file appears skip fine after the fix.

Martin

[SteveTyrakowski]

Thanks for the update, it works great. Skipping is Soooo much more responsive than the web UI on both firestick and Google TV with Chromecast. I guess I'll just have to use the remote apps on my phone when I need to do any navigation that requires other buttons.

Steve Tyrakowski

[mvallevand]

On the Chromecast you can use the new Android TV remote and with the keyboard you can navigate by first letter in large folders in the VIdeo Library. Sub might be able to add that to recordings too. Number keys should work too.

Martin