Please dump the "System Default" from config/codec setup!!!

[barkers123]

Cripes... second post ever and I'm asking for stuff already. Fantastic software though I think its bril and I'm a big fan.

Got a request. Been through my own special PVR journey and would like to put something back - a small change that might make it a tiny bit easier for another newbie someday...

Here it is.

• All the relevant codecs that GBPVR finds in the registry, show up in the config Playback and DVD drop-downs.
  
• Codecs in the config.xml "supported codecs" list come up in a reassuring green colour.
  
• Codecs not in the list come up in a yuckie pink colour.
  
• On first install, the system selects the first green codec in the list, or if not, the first pink one. And then sticks with it.
  

Why is such a cosmetic change a good idea..? Well, here's the scenario. You build the system, it takes way longer than you expect, fiddling with Windows, all those extra wires behind the telly, finally you proudly release to the family on a beta trial. Its looking good. Programs record, playback, WAF grows to a skeptical (but above target) 30%. Then one day, we all settle down to watch a DVD. And no sound.

Turns out that a couple of weeks before I installed some DVD burning software. This added a couple of new codecs, silently bumping my working defaults out of the way, leaving everything running except DVD sound. Got it working the next day with a panic XP system-restore but its taken a length of time which I prefer not to disclose to figure out what was really going on.

There's loads of warnings in the forum about using the system default option and it seems obvious now, but as a newbie (the err... what forum..? kind of newbie) it really isnt. The behavior described above might save someone from hearing the hiss of escaping WAF and not knowing where to start looking for the puncture...

And thassit.

[sub]

There's loads of warnings in the forum about using the system default option and it seems obvious now, but as a newbie (the err... what forum..? kind of newbie) it really isnt. The behavior described above might save someone from hearing the hiss of escaping WAF and not knowing where to start looking for the puncture...

To be honest, 'System default' works just fine for the vast majority of users, so it is a good default - particularly given GB-PVR doesnt distribute any decoders so I cant be sure what is installed.

The only reason you see the 'dont leave it set to system default' warning whenever a user reports a playback issue, is because it is likely their problem is caused by their system-default decoders being crappy. In this situation they're best to explicitly select the decoder they want to use rather that relying on some unknown system default decoder.

[Koenie]

Sub,

I recognise the feeling: things working great and one day... out of the blue... right on the day I am traveling for work... the WAF reports its broken:eek::mad:...

Maybe a twist to this to have the default codec mentioned in the default line so its easy to just fix it as most people dont know which one actually is the default.

[sub]

Maybe a twist to this to have the default codec mentioned in the default line so its easy to just fix it as most people dont know which one actually is the default.

Unfortunately I dont know what the default will be until they're actually using it, and it can vary depending one what exactly they're trying to view.

[Koenie]

Unfortunately I dont know what the default will be until they're actually using it, and it can vary depending one what exactly they're trying to view.

Bad luck, maybe someone should mention on the forum that the logs tell you what is actually used and then set it to default if you like it.

[barkers123]

Thanks Sub and Koenie...

The problem with System Default is not so much that you might have a crappy codec, more that the codec GBPVR uses is controlled by something outside of GBPVR.

This makes GBPVR vulnerable to a new app changing the behaviour of your system.

There are loads of codecs out there not in the config xml. Chances are Direct Show will stumble on some dodgey codec on your system. All then looks fine but your system is left with a tricky vulnerability.

I'm sure there's loads of stuff on your to-do list and it is a case of RTFM, but stability is soo rare in PC apps. Its one of the big reasons I chose GBPVR and I don't think I'm the only one that's been tripped up by this.

If there's a problem with my colour scheme, then you could just lose the list in config.xml, list all the MPEG decoders but start with "Click here to select a codec" and force the newbie to pick one, dodgey or not..?

Anyway anyway, just a suggestion. I only feel strongly 'cos I looked such a dick with my silent DVD player. Still think its great software. Wont be using System Default again myself though...

[sub]

I can understand why you want this after your experience, but I just dont think its worth the effort - for the vast majority of people, 'system default' is just fine, and I dont think your suggestion really solves the problem. There is so many different versions of decoders etc, and their behaviour can vary depending other things relating to your system so there is no way to really know if any of the decoders the user has is any good.

[barkers123]

No problem, thanks for considering it.

Next, the "Solve world poverty" option...

[Etacovda]

perhaps a 'suggested decoders' section in the wiki would be a good idea, surely there are decoders/codecs that would be recommended for gbpvr? ive always wondered what everyone else is using and what is considered 'best'. Personally im using the latest ffd show beta, with no real issues, but what else do people use?