Playing AVI Files

[BhailDa]

You can play AVI Files via GBPVR on the computer the software is installed on...but if you try an play it through the Media MVP...just a blank screen. Thoughts?

[pBS]

make sure you have the mvp software installed...[transcoder comes with it]
[pretty much only reason to install it at all]
or check in config...new option to use ffmpeg to transcode to mvp..
i liked the Hauppauge software performance wise...but ffmpeg gives you more options...[and more config problems] so try both options..
my ffmpeg wouldn't read all avi's for some reason tho windows would play them...
hope that helps..

[BhailDa]

Installed the K Pack Codecs...now all my avi files play, ony my computer, with music. Woooa.

But in GBPVR MVP still have an issue. It seems to play the first 30 secs (pixalted) and then stops and goes back to main menu.

Shame.

[djtaylor]

Transcoding is done on the fly, if you do a search you'll find lots of threads concerning this.

There are a couple of key points.

1. What spec is your machine, it needs to transcode fast enough such that the MVP doesn't catch up with the file that is being created.

2. If it does catch up with the file being created, the MVP has reached the end of file, nothing more to play back so it exits and comes back to the main screen. Try increasing the MVP transcode pre-play delay, it maxes out at 16000.

What you can try doing is run the ffmpeg as a standalone command using the parameters in the config.xml and see how fast it does it, if it goes slower than real time (note the video time counter in minseconds) it's never going to playback well on the MVP unless you immediately pause the MVP and let it gain a good headstart.

The other thing you could try is to reduce the bitrate in the config.xml for the conversion or upgrade to a faster PC

What's your PC spec?

David.

[BhailDa]

I'm sure its not the machine. Its a Pentium Dual-Core Prescott 4 Ghz with 1GB DDR RAM, 4 hard drives 200GB each with Win XP. I'll have a go at the suggestions tomorrow.

[djtaylor]

No it won't be the machine spec, the other things to check are the network optimisations although they never made any difference for me. You'll find the info in the wiki.

David.

[BhailDa]

Increasing the rate allows the movie to play...But very pixalted. Thoughts?

[sub]

If its pixelated, it sounds like the bitrate is too low. Try bumping it up higher.

[djtaylor]

Please post the transcode line from config.xml

[marcomessina]

Thank you all for all the input on this subject.
I've had similar problems playing WMV on MVP and I can share my experience for everyone's benefit (I hope).
Configuration is below.

In the beginning I could not play WMV (or AVI) at all until I installed the absolute latest release of mvp software. I do not use MVP software only GBPVR but Sub said it was required, and it worked.

With wmv's the file would play on the mvp for a while then stop and return menu. Thanks to djtaylor detailed comments regarding the real time transcoding that takes place, I decided to try re-encoding the wmv with a lower bit rate. I used Stoik video converter (at stoik.com - free basic unregistered product was sufficient to re-encode my video. I have others, but not all let you convert within the same file format, this one does and is free). I changed the bit rate from 3641kbps (which had been picked by the program that created the original video) to 1045kbps. There is no noticeable difference in quality but now the video plays all the way to the end.

Before I tried this I also experimeneted with not using ffmpeg (I did before and do now), but it did not help.

At least with my configuration it appears that a rate of 709 to 1045kbps is suitable to allow whatever transcoding is required to take place.

None of these were or are issues when running gbpvr on the server itself - wmv always played fine to the end.

I hope this helps someone, thanks for your help.