ZProcess: Can Transcode but MVP crashes...

[zehd]

I'm starting this thread based on an issue from another thread...

... The MVP is another story. It won't play any avi's and causes the MVP to reboot. When I "remove all refs" i.e. go back to ffmpeg most of the transcoding appears to work, the exception being Youtube that's 50/50 at best.

Code:

For getting it to work with MVP, I'll start a thread for optimizing the defaults so the MVP will not crash

This thread should help tweak GB-PVR and ZProcess so that a transcode won't crash the MediaMVP...

[SIZE="1"]
It's very NTSC-centric but I can't really see why PAL should be much different an experience. I have run all of these tests using PAL settings, and it shouldn't be a problem. I'd be very interested in knowing if it works well in PAL-land...[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]Edit: Confirmed with all PAL aspect ratios (even 640x576, which I don't know even exists!!!)[/SIZE]

Situation

A common problem, where the MediaMVP starts to transcode a AVI on-the-fly, and then fails, and GB-PVR's MediaMVP interface crashes to the blue Hauppauge screen, happens mostly because:

• ZProcess has the CPU priority set too high, and GB-PVR doesn't have enough horse power to continue keeping the MediaMVP up and running...
  
  
• The ZProcess/FFmpeg/MEncoder isn't Transcoding fast enough to keep up with GB-PVR Displaying the file
  
  

In the first case, I have had a lot of success keeping the CPU Priority set to "Below Normal" because at this speed, it plays fair and well with other applications, like GB-PVR, The MediaMVP interface, and the Recording service. Even GB-PVR recording and having Comskip.exe running parallel with the recording, seems to work well on my Sempron 3100 and My Celeron D (2.8 Ghz) (My Athlon xp2100 has a bit of problem running it all with a realtime comskip running...)

In the second, I've found that tweaking the settings in ZProcess's Trans2MVP profile makes a huge difference. Another improvement is to change the amount of PrePlay Delay GB-PVR waits for Transcode before it starts the show...

The PrePlay Delay is like a running start, and means that GB-PVR is hoping to have more than x amount of the video transcoded, just so it doesn't risk running out. (crashing) Even on my very fastest machine, I have changed the PrePlay from GB-PVR's default of 5500 5.5 secs to 7000 7.0 secs. I haven't had a crash since. On my slowest machine, 10000 10.0 secs works perfectly...

ZProcesses defaults are often based on the DVD standards, but some of the values can be turned down, toi allow for more stability.

The biggest improvement can come from Dimensions. 352x240 will transcode much, much faster than the default of 720x480. (But at what cost?) I have noticed that 352x240 still shows better than a VHS tape. But with my faster machine, I'm afforded either 640x480 or 720x480. I choose the 640x480 because of the ~15% speed boost I get, and I really can't see the difference... (Very Very sharp...)

Video Bitrate is set to 6000 for the DVD Preset, but I have it set to 4000. I don't see much of a speed boost. Same as the Audio bitrate and frequencies...

But when I set my system up thusly, My transcoding goes that much quicker..

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

And I get a Transcoding frame rate of about 50 with nothing else running (I lied, got the recording service, and an Idle Media MVP, but nothing taxing)

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

But when I start VLC to display the currently transcoding video I get less Framerate.

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

This is too low... You absolutely need 30 FPS because video plays at 29-30 frames per secs. In a perfect world this would be fine. But one little thing happens, like another program starting up, or your wife checks her email, and the framerate plummets for a second, and you lose a precious second of the Preplay buffer...

(The above example is on my dev/production computer running the XP2100+ with a gig of ram - I've always known that the framrate sucks, so I have to compromise and change my dimensions to 352x240)

Here's what I get if I lower the dimensions and run VLC...

101 fmps, CPU untaxed, 85 with VLC running...

This is why I built VLC support into Zprocess. It simulates the 'taxing' of the CPU when you try and run the MediaMVP and Transcode on the fly...

[murf64]

Zehd, I changed Zprocess and GBPVR to the settings you mentioned, but still no luck, MVP crashes. I was wondering, should the Zprocess log indicate times when the MVP called it to do a transcode, because it's not. It makes me wonder if the request to transcode from the MVP is getting to Zprocess.

[zehd]

Zehd, I changed Zprocess and GBPVR to the settings you mentioned, but still no luck, MVP crashes. I was wondering, should the Zprocess log indicate times when the MVP called it to do a transcode, because it's not. It makes me wonder if the request to transcode from the MVP is getting to Zprocess.

you wanna send the config.xml, and all your gbpvr logs?

[murf64]

Zehd, OK, I tried a couple of tests, but still no luck. In this Zprocess log I annotated where I tried to transcode via the MVP. All transcoding seems to work via the computer.

[zehd]

Zehd, OK, I tried a couple of tests, but still no luck. In this Zprocess log I annotated where I tried to transcode via the MVP. All transcoding seems to work via the computer.

You're right. ZProcess isn't even called (or started)...

The problem you're talking about indicates that GB-PVR is not calling ZProcess. That's why I asked for GB-PVR's logs. (The same ones that sub asks for all the time)

I asked for all of them, because I forget which of the GB-PVR logs would contain the entry for firing the MVP transcoder...

I think I know what the problem is, but I want the logs to confirm. Because we're not talking real time, I'll tell you my theory now. Just check in with me later, and tell me if it works...

On ZProcess, Utilities, GB-PVR settings,... What does "MVP Transcode Using FFmpeg" say? I'll bet it's false... (I'll bet a quarter)

Change it to True, and GB-PVR/MVP should be calling ZProcess...

[murf64]

You're right. ZProcess isn't even called (or started)...

On ZProcess, Utilities, GB-PVR settings,... What does "MVP Transcode Using FFmpeg" say? I'll bet it's false... (I'll bet a quarter)

Change it to True, and GB-PVR/MVP should be calling ZProcess...

Zehd, I think I'd win that bet. Check the config.xml file I sent you, and you'll see that "MVP Transcode Using FFmpeg" is indeed set to true. Always was, but I did know to check it.

Here's all the GBPVR logs I could find from yesterday.

I also wanted to tell you that the Zprocess logs are no longer going to the backup folder, they're now being dumped on the root of the c: drive. The Zprocessreglog is still going to the backup folder. I don't know if you intended to do that.

[zehd]

Zehd, I think I'd win that bet. Check the config.xml file I sent you, and you'll see that "MVP Transcode Using FFmpeg" is indeed set to true. Always was, but I did know to check it.

Here's all the GBPVR logs I could find from yesterday.

I also wanted to tell you that the Zprocess logs are no longer going to the backup folder, they're now being dumped on the root of the c: drive. The Zprocessreglog is still going to the backup folder. I don't know if you intended to do that.

No, I have not changed the location the logs are sent to...

I need you to try an AVI on your MVP (one only) and make note of the time, I'd like to compare time stamps...

Then immediately send me both ZProcess Logs, and all the gbpvr logs...

I see no reference in the GBPVR logs that you have sent me already, that indicate you have tried to view a avi...

[murf64]

Zehd, I requested a transcode from the MVP at 1:47PM. I can see it in the GBPVR log. There's no Zprocess log, because none was created.

[zehd]

Zehd, I requested a transcode from the MVP at 1:47PM. I can see it in the GBPVR log. There's no Zprocess log, because none was created.

A thousand, million pardons. I did change something and the log was created on the root directory. Find and send that one...

I've made the change in ZProcess and the newer version is in my signature...

[zehd]

I can see where GB-PVR is launching ZProcess...

Code:

1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    MVP playback requested: D:\Video's\Input\101_01~1.AVI (shortname)
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    MVP playback requested: D:\Video's\Input\101_0146c.avi (longname)
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/MvpTranscodeAllVideo
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue: /settings/MvpTranscodeAllVideo : false
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/RecordingsDirectory
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue: /settings/RecordingsDirectory : D:\Video's
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/MVPTranscodeUsingFFmpeg
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue: /settings/MVPTranscodeUsingFFmpeg : true
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/MVPFFmpegTranscodeCmdLinePAL
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue: /settings/MVPFFmpegTranscodeCmdLinePAL : -y -i "{SOURCE_FILE}" -b 2400k -ac 2 -ab 128 -r 25 -s 352x288 -f svcd "{DEST_FILE}"
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/MVPFFmpegTranscodeCmdLineNTSC
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    getValue: /settings/MVPFFmpegTranscodeCmdLineNTSC : -y -i "{SOURCE_FILE}" -b 2400k -ac 2 -ab 128 -r 29.97 -s 352x240 -f svcd "{DEST_FILE}"
1/13/2007 1:49:26 PM.855    VERBOSE    [10]    Starting FFmpeg transcode with: C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\\Third Party\Zprocess\ZProcess.exe -y -i "D:\Video's\Input\101_0146c.avi" -b 2400k -ac 2 -ab 128 -r 29.97 -s 352x240 -f svcd "D:\Video's\MVP000DFE0002D11.mpg"
1/

The only thing I can see that might be a problem is the double slash.

Can you cut out the command line:

Code:

C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\\Third Party\Zprocess\ZProcess.exe -y -i "D:\Video's\Input\101_0146c.avi" -b 2400k -ac 2 -ab 128 -r 29.97 -s 352x240 -f svcd "D:\Video's\MVP000DFE0002D11.mpg"

and paste it into a CMD window, and then see what error you find...?