ZProcess: Manual Transcode playback problem

[KiddBludd]

Ok, I'm a sort of a newbie. I'm loving this program, and I probably would have returned my MediaMVP for my money back a long time ago if it wasn't for ZProcess. I've been able to find solutions to all of my problems through research and a lot of reading, but this one's eluding me.

I hope someone can help me:

Basically, I'm too impatient to wait out the on-the-fly transcoding, so I thought it would be a nice solution to just load up the ZProcess Queue and transcode all of my files, like say, while I take a shower or walk my dog, so it's all ready for me when I want to watch it. (we're talking .avi files mostly).
I run into two major problems when I do this (and one minor):

1. The file may transcode completely and the resulting .mpg will play perfectly on my PC, but on MVP it will play without sound. I tried playing it with just GBPVR (on my PC) and at first it was playing the file super-fast. So I changed the transcode profile from Trans2MVP to 2mpg and this solved the problem for GBPVR, but still no audio on MediaMVP.

2. Sometimes the files don't transcode completely. I may get 10min's off a 40min file. So far, this seems to be hit or miss, but I'd like to know if there's a way to ensure it works properly everytime.

The minor issue: the processing timer for TranscodeQ doesn't do anything. I don't really care for this, but just wondered why it's there if it doesn't work or if there's a fix.

I appreciate any help you guys can provide for this. Sorry if this has already been discussed, but I haven't been able to find a thread for it anywhere. If one exists, please point me in the right direction.
THANKS!

[zehd]

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you...

Basically, I'm too impatient to wait out the on-the-fly transcoding,

I'm confused! With On-the-fly transcoding, you wait for nothing. When you want to watch a video, and the transcode happens WHILE you watch

1. The file may transcode completely and the resulting .mpg will play perfectly on my PC, but on MVP it will play without sound. I tried playing it with just GBPVR (on my PC) and at first it was playing the file super-fast. So I changed the transcode profile from Trans2MVP to 2mpg and this solved the problem for GBPVR, but still no audio on MediaMVP.

• When you open an AVI into ZProcess manually, the Trans2MVP profile is automatically selected
  
• When you transcode on the fly, ZProcess uses the Trans2MVP profile.
  
• When you transcode an AVI using the queue, ZProcess uses the 2MPG profile.
  

If a file is transcoded with a certain profile and parameters and won't play on the MVP, then adjust the parameters.

I suggest selecting the 2MPG profile, then selecting the target template of
'* Trans2MVP'. This should set the 2MPG profile to be using the same parameters as the Trans2MVP profile...

2. Sometimes the files don't transcode completely. I may get 10min's off a 40min file. So far, this seems to be hit or miss, but I'd like to know if there's a way to ensure it works properly everytime.

This may be connected to using some wrong parameters. Correctly configuring (or better yet - using the defaults) the 2MPG profile should fix this...

The minor issue: the processing timer for TranscodeQ doesn't do anything. I don't really care for this, but just wondered why it's there if it doesn't work or if there's a fix.

I think I fixed this while working on a different problem... Try the attached patch...

[KiddBludd]

Thanks a lot!!! I'll try it out this weekend.

What I meant about the on-the-fly transcoding is that sometimes I'll get stutter or all kinds of messes with the video and I find that those problems don't occur if I let the file transcode completely. What I've been doing so far is selecting "MVP - Use Cache. Resume if able" for the "After Transcoding" section and letting the files transcode completely while I do or watch other stuff. That's the only way I've been able to ensure a smooth encoding (there's only been one instance where even that didn't work, but it hasn't been a problem since).
Also, the on-the-fly transcodes don't always finish (another reason I'm a bit impatient with it and would prefer loading a queue to do it all.)

[zehd]

Thanks a lot!!! I'll try it out this weekend.

What I meant about the on-the-fly transcoding is that sometimes I'll get stutter or all kinds of messes with the video and I find that those problems don't occur if I let the file transcode completely. What I've been doing so far is selecting "MVP - Use Cache. Resume if able" for the "After Transcoding" section and letting the files transcode completely while I do or watch other stuff. That's the only way I've been able to ensure a smooth encoding (there's only been one instance where even that didn't work, but it hasn't been a problem since).
Also, the on-the-fly transcodes don't always finish (another reason I'm a bit impatient with it and would prefer loading a queue to do it all.)

A transcode that doesn't always finish. hmmm. That's still a little vague... Here's the possibilities...

Some people complain that a on the fly transcode stops about 2 or three seconds short from the end. This seems to be a bug with ZProcess, ffmpeg, mvpmc dongle, etc... Noone really knows why. It's like GB-PVR has the whole file, just doesn't want to play it all...

It stops half way or where there is a substantial portion of it left to transcode... This usually means that the transcode isn't able to to keep up, and GB-PVR has caught up and run out of file. Usually adding a second or two to the preplay delay can help. Or lower the dimensions of the output...

If a file will transcode all the way through when done with the queue or manually but not on-the-fly, then it is most likely because GB-PVR has caught up with the end of the file...

[KiddBludd]

I didn't realize I was being vague, sorry.

I should clarify that I'm using a wireless MVP.

I don't have any problems with on-the-fly transcoding stopping a few secs or minutes before the end, but I do sometimes get transcodes that don't finish (that is, cut off with a substantial portion left to transcode) and I already have the pre-play delay on gbpvr set to 16000ms, which I think is sufficient (?).

I suspect the problem might have been when I'm doing on-the-fly and someone starts another program on my pc, maybe it confuses Hunter or ZProcess and makes it cut off or my PC can't keep up with ZProcess + another program running. Keeping ZProcess' priority set to Normal helps a lot (I had it set to BelowNormal for some reason), but I still get cut-offs every now and then (I have to share my PC sometimes).

Also, with shorter videos (eg. 45min's), the on-the-fly works perfectly. But a few minutes ago I had to stop a longer video (1hr 40min) because it began to stutter annoyingly in the last 30min's. This is after I paused it and let it transcode completely (on-the-fly) and came back to it.

Anyway, I just upgraded to the new ZProcess you posted. It seems the manual transcode's working great there. I guess I'll see how the new version works out, these problems might have already been solved(?).

Oh, and I just learned that if you delete something from the box under Input Dir. under the File tab, it actually deletes the files from your PC as well. I thought I was just clearing that section...

[zehd]

I already have the pre-play delay on gbpvr set to 16000ms, which I think is sufficient (?).

From, the specs you have, this should be enough...

I suspect the problem might have been when I'm doing on-the-fly and someone starts another program on my pc,

Maybe

maybe it confuses Hunter or ZProcess and makes it cut off or my PC can't keep up with ZProcess + another program running. Keeping ZProcess' priority set to Normal helps a lot (I had it set to BelowNormal for some reason), but I still get cut-offs every now and then (I have to share my PC sometimes).

Using ZProcess with any setting other than 'Below Normal' is definitely a symptom of a problem. Something is competing too heavily with ZProcess. Raising the priority is not a fix. Lowering the priority of the other process or not running another process might be a fix. You have a more than adequately strong computer. There should be no problem at all. But if another program 'steals' the processor, of course ZProcess and ffmpeg are going to get upset...

Also, with shorter videos (eg. 45min's), the on-the-fly works perfectly. But a few minutes ago I had to stop a longer video (1hr 40min) because it began to stutter annoyingly in the last 30min's. This is after I paused it and let it transcode completely (on-the-fly) and came back to it.

I have had this too. At the end of the transcode, and when ZProcess copies the file into the cache, is where I MIGHT see that problem. It usually goes away. If you stop the video and then start it again, (and rather than transcoding again, it pulls the file out of the cache) is the stuttering better?

Anyway, I just upgraded to the new ZProcess you posted. It seems the manual transcode's working great there. I guess I'll see how the new version works out, these problems might have already been solved(?).

I hope that it helps, but I haven't really changed anything that would directly work for or against your problems...

Oh, and I just learned that if you delete something from the box under Input Dir. under the File tab, it actually deletes the files from your PC as well. I thought I was just clearing that section...

Yep. At one time I had ZProcess delete to recycle bin but that code broke... Haven't really thought about bringing it back...

[KiddBludd]

I'll need to double check on that stuttering problem. I recall that when it happened with a shorter video, stopping and restarting it did help, but the stuttering just happened a little later in the video. It makes me wonder if it's a wireless problem, maybe my router's not transmitting quickly enough?

It's hard to troubleshoot this because the skip buttons don't work well on my MVP (not sure if ZProcess can help with that). On a large file, it's more of a headache to stop and try to skip to where you left off, everything goes out of synch and sometimes a skip forward acts as a skip backward.
But I'll give it a shot again and see if it makes a difference.

Also, I'm a little spooked that you seem to know my system specs, I've never mentioned them before, have I?

[zehd]

I'll need to double check on that stuttering problem. I recall that when it happened with a shorter video, stopping and restarting it did help, but the stuttering just happened a little later in the video. It makes me wonder if it's a wireless problem, maybe my router's not transmitting quickly enough?

It's hard to troubleshoot this because the skip buttons don't work well on my MVP (not sure if ZProcess can help with that). On a large file, it's more of a headache to stop and try to skip to where you left off, everything goes out of synch and sometimes a skip forward acts as a skip backward.
But I'll give it a shot again and see if it makes a difference.

Also, I'm a little spooked that you seem to know my system specs, I've never mentioned them before, have I?

Haha. Don't be spooked. I confused you with another person I was helping.

The skipping forward / backward is quite a common problem. Many people have had theories and/or solutions to fix it. I have already incorporated many of the optimizations that I have learned about and developed. But it still seems to happen with no rhyme nor reason...

I'm not sure what else to say. I can't be sure about the wireless MVP; it might be something, might not...